I just picked up a weatherby vanguard...I was using IMR 4831..51 grains..100 grain Speer SPBT and Nosler 115 grain ballistic tips..got this recipe from a few fellas here...the best group I could get was 3 by 3 inches at 50 yards...I tried different scopes,I checked bases and rings to make sure everything was secure,checked all action screws.......reloaded a few more rounds..52 grains this time with the same bullets,same results.....no two holes were even close to one another..looked like a shotgun.....could the powder and bullet combo cause this problem that severe,I don't know the round count throught this particular rifle.....I am new to reloading and am just looking for a few tips and advice.......thanks

Chola,

I would start with cleaning the bore thoroughly, including
a good soaking/scrubbing with a good copper fowling
solvent. And maybe try a different scope, just to elimnate
that possibility. While mounting a known good scope,
check all base and ring mounting screws for tightness.

Then I'd check the crown, bore, and chamber for damage,
or excessive wear. Without seeing the rifle, I would guess
something is amiss. Most Vanguard/Howas are excellent
shooters, so this one is atypical. Which is what has me
wondering what is up with this one. With 6 MOA
something I am going to guess something is horribly out
of wack here, and I don't think ammo changes are going to
help. I would just get some cheap factory ammo, or load
some inexpensive bullets, in some plain jane loads.
Something in the 3000 fps range , with 100 gr bullets, to
get down to 1-3 MOA, for problem isolation. Once you
correct the gross issues, then start back on dialing in
favorite loads.

This is how I would address this issue. I recently
went through something like this with an Encore,
and I know how frustrating this can be. Since this
was a new .308 Win barrel, using this same process,
and finding no cure, the barrel went back to T/C, with
targets, where I shot their suggested factory ammo.
We shall see how they address a barrel that shoots
patterns rather than groups.

Squeeze

Ive got a weatherby mark 5 ultra lightweight in 25-06 - it took a bit to make it shoot.I had to free float it and glass bed it - they need to be glass bedded like a Sako.
Squeeze is giving you good advice - shooting groups of that size at fifty would have me cranky - are the holes in the target round in shape? - check to make sure that they are not starting to tumble - you may have to try it at 100y to make sure that they are not keyholing.
Check the muzzle very carefully for any marks - if you cant return the firearm to who you bought it from a trip to your gunsmith may be in order -he may suggest a recrowning job.
Muzr

Aside from all that advice, I would shoot some factory ammo. If it shoots as bad, I wold return the rifle, if possible. Life is too short to mess with dogs like that. I think something is very wrong, not just a bedding tweak. Loose scope, crooked crown, defective bore, crooked chamber, something like that. Jeese, my Turk mausers shoot better.

I agree with with Scota4570.

Try some factory loads through a clean barrel first. At least this will eliminate a problem with your reloading equipment/proceedure.

Most 25.06's will shoot Winchester 90gr soft points less than 1.5 MOA.
If it still gives you grief and everything is tight, get the scope checked.

Cheers
Boof...

My last 3 new rifles have required glass bedding, barrel floating and trigger adjustments to make them shoot well, about $200. cost. I suspect yours is no different. It seems we're actually buying rifle kits today that are only complete when we shell out the extra bucks. I personally feel it's another way to put the screws to the buying public. Savage might be the exception to this nonsense. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

quote:

Originally posted by muzr257:I had to free float it and glass bed it -

That's about the only thing that can cause that much problem......almost any ammo will shoot 3" at 100 yards even if its really bad....
I agree....it's bedding