Something is wrong

K

kd7sgm

New member
my rifle went from shooting 1 inch or less groups to shotgun pattern 5-6 inch groups. I usually go to the range every other week and shoot 50 rounds from this particualr rifle and it always shoots around 1 inch groups. I took the rifle deer hunting over a 10 day period but did not shoot at all only packed it on long hikes. Took it to the range yesterday and can not get it to group at all, 5-6" in all directions. I replaced the scope and checked the mounts everything was ok with the same results from a different scope. What could be going on? I am shooting from sand bags started out at 400 yards but could not hit anything that used to be routine, changed to a paper target at 100 yards and discovered I am lucky to be hitting paper. Shot 10-15 rounds of factory ammo thinking maybe my handloads were the problem but still no change better or worse. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I have no clue at this point.
 
Hawkeye 300 wm laminate stock bedded action, floated barrel, timney trigger, 1st scope 3x9 zeiss, 2nd scope 3x9 nikon. I am shooting 180 gr sierra gameking bullets
 
That silly rifle.
5-6" in all directions
Click to expand...

Have you checked your:
- eyesight
- sight picture
- scope mounting tightness
- internal glass problems on your scope (any rattle would be really bad)

On the rifle itself I would look at the rifling, muzzle damage and corrosion in the chamber.

I assume you gave it a good cleaning with either a solid brass rod or a other cleaning gear that did NOT involve a sectional steel rod.
 
I'm not familiar with that rifle,my first thought was a bedding problem,perhaps action bolts have loosen while being carried,that would be my first check,and/or stock contact barrel at some point. If not that I would contact Ruger, sounds odd.
 
you may try to find someone with a hypersonic cleaner. get rid of little bits of leftover bullet in the barrel and other stuff...I wonder... the level of accuracy loss you're seeing indicates damage rather than wearing out or just dirty. I am not familiar with your rifle but it could be a loose stock, a loose barrel...something just aint right about it that should not have happened that abruptly.
 
Clean it.
Check the torque on the action screws.
Make sure the barrel is still tight to the receiver. (seriously)
Make sure you ammunition is still good. (no physical damage, chemical contamination, water contamination, etc)

...and everything else mentioned by other posters.
 
FrankenMauser said:
Check the torque on the action screws.
Click to expand...

Thats the first thing I thought of along with a few other suggestions already mentioned. Other than the scope, but you said it was tight.
 
The suggestion on the barrel crown makes sense. Did you check for dings?

And a severly copper fouled barrel can cause big problems.

You switched scopes but are the rings tight to the receiver?
 
The rifle shoots 1" groups before the hunting trip during which the rifle was not fired. After hunting trip rifle shoots 5-6" groups. So you replaced the scope and checked the mounts and still have 5-6" groups. Dude you must have nicked or dinged the barrel crown on your hunting trip or if you have a wood stock the stock may have warped from moisture to the point that it is affecting accuracy. A warped stock can really ruin the accuracy of a rifle.
 
Check the obvious first. Scope mounts and action screws. Second, I would check the crown for dings. Next give the bore a really god scrubbing. After cleaning the bore, put at least 15 to 20 rounds down the tube before making a hasty decision.
How many rounds total have been fire through the gun?
 
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