I took the 25-06 to the range today with some Accubonds. It was the first time in a whilethe wind wasn't blowing 40mph and shifting directions, so I could get a good idea of whatthe load was capableof. The first shot was on target, but with each subsequent shot, the bullet would hit about 1/4 to 1/2"lower. Is this an indicator I need to + or - the powder charge, or is it anybody's guess?
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Lots of possiblities. Check all action screws and scope mount/ring screws. Torque action screws to 65 inch pounds. Do you know that there is nothing loose inside your scope? If you have a wood stock and/or if it isn't free floated, sometimes the heat of the barrel causes the stock to warp up or down (this would be your scenario), and cause the point of impact to shift as well. And if you started out with a real clean barrel, some barrels will wander up or down for the first few shots until they get properly fouled. This is particulary possible with non-premium barrels that may be a little rough inside.
What's the history of this gun? Has it shown tendencies in the past to wander itszero? If notwhile shooting a group, then printing a group in a different spot as the weather and temperature changed?
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Nothing wrong with the gun (Win. M70 pre-'64). Shot some 75 grain V-Max and 87 grain spire points fine. Theseloads were the only ones that grouped that way.
I did start out with a clean barrely and shoot these first. I was mainly just curious as if this was an indication of which wayI shouldgo with my load development.
BTW, all groups were 5-shot groups. Then I'd let the barrel cool for a while, shoot some other guns, then shoot another group with this one.
Sorry my original post wasn't very clear.
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Location: S.W. Pa.-- Heart in North Central Pa. mountains-
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RE: Wandering groups?
Never had 'em drop down on me like that. If you feel that it's not a bedding issue, then it's the load or part of the combination I would think. I guess I would check with a known good shooting load to eliminate gun/scope problems. How did you weigh the charges? Check the scale? Do anything different than normal? I know this sounds elementary. No switch in primers while loading?
Hope someone else on here can help. Let us know what you find out.
Try waiting at least one minute between shots. If the downward wandering is less noticable, wait about five minutes and see if it returns to the same spot as the first shot. Sometimes certain loads do strange things. I would be more worried about the first shot printing the same spot every time than some vertical dispersion on five shot strings, though. Then again, this load might not be all that consistent for some reason. Might switch powders or primers.
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A man has got to know his limitations . . . . .
I would let cool 10 min between shots and see what it does. If it still wonders like that, you got some bedding issues. Whats the torque on your action screws. I usually put 35ft-lbs on my front screw.
If it shot the other loads well then I would suspect that the load just needs a little tweeking. It does sound like a stock issue but I don't know why it would only do it with this load if it was a bedding problem. I guess That I would also try a different primes first.
Some guns just wont shoot some loads well,It doesn't mean theirs any thing wrong with your gun. Just switch components and work up again,you'll likely find a load very close to this one that will make you happy.I was ready to throw in the towel on Nosler bullets,I've got several varietys on my reloading shelf, when I was convinced by a friend to try their 168gr custom compitition j4 bullets. Man in my Savage tactial rifle they shoot as good as sierra's and that's great.
I would let cool 10 min between shots and see what it does. If it still wonders like that, you got some bedding issues. Whats the torque on your action screws. I usually put 35ft-lbs on my front screw.
Wandering groups?
