Can a rifle zero a given factory load well, but at 500 yards throw rounds all over?

[Turkeytider]

Restocked ( MDT Field Stock ) and rebarreled ( Shilen match 26” bull barrel , 7 twist ) a Savage 110 action in .223 to convert a hunting rifle to a recreational range rifle. Zeroed at 100 yards , 5 rounds literally on top of one another with ADI 69 grain SMK. At 500 yards on steel, all over the place, shooting at a 2” aiming dot. Might have gotten within 5” once out of 20.
Ran a box test on the scope, seems to be working fine.
Can a barrel zero well at 100 but yet give these kinds of results at greater range?

 

[Just Say Moe]

I have seen this but my barrel had several thousand rounds on it. Others will chime in with first hand experience. I would at the least, try other ammo with longer and shorter bullets just to rule out the the issue is with the SMK's.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Forgive me don’t take this the wrong way the shooter but mainly the conditions different from 100 to 500 will play big with a 69:gr. Bullet at 223 speed as far as accuracy. I shoot 80’s at 300 1/2 moa but at 500 it’s a crap shoot with me behind the gun

 

[LCazador]

Is the ammo all from same lot? It's possible to get much better groups at 100 only to see that same group size enlarge drastically at 500 yards. Gun handling as well as wind conditions are greatly magnified at long range. There are other issues like bullet shape and overall cartridge length that will impact groups at longer ranges while still shooting good groups at closer range. Shoot with a wind flag and monitor wind change and velocity at a hundred and also at 500. Mirage is another factor that may seem to not make much change at a hundred yards but will drastically impact groups at longer distances.

 

[Rook 6]

Short answer is yes. But lots of variables/possibilities. Would need more info on your setup? Could be the bow, the arrow, the Indian, all three even…

 

[Turkeytider]

Thanks everybody. I was more surprised than anything, especially since my other .223 shoots those well. Yeah, I know there’s 18 tons of variables. Wind was pretty calm, but what there was was switchy. Also some mirage.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Parallax error could be as much as 3.9 inches at 500 yards(50mm scope objective) if the scope is parallax is set at 100 yards. Likely you are having a combination errors stacking up at long range. Velocity swings shot to shot, wind,mirage, bench and/or rest, even your heart beat(pulse).
I have one rifle with a Blackhawk Axiom stock, when I run a suppressor on it I see my pulse as reticle movement when the target is 200 yards plus(scope set to 20x).

 

[Turkeytider]

Parallax error could be as much as 3.9 inches at 500 yards(50mm scope objective) if the scope is parallax is set at 100 yards. Likely you are having a combination errors stacking up at long range. Velocity swings shot to shot, wind,mirage, bench and/or rest, even your heart beat(pulse).
I have one rifle with a Blackhawk Axiom stock, when I run a suppressor on it I see my pulse as reticle movement when the target is 200 yards plus(scope set to 20x).

The only other time I’ve shot this new action/stock/ barrel combo was to zero with the 69 grain SMKs at 100 yards, then out to 500 at steel. Lots to consider and LOTS of possible causes contributing to the issue, I know. Experience has taught me, at least in my own case, that faulty equipment is WAAAAY down the list! I’ve shot poorly before, thinking something’s GOT to be broken! Sure enough, there was. ME and my crappy shooting!

 

[Bill Rodolph]

I found that the 69 Sierra was a very good shooting bullet, but even at 300 yds it was pretty wind sensitive. I can't imagine at 500.

 

[BuffaloBill]

Is it possible the barrel’s twist rate is mis-marked? You could check it with cleaning rod & patch (if you already haven’t done so).

 

[PaulyD]

I’d try some Hornady ELD match or Federal Gold Medal match. 75gr.

 

[CF Junkie]

I would consider 77 Berger OTMs, or 77 SMKs at 500 to 600 yds.
In my experience, Nosler CCs weren't quite up to the task - might be an older design.

.223s with heavier bullets run out of steam at about 600 yds so having problems with 69s at 500 yds is not a surprise, even with a 1:7 twist Shilen. I have a .223 416R Shilen 1:7 26-inch Select Match and think it is incredible.

 

[Turkeytider]

Thanks everyone. I’m going to reverify zeroes on the 69’s and check zero on some 77 SMKs. Next range trip I’ll shoot the 77’s. I may have also had some elevation setting issues with the 69’s . Think the BC in the ballistics formula may have been too low, making me adjust too high.
I think this is most likely a shooter and ammo issue as opposed to equipment.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Typical 1 moa group with 69’s in a 20” AR from a sling prone about 2800 fps.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I would consider 77 Berger OTMs, or 77 SMKs at 500 to 600 yds.
In my experience, Nosler CCs weren't quite up to the task - might be an older design.

.223s with heavier bullets run out of steam at about 600 yds so having problems with 69s at 500 yds is not a surprise, even with a 1:7 twist Shilen. I have a .223 416R Shilen 1:7 26-inch Select Match and think it is incredible.

Shhh. Don’t tell my 88’s and 90’s that they fall out of the sky at 599 yards. They keep punching X at 800-900-1000 !

 

[amiabledave]

Factory loads tells me that you're buying boxes of ammo off the shelf? Or are you reloading yourself?

 

[DirtySteve]

I would expect them to be strung out left and right due to wind. Not vertically very much unless shooting into a gusting head or tail wind. My 75 grain A-Max load shoots very well at my 530 yard targets.. Oh, yes they have not made A-Max's in years but I buy a lot of bullets when I find a good load.

 

[jpjulian]

My last year shooting Highpower with an AR Service rifle, I shot the entire season with Hornady factory 75 grain HPBT Match ammo. Absolute hammer at 2-300 yards. 600 though that ammo came unglued and I dropped points like I was a rank beginner. I got what I deserved by losing all interest in loading my own that year. Chrono'd some of those last week and they barely broke 2700 fps. That's 100+ fps slower than my 80SMK's chrono'd and may explain why they were so crappy at 600.

 

[JFrank]

Can a barrel zero well at 100 but yet give these kinds of results at greater range?

Mine have.

 

[Turkeytider]

Factory loads tells me that you're buying boxes of ammo off the shelf? Or are you reloading yourself?

Yep, factory loads only.