well guys, you have me seriously questioning my ability to shoot. going today to find some copper solvent at a local store. going to scrub the barrel. apparently boretech or KG-12 aren't listed on any website of all the local stores, sweets is sold local. I know I was advised by others here not to use ammonia based solvents, but they seem to work best with strict time constraints. ill just be sure not to let it sit for too long in the barrel.
Ruger M77 MK2 in 260 remington
- Thread starter badding0
- Start date
Sorry in advance for the long winded story but hopefully it helps you find out the issue with this rifle.
Years ago I purchased a Ruger M77 Mark II in 300 WSM for my oldest son to use for elk hunt. The rifle shot well enough with factory loads and he used it a couple of years before getting his own rifle. When he did I had the Ruger re-barreled with a 26" Shilen #4 contour in 7 WSM and put it in a Hogue stock with a new trigger and my first Swarovski scope. While working up loads for the rifle it consistently shot 2 shots very close and a flyer. I tried different torques on the bedding screws, all sorts of different shims on the action, checked and rechecked scope mounts but could not get a decent 3 shot group. The Hogue stock has a full length aluminum bedding block so I was sure that was not issue but guess what, once I skim bedded the action the rifle now shoots MOA or better with pretty much everything I put through it. People are suggesting taking your barrel down to white clean and that may very well be your issue so I would try that first but if that does not work I would try skim bedding the action.
Years ago I purchased a Ruger M77 Mark II in 300 WSM for my oldest son to use for elk hunt. The rifle shot well enough with factory loads and he used it a couple of years before getting his own rifle. When he did I had the Ruger re-barreled with a 26" Shilen #4 contour in 7 WSM and put it in a Hogue stock with a new trigger and my first Swarovski scope. While working up loads for the rifle it consistently shot 2 shots very close and a flyer. I tried different torques on the bedding screws, all sorts of different shims on the action, checked and rechecked scope mounts but could not get a decent 3 shot group. The Hogue stock has a full length aluminum bedding block so I was sure that was not issue but guess what, once I skim bedded the action the rifle now shoots MOA or better with pretty much everything I put through it. People are suggesting taking your barrel down to white clean and that may very well be your issue so I would try that first but if that does not work I would try skim bedding the action.
I cleaned the barrel as best that I could. was still getting some blue just it wasn't much and I can only assume that it was come from the brass/copper cleaning rod that I was using. I also free floated the barrel. not only was there a pressure point at the end, but the side walls of the channel were putting pressure on the barrel as well. and well, considering this is not my gun, I didn't want to harm the stock just in case this didn't work, so I shimmed the action from the stock right behind the recoil lug enough to make everything clear. hopefully trying it out this weekend.
btw. there no such thing as too lengthy of a reply. if you had to write chapters that helped lead me to a solution. it would all be worth it. thanks everyone, for the help.
btw. there no such thing as too lengthy of a reply. if you had to write chapters that helped lead me to a solution. it would all be worth it. thanks everyone, for the help.
CarJunkieLS1
New member
I had the same exact issue as OP with a Weatherby Vanguard S2. It would group a few shots tightly then all of a sudden throw them wildly. Barrel cold or hot dirty or clean it didn't matter. Put 3 different scopes and 3 diffrerent sets of rings...no luck. After a few hundred rounds of various factory loads and various handloads. I just decided to take it to a local rifle builder (Tooter Meredith of Meredith Rifles) I had him put it in a Boyds stock and completely bed the action and free float the barrel. It shot exactly the same.
Finally had Meredith put a Bartlein barrel on it and now it shoots cloverleafs all day. Meredith told me that the barrel was off center inside the receiver. And as the barrel would heat up and cool down it would change the pressure applied to the barrel shank causing the issues I was having. He said it was off center by .012ths.
I'm not saying that this is your issue, but I happen to know for a fact that Meredith has had 3 Ruger 77's in his shop for accuracy issues and all 3 of them had off center receiver threads.
Finally had Meredith put a Bartlein barrel on it and now it shoots cloverleafs all day. Meredith told me that the barrel was off center inside the receiver. And as the barrel would heat up and cool down it would change the pressure applied to the barrel shank causing the issues I was having. He said it was off center by .012ths.
I'm not saying that this is your issue, but I happen to know for a fact that Meredith has had 3 Ruger 77's in his shop for accuracy issues and all 3 of them had off center receiver threads.
Well idk if it was the copper buildup or the touching stock. But this 3/4" group says it all. These shots were back to back with no wait time in-between. Picture may be turned. All shots were to the left of the orange
Thank you all for your help!!!!! If I could buy you all a beer (or tonic water depending on age) I would.
Thank you all for your help!!!!! If I could buy you all a beer (or tonic water depending on age) I would.
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