More Seekins Precision problems

[Durable Gun]

Hey all, long story short I had a HitPro barrel replaced after shooting hundreds of rounds through it with super inconsistent groups produced. The build is a Hit Pro gen 2 with a NightForce NX8 4x32 and sphur rings. So as stated I had issues with grouping with every kind of ammo you can think of. Seekins built me a new barrel and 6 months later- I received it. Long time I know. They tested the barrel at Seekins with another gun and sent it to me with a 3round group paper target as proof that it shot well (.5 MOA). I put the barrel on my hitpro and again it shoots like garbage. 1.5moa at best with 10 shot groups at 100m. The scope and rings are torqued to specs. Though I admit I have never used my new nx8 and the spuhr rings on another rifle. However with my original hit pro with a “bad barrel “ I did originally have a different scope and rings on it when I first got it. I’m now at a loss and don’t wanna spend the close to 1000$ I spent originally on my 1st barrel and trying to get it to shoot. I’m confident it’s not the rings and scope at this point. Barrel in on correctly also. Any advice would be appreciated. Ps- I also have a PH3 being replaced as it also shoots like ass. I have a ph2 in 7prc that shoots lights out.
Thanks kindly.
Pss- 3rd pic is the best group of 10 shots

 

[Yaremkiv]

Did Seekins test the barrel with factory ammo? If so, did they tell you what they shot?

 

[Steve300xcw]

You sure its the gun?

 

[Wrench]

I'd try a different pilot on the trigger and then a different scope.

Nightforce is pretty much a legend here.....but I have puked 2 of them so it is possible.

 

[ddowning]

What do your groups look like with other guns that weigh 12 lbs or less? If they are better, the list is pretty endless but includes bedding, absurd bedding issues like trigger contact with stock inlet, action screws too long, scope base screws too long (not sure if this is applicable to this particular action or not), scope failure, mount failure, bad batch of bullets and on and on. If you are shooting other 20lb comp guns into tiny groups then you are fooling yourself. A 20 lb pop gun will almost shoot itself while a 12 lb gun is pretty critical in comparison.

If you want to test accuracy of the system for not $1000, load some Berger 140 bt target over 4350 in lapua brass. If that doesn't shoot, it is something with the gun.

Before shooting more than 5 shots was main stream, I used to say the best way to turn a 1/2 moa gun into a quarter moa gun (5 shot groups) is to switch to Berger bullets. I do not hunt with Berger often because I don't love the terminal performance, but there is almost always an improvement in precision. The 140 bt target is a very forgiving bullet in modern chamber designs. Any mild charge that doesn't crater primers and any reasonable seating depth should shoot with this combo. A good blank, good smith work, good brass and bullets, and things normally shoot lights out for prs/hunting/nrl no matter what the specifics of the load are. If there are no equipment issues, you are probably looking at a crooked or under/over sized chamber. CNC has soured a few really good gunsmith shops. It doesn't matter how consistent the computer runs the tooling if the bore and the tooling are not perfectly concentric.

I have turned a custom 243AI hunting barrel from 1 moa (5 shots) 1.5 (10 shots) to .5 moa (5 shots) 1 moa (as many shots as you want to shoot) with Hornady 105 hpbt just by sorting the bullets by OAL. The bullet quality makes a lot bigger difference than most people think, especially if it is bad.

The other thing I would consider is to dump it and start over, or send it to a GOOD gunsmith to sort out. It will likely be cheaper than putting a barrel's worth of loads through it only to spend your time,$, and frustration. After having my teeth kicked in just like this several times, I stopped worrying about the money. I contact the builder and work with them to solve the problem. If they are helpful (most try) then we work together to solve it. If they are not receptive, I cut and run and start with someone else that I pay to sort it out. You can run almost an entire rifle worth of $$$$ through a barrel trying to figure it out or you can spend that money on something that will shoot well and enjoy it.

My $0.02, hopefully something in there is helpful.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Put a different scope and rings on it.Hard to blame something if you’re not sure.
Send it to seekins and let them figure it out.

 

[Durable Gun]

You sure its the gun?

Again, I'm preety confident its not the scope and rings. Pretty confident it's not the new and old barrel now. I'm 100% sure it's not me.

 

[MtnMuley]

Have you spoke to Seekins after round 2?

 

[Durable Gun]

What do your groups look like with other guns that weigh 12 lbs or less? If they are better, the list is pretty endless but includes bedding, absurd bedding issues like trigger contact with stock inlet, action screws too long, scope base screws too long (not sure if this is applicable to this particular action or not), scope failure, mount failure, bad batch of bullets and on and on. If you are shooting other 20lb comp guns into tiny groups then you are fooling yourself. A 20 lb pop gun will almost shoot itself while a 12 lb gun is pretty critical in comparison.

If you want to test accuracy of the system for not $1000, load some Berger 140 bt target over 4350 in lapua brass. If that doesn't shoot, it is something with the gun.

Before shooting more than 5 shots was main stream, I used to say the best way to turn a 1/2 moa gun into a quarter moa gun (5 shot groups) is to switch to Berger bullets. I do not hunt with Berger often because I don't love the terminal performance, but there is almost always an improvement in precision. The 140 bt target is a very forgiving bullet in modern chamber designs. Any mild charge that doesn't crater primers and any reasonable seating depth should shoot with this combo. A good blank, good smith work, good brass and bullets, and things normally shoot lights out for prs/hunting/nrl no matter what the specifics of the load are. If there are no equipment issues, you are probably looking at a crooked or under/over sized chamber. CNC has soured a few really good gunsmith shops. It doesn't matter how consistent the computer runs the tooling if the bore and the tooling are not perfectly concentric.

I have turned a custom 243AI hunting barrel from 1 moa (5 shots) 1.5 (10 shots) to .5 moa (5 shots) 1 moa (as many shots as you want to shoot) with Hornady 105 hpbt just by sorting the bullets by OAL. The bullet quality makes a lot bigger difference than most people think, especially if it is bad.

The other thing I would consider is to dump it and start over, or send it to a GOOD gunsmith to sort out. It will likely be cheaper than putting a barrel's worth of loads through it only to spend your time,$, and frustration. After having my teeth kicked in just like this several times, I stopped worrying about the money. I contact the builder and work with them to solve the problem. If they are helpful (most try) then we work together to solve it. If they are not receptive, I cut and run and start with someone else that I pay to sort it out. You can run almost an entire rifle worth of $$$$ through a barrel trying to figure it out or you can spend that money on something that will shoot well and enjoy it.

My $0.02, hopefully something in there is helpful.

To answer your early question- my shots are considerably better with my other rifles (.5MOA with 6.5cm and 7PRC) consistently. Also, this Hit Pro now weighs 18Lbs

 

[Durable Gun]

Have you spoke to Seekins after round 2?

Just sent them a long email.

 

[MtnMuley]

Good deal. Hopefully you get a quick, positive answer as they're a solid company.

 

[wpeach1912]

Buy an impact action, stuteville Bartlein or CRB prefit, and throw it in the stock of your choosing. That combo just works. That seekins should shoot better but the above combo will not mess around. As mentioned earlier in the thread, if you want to keep messing with it try a Berger, hornady, or Sierra 140gn bullet on top of 40-41.5 grains of H4350. If it doesn’t shoot with that combo, something is messed up.

 

[Durable Gun]

Buy an impact action, stuteville Bartlein or CRB prefit, and throw it in the stock of your choosing. That combo just works. That seekins should shoot better but the above combo will not mess around. As mentioned earlier in the thread, if you want to keep messing with it try a Berger, hornady, or Sierra 140gn bullet on top of 40-41.5 grains of H4350. If it doesn’t shoot with that combo, something is messed up.

I'm in Canada btw- not exactly easy to get those combos. I emailed Seeking. I'm hoping for another full replacement. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Durable Gun]

What do your groups look like with other guns that weigh 12 lbs or less? If they are better, the list is pretty endless but includes bedding, absurd bedding issues like trigger contact with stock inlet, action screws too long, scope base screws too long (not sure if this is applicable to this particular action or not), scope failure, mount failure, bad batch of bullets and on and on. If you are shooting other 20lb comp guns into tiny groups then you are fooling yourself. A 20 lb pop gun will almost shoot itself while a 12 lb gun is pretty critical in comparison.

If you want to test accuracy of the system for not $1000, load some Berger 140 bt target over 4350 in lapua brass. If that doesn't shoot, it is something with the gun.

Before shooting more than 5 shots was main stream, I used to say the best way to turn a 1/2 moa gun into a quarter moa gun (5 shot groups) is to switch to Berger bullets. I do not hunt with Berger often because I don't love the terminal performance, but there is almost always an improvement in precision. The 140 bt target is a very forgiving bullet in modern chamber designs. Any mild charge that doesn't crater primers and any reasonable seating depth should shoot with this combo. A good blank, good smith work, good brass and bullets, and things normally shoot lights out for prs/hunting/nrl no matter what the specifics of the load are. If there are no equipment issues, you are probably looking at a crooked or under/over sized chamber. CNC has soured a few really good gunsmith shops. It doesn't matter how consistent the computer runs the tooling if the bore and the tooling are not perfectly concentric.

I have turned a custom 243AI hunting barrel from 1 moa (5 shots) 1.5 (10 shots) to .5 moa (5 shots) 1 moa (as many shots as you want to shoot) with Hornady 105 hpbt just by sorting the bullets by OAL. The bullet quality makes a lot bigger difference than most people think, especially if it is bad.

The other thing I would consider is to dump it and start over, or send it to a GOOD gunsmith to sort out. It will likely be cheaper than putting a barrel's worth of loads through it only to spend your time,$, and frustration. After having my teeth kicked in just like this several times, I stopped worrying about the money. I contact the builder and work with them to solve the problem. If they are helpful (most try) then we work together to solve it. If they are not receptive, I cut and run and start with someone else that I pay to sort it out. You can run almost an entire rifle worth of $$$$ through a barrel trying to figure it out or you can spend that money on something that will shoot well and enjoy it.

My $0.02, hopefully something in there is helpful.

Thanks kindly for the feedback. Very helpful.

 

[Megalodon]

Though I admit I have never used my new nx8 and the spuhr rings on another rifle.

I’m confident it’s not the rings and scope at this point.

What an ignorant thing to say. Is this just a “feeling” you have since you haven’t actually done anything to test that the optic and mount are good??

Based on your replies I’m going to 100% say this is a user error or bad shooter. I don’t believe you shoot your other guns as well as you say you do.

There’s easy and simple things to check on your setup that you are apparently not capable or knowledgeable enough to check. I’d try to find someone in your area that has actual experience with these things that might be able to check.

I’ve been around waaaaay too many Seekins bolt guns that shoot dead nuts out of the box to believe you’ve gotten back to back lemon barrels.

 

[Wrench]

There's not a lot of places for accuracy to fall apart in a bolt gun. If the firing pin moves unobstructed and the trigger doesn't drag or bounce, the ring screws don't touch the barrel or bolt and the action screw doesn't touch the bolt and hold tight.... it's on to the optics and barrel.

I've seen guns that shoot incredible with 50% lug contact. I've seen lots of shooters that were obviously less than perfect on the face/recoil lug. Ive seen barrels that look like death valley all shoot well....but I have never seen a roached scope or mount be a winner.

 

[Durable Gun]

What an ignorant thing to say. Is this just a “feeling” you have since you haven’t actually done anything to test that the optic and mount are good??

Based on your replies I’m going to 100% say this is a user error or bad shooter. I don’t believe you shoot your other guns as well as you say you do.

There’s easy and simple things to check on your setup that you are apparently not capable or knowledgeable enough to check. I’d try to find someone in your area that has actual experience with these things that might be able to check.

I’ve been around waaaaay too many Seekins bolt guns that shoot dead nuts out of the box to believe you’ve gotten back to back lemon barrels.

Who's being ignorant here? I just clearly stated it is obviously not the barrel(s). Also assuming I can't shoot other rifles I own is ignorant in itself. Don't believe it. Couldn't care less. Didn't I post that I had 2 different optics and rings on the rifle? I will try different avenues before I conclude its not me missing something. Why don't u lend me your expertise since you're such an expert on Seekins? I own 3 of them. 1 of them shoots incredibly- must be a self shooting rifle. Did father Christmas tie your dick in a knot this year. You may be able to get a professional to look into that.

 

[bojangles808]

Put a different scope and rings on it.Hard to blame something if you’re not sure.
Send it ton seekins and let them figure it out.

this. proof it with another scope rings and eliminate that variable. I'm not familiar with that rifle is the pic rail integral or screwed on and bedded? check that too.

you might be in no mans land though where it shoots good enough 3 round groups but 10 round groups falls off. What were you expectations for 10 round groups? what is your "lights out" 7prc shooting groups wise?

 

[Frozenlead]

Might be worth popping the action out and checking the recoil fit / protrusion. They run tikka like design and it’s well known what happens to them when they don’t seat properly.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Have you tried any factory ammo or just your reloads?