Scope is not consistent

[Drcam670]

Hey guys, new to the forum.
I have a Ruger precision 6.5 with an Athelon scope. Previously this scope has been dead on. A couple of months ago it started shooting wonky. I took it to my local gunsmith and he realigned the scope and torqued the ring bolts in the correct pattern. I went to the range the other day and I couldn't even hit a poster board at 100 yds. Long story short, I had to adjust up 4.5 mils and right 4 mils to start hitting the target. Once I was on target I would hit one shot on the edge of the bullseye, then one shot nearly off the paper top right then low left then a couple in the center. I had the gun on a led sled so it wasn't shooter error. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[AlNyhus]

Do you always shoot from a lead sled?

 

[DShortt]

Swap scopes. If the problem goes away then it's identified. If it doesn't then obviously you have more work to do.

Check your base screws while you have the scope off.

 

[LHSmith]

Hey guys, new to the forum.
I have a Ruger precision 6.5 with an Athelon scope. Previously this scope has been dead on. A couple of months ago it started shooting wonky. I took it to my local gunsmith and he realigned the scope and torqued the ring bolts in the correct pattern. I went to the range the other day and I couldn't even hit a poster board at 100 yds. Long story short, I had to adjust up 4.5 mils and right 4 mils to start hitting the target. Once I was on target I would hit one shot on the edge of the bullseye, then one shot nearly off the paper top right then low left then a couple in the center. I had the gun on a led sled so it wasn't shooter error. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

My suggestion is throw that led sled in the nearest lake. They are notorious for damaging scopes, stocks and their bedding. They are especially hard on chinese manufactured scopes. What is the point of a led sled anyway? They will shoot to a different point of aim when compared to off hand, bipod, or sandbag rest because the bullet is still in the barrel in the early stages of recoil.

 

[ShtrRdy]

You need to try another, known good, scope first.

I found that I could generally shoot better off of sand bags than a lead sled. As mentioned above, Lead Sled's have a reputation of damaging scopes.

 

[jpjulian]

I have never seen a rifle shoot well off a Lead Sled. Try shooting off bags. It does sound like the scope has taken a dump. Had a Bushnell do the same thing once.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

A quick and dirty first check is to dry fire and see if the reticle jumps - no sign, change the scope out and try another.

 

[big5ifty]

Sounds like the scope is broken. Box test will show.

On a lead sled, the scope experiences recoil impact from both directions, which scopes are not designed for.

 

[CJ6]

Get rid of the lead sled.

 

[Deleted member fkimble@charter.net]

Are you sure your targets are squared up?

Frank

 

[Drcam670]

Do you always shoot from a lead sled?

No, I actually usually shoot on bipod but with the inconsistancy I thought a sled would take out any shooter error, but based on the comments to this thread noone is a fan.
I will swap scopes and see if anything changes

 

[Drcam670]

Thanks for all of your input, I will swap scopes, dump the led sled, and see if there are any changes.

 

[TaperPin]

There is a monumental difference in forces applied to a scope between an otherwise empty lead sled and one with 50 or 100 lbs of lead shot holding it down.

I‘m in the minority, but if you own the lead sled there’s no law against adding additional padding between the recoil pad and contact point so it’s easier on the scope - personally I’d add a layer of memory foam carpet pad, shoot it without lead shot and call it good.

You are better off getting a traditional front rest and rear bag.

I must be the only person in the entire western US that gets erratic groups with a bipod on a hunting weight rifle. Even as a 15 year old shooting my first center fire rifle off a wood bench it was obvious that wasn’t going to work without so much padding it wasn’t stable. Down in the dirt it was better, but still not as good as a couple of homemade sandbags full of kitty litter. 2nd rifle was the same. 3rd rifle was the same. 4th rifle was the same. 40 rifles and as many years later I still don’t trust them. I see pictures of guys shooting off of rocks, logs, concrete, pickup hoods, etc. and I want to laugh. I see guys that’s should know better and it makes me wonder if they really do have their ducks in a row.

 

[ebb]

While the scope and rings are off the rifle check the scope base screws to see if they are tight. That could be the whole problem. No mention of the gunsmith checking the base.

 

[GuitarmanNick]

Getting a consistent sight picture while the rifle is in a lead sled can be difficult. Perhaps the parallax is not set for the target distance.

 

[lancexxx]

Get rid of the sled, A scope killer