Troubleshooting checklist

[StoneCold]

I recently purchased a weatherby vanguard in 308. It seems to me to be a dud. I thought it could be a good thread to explain what you do when troubleshooting rifles that are not shooting well. I personally won't handload for a new rifle if it doesn't shoot at least 1 factory load well. This one varies considerably from range session to range session - even with the same ammo.

So here are some of the steps I have done...

1, Check Crown
2. Check bolt lug contact
3. Check assembly for any binding - action screws, scope mount screws, scope ring to base interface, free float barrel
4. Check torque values on everything, try different action screw torque values
5. Change scopes
6. Try multiple types of ammo
7. Change stocks and or bedding it
8. Check scope mounts for ill fit and bed if needed
9. Clean it
10. Try forend pressure as a last resort

After that I think I am pretty well covered. If it doesn't shoot...it probably won't. Then the hard part...what to do with the turd? I would send it back to weatherby...but they charge $200 if it shoots a 3 round group under .99"....it has done that randomly...but does not repeat.

So what do you check for? What do you do when it won't shoot after exhausting your efforts?

Thanks !

 

[BCmoss]

If it groups all over the place after that (including from being locked down in a lead sled, fggm shot through, and even a different shooter) i would try lapping. If it still groups like crap my last ditch method is fire lapping....if it still shoots like crap then the barrel was bad from the start.


What are the groups like? Is it double grouping or just all over the place?

 

[MT-JONAS]

I recently purchased a weatherby vanguard in 308. It seems to me to be a dud. I thought it could be a good thread to explain what you do when troubleshooting rifles that are not shooting well. I personally won't handload for a new rifle if it doesn't shoot at least 1 factory load well. This one varies considerably from range session to range session - even with the same ammo.

So here are some of the steps I have done...

1, Check Crown
2. Check bolt lug contact
3. Check assembly for any binding - action screws, scope mount screws, scope ring to base interface, free float barrel
4. Check torque values on everything, try different action screw torque values
5. Change scopes
6. Try multiple types of ammo
7. Change stocks and or bedding it
8. Check scope mounts for ill fit and bed if needed
9. Clean it
10. Try forend pressure as a last resort

After that I think I am pretty well covered. If it doesn't shoot...it probably won't. Then the hard part...what to do with the turd? I would send it back to weatherby...but they charge $200 if it shoots a 3 round group under .99"....it has done that randomly...but does not repeat.

So what do you check for? What do you do when it won't shoot after exhausting your efforts?

Thanks !

My son's Vanguard 7RM was that way. The new Vortex scope was garbage and changed scopes, it shoots fine now. Make certain the replacement scope is able to hold zero before installing it on the Vanguard.

I learned from an auto mechanic that the word NEW is an acronym.
Never
Ever
Worked (yet, meaning unproven)

 

[StoneCold]

These are some 5 round groups...each group is a different ammo - bullet weight and manufacturer...

The scopes I used were proven on other rifles...

I have over 250 rounds on this 308...not sure any type of lapping would make a difference at this point. I'm just wondering if you have any steps or things to check that I've missed.

Then what do ya do with it if ya give up?

Thanks!

 

[OG10]

Make sure nothing is interfering with the barrel, action magazine, bolts, nuts, screws studs make sure nothing is touching the barrel if you need to you can false free float the barrel simply by putting aluminum foil under the action to hold the barrel out of the stock while you torque it down .Specifically what ammo have you shot in this rifle? Last thing I would do is get a bore scope and run it through the entire barrel from chamber to Crown, looking for anything out of the ordinary. these are just suggestions on what I would do next I believe all weatherby's have a MOA guarantee. The next step would be to send it back to the manufacturer.

 

[StoneCold]

Make sure nothing is interfering with the barrel, action magazine, bolts, nuts, screws studs make sure nothing is touching the barrel if you need to you can false free float the barrel simply by putting aluminum foil under the action to hold the barrel out of the stock while you torque it down .Specifically what ammo have you shot in this rifle? Last thing I would do is get a bore scope and run it through the entire barrel from chamber to Crown, looking for anything out of the ordinary. these are just suggestions on what I would do next I believe all weatherby's have a MOA guarantee. The next step would be to send it back to the manufacturer.

I've shot...FGMM 175, 168 hornady black, 165 hornady sst, 165 hornady interlock, 150 federal fusion. 165 federal fusion, Nosler 180 partition, Mil surp white box 173, mil surp 175 LR, 150 ferderal blue box, 168 sierra mk handloads.

I wouldn't send it to weatherby...as you can see from the targets occasionally some land in a 3 shot MOA pattern...and they brag about how many times they get to charge the $200 "range fee". I've had it in an mdt fieldstock, the factory stock, and I bed it into a boyds laminate. I've verified no binding on any screws or mag box. The barrel has had a generous free float.

I think I'm done with it. At this point, I'm deciding if I want to rebarrel or sell off and get a tikka....lol

 

[OG10]

I would inspect the bore with a scope and see what it looks like inside. i'm sorry I don't see anything that looks like a group on those targets you posted, they look like shotgun blasts.

 

[BCmoss]

If I had shot all that ammo and it still grouped like crap with everything checking out...I'd clean the barrel down to bare metal and then fire lap the barrel as a last resort (with the bullet rolled between two files as a diy fire lap). Its either going to work or not, and if not I'd be prepared to rebarrel or sell as-is.