70 won't shoot

[Shaq]

Several years ago I inherited a model 70 in .270 win. This rifle was purchased new in the mid 1980s and has always shot very poorly.As a very inexperienced shooter I had always assumed that I was responsible for the rifle's poor performance but recently I tested it off a sandbag against other rifles and discovered that it was indeed the winchester that was at fault.I took the rifle to my local gunshop and had it bedded which improved things considerably but the best accuracy that I could achieve was a dismal 3-4 moa.I own several mil-surps that will do much better through iron sights.What I am wondering is, would the model 70 be a suitable donor action for a custom build or should I weld it to one of my tractor's frame for ballast?All comments and suggestions welcomed.

 

[fdshuster]

Shaq; it's been my experience, and often verified with my Hawkeye borescope that like the quality of the bullet is the single most important component as it relates to the accuracy of a particular cartridge, so the barrel is the single most important 'part' of the rifle, as it relates to accuracy. If you are able, have the interior of the bore 'scoped'. You may be surprised in what you see. I refer you to the video by Dan Lilja on this sites 'barrels' section/page. Couple that with the article in 'Precision Shooting' magazine, dated January 2000: 'An executive with one of the largest rifle manufacturers in the United States recently remarked to a Precision Shooting writer that it costs them approximately $15.00 to make a rifle barrel'. It's a wonder that some factory barrels shoot as well as they do. If you want to 'throw it away', throw it in my direction: I'm always looking for a good receiver to re-barrel with a Hart, Shilen, Krieger, etc. Put a good barrel on it,and it will probably hold MOA or less.

 

[johara1]

The first thing i would do:1 get a bore guide,2 clean the barrel, load some good loads with 130 gr.sierra flat base and 60 gr. of 4831h and a fed primer. if the barrel is any good it should go under an inch.if that doesn't work find somebody with a bore scope and take a look. if the bedding job was good and the barrel looks good check your mount, rings and scope. see if any thing is loose or the scope may be bad..............jim

 

[Shaq]

Thank you for the responses...I haven't tried handloading for this rifle yet but I do have 100 135 grain matchkings.If I can't get those to shoot I think I will start saving up for a new krieger barrel.

 

[AlNyhus]

Before going much further, I would try a known-good scope.