Weird groups when testing loads in 17 Rem

[dougie53]

Hi guys,

Just got back from another round of testing some loads in my 17 Remington. I was suprised with some of the groups that I shot today. I have attached a picture below, as you can see, the top two groups look almost identical in their pattern which is 2 shots close to each other, but not close to the other 3 holes (they were all 5 shot groups). This seems very strange to me as the two groups are almost identical in pattern even though the two groups are different amounts of powder.

Also, I am used to shooting consistently <1 MOA in my 308 which is a Remington 700 LTR, the Tikka M55 hasn't been able to do a 5 shot group better than 1.3 MOA so far trying 3 different powders with 20gr Vmaxs. Is this just something I am going to have to get used to? I've ordered some 25gr Hornady HP to see if they perform better. It's a bone stock Tikka and I have no idea about it's history. Any help is appreciated.

 

[BradY]

Hi mate

17 rems are hard on barrels, if you dont know its history, it could have been from a fox shooter and is probably shagged. Might be time for a new barrel.

Also if you have a spare mag, i would be more than willing to make a generous offer for it. It seems they are very hard to come by in australia.

 

[HillbillySniper]

It my be something simple check your barrel to make sure it doesnt pinch in the stock as you shoot it, it may have a spot where it pinchs and throws your shoots

 

[dougie53]

Yeah I'm going to check all the screws, check it's all tight then try the same loads again. I have a feeling I may have been changing my hold as I shot these groups.

 

[dougie53]

And I only have the one magazine with this rifle, sorry BradY

 

[sharps]

DON'T over diagnose a problem!!!!!!!!!! clean the rifle barrel
all the way.......if need be Kroil and JB bore cleaner....quit jumping the bullets so much and most likely your problem will
go away............remember a barrel is like a woman......acts
different during different stages of life and can never unscrew
one and throw it in the trash.............

 

[bozo699]

You may be trying to push it to hard. What velocity are you running?
Wayne.

 

[dougie53]

Hi bozo, I wasn't chronographing. The loads were 22.0 and 22.5gr of Benchmark 2, the starting load for this powder is 22.0gr and the max is 24.5 so I don't think I was pushing it at all.

 

[vmthtr]

I used Varget in my 17 Rem. Don't remember the charge, but was getting really good velocity out of the 20g Vmax and good groups.

 

[montec]

Hi Dougie
I agree with Sharps. Though I have never owned a .17, I hunt coyotes with guys who have and they all have accuracy problems. I have heard many times that the 17s are notorious barrel foulers. Regardless, most of the guys I hunt with say they can never find a bullet hole in the critter with the 17 and thats why they like it.

 

[acloco]

With the 17 Rem that I owned, 20 and 25 VMax's did not group well. 25 gr HPBT's did...and Berger bullets grouped the best (0.5 moa).

 

[338Lapua]

If every things tight? maybe something’s to check…Is the action bedded and barrel floated ..some scopes don’t hold zero very well, what scope do you have on it? A look down the barrel with a bore scope could reveal your problem.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Have a 17 wildcar a little larger than Rem...Shoots Hornady and WW 748 very good...LT

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

On a .17 Remington the first thing I would check would be copper in the barrel.

 

[bozo699]

On a .17 Remington the first thing I would check would be copper in the barrel.

+ 1 Most definitly.
Wayne.

 

[DanCarey]

Run a we patch of the bore cleaner of your choice thru the bore and let it sit overnight. If you have a copper problem it will show. It is common to get color in doing this, but vivid color is too much copper. Don't wear your arm and the barrel out, just leave the bore wet until it comes clean. Now that said, its the opinion of a lot of knowledgeable shooters that a little copper don't hurt the accuracy, however carbon does, and it starts to build up just ahead of the throat where the most heat is.

 

[markr]

Check bedding of action. Make sure barrel is free floating with the rifle on the rest that you shoot off of remove material as necessary. Clean barrel thoughly to remove built up carbon and copper...there will be some! Use good solvent and bronze brush with a good rod and bore guide and then plenty of patches with JB then clean dry patches.
Mark