Zeroing Problems

[z7_hunter]

I recently aquired a Winchester model 70 xtr featherweight w/ a bushnell 1.5x5. im shooting 130 grain winchester xp2's. the heavier the bullet the worse it gets. i cant get a 1.5-2in group at a 100yrds. It's always all over i cant get it to drive nails. like i want it to. Any suggestions?

[Strut10]

I would pick up a box of 130 gr. Remingtons and Federals and try those. Your rifle just may have a preference.

The other thought is that it may never shoot a 1 1/2" group without some accurizing work (i.e. re-bedding, re-cut crown , hand-lap the riflings, etc.).

[colorado bob]

Is everything tite on the bases & rings. Sand bags for a rest. Is the barrel heating up?

[doubleA]

z7_hunter, let me first off welcome you to the Realtree Forums.

There are a multitude of possibilities of why you cant get the rifle to group. Some are shooter influenced and some are equipment. The trick is to narrow it down. Strut10 and colorado bob have named a few above.

You might want to go into more detail explaining what exactly you are doing, this will help refine the possible promlem(s).

An example.....my shooting abilities are better than average, the rifle used to shoot great but now doesnt, I am shooting off the hood of my truck and so on.

Hope you pull up a chair and stay awhile.:cowboy:

[LETMGROW]

I recently aquired a Winchester model 70 xtr featherweight w/ a bushnell 1.5x5. im shooting 130 grain winchester xp2's. the heavier the bullet the worse it gets. i cant get a 1.5-2in group at a 100yrds. It's always all over i cant get it to drive nails. like i want it to. Any suggestions?

These rifles are usually quite accurate. 1" or less groups at 100 yd. is common.

First of all, I would remove the scope and check the base to receiver screws for tightness. Remount the scope making sure the crosshairs are in alignment with the action. Not tipped to the right or left. If you have another scope I would try that.

Check the clearance from the barrel to the stock. Is the barrel touching the stock anywhere? Some rifle barrels have a lug on them which the stock to barrel mounting screws tighten into. Quite often the lug is mounted in a dovetail allowing the lug to be drifted right or left to center the barrel in the stock. Make sure the barrel is not touching the stock on the underside. If it is it should be clearenced [ floated ]. You can find alot of info on this procedure by conducting a search on this forum.

I have loosened the screws a turn or so on some ill shooting rifles and test fired the rifle to find the zero comes right in. This tells me there is barrel to wood contact somewhere. Correct the problem, don't just leave the screws loose no matter how well it shoots. You may end up buying an aftermarket stock such as Hoague or other to assure a good fit.

Trigger pull is also criticle. If the trigger pulls too hard you can pull the gun off target and not realize it. This should be checked by a gunsmith and corrected. While some triggers can be adjusted I wouldn't recommend it unless you know what you are doing.

If the scope and barrel and trigger check out OK, I would have someone else check the zero. Sometimes we get frustated and this adds to the mistakes all of us shooters make. If someone else shoots the rifle better than you, you can work on your dicipline and correct it.

Try to find someone who has some same caliber ammo and try as many different loads as possible to see which your rifle prefers.

Before you do anything make sure the barrel is clean. Keep it clean as you try the afformentioned corrections.

Lynn

[z7_hunter]

i'm an above average shooter. Also have a few marksmanship awards. im shooting 1 shot at a time off of sand bags. everything is tight, but it may need the barrell work.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

...Before you do anything make sure the barrel is clean. Keep it clean as you try the afformentioned corrections.

Lynn

And remember, there's clean, and then there's CLEAN. 30 seconds and a couple of passes with a patch soaked in Hoppe's #9 will never get one CLEAN. It takes time and persistence. Sometimes both in large quantities.

[doubleA]

i'm an above average shooter. Also have a few marksmanship awards. im shooting 1 shot at a time off of sand bags. everything is tight, but it may need the barrell work.

With that said, I would first try some different ammo, maybe a few different brands and weights. You will find some rifles are not all that picky while some will show a preference with the ammo it is fed with. Free floating the barrel works in a majority of cases, it's something that's done in a simple matter, this would be my next move.

[Grady269]

I guess my question is will the rifle group? If it's shooting 1.5-2" groups @ 100 yds form a cold barrel that's probably not the end of the world. With a 5 power scope and a lightweight rifle with a slim contour barrel that may be all she does. For hunting that is really not terrible accuracy. Buy a box of Federal 130 gr Nosler Ballistic tips. I have never seen a rifle that did not like those.

[Bob LeBlanc]

I recently aquired a Winchester model 70 xtr featherweight w/ a bushnell 1.5x5. im shooting 130 grain winchester xp2's. the heavier the bullet the worse it gets. i cant get a 1.5-2in group at a 100yrds. It's always all over i cant get it to drive nails. like i want it to. Any suggestions?

I shoot the same rifle in .308...and it shoots better than 1" at 100 yards.

I had the bedding re-done, and the barrell floated...both helped...but I think the biggest factor was having the trigger pull re-set (I think it's around 3 pounds now).

Out-of-the-box, I've found they're very heavy pull...and one of their features is how easy they are to adjust...so it won't take a gunsmith long to do it up for you.

Also, as has been said, be sure to check the scope, mounts and rings that they are tight, not just snug.

Be sure to let it cool between shots...the light barrell doesn't handle too many rounds before it'll start to string them.

My gun also has a strong preference to the Ammo it shoots, so be sure to try different loads, bullet weights and styles from a couple of Manufacturers, if you're shooting factory. (Surprisingly, my Winchester rifle doesn't like Winchester ammo !!:oops:)

Bob