"AT MY WITS END"
 

I'm about to loose it guys. With deer season around the corner I recently attempted to sight my Browning A-bolt SS in 270 WSM & this darn thing wont seem to group!!! I mean, it's never been one of my better shooters (2.5 MOA at best) but i'm really staring to give up on this thing!!! I've tried at least 4 different types of ammo & no luck yet. Any advice would be much appreciated, God Bless.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

How do you clean? What kind of glass? Who mounted the scope? Did you check your action screws?

Tom

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Hoppes, bore brush, patches etc.. Leupold VX II 3 x 9 x 50, Leupold rings one pice base, Mounted & bore sighted by Bass Pro Shops....

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Sorry Stat, I have not checked the action screws but the rifle has less than100 rds through it

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

First check your scope for tightness. Make sure you clean the bore extensively and then re-shoot.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

My dad had the same problem with his Browning, and it was all over the place, but it turned out that the screws were loose at the action and the stock, after he tightened them, it shoots great, try that.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

I'll try that thx Younggun.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

That could be your culprit. unfortunately some of the staff at BPS aren't all that qualified. Thats where I would start after the action screws. I remounted a base that had came from BPS and had 15 rounds through it. Two of the three base screws where too loose by my standards. One had almost backed out. none of them had locktite on them. I called and asked BPS why they hadn't put blue locktite on the screws and they told me that Leupold had told them not to. I lockite every one that I put on.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

I was going to say the same thing but I didn't want to be the first to say it.

Tom

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Yep, I would check the action screws and the the scope. I would then try a good ole fashioned cleaning.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

I had my scope put on for my bymy local shop. We got to talking and such as he was finishing up. It was my fault as much as his I should have left him alone to do the work. Soooo. I got to the range ready for a tack driver. Instead my gun started putting shots to the left real bad. I'd crank the scope adjustments to the right and it would shoot left. Finally I realized that the scope rings weren't tightened down. I cranked em' down on the spot (good thing I had my gear bag with me) and haven't had a problem since. We all make mistakes so it's no big deal. That's why we go to the range to sight our rifles in and don't just go to the woods right afterhaving them bore sighted. I'd check your scope rings and mounts to make sure they are tight. If that's not it break down the gun and put it back together making sure everything is tight.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Another option see if you can fire the rifle from a vice.. That way you can truly see what kind of group your getting without have you as a variable..

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Thanks guys, i really appreciate all the tips.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Ive had this problem tiwcebefore....mine came down to the ammo both timesbut its always best to try the cheap stuff first. Screws, mounts etc. The first time it was with my H&R .243, found the ammo it liked and it turned into a deer dropper. The second was a Sauer 202 in .308. I tried some rounds through it and wasnt at all impressed, switched to the same brand that solved the 243s issue and what do ya know....perfect, minus my faults of course.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Yeah...Yeah...Yeah...............Blame it on the gun!:D:D:D:D


Sometimes not honing the scope rings will Tweak the scope.....

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

I had a browning a-bolt last year in 308 win...same problem wouldent group at all,traded it in for a tikka t3 in 308 a few months ago,now thats a awsome gun shoots moa plus smooth action and detachable magizine without that stupid drop plate!

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

I wouldn't give up on the Browning...After you have checked all the scope mount screws and the barrel to action screws, try some of the Federal Premium 140 gr Accubonds....

My cousin had me sight in his Browning last year, I think it is a Gold Hunter, thing was beautiful, had a octagon barrel...With the Accubonds, I put 3 shots inside a quarter at 100, good shooting gun...

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

The nice thing about those stupid drop plates is you never lose them in the field.;)

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Alright guys, here's the skinny. Yesterday I made sure that every last screw/bolt on that gun was tight and off I went to the range. The three ammo typesI had on hand were the Fusion 150gr (I know, most of you guys hate it), the Winchester X 150 gr & the Winchester Supreme 150 gr bst. Of all the ammo I shot, the rifle seemed to like the Winchester brand but even then, the best groups that I was able to shoot were 2.5" groups. Just to verify this, I had a buddy of mine shoot it & the results were the same. Are these groups acceptable for this rifle? or do I need to go a little further with this. Another friend of mine recommended a muzzebreak, but I can't see how that would improve accuracy. Thanks for all the help guys.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Thats at 100 yards? Ive seen worse groups that were called acceptable for close in hunting. The real question should be is that acceptable for you. That rifle should be capable of far better. Id keep trying ammo, something other than 150 maybe. Do you know anyone that does some hand loading?

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

try taking the mount off and cleaning the base screw holes with rubbing alcohol. sometimes if the rifle comes factory tapped for scope mounts the factory doesnt clean the grease out of the holes that they used to drill them. so clean those out put everything back together with loktite blue kind not red, you will never get them apart. then go to a local hunting shop small town shops show more pride in their work and get everything checked and boresighted

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Not acceptable...I can do that with my flintlock, with open sights....

At this point, I'd either swap out the scope, to eliminate that or try one or two more brands of ammo...I will tell you, in my .243 with some ammo, I see 4-5 inch groups, but with others, 1-1 1/2 inch...Hopefully its only a ammo problem...

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Yeah I guess it's back to the drawing board. Thanks for the tips guys....

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

Sad to hear it's still not working.

Maybe the rifle just doesn't like all three brands of ammo you're trying, as all of us know, guns are very picky sometimes, but I will admit I've never heard of one THAT picky, which just goes to show my lack of experiance and wisdom in these matters.

The only thing I can think of is the ammo, in my rifle, Federal Powershoks shoot better than anything out of my Remington .308, and they shoot pretty well out of my dad's Browning A-Bolt.

I'd just try it.

I think the reason your friend suggested the muzzlebreak, is because Browning makes a special muzzlebreak that comes with some of their rifles, including A-Bolts, and I'm sure you've heard of it, the BOSS system.
That's what my dad has on his Browning A-Bolt, and it works good, and it only worked good when he tightened the action screws and made sure everything was in check on the rifle, but once he got that finished and used lock-tight on the screws, he was able to adjust the BOSS system muzzlebreak, andit made his groups smaller, like a cloverleaf.
It works, but I've heard alot of complaints concerning the noise the muzzlebreak BOSS does, so Browning has the BOSS CR (Conventional Recoil), which doesn't serve as a muzzlebreak, but does give you the benefits of greater accuracy.

Perhaps the BOSS system will help you, a BOSS should cost under $100 on eBay, and you'll have to get a gunsmith to install it for you.

That, if anything would, would help your accuracy, I'm sure, but it's all up to you on what you decide.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

I had a Browning A-Bolt that I bought on clearance when the A-Bolt II's came out. The rifle was a composite stalker in 300 Win. Mag. The rifle shot poorly with 5 different types of factory ammo with the best groups of about 2 inches. I let my local gunsmith take a look at it and he liked the way everything looked. So at his suggestion I returned the gun to Browning. They rebedded the recoil lug area. Browning's come from the factory bedded in the recoil lug area. They also recut the barrel crown. When the rifle was returned took about 5 weeks, I was quite happy. This rifle turned into a tack driver. It would fire the 165 gr. Hornady custom load under an inch for 5 shot groups and I developed a load with H4831 & 180 gr. Nosler Partition that would hold 3/4".

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

If you decide to sell it please let me know as I may be interested in it(depending on price) to use the action for basis to build custom rifle on.

RE: "AT MY WITS END"
 

More importantly, has the rifle ever shot well? I used to have a Browning A-Bolt that just wouldn't shot any better than yours. I bedded the action, started to reload for it, and it just wouldn't shoot. Even sent it to Browning and they sent me back a 50 yard target with 3 holes an inch apart and said it was fine.

If it used to shoot better then you need to figure out what has changed. Different load/shells? Loose screws on scope or rifle? Copper buildup inside barrel (only a few cleaners will remove copper, search around for one that does).