consistent odd grouping

[Mungo]

I should add that I'm perfectly ready to believe that the barrel may need to be changed, but I want to rule out bedding/ stock fit issues first.

To me, the horizontal stringing indicates movement as the barrel heats, which suggests it's pushing against something, which suggests interference somewhere.

Anyway - next step will be shooting it in another stock. Watch this space...

 

[pierred]

Simplest answer to this is do you have access to another stock ? If so try it if there is no improvement its your barrel .
If you don't have one send it down I have a bedded stock here that I could try it wont be perfect but it will be conclusive of performance in another stock.

 

[pierred]

We had a Sako 75 finnlight in 6.5-55 with similar results decided to try another stock we had handy before we rebarreled it solved the problem in this instance , it didn't need the rebarrel in the end stock change solved issue still shoots to this day

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Bedding - the voids wont affect the matter - as per you pics - unless theres massive hollow areas hidden beneath. There's enough support where it matters - though I tend to run the bedding an inch forward or so. The reflection of machine marks etc in the medium shows there was good contact. Some of the side marks COULD - hard to tell from pics - suggest the action was pulled before the compound fully set. But doesn't look fatal.

Pillar bedding - it doesn't matter what the pillar tubes are made from - so long as the will take the pressure/ compression applied, remain stable and are of sufficiemt internal diameter that the action screws are not touching the sides - is that the case?

Wrecking the bedding. If good compound was used and the stock properly prepared, then short of taking a chainsaw to the stock, it should be pretty hard to damage. If applying some upward tension to the barrel shifts the bedding or otherwise cracks it then the job was a bodge and/ or they used a poor compound. Hard to tell what it is from looking. I always come back to Devcon - its bomb proof. Why do you believe the bedding was wrecked? Is there any shift visible/ felt movement/ cracks etc?

Barrel contact - a doubled piece of A4 paper run up and down the barrel will tell you. Do it again when its warm/ hot.

Bore scope - could save a lot of heartache. Face it - there's one to hand in your labs or the missus's!

The stock change is going to give you a good clue. So long as its bedding is ok....... ( messing with your head!!!,, But seriously.... ) Think we have a s3 synthetic stock around somewhere if its an issue.

 

[pierred]

If I understand correctly you have tried shims under the action and it now shoots worse this could indicate bubbles under the bedding which you have now compressed making the bedding job void ,if this is the case its not your fault the bedding was bad.

 

[bewsher500]

shims under the barrel like an old fashioned pressure point

you could drive a screwdriver between the forend and barrel if the bedding was even average the action end won't move if done when bottom metal is tight in place

 

[Mark_ B]

What about your moderator, I've just spent the last six months or so, with a similar problem of wandering shots. Used to group half inch no bother then went to two - three inches, I thought it was me. After trying numerous things I found a tiny rattle In the moderator, loose baffle, finally got the mod stripped and cleaned, put it back together with a shim to take up the slack and finally back to half inch. My rifle is also sako 75.
Hope you find a fixable problem.
Mark

 

[Mungo]

What about your moderator, I've just spent the last six months or so, with a similar problem of wandering shots. Used to group half inch no bother then went to two - three inches, I thought it was me. After trying numerous things I found a tiny rattle In the moderator, loose baffle, finally got the mod stripped and cleaned, put it back together with a shim to take up the slack and finally back to half inch. My rifle is also sako 75.
Hope you find a fixable problem.
Mark

Mod is new and seems tight. Problems persist with and without mod, though, with similar patterns.

 

[Mungo]

So something else that's niggling at me: since the bedding, the tang seems to be sitting unevenly. On one side, the metal sits clear of the woodwork by about half a mil. On the other side, it's sunk below the woodwork.

Again - i don't have the experience to say if this is likely to cause a problem, but it seems like it would put rotational stress on the whole action.

Pics below

View attachment 69449View attachment 69450

 

[bobjs]

mungo,

can an you not find another stock and try that, I have to be brutally honest and say that is the worst bedding and pillars I have seen, and if I had spent hard end on it I would be taking it back,

i have to agree that the uneven bedding must be distorting the action to the degree that it's shooting all over the place,

JMO

see if you have someone local that could sort you out with a stock, and see what happens when you run it with a normal stock.

bob.

 

[bewsher500]

he has one
just needs to fit and test

 

[Mungo]

I have to be brutally honest and say that is the worst bedding and pillars I have seen, and if I had spent hard end on it I would be taking it back,

Interesting to hear you say that! That makes at least 4 people who say it looks a little dubious. I have only ever had one previous rifle bedded, and it looked a lot neater.

I need to get another smith to inspect it properly.

It can't be a sign of care and attention to detail when there is bedding in the checkering of the pistol grip and smears all over the bottom metal.

I imagine people would be shocked to know who actually did this...

 

[bobjs]

he has one
just needs to fit and test

great news Ed

i hope it works out for him,

bob.

 

[bobjs]

Mungo,

i wish you you well mate,

Touch wood I have not had any issues with my rifles that have been bedded, ( one of them is about to join another 2 I have for sale due to domestic issues) and it was done when I got it but thank god the rifle out shoots me ?

bob.

 

[McKenzie]

Interesting to hear you say that! That makes at least 4 people who say it looks a little dubious. I have only ever had one previous rifle bedded, and it looked a lot neater.

I need to get another smith to inspect it properly.

It can't be a sign of care and attention to detail when there is bedding in the checkering of the pistol grip and smears all over the bottom metal.

I imagine people would be shocked to know who actually did this...

I'd like to know who did it (by PM) as I recommended a couple of people to you!

If you're going to Braidwood with Ed's stock & if you're not thinking of buying it I'd be interested in giving it the once-over now I'm a little quieter.

 

[McKenzie]

Happy to send snaps of mine but as I am expecting a stalking invitation within the next few days I won't take the action out of the stock unless I can immediately check zero; perhaps later this week. I know that my 'bedder' re-shaped the recoil lug & also bedded more of the metalwork than you have had done.



Also meant to add:

I will only have bedding or other major work carried out by someone who has the facilities to test their work now & I will supply ammunition for them to shoot a 5 shot group prior to commencing & another 5 shot group on completion to confirm that everything is in order & that any improvement (or degradation) is measurable. No other arrangement is acceptable to me now.

 

[Mungo]

That seems like a very, very good idea.

If only the learning curve weren't so expensive!

 

[J111]

Mungo have you tried loosening one or other of the action screws at a time to see that the action doesn't move? You are testing to check that the action is under no stress when screws are tightened up. It looks like a perfectly serviceable bedding job from what I can see as long as it's been done right! I'd also try placing action in stock with no bolts and seeing if there is any play. Should fit in snug with no movement possible.

 

[20-250]

Mungo,

i wish you you well mate,

Touch wood I have not had any issues with my rifles that have been bedded, ( one of them is about to join another 2 I have for sale due to domestic issues) and it was done when I got it but thank god the rifle out shoots me ?

bob.

What's got to go, Bob?