Inaccurate gun

[adamm88]

Has anyone every had a gun that just wouldn't shoot? I have a early 2000's Winchester Model 70 in a Lt sporter that has never shot consistently(2-3 inch groups).

It was my first gun so im not really looking to sell it just looking for some opinions/advice. It's been bedded in the stock and i cut the barrel down to 22 inch a few years ago as it was a little long for pa woods.

 

[steelheadmike]

1. Check the barrel crown to see if it's causing issues (how did it shoot pre-chop?)
2. Take the whole thing apart (stock, scope, rings, etc).
3. Put back together with loctite/paint pen at correct torque. Make sure you're not getting barrel contact with the stock.
4. Shoot some good ammo (start with whatever hornady precision hunter, hornady match, or federal gold medal match ammo is chambered for your rifle).
5. If still not getting better, start eliminating variables one at a time (scope, rings, bases, etc).
6. Have someone else shoot it.

 

[adamm88]

1. Check the barrel crown to see if it's causing issues (how did it shoot pre-chop?)
2. Take the whole thing apart (stock, scope, rings, etc).
3. Put back together with loctite/paint pen at correct torque. Make sure you're not getting barrel contact with the stock.
4. Shoot some good ammo (start with whatever hornady precision hunter, hornady match, or federal gold medal match ammo is chambered for your rifle).
5. If still not getting better, start eliminating variables one at a time (scope, rings, bases, etc).
6. Have someone else shoot it.

The guns never shot great even prior to being chopped. I would say the same 2-3 inch groups as average. Thanks for the reply

 

[RyanT26]

Yes. It happens. If you’ve checked the obvious things like making sure your scoop and rings are in good working condition, nothing is loose, barrel is free floated, using quality ammunition.
If It still doesn’t shoot after all that replace the barrel.

 

[adamm88]

Yes. It happens. If you’ve checked the obvious things like making sure your scoop and rings are in good working condition, nothing is loose, barrel is free floated, using quality ammunition.
If It still doesn’t shoot after all that replace the barrel.

If i would go a new barrel route how do i go about finding a barrel that would work, Iv built ars but never messed with long guns a whole lot.

 

[hereinaz]

If it is a push feed, you can do a barrel swap with a barrel nut. If it is a control round feed, it will take a smith.

Some companies make prefits for them.

 

[Matt5266]

Just food for thought. Check your barrel twist.

I have a older Winchester model 70 in 300 wsm with a 10 twist. It shot horribly for a while and couldnt figure out why. I was shooting 150 grains. Finally tried some 180s and the rifle went from 3 inch groups to 1 hole.

Just an idea of course

 

[coyotekilla]

Had a pre garcia sako 243 that wouldn't shoot, 2" was about its best. Have a bearcreek 6.5 grendel that was doing 1.5". Think that 1 is a crown issue. Have enough guns and sooner or later you will get a dud.

 

[Ramem7mm]

Ya it happens. If it has sentimental value then I agree to have a new barrel put on if and only if you have checked that everything else has already been gone through and is in working order. If not then maybe have someone check it out or be a fresh set of eyes.

 

[FredH]

Do a deep cleaning. Wrap a brush with some fine steel wool and put some Turtle Wax chrome polish on it and run that through the barrel 7-10 times, run a couple clean patches through it and inspect it. Could be a rough spot and this may be all you need to get it shooting.

 

[Megalodon]

Do a deep cleaning. Wrap a brush with some fine steel wool and put some Turtle Wax chrome polish on it and run that through the barrel 7-10 times, run a couple clean patches through it and inspect it. Could be a rough spot and this may be all you need to get it shooting.

OP, do NOT do this. Unless you're already planning on getting a new barrel.

 

[Vern400]

Be sure to try different bullet weights as you test different kinds of ammunition. A lot of people say if a rifle won't shoot Sierra match kings, it won't shoot. That's because it's an older design tangent ogive design that tends to be somewhat forgiving with regard to bullet jump. That's not me guaranteeing it but I have heard it a number of times but some very good shooters and gunsmiths.

Clean the barrel good, meaning until the patches come out clean. If you can get your hands on a borescope you can check it and see if it's badly pitted. When you look down the hole with a flashlight it's always shiny.

There are a lot of good suggestions here.

And one other thing. Check your parallax of your scope. I have seen some real garbage scopes.
Set up your rifle on bags pointed at the Target. Look through the scope and move your eye around. If the crosshairs move on the target, you've got parallax. That means the way you hold the gun and where your eye point is relative to the scope changes the poi. I JUST removed a Tasco scope from a Ruger 44 Magnum. It would shoot 1 inch groups at 50 yards, and 8-in groups at 100 yd. Come to find out, it wasn't the gun!