What is my problem with my vertical all of a sudden?

[CRNA]

Ok, so when I first got my gun tuned in it was shooting .3-.5" at 100yds.
Was shooting very well out to 400 and 600 yards a few months ago.
Went shooting few weeks ago and was all over the place (this was at the same 400 and 600yd spot that was no challenge just a few months prior). I just chalked it up to me having a bad day.
Went to the 100yd range today with my son. After shooting my rifle I felt like throwing it off a bridge. My windage was perfect. However, my vertical has me on the verge of blowing a gasket somewhere in my cranium.
My first six shots at 100yds:

1) 3.5" high
2) 2" high
3) 1" high
4) bullseye
5) 1.5" high
6) bullseye

Let the barrel cool. Shot two shots:
1) bullseye
2) 1.5" high

Let the barrel cool. Shot two shots:
1) bullseye
2) 1.25" high

Let the barrel cool. Shot two shots:
1) bullseye
2) cut the same hole

Here is a link to a picture of the target:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g309/screamin_chief/IMG_3457.jpg

If anyone has an idea as to what the problem is, please enlighten me.

 

[Broz]

I had this once with a rifle in a wood stock. Durring the high humidity times of year it all went to crap. I restocked it and bedded the action and it was good to go year round.


Also have seen something like this with a Leapold scope that was going south.


Hope this helps.

Jeff

 

[CRNA]

I had this once with a rifle in a wood stock. Durring the high humidity times of year it all went to crap. I restocked it and bedded the action and it was good to go year round.


Also have seen something like this with a Leapold scope that was going south.


Hope this helps.

Jeff

Hadn't really thought about the humidity. But come to think of it, it has only been acting up since it has been hot and humid. Maybe just a coincidence and maybe not. I have the factory Accustock that has not been bedded.

 

[deerhunterjj]

I had the same issue and my problem was my scope. And it was a leupold. It shoot excellent put it in the safe went to check zero a few weeks before season. Its a rifle i dont use but once in a blue moon and it was all over the place. Would not adjust neither sent it in to leupold and something inside shot **** on it. they fixed it and have not had an issue since.

 

[CRNA]

I had the same issue and my problem was my scope. And it was a leupold. It shoot excellent put it in the safe went to check zero a few weeks before season. Its a rifle i dont use but once in a blue moon and it was all over the place. Would not adjust neither sent it in to leupold and something inside shot **** on it. they fixed it and have not had an issue since.

I didn't try to adjust anything, so I don't know if that is an issue or not. I guess before we go any further I should be more specific about what I am shooting:

Savage Model 111 in 7mmRM with accustock and accutrigger
McGowan 28" Stainless Steel Match, Varmint contour, 1:9 twist
Harris S-bipod
Nightforce one piece 20MOA base
Nightforce ultralight rings
Nightforce NXS 5.5-22X56


I am trying to blame other things on this problem such as my shooting position. The benches at the range can never let me find a really comfortable spot, but I just don't see me missing the target by 3.5" at 100 yards. Not when I was shooting groups the size of a tennis ball with the same rig at 600yds just a few months ago. This has really got me frustrated, especially with hunting season just around the corner.

 

[Loner]

Bore scope the barrel. Could be copper fouled, throat could be going or more likely look
for a damaged muzzle crown. I had a 22.250 barrel that I shot the muzzle out on. Set it
back and it didn't help much. Ball mic'd the muzzle and it was .0015 bigger than the
bore for 1/2- 3/4 of an inch. Cut it off and re-recrowned and wha la! Had my gun back.

 

[CRNA]

Bore scope the barrel. Could be copper fouled, throat could be going or more likely look
for a damaged muzzle crown. I had a 22.250 barrel that I shot the muzzle out on. Set it
back and it didn't help much. Ball mic'd the muzzle and it was .0015 bigger than the
bore for 1/2- 3/4 of an inch. Cut it off and re-recrowned and wha la! Had my gun back.

Well, the barrel was just freshly scrubbed, so I know that it wasn't copper fouled. I don't think the throat would be going this soon, as I have less than about 200 rounds through it with a conservative load. I guess the muzzle is a possibility, but I am pretty meticulous about not letting anything touch the muzzle, which is a recessed target crown.

 

[bigngreen]

Check that the tang is floated. I've had a couple Savages have a bedding issue that would allow the rear of the action to stress and it went from a solid 1/2 MOA to barely able to keep it on paper, chipped out the bedding and stress free bedded it and it was all back to normal. Scope and mounts are also a common source.

 

[backwoods83]

One other thing to check if your shooting a fresh batch of reloads is neck tension, if its common for you to get about 25lbs of tension and you have some a little over 30 and some close to 40 that explains the bullseyes, the 1.5-2" high, and the 3.5" high.

 

[CRNA]

Check that the tang is floated. I've had a couple Savages have a bedding issue that would allow the rear of the action to stress and it went from a solid 1/2 MOA to barely able to keep it on paper, chipped out the bedding and stress free bedded it and it was all back to normal. Scope and mounts are also a common source.

I will look at it and see. I am thinking about having the action bedded. It is a factory Accustock, but shot great until the last two times I had it out. I debating on having the Accustock bedded vs. just going all in and ordering a nice stock like a Bell and Carlson or a Macmillan.

 

[CRNA]

One other thing to check if your shooting a fresh batch of reloads is neck tension, if its common for you to get about 25lbs of tension and you have some a little over 30 and some close to 40 that explains the bullseyes, the 1.5-2" high, and the 3.5" high.

To be perfectly honest with you, I have no idea as to how to check neck tensions. I never have educated myself as to neck tension.

 

[backwoods83]

They make gauges for your press but when your seating the bullets you will notice the difference between 20lbs and 40 you feel a lot more resistance on the lever at 40lbs.

 

[CRNA]

They make gauges for your press but when your seating the bullets you will notice the difference between 20lbs and 40 you feel a lot more resistance on the lever at 40lbs.

Ok, you have my interest now. So, know you have to school me on how you do this.

 

[backwoods83]

After you have sized, primed, and charged your cases and your ready to seat the bullets take note as to how much resistence it takes to seat them, put all the ones that feel the same together, put the higher and lower resistance rounds seperate and keep track of which is which. The press gauges are a better way but they are a little pricey, mine was over 300$.