6.5 x 55

[GREEK HUNTER]

hey guys today i shot 4 rounds threw my mauser.... it was on dead aim last shot a screw broke off my sight so i ran out the the gun shop had them fix it for me... i went back to the range had 10 min to shot before they had to take off my scope i was right on.... then i got back it was way off at 100 yards... brang it in to 25 yrads i was around the circle like high... so i thought that since i was at 25yds it was cool... so i took it back out to 100 yds and was shooting over the target so now i brand the sight down an di was hiting paper again... but not bulls eye the rang closed.... do youthink this can be a problem now or was it just off and its fine now wish i had a chance before leaving for the woods tomorrow to shot but all the places i go to are closed cause there going up to hunt... well what do you guys think will i be fine for now shooting i was about 3 in out of the circle....

[jmfa1957]

This is a real shame; the only way that you are going to have confidence in this rifle is to spend more time at the range and prove to yourself that the problem is solved.

You don't say why the screw broke; did you drop the gun, or do you think recoil alone break it? Recoil is VERY mild on the Swede, so it would be hard to believe that this wasn't caused by another problem, like a bump or a drop. In that case I would be suspicious of the scope also.[]

If there is no way that you can spend more time shooting targets before you hunt I would confine my shots to short distances. These old Swede Mausers are about as accurate a rifle as many of today's hunting rifles, so if your shooting becomes erratic it is probably the sighting equipment that is at fault. Even with iron sights they are pretty easy to hit with out to 100 yards or so. The Swedes and the Swiss were pretty much nations of target shooters when these guns were made, and the rifles they made reflect this.

Good luck. Hopefully if you hit an animal it will be in a vital spot. If you can shoot a bit beforehand to check the zero, it would be worth the effort.

[GREEK HUNTER]

the screw was from the old scope that was on there from the mounts i guess for the yrs o hunting my grandfather did it just broek the gun wasn't dropped or anything well the thing is when i was hitting the paper at 25 yards when i moved it out to 100 i was way above the target so i moved it down now well the guy at the range did then i was on paper then when i was shooting i made it about 3 in from the x but it was also very windy could that have something to do with it i didn't think it would for only 100 yards... well thanks for your help....

[jmfa1957]

Wind can certainly do nasty things, but like you said, at only 100 yards it shouldn't be that bad, assuming that you are shooting from a steady rest. Bullet weight makes a difference also. I like the 140 grain bullets best, but the 129 and 120 grain bullets are fine for deer. They may blow around a bit more than the 140s do, but the 6.5 mm bullets are long, skinny and stable as heck.

Whenever I mount (or remount) a scope I boresight it. There are often adjustments one can make with the scope mounts that get things reasonably centered before you start clicking the scope adjustments. It is best if you can start out with the scope adjustments centered so that you have the maximum adjustment either way available to you once the screws are all buttoned down.

Anyway, if your shots are at or under 100 yards, a three inch offset may not be the end of the world, since deer have an 8" to 10" kill spot. I would sure feel more comfortable if I could find a place to do a bit more shooting though before taking shots at game, if for no other reason that to feel more confident.

Good luck, and GREAT choice of rifle and caliber!

[GREEK HUNTER]

thanks for your help i wish i coul dget out and shot more but i can't with work and all maybe during the mid day i can run over to the range on thusday then hunt early morning and late afternoon there is a range not far from where i will be hunting in carbon county