My Dakota 7X57 shot a fine half inch group and then I switched from NEW 150 grain Nosler Partitions to some 160 grain blems I bought from a AR member. I used the same powder out of the same bottle (H-4831) loaded a bit lighter for the slightly heavier bullets with powder charges that varied by .5 grains.
Concurrently, I replaced the Leupold VX-3 in 3.5-10X40 with a new Meopta Meopro 6X to try it out.
All 3 loads were all over the place at around 2.5 to 3 inches at 100 yards.

For those of you more experienced folks out there, would you be inclined to blame the scope over the blems or vice versa? This is my first experience with both the Meopta and blems. So, any insight is certainly appreciated from the "been there, done that" crowd.

P.S. Mounts have been checked several times.

Thanks.
CB

I would say replace with the Leupold and re-shoot the same loads. That should give you an indication. But shooting blems with estimated loads is highly suspect. Meopta is my top selling high end scope and they have proven to be rock solid. I did have one that had a loose erector tube assembly and was erratic. It was replaced without issue.

I just thought of another option. That is to run a handful of the 150's with my best load and see how that goes with this scope. That should tip the scales one way or another. Thanks for the input.

Yes, the scientific outlook would be to change just one aspect of the issue at a time.

Just a hunter is in my opinion right !
My 7x57 shoots 140 grain bullets great but not much else worth beans !
...tj3006

The easiest way to sort the chaff is to shoot some of your best load 150's.

That at least will proof test the optics.

My bet is this: you normally shot your groups with a rifle set on 10x. Now your scope is a fixed 6x and you're not used to how this has changed the visuals yet. Add to that, most targets are actually pretty lousy and with the smaller 6x power odds are good you're struggling a bit trying to hit the bull correctly.

(*This happened to me when I went from a 10x Leica to a 6x Leopold FX3)

I had to change my bullseye from the normal "circle" style bullseye to a 6" big X that I made with 1" blue painters tape. The key being that it was now a big X (*had to be an X and not a Cross)

The Big X allowed me to center the 6x Reticle correctly by focusing on aligning the arms of the reticle within the arms of the X.

My groups instantly shrank back down to were they were supposed to be.

So, try changing the round bullseye to an X and shoot a few groups.

Condensed version:

I think the 6X scope works just fine.

I just shot 10 more first quality 150's today (Sunday).
The best I could do is about an inch for the first few rounds after getting on the 1 inch target. With no barrel cool down, they gradually opened up to about 1.5 to 2 inches.

I'm sure higher magnification would trim groups back down.

I thank you all for the input. All
CB

I don't know if it has been addressed but he mentioned shooting 160gr blems. Trouble-shooting 101 says don't change more than one thing at a time. I don't think switching bullet, load and scope all at the same time was a good move.

gunsrgood.

I'm the OP.
It has been obvious since my second post (post epiphany) that one thing at a time would have been the proper way to test a new scope. I thought I might get lucky with several changes and didn't.

Please go back and read all the replies in the thread and (hopefully) you will take something positive additional from this. I did. Here are highlights:

Bobster Very positive about Meopta scopes from first hand experience and sales with mention of occasional erector issue.

just-a-hunter Meopta's are usually great optics. A step above leupold in my oppinion but both are great scopes.

tjroberts My 7x57 shoots 140 grain bullets great but not much else worth beans !

rnovi you normally shot your groups with a rifle set on 10x. Now your scope is a fixed 6x, most targets are actually pretty lousy and with the smaller 6x power odds are good you're struggling a bit trying to hit the bull correctly.
(*This happened to me when I went from a 10x Leica to a 6x Leopold FX3)
So, try changing the round bullseye to an X and shoot a few groups.

Custom bolt might be on to something else here.
The target can make a big difference. I like a red cross.
Best if its just a little bigger than your cross hairs. A black scope reticle can be moving a little in a black background and you might not be able to see it.
But i still think you most likely cause is the change in bullet weight...tj30063

I have been dealing in Meopta scopes for 15 years or more and, last year, for the very first time, a customer contacted me for spares. He lost one of the turret dust caps and wanted another one. They are extraordinary reliable scopes and some of the ones that I fitted work hard.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
My Dakota 7X57 shot a fine half inch group and then I switched from NEW 150 grain Nosler Partitions to some 160 grain blems I bought from a AR member. I used the same powder out of the same bottle (H-4831) loaded a bit lighter for the slightly heavier bullets with powder charges that varied by .5 grains.
Concurrently, I replaced the Leupold VX-3 in 3.5-10X40 with a new Meopta Meopro 6X to try it out.
All 3 loads were all over the place at around 2.5 to 3 inches at 100 yards.

For those of you more experienced folks out there, would you be inclined to blame the scope over the blems or vice versa? This is my first experience with both the Meopta and blems. So, any insight is certainly appreciated from the "been there, done that" crowd.

P.S. Mounts have been checked several times.

Thanks.
CB

I would start by shooting far more groups to determine how it shoots.

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:

I would start by shooting far more groups to determine how it shoots.

I shall do that sooner or later. My time at the range has been limited lately. It's a 45 minute drive. Since it seems to like them, I plan on loading a bunch more 150 grainers and let the barrel cool in between shots next go-round. Maybe this spring.

My only Meopta is a Meopro 6X. IMO, it's a great scope. I hope you get yours sorted out.

I'm have a different approach. If it ain't broke don't fix it. I would have gotten another rifle for the new scope before I would mess with one shooting so well. That's just me though. Good luck anyway.

What's the twist?

and blem generally means "ain't shiny and discounted"

Twist is 9".

quote:

Originally posted by 16Bore:
What's the twist?