"My rifle doesn't like that ammo" ??
I keep hearing the saying that I need to find the ammo that the rifles "likes". Apparently, my rifle should be named "Mikey" because it doesn't seem to like anything.
I have a new Ruger American "go-wild camo" 30-06. I have tried SIX different rounds and I am not able to get better than 6" groups at 100 yards. I have had another shooter shoot the same gun/rounds to see if it is me. I have alternated between the Ruger and my Remington 700 .223 in 3 round groups letting each gun cool between shots to see if my bags, weather, trigger pull, etc, are contributing to the problem but I am getting 1.5" groups with the .223 so I'm happy with the idea that there is something other than myself in this result.
Approx 300 rounds have been shot thru it since purchasing it new in October.
WHAT is the science behind finding the ammo it "likes"?
Here's the list of ammo used thus far:
Winchester- Power point 180 gr & Extreme point 150 gr
PPU - SP 150
Federal- Fusion 150gr & Power Shok 150gr
Wolf - 168 gr FMJ Steel (gets stuck in chamber)
I have noticed that the very END of the stock is VERY close to the barrel. It MIGHT be touching. Ruger is sending me a new stock free of charge as it's only 3 months old. WHAT influence could this have? These plastic stocks are pretty soft and move/bend easily.
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jb4lcm: 31514340565275/comments/31514342720155
notnow .... I installed Leupold backcountry cross slot rings (Aluminum) this evening. I was in the process of tightening the top rings over the scope - in the cris-cross manner - when ONE of the screws stripped out the hole at 18 in/lb!
I'm am SOOOOooooooo done with this shit tonight .... 😡
Thanks for being honest with us about your failures:
Now time for patience. I've actually had to put a onery gun back for awhile and go back later, after I let it rest.
Another good reason to not start out using a torque wrench. A torque wrench is not needed on the top ring screws.
Most likely the screw was not even started in the threads correctly at the get go.
Top ring screws need to be only tightened by feel. I've seen good scopes distorted and even crushed because the operator of the driver did not go by feel. Some people also do not know that the top rings on most all scope mounts should have a little gap or space when tightened over a scope, so they just keep on cranking and it seems most times when they over tighten they are checking things because the gun is not shooting a good group and they are going to make sure everything is tight and secure.
Might be time to box it up and send to Ruger.
Did you do the copper fouling test that was suggested?
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Mike55 .... I had another guy shoot it same day. We alternated he'd shoot then I'd shoot. Similar frustrating grouping.
The gun got shipped back to Ruger. It arrived there on the 3rd. We'll see what they say.
Yes - I did the copper test then cleaned the gun with a brush and Hoppes 9. I did it 4 times - green all 4 times. Very odd to have THAT much copper in a gun that has been cleaned 2 times before and a TOTAL of 320 rounds put through it.
So the OTHER comment I have heard about rifles "well, when you get a GOOD one ...." so I guess it's hit or miss when buying a rifle? No pun intended ... sort of. I don't want to spend the money on a MOA Certified rifle.
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Sounds like a rough bore from the factory. Poor accuracy and hard to keep clean.
Most custom barrels are easy to keep un-fouled. Smooth as a babies behind.
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When you get your rifle back from Ruger will you please post what they said about your rifle and what they did to cure the problem?? Also let us know the results of your first range session.
I think we would all like to know what was going on to have that kind of accuracy problem. Thanks!
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I received the gun back from Ruger - they installed a new stock. It fits well and seems to have a much closer tolerance around the barrel. The original stock had a LOT of extra room between the barrel and stock. The new stock has like 1/2 the gap as the original. I slid a dollar bill down the barrel and it floats well. They also test fired it at 50yds and sent a dopy of the results - 3 rds within 2".
Remounted the scope and back out to the range. Sighted in at 100 yards, let it cool, then first 3-rd grouping was with federal 165gr - all within 3". I was STOKED to say the least. YOU may not be impressed with that result - but I am.
Switched to 150FMJ garand rds and it was all over the place. Back to Federal and back to tight groups.
Pushed it out to 200 yards and lobbed 4 Federal into a 6" target. Tried 3 rds of Garand and could not find paper. Back to Federal and back in the 6" ring.
My gun does not like 150gr Garand rounds.
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I would try some other loads with it especially the 180 gr for a 30/06
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A 3 round group that patterns 2" at 50 yards would be a non starter for me.
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Mr. Perfect: 31514340565275/comments/31514337858203
A 3 round group that patterns 2" at 50 yards would be a non starter for me.
+1
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Try a different scope, even if you have to borrow it. 6" indicates a severe problem. Something is LOOSE, even if it is the erector tube inside the scope.
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JustC: 31514340565275/comments/31514343761819
Try a different scope, even if you have to borrow it. 6" indicates a severe problem. Something is LOOSE, even if it is the erector tube inside the scope.
It patterns 2 inches at 50 yards. At 200 doing 6" is expected.
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Mr. Perfect: 31514340565275/comments/31514322483483
https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11255967#Comment_11255967
It patterns 2 inches at 50 yards. At 200 doing 6" is expected.
NOT for any rifle in my safes!!. If it doesn't hold 1/2-.2/3moa at 200yds, it is for sale or at the gunsmith. Todays manufacturing, ammunition, and optics quality is far superior to that performance, and even though Ruger isn't exactly benchrest qualified, I have several and all will hold far under those groups.
Still say something is loose or broken. Even late model scopes can fail. When in doubt, try another scope. I keep an old bushnell 6-18X laying around just for this purpose. When something goes haywire or just won't perform, I swap scopes to see the difference.
As far as the barrel channel, try inserting varying thicknesses of paper under the barrel at the front of the stock, and see if it tightens up. If so, you have a whippy barrel that will require a forward pressure point. Weatherby used to be famous for that.
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JustC: 31514340565275/comments/31514343966363
https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11255970#Comment_11255970
NOT for any rifle in my safes!!. If it doesn't hold 1/2-.2/3moa at 200yds, it is for sale or at the gunsmith. Todays manufacturing, ammunition, and optics quality is far superior to that performance, and even though Ruger isn't exactly benchrest qualified, I have several and all will hold far under those groups.
Still say something is loose or broken. Even late model scopes can fail. When in doubt, try another scope. I keep an old bushnell 6-18X laying around just for this purpose. When something goes haywire or just won't perform, I swap scopes to see the difference.
As far as the barrel channel, try inserting varying thicknesses of paper under the barrel at the front of the stock, and see if it tightens up. If so, you have a whippy barrel that will require a forward pressure point. Weatherby used to be famous for that.
I think you missed his post saying that after rework the FACTORY supplied him with his rifle back and a target showing a 2" group at 50 yards.
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I guess guns and ammo are like men and women.............some things work without being ideal........and then the perfect match happens.
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Mr. Perfect: 31514340565275/comments/31514337858203
A 3 round group that patterns 2" at 50 yards would be a non starter for me.
+1... If it can't shoot at least a tight clover leaf at 50 yards...I would load for it or find some better ammo...or sell/trade it...JMHO...
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Grunt2: 31514340565275/comments/31514338390171
https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11255961#Comment_11255961
+1... If it can't shoot at least a tight clover leaf at 50 yards...I would load for it or find some better ammo...or sell/trade it...JMHO...
Sub MOA or bust.
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Hoppes #9 is a poor copper cutter. Try the spray foam called WIPE OUT and be amazed! I sure was. Good luck, keep us posted.
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JustC: 31514340565275/comments/31514343761819
Try a different scope, even if you have to borrow it. 6" indicates a severe problem. Something is LOOSE, even if it is the erector tube inside the scope.
I would agree
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select-fire: 31514340565275/comments/31514338629787
https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11255967#Comment_11255967
I would agree
It's not the scope (well, it might be contributing):
I received the gun back from Ruger - they installed a new stock. It fits well and seems to have a much closer tolerance around the barrel. The original stock had a LOT of extra room between the barrel and stock. The new stock has like 1/2 the gap as the original. I slid a dollar bill down the barrel and it floats well. They also test fired it at 50yds and sent a dopy of the results - 3 rds within 2".
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I agree, 2inch groups at 50 yards would be a problem for ME. BUT if the shooter is happy then that's perfectly fine. 2 inches at 50, 6 inches at 200, BOTH are well within minute of deer vitals(assuming you aim for heart/lungs). You are happy now, so carry on and have fun! Glad you got it to your liking and thanks for the update.
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Try a variety of ammo. That gun likes one better than the other. Bullet weight will throw some guns off.
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A 1:10 twist, will stabilize any pill, even the lighter ones, assuming it is only being pushed by a 30-06 powder charge. The Super mags can separate the core from the jacket of the bullet due to too high of an RPM, but a 30-06 isn't capable of that. Therefor that is not the issue.
It is a mechanical problem. Unless 2 Different shooters are both recoil ineffective, which I would doubt, mathematically speaking, I would default to a mechanical issue.
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Problem SOLVED!
SOLD!
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Just like a cow, can't keep her in the field, let some else deal with her.
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Butchdog2: 31514340565275/comments/31514329525531
Just like a cow, can't keep her in the field, let some else deal with her.
Good choice.
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Mr. Perfect: 31514340565275/comments/31514312619931
https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11255978#Comment_11255978
I think you missed his post saying that after rework the FACTORY supplied him with his rifle back and a target showing a 2" group at 50 yards.
Good choice on the sale. If the factory sent it back that way, they need to fire the guy who worked on it. 2" is absolutely unacceptable, even at 100yds. 200yds MAYBE.....if it was a family heirloom,....but even then,... prolly not.
I have a mod 77 MK II in 30-06 that with factory federal premium 150gr nosler ballistic tips is 2/3-3/4moa,...and has NEVER been to a gunsmith or modified in any way. Not even the trigger, which is, as you might guess, quite heavy. No bedding, no barrel work, and a cheap simmons aetec scope on it. Anything produced in the last 20-30yrs, should shoot better than the example you had.
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