Has anyone ever had a rifle rest cause the rifle to shoot erratic? That is to shoot like two through the same hole then scatter to 1.5-2.0 inch groups? I took my Ruger MK 77 to a custom gun maker and he checked everything in it and said it was perfect as far a fit, head space, riflings, crown, bolt, trigger, etc. I begin to blame the syentheic stock, which may be some of the problem. But I have found the center vertical adjustment bolt to be loose in the threads in the adjusting nut. I called Ruger and was going to send the rifle back to them but going to try sand bags. I can shoot my old 7.7 jap better from sand bags than the rest but didn't think about it until now. Anyone experience this?

If you are using a mechanical rest Blob once you get your gun positioned the way you want it you need to make sure you lock all your nuts down and tighten/snug your captains wheel. Also, this time of year down your way don't forget to baby powder your bags so the gun recoils naturally--its humid down there. Also, always be sure that your sling swivel stud is not making contact with either of your bags. And finally for others reading this--do not sight in your rifle while the sling is still attached off of a mechanical rest.

It's possible that the rest contributes to the problem. Unless you are sure that your technique is consistant. Are you using free recoil or are you holding the rifle? How about your grip and trigger control, what about the position of your elbow and the amount of pressure on your shoulder? Then of course, there's the wind, ammo and your sight picture too. Botton line is that there are lots of variables.

I'm not trying to a wise a$$, but the problem may be the rifle itself. What's it's track record? Has anyone else tried to get it to group? Not all factory rifles are capable of firing tight groups and I believe that many manufacturers would consider that performnce to be within specifications.

jeff

quote:

lock all your nuts down and tighten

Good one my man

I have shot for going on 55 years now and this is the worse shooting I have ever done after getting this rest. I can stack them with my .223 and others but I shot them from sand bags. You can lock down everything as tight as Dick's hat band and you will have to adjust the vertical and most of the time horizonal every shot. I think the rest is throwing me off and in a few days we will know. Going to:
1.Shoot from sand bags
2. Change the scope back to my Leupold 3 x 9

Blob:
Tell us exactly what rest you purchase and are having trouble with.

If your first two shots are practically on top of each other from a cold barrel each time I'd leave it alone as a hunting rifle.

Most of the time if the first couple shots are perfect and then the poi changes it's bedding issues. Some barrels need to be stress relieved. When hunting the first shot is usually the last, and if it hits exactly where it should, and the follow-up is also right on, you won't need a five shot group. Pencil thin sporter barrels are more suseptable to moving as they heat up than a heavier barrel.

Try shooting two shots then putting it away to cool to ambient temp. Then pick it up and shoot two more. This will tell if it's heat related.

If this rifle is going to be used where a lot of shooting is to be done with little or no chance for cooling then there may be some real issues to deal with. Bedding is usually the first.

Also make sure the rifle is sitting in the rest exactly the same each time. Forearm pressure changes can affect a poi change if the barrel contacts the stock. Nate

Blob1, If this is the same troublesome child mentioned in the other thread, I appologise!

You've obviously tried most everything. Is there any consistancy in the first two shots? I have even gone so far as to shoot one shot, first one of the day, at a target on a board that I would bring out each time for several trips. What I found with that rifle/load combo was that the first shot from a cold dirty barrel were very consistant. It was all the shooting later that drifted so much. Nate

Blob1, my offer still stands to buy it.........JJ

quote:

Has anyone ever had a rifle rest cause the rifle to shoot erratic?

Not exactly, BUT I have used "rests" that made accurate shooting pretty difficult!

If you are using a rest called the Rock from Caldwell, then I bet it is the problem. I bought one several years ago, and it was so loose and hard to get to stay adjusted that I ended up selling it and my groups shrank considerably. I now use a Hart base with a varmint top and owl ear bag for hunting rifles and haven't had any problems that weren't caused by me.
I was at a local gun shop the other day and saw a new Caldwell rest that is supposed to be benchrest quality, but other than looking like one of the expensive brands, it was the same sloppy fit. Too bad, with a little quality work it looks like it could be a nice rest.
On the other hand, if you're using a powder that heats up the barrel really fast, like say RL22 does in my 270, then the third shot flyer could be from barrel heat. But, if you shot well with sand bags, then that's probably not an issue with shooting off a rest. But it's something to think about, other than the rest, what are you doing differently?

Let me clear up a few things first. I don't shoot two shots through the same hole the first two shots. The first two may be 3", 2", 1.5" then after shooting 10 times there will be a couple through the same hole then the next shot 2" A way. This is a rifle rest from cabella's costing about $90.00 or so, but poor in workmanship (not much that isn't any more) I had to redo some things to get it solid but I notice it has to be adjusted a lot between shots. Going to the old sand bags Tuesday morning at day break with some factory 140s and reloaded 120s. Will see if it makes any differance. If not then back to the Leupold 3 x 9 and then back to Ruger!

This rest was sloppy also. When I shoot three shot groups with 120 grain Sierra Pro hunters using H 4350 powder I let the barrel get cool enough to hold my hand on it before shooting again. Sometimes I have took 10 minutes between three shots. Understand the heated barrel flyers. But I sincerly believe that this piss poor rest is ^%$%&*&*^ me bad.

I guess I do not understand the mechanics on this. Not to question your many years of shooting but, you're not letting the bbl contact the rest are you?

I don't understand how the rest can cause your shots to be sporadic if your trigger breaks when you are centered on bullseye. I'd be looking at the scope, bases, rings, and rifle screws first. Then the bedding. Otherwise, I'd say your bbl is extra sensitive to heat. I never shoot a bbl unless it is almost as cool as when it was for the first shot, or only slightly warm to touch.

Ok this has gone far enough. No the barrel is not touching the rest. Finished with this!
Everything has been checked and rechecked even a custom rifle maker throughly inspected the rifle. No more posts on this subject!

quote:

Not exactly, BUT I have used "rests" that made accurate shooting pretty difficult!

I've had that problem myself. I actually prefer the leather Shooting Bags myself (Filled w/ Sand of course ). I find my hold is much steadier from the leather bags than from the mechanical front rest. I think it mostly has to do w/ the T shaped tables we shoot of of, it's kind of uncomfortable to shoot w/ the tripod rest.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Well the pretty womman and the rifles is a very good truth and the more you rub and stroke the better it gets, unless you are fighting a Ruger M77. Then it is like the high school teaser of years gone by, almost but not quite and always new excuses comes around and the fight goes on! Got my trigger down to 3/4 lb, sand bags filled and on my way either tomorrow or Friday.

Well went to the range today and arrived at daylight. Had the range to myself. I decided to shoot some 50 yard shots.
Used my three sand bags and shot some factory Remington 140 grains, 129 grain Hornady reloads and some 120 grain pro hunters. Shot 6 140s in two three shot groups. Shot three three shot groups 120s and three three shot groups 129s. Had been scattering at 100 yards from 2.5 to 3" and almost the same at 50 yards.
These groups were
140 grain, .599 and.486
120 grain, .486, .989 and .846
129 grain, .846, .599 and.625.
All grouped the same patteren and not one flyer! Now I have something to work from!
I did away with the bad rifle rest and went to sand bags. Also reworked the trigger to 3/4 LB. I realize that many of you shoot a lot better even at longer distances, but for me to be able to keep all in the 1 inch ring even at 50 yards is like receiving a million dollers. Man from 2.5" to 3" to less than an inch is a breath of fresh air. And I know I jerked a couple off myself. Now I can move on toward 1 inch at 100 yards!