Winchester supergrade 338 winmag won't shoot. Need help please

I had originally wanted a jewel instead of timney trigger. They called the next day and said they found a jewel so that put me behind another day. They called Monday morning to inform me the jewel came in but didn't even come close to fitting. So they then reordered the timney. Maybe by Thursday I will b Shooting this rifle again.
 
Well, as optimistic as I was that I found my issue, I returned from firing a few rounds still disappointed. :(

Laid down in the prone position with the aid of a basic sled I made about a 4 1/2" group at 100yds.

1st rounds landed almost perfect windage but nearly 6" high.

2nd round was 1.5" left and 1.5" high.

3rd round landed 3" left and 3" high.

4th round landed almost perfect windage at 1.5" high

5th landed 1" left and 5" high...

I am confident I sent good shots downrange.

I have cleaned the rifle and put it away as it is the middle of deer season here and I am not going to hunt this rifle shooting like it does. My goal was to group descent at about 1.5" high at 100yds. This is unacceptable to me.

Next plan is to swap the scope from my Rem 700 ADL that is a proven reliable scope onto the Super Grade and see what happens. I probably won't get around to this for a few weeks as I am out of the powder I need to make more rounds and not sure when my local suppliers will have more.. but I will post results of the experiment when I get it done. I feel that this is the next logical step. If I get the same results, I guess I need to play with the ammo more.. But I have already taken steps in my reloading to tune my ammo to my rifle's chamber that SHOULD have shown some degree of improvement, yet yielded little if any significant improvement. I'm feeling like this is an issue with either the scope or the rifle itself... leaning toward the scope at this point.
 
If the scope were the problem, I should think you would have large groups with any ammo. But it won't hurt to try a different scope. It eliminates one variable.
 
I have a Mod 70 Featherweight Stainless .30-06. I think it may be the most accurate rifle I own. Shoots bug holes at 100 yards, and cloverleaves at 200. I haven't done anything to it but adjust the trigger, which BTW is amazing for a factory trigger. Its a SC built rifle if that makes any difference. I think I would be looking at some other factor besides the rifle.

You may have a lemon, but I doubt it. The quality control at that facility is top tier, and the machine tools are brand new- state of the art technology. I seriously doubt you got a bad rifle.
 
Math Teacher: I may or may not have mentioned earlier in this thread that I have fired Hornady Custom and Federal Fusion factory ammo through this rifle before I got tooled up to reload for this cartridge. I had pretty much the same results with that ammo as well.
 
My Super Grade shoots well!!! Turns out my scope was bad.

I borrowed a known good scope from my brother and did some shooting today. We weren't at a bench, just brought a simple rest out into the woods and laid prone with it. Wasn't bad but not always the most steady because of the turf (soft ground under mostly hemlock trees).

Anyway, I was able to make 3 holes almost touch at 50yds after sighting in.

We then moved the target out to 100yds and of course the group opened a bit. I shot about 3". No it's not MOA, but it is WORLDS more consistent than it was previously when shooting at the same location. I am sure that a touch of fatigue was probably setting in by this time as well. I am comfortable enough in my sexuality to admit that! LOL!

Beyond this, I am sure I can tighten these groups more with some shooting from a bonified bench and tuning my ammo. It should be noted that I loaded 20rds for today's session and they were made with virgin new Hornady brass. So, not fire formed to my chamber and headspacing off the belt. I feel SO much better about this rifle now!! :D

I know this thread is getting old, but I though that Boogershooter and some others might want to know.
 
Thanks red ride. I'm still aggregated with mine. It definitely likes the longer heavier bullets but my shoulder doesnt. I shoot whitetail deer down here so I don't care to shoot the 250's. I harvested a small spike with this rifle aND the 200 grain sst's. He was eating peanut butter rice bran at exactly 100 yards facing dead at me. DRT with a shot thru the chest. No exit with the bullet but vitals were destroyed and very Lil meat damage to the shoulders. 200 grain bullets shoot around 2 inch group. 225's just a Lil better and the 250's get close to a inch. Brand doesn't seem to matter as much as weight from what I see. I havnt looked yet but I may look aND see if I can find some really soft 250 grain bullets. Berger vld's or something then go visit my reloading buddy.
 
Booger shooter-I have the exact same rifle

It took along time to get the load that the rifle likes, I have a Swarovski 4x12, and thought it was bad. It was not. the gun is very finicky. It loves Nosler accubonds, 225 grain, with the oal at spec. the load is with h-4350. I also had a great group with h1000, 69.5 grains with Hdy 225 sst's. E mail me at mickeyc@wideopenwest.com and I'll give you about 4 recipes that are good with that gun. No overloads, or dangerous pressure. I check every primer etc, after each shot, and I am very cautious about that. Rl 22 and 19 did not work for me, and neither did Imr 4831. Imr 4831 in my 300 w/m is fantastic, but not the 338. A few times with the 225 accu's, I have patterned a clover leaf, and last week, I put two in the same hole and one about an 1/8 inch away. not all the time, but if I doesn't pattern well, it's because I know I'm jerking trigger.
GREAT GUN
 
Ill email you here shortly Fairview Mick.

The load recipe I have been working with is using 225gr SST bullets and IMR4350 powder. I have worked up to Hodgdons max listed charge of 72gr compressed. No charge level from starting charge all the way up to max showed any degree of consistency for me. Once I get another scope (looking hard at Leupold VX-2) I'll get back to tuning the ammo for my rifle and see what it will do. :) The rounds I made today were with SAAMI spec cases.

This is a totally different rifle with a different scope mounted. Crazy thing is that the scope that worked well for me today was a cheap Bushnell that has taken it's share of deer. LOL! Something apparently just let go in my Pentax.
 
Until the end of the month I believe, if you buy a new VX3, you can get a $100 check mailed back from Leupold. That might help with your scope decision. Check Leupold's site for details.
 
I agree with Picher ! My Kimber Montana .223 would clear a $5 bill barely. I put a shim under the front of the receiver giving me more clearance .That cut the group size in half !! Yes the barrels do vibrate !
 
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