Build does not shoot. Need a little help.

[metzger]

Well I had put together my first "custom" rifle together. It seems to shoot really inconsistently.

300WM .050 FB 3.6 Match chamber 3B contour, Defiance anti, Mesa Precision altitude stock, Hawkins BDL, Wyatt MBE-3, Tigger tech.

Beaded by Mesa Precision

Action screws 65in lbs
Scope 20 in lbs and 45 in lbs to picatinny Checked twice and re installed.

The "break in"

Remove oil from barrel then shoot
Shoot 2 clean copper and carbon, bore scope to make sure. used 150GR reduced recoil
Shoot 4 clean copper and carbon, bore scope to make sure.

Ammo used

180SST superformance
180Gr Winchester super X
200Gr Hornady ELD-X

Shot off a bipod and bag

Weather semi calm wind 3-4mph L to R 40* in the AM to 60* by noon

Confirmation took my 6.5CM and shot a sub 1/2moa group

Barrel temps low

Findings:

Before shooting trigger was touching BDL made clearance

BDL and wyatt mag box was rubbing BDL removed then shot the second to final group of a one hole with Winchester super X let cool and shot the final group of the day with Winchester Super X

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The mag box should not be binding between the BDL floor plate and the receiver so that could be part of the issue. But if you’re shooting factory ammo there’s not much else you can do.

The one thing I tell factory ammo shooters having issues is to pick up a box of Federal Premium and give it a try. It is very consistent for factory ammo.

 

[Tucker65]

Ledd Slinger is spot on. You should be able to move the box around with the barreled action torqued down into the stock. If you shot good groups without the box installed I would file or sand the box so it has clearance or shim/bed the bottom metal to accomplish the same thing.

John

 

[Bill Norris]

The mag box should not be binding between the BDL floor plate and the receiver so that could be part of the issue. But if you’re shooting factory ammo there’s not much else you can do.

The one thing I tell factory ammo shooters having issues is to pick up a box of Federal Premium and give it a try. It is very consistent for factory ammo.

One other thing they can do is seat the factory bullets a little deeper at .003 to .005 increments. According to Eric Cortina this works well with factory ammo.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

35 shots total, I don't think your velocities have stabilized yet. Do you clean between different brands of ammo?

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

+1 on what @Ledd Slinger said about the Federal Gold Medal Match ammo. Before I started reloading I shot a lot of different factory ammo in different centerfire cartridges, and that ammo was consistently within the top two or three if not the best for all the cartridges I tried. If it won’t shoot that, it’s probably not the ammo.

 

[NateHaler]

Well I had put together my first "custom" rifle together. It seems to shoot really inconsistently.

300WM .050 FB 3.6 Match chamber 3B contour, Defiance anti, Mesa Precision altitude stock, Hawkins BDL, Wyatt MBE-3, Tigger tech.

Beaded by Mesa Precision

Action screws 65in lbs
Scope 20 in lbs and 45 in lbs to picatinny Checked twice and re installed.

Who built the rifle? If not you, then the first call or visit is to the builder.

 

[75vmax]

What twist

 

[Rsadams]

Is the barrel torqued correctly...???

 

[Ledd Slinger]

One other thing they can do is seat the factory bullets a little deeper at .003 to .005 increments. According to Eric Cortina this works well with factory ammo.

Great thought, but how do you do that without reloading equipment?

 

[Bill Norris]

Great thought, but how do you do that without reloading equipment?

WOW I guess he couldn't. I missed that part. LOL.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Who built the rifle? If not you, then the first call or visit is to the builder.

LOTS of, "Details" go into making, a "good shooting", Rifle !
MISS,. ONE,.. "detail",.. Yikes !
Spent 2 Weeks putting together my 6 XC with, ONE, "detail", done, per Day !
Was, a Former Gunsmith,.. NOW, a retired GS /"Hobbyist" with,.. plenty of, TIME !
Might check, the "Leade" angle and throat depth of, the Reamer used, as some are abrupt / short throated and don't/ won't, shoot SOME Bullets,.. well !

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Mag box should not be bound, trigger should not touch stock or bottom metal, bolt handle should not touch stock, barrel should have ample free float, ignition energy should be up to par, chamber should be concentric to bore, ext. Even if everything is good to go, factory ammo is a coin toss. It can be the most consistent load ever made, but if its the wrong load for the barrel...

 

[Mdhmsmith]

35 shots total, I don't think your velocities have stabilized yet. Do you clean between different brands of ammo?

Are you getting any copper on your cleaning cycles? If not, stop cleaning and go shoot 20-40 rouds before you clean again. Also, you know the deal with factory ammo. I dialed 2 brand new Christensen Ridgelines for hunters that don’t reload and it was a frustrating experience for me.

 

[L.Sherm]

Give the old cheap Remington core loks a try, ive never got them to shoot really good but always seem to be atleast .75 moa.
Thats if all your equipment is right and you can even find them.

 

[boltfluter]

Try backing the action torque down to 45" lbs on the front and 25" lbs rear. If the bedding is not absolutely perfect 65" lbs can put the action in a bind.

Paul

 

[DangerRanger]

does Bartlein offer a half MOA guarantee for hornady superformance?

 

[wolfman]

What's on the rifle for optics and mounting hardware?

 

[FNSafari]

if'n your action is glass and pillar beded to your stock, try varying your action screw torque. Try down around 45/48 inch pounds. You may be bending the action ever so slightly at your torque value. Just a thought.

 

[Gary in MD]

What's on the rifle for optics and mounting hardware?

This is the first thing that I would be checking.