Well, I was CLOSE. I stayed at 25 yds, to sight in (right on at 25 should be 3" high at 100, and right on at about 200 anyway, plus it would be easy to spot, and test the mount...)
For the first 20 rounds or so it stayed tight. While it was nowhere near the bull, I was firing 2 shots at a time, then adjusting and MANY were one hole, or almost touching.
Then I ran out of de-elevation (?) on the scope, and had to get some out of the mount, which is "adjustible." (supposedly) Took off the scope, adjusted the mount, and remounted the scope. Interestingly the windage did NOT change, so maybe there IS something to that "keeping zero" after dismounting/remounting with a weaver style rib and good rings...
It was shortly after this, about 10 or 20 more shots, that I first noticed a little movement... Then it started like last week, fire a couple of strings, groups grow, retighten shoot, retighten...
But also during THIS string I had my very first "blown" case with a MN. An Albanian brass case split about 1/4" up from the rim, about 1/4" long longitudinally. The action handled it well, all I felt was a little different sound, noticed and felt some soot and gasses up from the front of the bolt, and a little difference in the recoil. NO signs of any excess pressure on it or on ANY of the previous rounds, or on any I fired AFTER (after a CLOSE inspection of the chamber and bolt with a bore light and magnifying glass I always carry!) I believe it was just a weak case! I did touch off the next two "from the hip, arms extended" just in case...and checked those cases and some others with a glass too for any bulging, splits near the base or flattened primers...nothing.
The GOOD news is once after the blow up when I was ALMOST right on, I checked to see if the mount was tight, made my FINAL couple of clicks adjustment, and loaded two Winchester 180 FMJs, and fired a 1/2" group, DEAD center.
But then, I reloaded with the LAST two from the box left from last week, and touched them off carefully...3" group, a FOOT high and 6" right!!!!!
Checked the mount, and it was LOOSE...you could move it up and down about 1/8th inch!!!
So I called it a day.
The State Rangemaster today also was a guy I worked with for a season when I worked for the paver about ten years ago, so it was like old home week on the range too...
Went to the hardware store after and bought a BUNCH of set screws intending to replace them all, but of course I got the wrong THREADS
Also, before I went, I putzed around changing follower and mag spring to get it to feed better, and take strippers. NOW it takes a stripper, but either ejects the first two rounds like a toaster, or if it doesn't, it double feeds the first two... SO I effectively have a three shot rifle! THOSE three feed slick though! (I know, ONE problem at a time...)
Anyway, I'm getting ready to CHUCK this project and wait for the bent bolt for the Polish...another 60 or so rounds in vain...
I'll fool around with it some more until it comes, and give it ONE more chance...if I can figure out a "Plan C..." that is!
For the first 20 rounds or so it stayed tight. While it was nowhere near the bull, I was firing 2 shots at a time, then adjusting and MANY were one hole, or almost touching.
Then I ran out of de-elevation (?) on the scope, and had to get some out of the mount, which is "adjustible." (supposedly) Took off the scope, adjusted the mount, and remounted the scope. Interestingly the windage did NOT change, so maybe there IS something to that "keeping zero" after dismounting/remounting with a weaver style rib and good rings...
It was shortly after this, about 10 or 20 more shots, that I first noticed a little movement... Then it started like last week, fire a couple of strings, groups grow, retighten shoot, retighten...
But also during THIS string I had my very first "blown" case with a MN. An Albanian brass case split about 1/4" up from the rim, about 1/4" long longitudinally. The action handled it well, all I felt was a little different sound, noticed and felt some soot and gasses up from the front of the bolt, and a little difference in the recoil. NO signs of any excess pressure on it or on ANY of the previous rounds, or on any I fired AFTER (after a CLOSE inspection of the chamber and bolt with a bore light and magnifying glass I always carry!) I believe it was just a weak case! I did touch off the next two "from the hip, arms extended" just in case...and checked those cases and some others with a glass too for any bulging, splits near the base or flattened primers...nothing.
The GOOD news is once after the blow up when I was ALMOST right on, I checked to see if the mount was tight, made my FINAL couple of clicks adjustment, and loaded two Winchester 180 FMJs, and fired a 1/2" group, DEAD center.
But then, I reloaded with the LAST two from the box left from last week, and touched them off carefully...3" group, a FOOT high and 6" right!!!!!
Checked the mount, and it was LOOSE...you could move it up and down about 1/8th inch!!!
So I called it a day.
The State Rangemaster today also was a guy I worked with for a season when I worked for the paver about ten years ago, so it was like old home week on the range too...
Went to the hardware store after and bought a BUNCH of set screws intending to replace them all, but of course I got the wrong THREADS
Also, before I went, I putzed around changing follower and mag spring to get it to feed better, and take strippers. NOW it takes a stripper, but either ejects the first two rounds like a toaster, or if it doesn't, it double feeds the first two... SO I effectively have a three shot rifle! THOSE three feed slick though! (I know, ONE problem at a time...)
Anyway, I'm getting ready to CHUCK this project and wait for the bent bolt for the Polish...another 60 or so rounds in vain...
I'll fool around with it some more until it comes, and give it ONE more chance...if I can figure out a "Plan C..." that is!