I'm pretty sure the nut that connects the buttplate to the trigger is this rifle's problem!
Two things I have noticed.
The more I cleaned the rifle, the worse the bore looked. The rifling doesn't look very 'sharp'. It appears as if the lands have rounded edges. Were they made like that or is it nearly 100 years of wear? Also I can make out copper streaks in the grooves near the muzzle & there is visible pitting in the bore. Not much, you really have to look for it but it is present.
Something else I noticed. When I started loading for it a bullet would slip right in the neck of a spent case. I haven't loaded rifles much, but I don't remember seeing this in anything else I've loaded for including an '03 30-06, post '64 Winchester '94 & my 300blk.
I ended up taking her out again, since dad is still on the road & he's the only one that can figure out how to get the safe open. I had loaded up more of the 140 Amaxs over 36 gr of 3031, mostly to use up the powder as that's what we had the least of. It was in a rather old looking metal can so I wanted rid of it.
All the benches were full so I was laying on a duffle bag with my hoody rolled up under the action as I've noticed the forend is very flexible. I didn't want to support to rifle on a part that wasn't solid.
Long story short I think the rifle likes the Amaxs a little better. I didn't shoot anything worth writing home about I feel. My best (last group, of about 30 rounds fired) was right at 2" the center of which was in the 10 ring. I stopped while I was ahead!
So. A wee bit better.
In the end a nearly 100 year old rifle with a visually compromised (sp?) bore, an easily flexible stock & a scope that took the entire weight of the rifle from waist height right to the turrets on concrete I don't feel too bad.
Keep the advise coming. I appreciate it & even though this one is going back in the safe when dad gets home, I'd like to take as much from this as possible. To apply the information to another platform someday in search of that sub 1" group.