I am not sure who makes Pine Ridge scopes but have read posts of people liking them or absolutely hating them. It seems that if it is a good one, then you have it made.Hard to say if it was the scope or not. Of course check your mounts and make sure they are tight. If you had a chance to try the conicals with the iron sights you could then rule out the scope to some degree. Or if you had another scope you could throw on, that you knew was a good solid scope, this too could help address this possibility.

Powerbelts are a slip fit conical and because of this load easy. Many people leave the barrel fowled because they load easy. Were you swabbing between shots? Since you were sighting in, I personally would swab between shots even though the projectile is loading easy. Then I know that all the shots are somewhat identical. Since we are on the subject of fowling and swabbing. Poster Triple Se7en advises to swab using a bore brush and not a jag. He gives excellent advice although I have swabbed with a jag in all my inlines and have not noticed any problems because of it. The only time I swab with a bore brush and patch is when shooting Triple Se7en to help remove the burned on crud fowling that seems to stick in the bore from that powder.

So, what power charge were you shooting and what kind of powder would be my next question? Powerbelts in my experience do not like strong charges. I keep them 100 grains and less and it seems to make them behave much better. My Staghorn like 90 grains of Triple Se7en with powerbelts or 100 grains of Goex 2f. I am guessing this is because of the difference in the powder strength. When I try to shoot anything more then that, the hits are all over the paper.

Also some rifles like a certain weight and design of powerbelt. Perhaps you just have not found the powerbelt that the rifle likes. I would try some of the different weights and see what happens. If you want to try a good sabot out of that rifle get some 240 grain T/C Mag Express XTP's load them 100 grains or less and you should get good accuracy out of them. Most Wal Marts carry them.

Getting back to Powerbelts, also I found that when shooting Triple Se7en powder I get better accuracy with powerbelts if I pull the plastic button first off the conical. I then lube the spike located on the end of the conical with bore butter or oil, even spit. Then replace the plastic button. I find they powerbelts then loose that button sooner and the accuracy is better. For some reason the T-7 powder makes those buttons stay around longer.

At this sighting in time I would not worry so much about scope adjustment as I would group tightness. Start at 25 yards if you like and shoot a three shot group. Swab between shots and let the barrel cool down if it is hot outside. If it shoots a tight group, then go back to the 50 yard and do the same thing. Again, take your time. Make sure you address the rifle properly at the bench rest, and shoot for a group. If you are getting good tight groups, then move the scope adjustments to what you see fit.

Good luck with your rifle and keep us posted..