Any suggestions regarding .270 accuracy issues

[Zetter]

I am always up for user error I guess the first step is to get it shot by someone else with a couple of groups and then move on to other possibilities from there. I will also get someone to watch me shoot a couple of groups and see if its me flinching.
I just find it a bit odd as I have no issues with my .243 and the recoil isnt really appreciably much more with the .270 as its a much heavier rifle than my .243 foxing rig which is a real lightweight in comparison.

 

[riflerob]

My first thought is as already suggested and you're going to do, get someone else to shoot the rifle before assuming something is wrong with it.

 

[Selous]

If you have checked everything is tight including the picatinny rail if fitted and swapped the scope using different mounts if you can. Try some groups without a mod or with a different mod. Make sure the thread for the mod is scrupulously clean when doing so. Have a really close look at the crown as any dings or erosion in that area can hammer accuracy in a very bad way. I have had exactly this situation in three rifles. One had pitting at the crown, the second had dirt on the moderator thread which lead to a tiny baffle strike and the other had broken a recoil lug on one of the scope rings. All rifles went back to shooting well after they were sorted.

 

[Hunter300]

When I shoot groups like this it is usually my fault due to jerky trigger control, a bit like the yips when putting in golf. What I do to cure it when it happens is get the rifle set up on target, fully rested with bipod, rear bag etc. Then I cycle the bolt to load a cartridge, then put the safety catch on and take a fake shot. I keep taking these fake shots until my trigger action is smooth, then take off the safety catch. Groups usually tighten up nicely. Here is an example of a group of ten v bulls in a row that I shot on my buddy's .308 Sig at 600yds. Previously with this same rifle with my annoying yips habit I was shooting groups at least twice the size at 600yds.

This is good advice.
Another trick my corporal showed us was to balance any coin flat on the barrel, put a dummy in the chamber and “squeeze” the trigger recycle squeeze, until you manage to keep the coil on the barrel while squeezing the trigger. Then put the exercise into practice

 

[DavyG]

A while back I had a real head scratcher with a rifle. It was always a proper tack driver 1/2 moa or less. Over a short period, it went to 1 moa then 2 moa with random flyers.
Tried pretty much everything. After a bit of a discussion at the range, it was suggested that I done a deep clean.
Over a period of a week, I cleaned the bore 2-3 times a day. Patching and brushing until I was scundered…!!!
I wore out 3 bronze brushes until I eventually removed all the carbon and copper traces.
Back to range and normal service was restored.
DG

 

[25 Sharps]

I am always up for user error I guess the first step is to get it shot by someone else with a couple of groups and then move on to other possibilities from there. I will also get someone to watch me shoot a couple of groups and see if its me flinching.
I just find it a bit odd as I have no issues with my .243 and the recoil isnt really appreciably much more with the .270 as its a much heavier rifle than my .243 foxing rig which is a real lightweight in comparison.

If you are shooting off of a bipod then try it off of front and rear sand bags only, if you are putting your supporting hand under the butt 'sniper style' try using it to control the fore end. My 6.5x 55 CZ550 is all over the place off a bipod / bench combination without supporting the front end, switch to the above and properly supported it will so .75" at 200 yards

 

[User00035]

When I shoot groups like this it is usually my fault due to jerky trigger control, a bit like the yips when putting in golf. What I do to cure it when it happens is get the rifle set up on target, fully rested with bipod, rear bag etc. Then I cycle the bolt to load a cartridge, then put the safety catch on and take a fake shot. I keep taking these fake shots until my trigger action is smooth, then take off the safety catch. Groups usually tighten up nicely. Here is an example of a group of ten v bulls in a row that I shot on my buddy's .308 Sig at 600yds. Previously with this same rifle with my annoying yips habit I was shooting groups at least twice the size at 600yds.

If I'm pulling shots at the trigger or suspect I'm flinching, I get my springer air rifle out. I hold it as loosely as possible imagining it is made out of eggshells, applying the lightest touch on the trigger that I can and consciously thinking about allowing the rifle complete freedom to move under recoil however it wants to without any influence from me. I'm trying be just an inert prop the rifle rests on.

I've found before that if not actually flinching or lifting my head, I may be blinking during the pellet strike. Within a few shots of " light touch" shooting, the rifle is moving freely in my hands and I'm able to watch the pellet strike as if I was watching someone else's shot, not my own. I think it helps that with a springer you have to remove the rifle from your shoulder between shots so it doesn't take root there and encourage tensing.
Shoot a few groups like that and I loosen up and when I pick up a cartridge rifle I'm back to shooting it again without reacting to it. Impacts are observed without blinking and groups tighten up.

 

[NullMac]

Not sure there is much help above.

Check the crown, and that everything is tight including the barrel. Check the mod does not loosen off as it warms up.

If it is grouping ok but just one shot is opening it up, you don't have a huge problem. Could be a flier from ammo, could be grouping nerves getting the better of you, could be a poor alignment occasionally.

You said it is benched but that can mean many things. When testing you want to take the shooter out of it and get the absolute best rest possible. So big heavy sandbags around the front and a sandbag under the rear. Shooter just bunting up onto the stock and pressing the trigger, all alignment is done with bags. BUT take the front sling swivel off so it does not cause a jump.

Adjust the scope so the bullets with strike 1" high of the aiming point.

Shoot two shot groups and let it cool after. If it is a skinny barrelled 270 it will probably want to twist off poi after a few shots. 2 shots will show you whether a decent group is possible, you cannot shoot smaller than the first two rounds. If there is a flier it will eventually turn up in one of these mini groups.

Do this with mod on and mod off. I would expect groups to open without a mod. Noise causes a flinch to some degree, a greater perception of recoil and a bit more barrel flip. With the use of bags you should have eliminated big jumps to the side on firing. So if you are seeing that, sort the rest.

Test with the best ammo from previous use

If you still have a problem find a mate that can shoot and get him to take a few shots.

If you still have a problem put his scope on.

If that doesn't work take it to a 'smith.

 

[Zetter]

Cheers for all the suggestions and its been really useful to take a step back so to speak and get a wider view.

My plan now is

1) Thorough clean i.e. give the barrel a good farm out to ensure is squeeky clean as a starter.

2) Check the pic rail tightness as its the one thing I didnt check

3) Get the range officer to check me when I shoot to see if I am flinching

4) Get someone else who I know can shoot to do some groups with the rifle

5) If all the above fails change the scope

6) Back to RFD who is a good lad and maybe try a recrown

7) New barrel next year!

 

[JTO]

Try a different target - something with vertical and horizontal axis lines. I can’t shoot groups into circles like that, just don’t work for me.

Target 3 here!

🎯 The Famous SD Zeroing Targets

I've given them a sprucing up with new logo and text. The original files were dated from before the use of "weapon" became a little bit non-pc! ;) Edit: I've added @Apache's "Black Dot of Doom" and @Alantoo target too.

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[Steff]

I shoot worse with my .270 than with my .308 or .222.
I don‘t really blame the rifle, but my front rests and myself.I am convinced that the rifle starts to move from recoil before the bullet passes the muzzle.
The better the fore end bedding and the more consistently I present my shoulder to the butt stock (angle & pressure) the better the groups become.
With less recoiling calibers it obviously just doesn‘t show that much.

I usually shoot BR style, i.e. my left hand operates the rear bag. But on my .270 I resort to holding on to the fore end if I don‘t have a really heavy bag to bed it on, or rather in.

 

[75]

Not sure there is much help above.

Two pages of advice but all of it carp, eh??! Thank god you came along and shed some light on the problem (we can, of course, ignore the fact that all your suggestions had previously been made in the previous "not much help" posts).

SD at it's finest

Good luck @Zetter - let us know how you get on - we're all hoping for a happy ending!

 

[pete evans]

This thread could have been written by me about my 270. I have ruled out operator error as I shoot well with other rifles and the gun used to shoot better. Its frustrating and getting expensive to suss out. I suspect from what youve said that it is not you as you have shot this rifle well in the past. If I find out what is causing my issues I will revisit this thread and update. Good luck!

 

[Utectok]

It is hard to shoot a 270 well it is also maddening fault finding an inaccurate rifle
If this has genuinely only shot 200 rounds it should not be shot out but if it was second hand who really knows? It does sound like a gubbed barrel but not at 200 genuinely shot rounds.
Personally I’d get it shiny clean internally and check with a bore scope (only £40). Also check crown carefully. Lots of useful advice here to.

 

[Zetter]

It is hard to shoot a 270 well it is also maddening fault finding an inaccurate rifle
If this has genuinely only shot 200 rounds it should not be shot out but if it was second hand who really knows? It does sound like a gubbed barrel but not at 200 genuinely shot rounds.
Personally I’d get it shiny clean internally and check with a bore scope (only £40). Also check crown carefully. Lots of useful advice here to.

If it was a second hand oldy Utectok I would be a bit more blasé but this was a new rifle straight import from the states a couple of years ago before covid hit and has been looked after i.e. cleaned well stored well and shot in when I first go it. I am just worried it was a Friday afternoon barrel . It just bugs me as my first proper deer rifle was an old Sako 75 .243 off my keeper that had god knows how many rounds down it and was not treated well but still managed to put in consistent sub MOA groups all day long.
Worst case if I decide to rebarrel I may just do something different and redo it as a 25 06.

 

[User00035]

If it was a second hand oldy Utectok I would be a bit more blasé but this was a new rifle straight import from the states a couple of years ago before covid hit and has been looked after i.e. cleaned well stored well and shot in when I first go it. I am just worried it was a Friday afternoon barrel . It just bugs me as my first proper deer rifle was an old Sako 75 .243 off my keeper that had god knows how many rounds down it and was not treated well but still managed to put in consistent sub MOA groups all day long.
Worst case if I decide to rebarrel I may just do something different and redo it as a 25 06.

Not a bad idea at all. An underappreciated cartridge for UK deer.

 

[75]

If it was a second hand oldy Utectok I would be a bit more blasé but this was a new rifle straight import from the states a couple of years ago before covid hit and has been looked after i.e. cleaned well stored well and shot in when I first go it. I am just worried it was a Friday afternoon barrel . It just bugs me as my first proper deer rifle was an old Sako 75 .243 off my keeper that had god knows how many rounds down it and was not treated well but still managed to put in consistent sub MOA groups all day long.
Worst case if I decide to rebarrel I may just do something different and redo it as a 25 06.

Don't write it off just yet and jump into changing the barrel just yet. I had a 260 that I fell out of love with completely. It was a complete bugger to load for and I eventually found an acceptable accurate load but I couldn't get anywhere near the velocities I should have. I gave up on it in the end and it hardly left the cabinet.

I gave it one last try during lockdown and now shoots perfectly with very, very acceptable velocities (and minimal load development this time around) and I enjoy using it again.

 

[25 Sharps]

If it was a second hand oldy Utectok I would be a bit more blasé but this was a new rifle straight import from the states a couple of years ago before covid hit and has been looked after i.e. cleaned well stored well and shot in when I first go it. I am just worried it was a Friday afternoon barrel . It just bugs me as my first proper deer rifle was an old Sako 75 .243 off my keeper that had god knows how many rounds down it and was not treated well but still managed to put in consistent sub MOA groups all day long.
Worst case if I decide to rebarrel I may just do something different and redo it as a 25 06.

Turn it into everything the .270 hoped it would be, the .280 rem

 

[Ewich]

Don't shoot targets only deer/foxes so I am only concerned with the first shot out of a cold barrel and to that end I clean the barrel / moderator every time I get home if I have taken a shot - my father's advice (with which he was sparing) and it works for me.

As has been said, check moderator aligned and tight, scope mounts are tight, bipod tight, try different scope, get someone else to watch you shoot etc.

Don't know how rigid your stock is but my mate had a similar problem with a Howa. I noticed while watching him shoot that the stock was flexing at the bipod and touching the barrel and that what was cause of his issue.

Anyway best of luck with it.

 

[Dunwaters]

Yep all groups at 100meters. Targets are 8" discs I think I didnt mention that in the second post

Try a grid pattern target, those roundy ones can be a bit tricky with a stalking set up. You’re actually lucky to have a rifle that groups to the same spot regardless of the mod.
When you read a lot of the posts on this and some other sites you’d be led to believe that all Gods children have rifles capable of less than 1MOA. Believe me, that’s just not so, what you’ve got is more than good enough for stalking.
Maybe try some different bullets, I’ve had outstanding results with 140Gr Superformance.
I know, I know, its lead…so what? It works.
The load you want is out there, it just may take a bit of finding.