I have a wood stocked M98 in 8x57 with a 20" Douglas barrel. Stock is bedding at action and front barrel band muzzle - free floated in between. I hand load the ammo.

It's been wood stocked for a while, synthetic prior. Always shot sub-MOA since then - 2012.

Fast Forward - current issues w/accuracy.

Rescoped it beginning of year (at home). Went from a Weaver 2-10x38 to another Weaver 2-10x38 with a BDC. Sighted in less than ideal conditions one evening. It wasn't grouping that well. Missed a hog later and some shot placements weren't where I expected. Finally got it to the ranger under ideal conditions and it was not grouping well at all - greater than 3". No change in ammo.

Changed scopes, another Weaver 2-10x38 I had on hand (not the original one I removed). Tested this weekend. Even worse - 6" diagonal spread. Ideal range and shooting conditions.

I had a Weaver 2-10x38 go bad in the past. Could it happen again? Sure. Two in a row? Probably not. Barrel is also clean.

Next steps, two options:
1) Try another scope. I have a Weaver Grand Slam 3.5-10x40 that works fine.
2) Bed action into a standard, non-Mannlicher stock that I have w/free floated barrel and use the scope from #1. If it shoot well, then move barreled action to Mannlicher stock and determine if it was a stock or scope issue. If it still shoots poorly, don't know.
3) If the issue is now the Mannlicher stock for some reason (not sure why) - bed the barrel channel full length??

Thoughts?

Yes, put it into another stock and see. Mannlicher stocks can be creatures from Hell, or Angels.
Change one variable at a time. Known good scope. Stock. Make sure the barrel is tight (don't laugh; I just had one in here that I could unscrew with my hand). Tight action screws, scope mounts; go through each component.
It proved to be accurate in 2012; something has changed, obviously and it will be easy to tell what.
If it is the stock, and it has warped, then you are on your own.

Age of old ammo ? Work up new loads for the change in harmonics by having a MANNLICHER stock . Replace stock first , having a pressure point at end of barrel WILL change accuracy.

Check for loose/sheared screws on the scope bases.

George

Number 1 option.
Old scopes can dry out and lose stability.

Thanks!

Trying to get to the range this weekend.

Will update.

I have had only two issues with a good rifle suddenly going south; both times loose mounts were to blame. Once they were so loose on a Lapua I could feel the scope moving (rail screws were loose). I put blue locktite on them and been okay since.

That's true too. Snugging them up evenly is best I've found when changing or adding a scope.

bases are snug and tight, originally put on with loctite and torque wrench. Double checked yesterday and today. Man, I wish it was that easy!

Inlet an old stock tonight that I had on hand. Will bed it this weekend.

I'm praying I have the worst luck in the world with 2 bad scopes in a row!!!

No surprise there AH. I figured that you know how to mount a scope. I'd try the Grand Slam first. Just doesn't make sense for the stock to have "moved" unless there was big change in humidity.
I had 2 brand new quality scopes wander on me the first time I used them. Anything can happen with scope insides. 3 inch groups suggest scope. Stock seating issues rarely stray groups that much in my experience.
You'll figure it out, I'm sure.

Craig Boddington recounts in Accurate Rifles how had a mannlicher stocked rifle that would not shoot. He put a couple of business cards half way along the barrel thus giving positive upward pressure in the middle of the barrel.

Mannlicher barrels are often quite light and vibrate all over the place. Positive firm bedding pressure can dampen the vibrations and make a huge difference, in the same way that positive forend pressure makes on a conventional stocked rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Heym SR20:
Craig Boddington recounts in Accurate Rifles how had a mannlicher stocked rifle that would not shoot. He put a couple of business cards half way along the barrel thus giving positive upward pressure in the middle of the barrel.

Mannlicher barrels are often quite light and vibrate all over the place. Positive firm bedding pressure can dampen the vibrations and make a huge difference, in the same way that positive forend pressure makes on a conventional stocked rifle.

Good idea and easy to do.

My plan of attacK:

1) shoot barreled action in regular stock I just bedded. Barrel free floated past shank. Has a different scope, Weaver Grand slam.
a) If that works then proceed to step #2
b) if it still shoots poorly, don't know

2) place barreled action in Mannlicher stock. If it shoots well, then it was the scope. if it doesn't
a) Put pressure in the middle as you suggest
b) If that doesn't work, remove pressure point, remove metal muzzle cap and make sure barrel is free floated
c) That should work then. Then decide whether I open up the muzzle cap or I glue a piece of ebony on and make a wood muzzle piece

Good luck.

I have several that Ive stocked or fixed..The quickest cure is to glass bed the stock from one end to the other "tight" has worked everytime so for, but if it doesn't then you have enough material to work with, so inlet a 2 point bedding system, tang, recoil lug, freefloat the barrel completely. Using pressure on a manlicher barrel causes problems in my experience, the wood is too light and slim and just causes havoc! but it may work in some cases, just never has for me..Once fitted up right and they get to shooting, they are as stable as any stock..I have one that has not changed zero in the last 20 plus years..good luck.

Below is the target from today. I went with a third scope (Weaver Grand Slam) and a different stock - standard rifle stock, bedded, barrel free floated.

The RED circles are the shots from this setup. A bit better than before, but not measurably.

The YELLOW circles are shots from a different powder batch of Varget. Quite a bit better. Not as good as it was originally, but fine for hunting.

The issue is that I use this same older powder batch in my 308 Win and it shoots .25 MOA. And the Mauser used to shoot well under an inch as well. I crimp my bullets with a Lee Precision crimp die and compared the crimp between the batches - no difference. In fact, past tests with this rifle and bullet combo showed crimping improved accuracy.

I remounted into my mannlicher stock and plan to shoot tomorrow morning.

Thoughts?

Now yer talkin'.

shot after I put back into the mannlicher stock. Same POI, but .5" group

Very nice. Glad you found the issue.
Now, this will make everyone angry, but I can't help it.
You shot either a .5" group. Or a .5 MOA group. A MOA is not one inch; not at 100 yards at least. I know, picky.
In Tank Gunnery we used Mils (Milliradians) to measure targets.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Very nice. Glad you found the issue.
Now, this will make everyone angry, but I can't help it.
You shot either a .5" group. Or a .5 MOA group. A MOA is not one inch; not at 100 yards at least. I know, picky.
In Tank Gunnery we used Mils (Milliradians) to measure targets.

You're right. .5" group is 2 MOA at 100 yards, but at least I had the " attached to the .5. I corrected it.

Gees Louise. A half inch at 100 yards is 1/2 MOA. 1.04" is close enough to an inch to just use one inch for a base line when talking about targets.

Im with Custom bolt aka Geeze Louise on this..I measure groups center to center, I get all fuzzy when someone shows me a one inch clover shaped group and whines his gun isn't shooting well... I do like clover shaped groups and would opt for them over an even smaller group, at least in the field.

Well anyway, way to go AH. Glad it turned out to be a shooter again.
CB