Accuracy Problem Solved:

[popgun]

Before the deer season started I took my trusted old 742 Woodmaster .308 to the range and fired one round in the bulls-eye at 100 yards. I thought I was set for the season.

My first shot opportunity came with a large doe at 173 yards, and I missed. I saw the mud fly up underneath her. I thought that maybe I just goofed.

My second opportunity was another large doe at 70 yards broadside. I aimed for the heart and saw a huge hunk of her back fly off. She fell and started to get back up and I aimed for the same spot and darned if I didn’t hit the same spot on her back again. Although she did not get back up, something was definitely wrong.

I shelved the .308 and decided to finish the modern gun season with my muzzleloader.

Last day of muzzleloader I took the .308 with me to target shoot after we were finished hunting. At 100 yards the first shot was 12” high, second shot 12” low, and the third was dead center. Something was definitely wrong with my scope. It was tight in the mounts, and after trying to zero it in without any luck, I decided to shelve the rifle again until I could get another scope.

After we got back home my son was trying to wiggle things around and discovered the ocular end of the scope would move up, down, left, and right. Problem solved. The power adjusting ring was so stiff that when I adjusted it with gloves on, I had also unscrewed the ocular end of the scope. This movement was just enough to throw off the parallax view of the crosshairs when seen through the eyepiece. There never was anything wrong with my scope, but now I have to adjust it again, because of my earlier unsuccessful attempt to adjust it.

I’ll sure be glad to get my favorite shooter off the shelf and back in action.

I had attempted to find a wiggle on the scope mounts and had never even touched the ocular end of that darn scope. I had convinced myself that the scope was bad before checking all the possibilities.

I learned to exhaust all the possibilities before readjusting my scope.

Even some of us, who are well seasoned, can do some stupid things.

…..popgun

[lil hunter]

Re: Accuracy Problem Solved:

Hmm, I never thought of that happening. Kinda strange. Oh well. At least you got it fixed.

[robk]

Re: Accuracy Problem Solved:

sometimes it takes a fresh body to help find the mess up's and you got away without replacing a good set up. i had a new nikon that when checked out it appeared okay but whn i shot it would have one down and one up and maybe a flyer that would go as much as 3 to 4 inches left or right. i moved it all the way in and backed the scope out again and when i did that it finaally showed me the paralazx and the crosshairs had soem thign wrong with it. got a new one and it is fine. sorry i ramble sometimes but i am glad you got yours fixed

rob k

[AJ]

Re: Accuracy Problem Solved:

Good to hear you got the problem solved. Its amazing how many little things can ruin an otherwise good setup.

[Washi]

Re: Accuracy Problem Solved:

My brother bought a .223 Ultra Rifle with a Simmons Whitetail scope on it from a friend. He bought it because the guy said it wasn't shooting accurately anymore and my brother figured it just needed a good cleaning knowing this guy. He cleaned it and it still didn't shoot right so he put a new scope on it and it shot fine. I took the Simmons Whitetail and was looking it over and found that the hammer had been hitting the bottom of the eyepiece every time he shot and it caused it to become loose. I tightened it up and put it on a rifle I just bought and it shoots great.

I know long story to say the same thing but you get the point.