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

[big5ifty]

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?

It may not be the barrel giving the results, it may be the shooter getting the results.

What are you doing differently between the two distances ? Same bench, same bipod / rest ?

If you get a four inch wind drift at 500 yards on the day, it would look like it's all over the place with a 8 inch movement between wind shifts. Ask your ballistic calculator how much wind it takes to move your bullet 4 inches at 500 yards, it's probably single digit mph .

If there was a problem, it would show at 100.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I don't shoot alot of factory rounds. Last were some 30TC 165 gr SST I got on clearance for 9.00 a box(yes I bought all of them + the 150's). Previously only 165 gr handloads, which held moa to 465 yards(didn't feel the need to shoot a hunting rifle further than that). The factory rounds were +,- moa at 100 but 300 yards 4-5 inch groups and would also be slightly left of expected. Fine for deer/elk but looked terrible next to the same bullet handloads. Shooting prone bipod handheld like long hunting shots.

 

[DirtySteve]

I am going to just throw this out there as a thought, it may be that the load is not pushing the bullet fast enough to keep it stable.

I run my loads at near maximum according to the manuals. That being said I don’t tolerate my brass being beaten up by high pressure. So any signs of high pressure I then generally back them off. Some guns are over published maximum by a little some are just under. I want performance with out issues.

Steve

 

[jelenko]

What are you doing differently between the two distances ? Same bench, same bipod / rest ?

This^

If that's not the cause, it would be interesting to see bullet holes at 500 yards - to confirm the bullets are stabilized. They should be but just to confirm.

 

[Ed kof]

I happen to be going through the same thing with a 6.5 creedmoor. Groups at 100 are in the .250 range. At 600 it’s 6 to 8 inch. I’ve ordered a different bullet to see if that makes a difference. I was expecting sub 3 inch groups when it shot so well at 100. Been shooting for over 50 years and I’m still surprised some times. Edk

 

[David Milisock]

Short answer, YES!
Long answer, I have 2 rifles in 223 and 1 in 556.45, one rifle is a breakopen for training the grandkids, one is a serious varmint rifle on a Howa 1500 varmint action. The third, a 5.56x45 is a serious 1990's SPR on a Colt A2 HBAR, in LE/Delta configuration. The difference is the 3x9 x 50mm Redfield scope for the LE. Thes rifles a the military are the extent of my experience with the 223/5.56×45.
Leaving the grandkids out the Howa performs to my standards for varmints of trajectory and groups out to 350 yards. To achieve that I reduced bullett weight and increased velocity. I shoot crows and head shoot chucks, small targets, I have made a 500 yard chuck shot, but I missed, due to the range I aimed for the body but hit the head. A dead chuck but not where I intended to hit him.

The A2 has a 1-7 twist and stabilizes heavies well, it even shoots sub minute 100 yard groups. With that said the trajectory sucks, and when comparing to the M193 and M855 the 77's do better in terms of making hits on steel out to 500 yards, but (and this is due to wind) just are barely useful. With comparing 68-69 grain 62,000 PSI handloads, in my area, I can make a 300-400 yard varmint/tactical shot 100% of the time only in 20% of the weather conditions. The lighter match bullettes are faster and can regularly produce 8" plate hits and if I lay off the coffee even smaller. The 77's regularly drop a few off the 8" mark.

So the long answer was also yes!

 

[David Milisock]

I happen to be going through the same thing with a 6.5 creedmoor. Groups at 100 are in the .250 range. At 600 it’s 6 to 8 inch. I’ve ordered a different bullet to see if that makes a difference. I was expecting sub 3 inch groups when it shot so well at 100. Been shooting for over 50 years and I’m still surprised some times. Edk

What bullet? What conditions?

 

[Ed kof]

The bullet is the 140 hornady match. It’s all they had locally. Conditions have varied day to day but a couple other rifles are in the 3 inch range the same days.. I’m hoping the Sierra 140 will shoot better at range. Edk

 

[charlie b]

Try the Bergers I had trouble with the Hornady 140 and 147 ELDM's with my 6.5CM. Berger 140's cut groups almost in half at 600yd. Didn't try that Sierra but the 123 Sierra was the same as the Hornady's. I am going to try the 123 ELD's just cause they are cheaper than the Bergers. Keeping my fingers crossed. If not I may just toss the barrel and get a cartridge I like

As for range and group size, yes, I've had poor showing at range with some loads that did well up close. I've also had some that were 1" at 100 and 1.5" at 300. That was repeated quite a few times and still baffles me.