Is this a scope issue

[Truc]

I feel it is but is a new Leupold Mark 4
Rifle is a Custom 7 SAUM
Top groups are 168 Bergers 60 gr H-4831 210 Federal Primer
bottom groups are 180 Bergers 58 H-4831 BR-2 Primer
4 straight 2 and 1 groups
or is this a holding issue
very solid Farley rest and rear sand bag

 

[Caleb]

Hard to say if your scope is walking without more shooting. Is this 100yds?

 

[Truc]

Yes, brand new build, barrel etc

 

[Caleb]

Yes, brand new build, barrel etc

Looks like good shooting to me. I would keep shooting before I condemned a scope.

 

[Magnumdude]

Shoot a 5-shot group. That'll give you a better idea if a barrel/stock issue. I tend to agree it's not a scope issue. Scopes seem to either go to pieces all at once or gradually open your groups up.

 

[D.ID]

Check your base, action bolts and rings first. I have had bases come loose and give me the old two stepping point of impact very similar to that.

 

[Bullet bumper]

You have to check everything but I think the rear SAND bag is helping to give inconsistant verticle. Sand bags are no that good they change shape and support characteristics with every shot even the good firm ones do to some degree .

 

[Truc]

You might be right about the sand bag issue, The rifle does not slide in the set up, I think I might try some dryer sheets between the bags and gun. In competition I use graphite on my bags but did't want the mess on this rifle.

 

[dieselboy427]

Is it a first round flyer or a random round in the group? or the last round?

 

[Truc]

Random, sometimes 1st and 3rd together sometimes 2nd and 3rd or 1st and second. The last group not shown clump all three together into about a high .3" group but had slight marks on brass. I checked today and primers are still tight.

 

[dieselboy427]

Take a friend and if you have a spare scope take both. Try the spare friend before the scope. Also, you may try whacking the scope a few times with your palm after you shoot your first group or two and see if it changes.

 

[Caleb]

I feel it is but is a new Leupold Mark 4
Rifle is a Custom 7 SAUM
Top groups are 168 Bergers 60 gr H-4831 210 Federal Primer
bottom groups are 180 Bergers 58 H-4831 BR-2 Primer
4 straight 2 and 1 groups
or is this a holding issue
very solid Farley rest and rear sand bag

View attachment 18281

So, are you shooting 3 shot groups? Sorry, just trying to grasp what you mean by "2 and 1 groups". If so, does your bolt have an extractor claw? and are you feeding all 3 rounds with the bolt vs feeding 2 and hand feeding the third? ...just another element to think about.

 

[Truc]

3 shot groups w/ 1 out each of the 4 targets, it is a mini 14? extractor standard on the Stiller action. All three fed by hand not from magazine.

 

[Caleb]

3 shot groups w/ 1 out each of the 4 targets, it is a mini 14? extractor standard on the Stiller action. All three fed by hand not from magazine.

Well that renders me useless....I didn't even know a mini 14 could convert to the 7SUAM! I've got a mini too, and I figured it would chamber best from the magazine being the claw grabs it and rides it into the chamber. Many automatic actions won't seat very consistently when you ride the claw over the rim once the round is already chambered, but honestly, I don't know as much as I thought about the mini 14.