Trouble sighting rifle, need help!!

What is your twist rate and bullet weight on the ammo you are using? Also, did you clean it before firing it (I realize it is brand new)?

Also, take a dollar bill out of your wallet and see if you can slide it between the barrel and forearm without it catching. As others have mentioned, high spots will cause erratic grouping as the barrel heats up.

Haha you probably tried all this already though. Very nice rifle, you will get it dialed-in.

 

what brand of ammo are you using?

 

Let someone else shoot your rifle, either its you or the rifle.

 

With an untested rifle and scope, could be lots of things. First start with the easiest. Action screws , mounts, and rings properly tightened? Any odd pressure areas in the stock's barrel channel. Many guns are bedded with upward pressure near the tip of the stock, so I don't consider that odd. If it is there, it may or may not affect accuracy. Some shoot better one way or the other, but not all barrels are the same. If it's free floated already, add a very small amount of forearm pressure, like the thickness of a business card and see how it responds.

Have someone else shoot it. Could be something as simple as your technique. Try different ammo. Some guns just don't like certain bullets without any rhyme or reason. If is still doesn't shoot, change to a trusted scope. Some brand new scopes are bad from the start. No way to tell unless you change scopes.

 

Truth. I wouldnt think that of a Swarovski scope but its a possibility. Definitely recheck all screws..

 

Odds are it's not the scope, which is why it's usually one of my later changes, but stuff happens. Some brand new stuff doesn't work, no matter how expensive and high quality it is. It wouldn't be the first thing I'd check, but it's always in the back of my mind. One of the reasons I don't loc tight anything to begin with.

 

I agree, but imagine how PO'd you'd be if it turns out the scope wont hold zero...

 

Had a brand new leupold on a brand new M70. Lots of work and cursing, to find out it was the scope. It's the only leupold I've ever had a problem with, and it was bad out of the box. I never felt good about the scope or rifle after that and finally sent them on their way. I almost always put a trusted scope on new rifles now. Almost every rifle has the same scope, so it makes it easy.

 

I had problems with a scope, lost confidence in it and the rifle. turned out the scope mounts were just loose enough to throw zero off but look tight on the rail! Im still not confident in the rifle. So I dont hunt with it all anymore after missing a couple elk in as many days...

 

It's funny how confidence has so much to do with some rifles. Once I've lost confidence in it, I might as well sell it because I'll never trust it, no matter how great it may be.

 

Exactly! I went back to my trusty .270...shot an elk cow at 150+ yards. One shot one kill...I know exactly where my 270 shoots and its deadly! That is my go to rifle when others let me down. Im not opposed to my muzzleloaders either

 

You scrub the barrel clean?

 

And I pay someone to install scopes now. They have tools to get perfect alignment. They even lap them if needed.

 

I lap the rings and bed the base whenever I install a scope on my rifles. For Myself I never scub the barrel ultra clean. Works well for me.

 

Yeah, I never scrub any barrel. I'd rather wear it out with bullets than a brush.

 

I think Ive only ran the brush down my .270 a couple of times in the time I've owned it. I bought it brand new in 93. still a great shooter.

 

Did you read and follow the manufacturer's break in instructions for the rifle? Did you use high quality rings? Ammo? Twist rate? Good quality rings? There are all kinds of things that it could be. Browning generally makes accurate rifles and I have never had a Swaro scope have issues. I would be shocked if it is your scope. Those shots are all over the place so the first thing I would ask is how experienced are you? Are you recoil sensitive? Many people don't handle recoil well and it doesn't make us any more or any less of a man. Also, some of the break in procedures can make a huge difference and some ammo does not do well in certain barrels. I have about 40 long guns and some of my customs have crazy break in requirements. If your scope is not properly mounted then this could also be your issue. Some rings, even good ones, have to be lapped. Now that the sun is setting on the 40 something years for me, I only use Talley rings (have never had an issue with them) and after I boresight with my laser boresighter, I am generally no more than a half to an inch off at 100 yards. I ask about recoail sensitivity as well because after shooting for 40 years, I now use a 257 Roberts. I see no reason for anything more than minimal recoil for where I live. Sorry for all the rambling - I didn't read all the ideas and am sure there were some excellent ones. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me. Best of luck.

 

has the OP'r even come back?

 

Maybe he is remounting his scope? We did give him an awful big list of things to check. LOL.

 

Lol. I ordered an inch pound torque screw diver so I could properly torque all my screws. After that I'll be heading out to the range. I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for all the advise.