scope question

[jay83196]

I was sighting in my Browning bar 30-06 I got last year, before I hunt this year. I was all over the place 5 shots total one high left, high right, one low left, then low right all 4-5 inches from center. Last year I didn't hunt with it but I remember being way more accurate sighing in. I used the same ammo (federal premium noslar partition 180 gr). Question is I have a Zeiss conquest is it common for defective scope to do this? Never had a bad one, or more likely to be rifle doesn't like the ammo, never had this happen before and not sure what to do, opener is close and not a lot if time, do I try new ammo or more likely the scopes bad?

Thanks for opinions...

[Red Miller]

I had something like that happen on my Rem. 30-06 and it turned out to be the scope. I thought the barrel was shot out of it. It was a cheap scope though. I put a Nikon on it and I havent had to adjust it since. Rock solid. Bulls at 100 yds every time. Have you checked that the mounts are tight?

[jay83196]

Yeah made sure but I'm going to try hornady sst I think I hear good things about them see if any better. Then mess with the scope I think.

[Red Miller]

Good idea.... if settles down then its ammo. Im a bit old school and not too worried about the lead. I just use the old reliable Remmington Cor-Lokt off the shelf stuff. I thought about getting fancy and switching to some higher end ammo but the wallet had other ideas.

[jay83196]

I hope so I have heard if ammo doesn't agree with rifle it can happen I guess I'm just sceptical that it could shoot that poorly from one ammo to another if thats the case, just wondered if anybody had that experience, I hate to just buy new ammo and spend the time if its the scope.

[Red Miller]

It can be pretty frustrating but the first rule of troublshooting is try the easy cheaper things first and go from there. Good luck...theres still time to get it squared away. Im headed to the range on Wednesday and hoping there are no surprises.

[Boar]

Jay I shoot hrnady sst 150's great bullet, the only other shell I'll hunt with my 06 is hornady interbond but i cant find the around her very often. Actually put three shots in a quarter today at a hundred making sure its still on for halles youth hunt on the 18th. wont go wrong with the sst's.

Before that session i needed to burn some green box populars just for fun an was inch this way an two inches that way an again an inch over here, no reliable pattern, an not that that wont kill a deer, but when hornady can can produce those results without moving the scope.... wont buy anything else. Havin a Leuper 3x9 helps too.

[nofishfisherman]

Are you sighting it in at a gun range? If so you could ask around to see if someone will either swap a few shells with you or let you buy 3-4 shells off them just to see if different ammo gives you a different pattern. Since you're shooting a 30.06 you should have lots of guys around you with the same caliber. If the pattern tightens up at all then you're probably on the right path thinking it could be the ammo. If you're still all over the place then I'd look at the scope.

[96trigger]

My only concern jay is that you said it shot the same ammo good last year. Ammo doesn't usually go bad. I would lean towards.a scope issue, but would definitely try some new ammo first and cross my fingers.

[Sorgy]

Have you checked you scope mounts and rings? Is it possible something is loose? I would have to believe that is the issue. I have not heard of many scopes going bad- fogging up -yes but not internally breaking.

Good Luck

Steve

[hockeybc69]

Curious what kind of mounts you have?

[jay83196]

Leupold one piece base and rings on a Zeiss scope. Seems tight. Had gunsmith do it all...maybe was me shooting who know, trying new bullets and see if better or take more time shooting.

[nofishfisherman]

There is always the potential you just weren't shooting well that day. Maybe you picked up a bad habit that was causing inconsistency.

I was just at the range this morning and at 100 yards I was shooting reasonably good groups but once in awhile I'd throw one way out, maybe 4-6 inches outside of the group. I knew that was me and not the ammo or scope.

[bogwalker]

I gave up on all Federal ammo. Just was not consistent. Never had a problem with plain old Core-Lokt.

[MUSKY18]

+1 for trying different ammo. I know my Winchester Model 70 will drive tacks with Winchester Ammo. Tried all different brands and just couldn't get the rifle to sight in properly. Weird that it works that way. Also, are you using a VERY STEADY rest when shooting? Make sure that your sight picture is the same everytime you go to shoot. Don't jerk the trigger when you fire, it should almost surprise you when the rifle goes off.

Just my .02 from the military guy that has had this stuff drilled into my head for 23 years!

[jay83196]

Figured it out I need to clean it after 4-5 shots I shot 6 at 50 then tried 100 yds last time and a gun smith suggested because gun so new it could be once gets little dirty may do it. First 3 shots today with clean gun 2" above bull at 100yds . Shot more started to travel cleaned it then was back to nice pattern. I never heard that except with muzzy. He said often after a box or two get shot once in while through some guns they get better he called it breaking in the rifling basically. All I know is it worked keeping it clean this time.

Thanks for all suggestions I did try hornady sst they grouped nice along with my original federals.

[nofishfisherman]

Glad it was a simple fix. I'll have to keep that in mind since my rifle has only had 2 boxes through it thus far. Perhaps that contributed to the few shots that went astray on me last weekend while I was at the range.

[Boar]

Cool beans, game on jay.

[jay83196]

I guess makes sence just never heard of it or had it happen and I have quite a few guns. I imagine some guns must be more sensitive than others.