megabucks
A couple of thoughts...
I have a dot scope on my Traditions because of my vision problems with iron sights.
I am not sure that a Red Dot is legal in Idaho either.... So I am assuming that yu have done the paper work for the state.
Anyway, I am leaning toward a slower 1 in 48 twist because of my bad grouping with the 1 in 28. Could the bullet be jumping lands?
I would really stay with the 1/28 twist. It provides you far more versitilty. The 1/48 twist is designed to be OK with conicals and round balls.
Groups - there can be several possibilties starting with the Red Dot... There is somewhat of a learning curve shooting a red dot. So next have you check to make sure the rings and bases are secure?
How much many conicals have you shot from the bore... Is it possible that you may have lead fouling to the point that allows the projectile to skip the lands and grooves?
Were it me and I new everything was tight and the bore was cleared, I would really just shoot a 25 yard target and see what type of 5 shot group you might get at that point. If you are getting a ragged hole for a group move to 50...
You might consider another projectile also, for our season up here I shoot a .503/460 grain Bull Shop lead conical. They are extremly accurate for me and definitely an elk slayer. I, like you, am shooting a 1/28 twist rifle.
One last question if you were shooting at 25 yards could you shoot using the open sights that are on the rifle? That would be another check of the red dot?
And the last possibility is there may be a problem in the rifle itself. I am trying to guess which Traditions that you might be using as most of their inlines are 209 ignition... Is it a Deer Hunter? and looking at that maybe you are not even using a red dot?
Lots of questions from N. Idaho...