I have acquired a Ruger model M77 in 270 as boot in a trade for another rifle.It is topped with an inexpensive scope from Tasco. At fifty yards it slings bullets all over a pie plate sized target.I have given both the barrel and bore a good cleaning and tried several different loads and bullets through it with same bad results.

Am I most likely looking at a rifle problem or a scope problem?What should be my next course of action in the rehabbing of this rifle?

I would check the scope first is it tight? Does the rifle have iron sights? If you have iron I would try it with those. Then you may have a gun problem.

What caliber and what bullet weights are you shooting?

From past experience, I'm always suspicious of a Tasco. Do you have another scope you could try??

Other than that, make sure all screws are tight, and figure out how the barrel is bedded. If it is floated, make sure the barrel does not touch the barrel channel along the way.

Take a look at your barrel crown with a magnifying glass. Any inconsistencies or burrs visible??

Are you shooting factory loads in your .270?? I have had very decent accuracy out of Federal 150 grs Nosler Partition ammo.

- mike

mho has it right...

Check the scope mounts and the stock screws to make sure they're tightened properly...

A Tasco is one of the cheaper/cheapest scopes on the market, so you've got a good chance of the scope itself being the culprit. It may be damaged or defective.

As mentioned above also, shoot it with the iron sights (if it has irons) to see how it shoots...

Bedding is your next item to check if the above does not correct the problem.

Report back and let us know how it goes!

Thanks for the input guys.I have shot Federal Premiums and also Remington ammo out of the rifle.Side by side at the range last trip and it did not seem to tighten up at all.I have removed the bolt and visually inspected the bore and see no obvious defect.

I did not think to remove the scope and try the iron sights but if I am gonna have to remove the scope next that may be a good intermediate step.

I have never had a scope fail on me in the past.Is this typical behaviour from a scope on the fritz

Rarely is the rifle itself to blame in such inaccuracy problems. It certainly can happen, and in truth it has happened to me. But even after that experience the rifle is still for me always the last thing to blame.

Scopes go bad, especially cheap ones with annoying regularity.

eyedoc, how old is the rifle ? In the late 70's Ruger outsourced their bbls. I love Rugers but I will be the first to admit they had QC problems during that time. One bbl problem that can be checked is to put a tight fitting patch down the bbl and "feel" it go down the bbl checking or feeling for tighter or looser pressure on the patch, sorta a poor mans air gauge test..........JJ

JJ- I use a dollar bill, does that make me a rich man?

John

The only good thing to come out of Russia is vodka -leave optics to Germans.