Accuracy...

[NuclearMeltdown]

Took my Remington Model Seven 7mm-08 out the to range today...it's never shot too well for either me or my dad. I didn't shoot too much (10 rounds). but here's what happened...

At 50 yards: An almost horizonal 3-3 1/2 inch string of 5 shots

At 100 yards: Two shots an inch apart horzontally, with a third 2 inches off to the left.

Four inch groups at 100 yards? That seems kinda large a newer Remington production rifle. All the shots were high, but i moved the zero down after shooting. It's shooting horizontal strings of shots. Scope mounts are tight, and this is the second scope this is happening with. Would taking it apart and putting it back together do anything? Any suggestions?

Before changing anything on the gun, I would try several different weight bullets in the 7mm-08. Try a higher and lighter bullet weight than what you are currently shooting.


Also, make sure that you are not "canting" the rifle while shooting.

[Xracer]

Were you shooting "freehand" or from a steady rest?

Unless you're an expert marksman, there's no way you can judge the accuracy of a rifle shooting freehand....especially from a standing position.

To test your rifle's accuracy, you should be seated at a sturdy table, resting your rifle on a sandbag (or similar) rest, sight carefully, control your breathing (take a breath and let it halfway out), and squeeeeeeze (not PULL) the trigger. Shoot 5-shot groups at 100 yards, and take at least 30 seconds between shots.

And, as Shooter22 says, try different bullet weights and ammunition manufacturers.

Use a good rest and pay strict attention to your trigger finger. Slow squeeze with the tip of your finger and it should be a surprise when the gun fires.


Might want to inspect the crown of the barrel for nicks.

[IShootBack]

One thing that affected my performance was cleaning my rifle.

I had left too much residue in the bore.

I would also check to make sure everything is tight - sights/scope, screws...

[1952Sniper]

Did the shots go higher and higher the more you shot? Or were they randomly printed in that vertical line? In other words, did it shoot on target, then high, then somewhere inbetween? Or did it start out on target, then move up and up?

The reason I ask is because some people have had the same results, and the final cause turned out to be the barrel heating up and warping, sending the shots higher and higher on the target. However, I wouldn't expect a quality firearm like a Remington to perform in such a manner.

Assuming your technique was the same on every shot, the only thing I could explain it with would be barrel warpage due to heat. But a dirty bore shouldn't cause these results. If a fouled bore were to blame, one would expect the pattern to be random (in both directions, not just vertical). I dunno......

[NuclearMeltdown]

All of my shots were fired from a steady bag rest. As Xracer said:

"To test your rifle's accuracy, you should be seated at a sturdy table, resting your rifle on a sandbag (or similar) rest, sight carefully, control your breathing (take a breath and let it halfway out), and squeeeeeeze (not PULL) the trigger. Shoot 5-shot groups at 100 yards, and take at least 30 seconds between shots."

That's just what I did, only with three shot groups.

Took it out again today and fired two three shot groups at 100 yards, and the groups mysteriously shrank to between two and three inches. Same box of ammunition and all. Conditions were about the same. I finished off the third box of ammunition to go through this rifle; I suspect the barrel might need to have been broken in. As for the groups yesterday, I'm not sure what has been causing the terrible groups. The most likely thing I can see is barrel heating.

This Thursday or Friday I'll take it out again, with the Marlin bolt .22 and M44 to see if I can get good groups again. After that, I'll try to post my different targets.

Nuke if your scope is good and you have checked everything being tight and bullet weight up or down try shimming under thr barrel and tip of the forend with a buissness card. Your next shots will have to be rezeroed but just try three shots to see if you gain consistency, no matter where they fall on the target. If the group has shrunk rezero rifle with the card under the forend. This has worked more often than you think, trust me.

[Gunfyter]

You mentioned that you had checked all of the scope screws which is good. Did you check the action screws as well? My $.02

[wuzzagrunt]

I agree with Gunfyter, the first thing to check is the action screws. Make sure they are snug and there's no movement. Your POI will change as the rifle heats up if the action is loose or binding because the screws are unevenly torqued.

You didn't say if you were using a sling. If you are using a sling, uneven stress on the stock from an inconsistent hold can do that.

Check for stock to metal contact in the barrel channel. You may want to relieve the barrel channel with a Dremmel tool if the stock is contacting the barrel. If it looks like you'll need to remove a lot of stock material, consider a complete bedding job.

[Shooter45]

Check the action screws. Also, as Wuzzagrunt stated, check to see if the barrel is touching the stock anywhere.

Shooter is right. If the barrel is touching the stock . it will change the impact more and more as it heats up. Check that barrel channel.

swede