It's a Swift Premier 4-12x40AO. I guess I should stick to the bigger name/higher quality scopes for the beast and save the cheapies for the rimfires. Oh well! Live and learn.

I would venture that you hurried your shot. At that distance it doen't take much to miss big. I have done the same thing only to find my gun dead on at the range afterwards. I would say 99% of the time it is shooter error.

I got a Nikon 3-9 x 50 to put on it now. I haven't gotten around to mounting it or anything yet. Too many things going on around the house, so my "toys" are pretty low on my list of priorities for the moment. As soon as I get the Swift back, I'll put it back on my 17HMR and leave it there. I've learned my lesson, only higher end optics for the centerfires from now on.

After I got the Nikon, I realized that it wouldn't work with my current rings. I bought a pair on ebay...OOPS! Didn't pay enough attention and got rings for a #1 not a M77MkII. Couldn't find any on ebay that weren't going for almost full price. I ended up ordering a set of high rings from Ruger. Why are their rings so ecpensive? Cost me $85 with shipping! As soon as they get here, I'll get the scope mounted and head to the range. Hopefully this will take care of the pattern vs. group issue. I know this gun can shoot fair groups as I've done it before. It usually shoots an inch or slightly more at 100 with cheap 150gr CoreLokts. I'm going to try some better ammo and maybe a trigger job to see if I can tighten the groups up some.

I think that the scope is a likely culprit. I did the same thing w/ my 300WM, the reticles broke loose. Every shot moves the reticles so the point of impact changes EACH SHOT. My wife (usually a great shot ) missed several shots in a row on a cow elk. I started to "encourage her" and she finally shoved me the rifle and told me to try. After several misses I finally got lucky and dropped the cow. Long story short only use top scopes on the magnums. I agree w/ JamesB the 180gr are the way to go w/ the 300WM. One load for all occasions.

Wood stock with no glass bedding? If so humidity changes from one place to the next would alter the point of impact if the barrel had unequal pressure on it due to a tight contact point with the stock. If the scope isn't the problem I'd look at the bedding next. Either free floating or full length glass bedding would solve the problem.

I finally got to take her to the range the other day. With the Nikon, she's back to shooting like she used to. 1.5" groups using 150gr CoreLokts @100yrds.

I have had several Swift Premier scopes. Never had a proble with them. However any scope can go bad.