Ladder test vs ladder test.FAIL - Rifle needs help.

mmcintyre1220 said:
Something tells me there is an issue with the barrel. Likes more like a shotgun pattern. You should not see changes this drastic
Click to expand...

Well, if it doesn't show any signs of consistency this weekend it has four options..............

1)Someone else to try shoot/run some of their own test loads through.

2)Back to Benchmark/distributor.

3)For sale

4)Bench grinder/zip disc.
 
jerrya said:
Have you ever tried just shooting some 3-4 shot groups with it at 100yds,?
Click to expand...







That was all the same load with the 190LRAB.That is about the best it has done to date out of MANY tests.

Tomorrow I will do some with the 180SGK.

My typical routine is a 250 ladder , then back to 100 to confirm with groups for a particular charge.

One lucky group doesn't cut it for me, and it should be much better than that with a barrel and extensive testing.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Well, if it doesn't show any signs of consistency this weekend it has four options..............

1)Someone else to try shoot/run some of their own test loads through.

2)Back to Benchmark/distributor.

3)For sale

4)Bench grinder/zip disc.
Click to expand...

Hi Kelly,

I had a new carbon fiber barreled Christensen (300 PRC) rifle that was giving me headaches similar to what you're going through.

The rifle was inconsistent, one day it would shoot a decent group when testing and the next trip to verify the load it would shoot lousy...was starting to think I couldn't shoot. Tried different scopes, rests, bags, bipods, holds, etc.

Warranty replaced the barrel, they also made sure the action was true as well as did a full action bedding and now its shooting on average 1/2 MOA or less with multiple loads, plus the occasional group in .2 or less.

It can be vary frustrating, hope you get it sorted out.

Did the gunsmith verify how it shot before returning it along with a target when he did the new barrel?
 
hawk-i said:
Hi Kelly,

I had a new carbon fiber barreled Christensen (300 PRC) rifle that was giving me headaches similar to what you're going through.

The rifle was inconsistent, one day it would shoot a decent group when testing and the next trip to verify the load it would shoot lousy...was starting to think I couldn't shoot. Tried different scopes, rests, bags, bipods, holds, etc.

Warranty replaced the barrel, they also made sure the action was true as well as did a full action bedding and now its shooting on average 1/2 MOA or less with multiple loads, plus the occasional group in .2 or less.

It can be vary frustrating, hope you get it sorted out.

Did the gunsmith verify how it shot before returning it along with a target when he did the new barrel?
Click to expand...

No verification of the performance from the smith, who did go through the rifle and corrected any deficiencies I had overlooked.

Did do a test fire though.

This was when I was testing seating depths of the LRAB , could not duplicate even closely the 0.010" jump loads.



 
Kelly Timoffee said:
No verification of the performance from the smith, who did go through the rifle and corrected any deficiencies I had overlooked.

Did do a test fire though.

could not duplicate even closely the 0.010" jump loads.
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much exactly what was happening with the original barrel on my Christensen...the new barrel seems to have corrected that for me.

Also the brass (both ADG and Hornady) can not be used with the new barrel and chamber...with the die set to hard cam over I still can't close the bolt on these full length sized cases...old chamber must have been way off!

Probably time for you to ship it back to the smith and talk with Gary about the barrel.

I feel your frustration, hope they can sort it out.
 
hawk-i said:
Thats pretty much exactly what was happening with the original barrel on my Christensen...the new barrel seems to have corrected that for me.

Also the brass (both ADG and Hornady) can not be used with the new barrel and chamber...with the die set to hard cam over I still can't close the bolt on these full length sized cases...old chamber must have been way off!

Probably time for you to ship it back to the smith and talk with Gary about the barrel.

I feel your frustration, hope they can sort it out.
Click to expand...

I would imagine everything will be at my expense though as I have shot the rifle and tried many different load combo's.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
I would imagine everything will be at my expense though as I have shot the rifle and tried many different load combo's.
Click to expand...

That should NOT be the case...if the barrel is a bad one it should be replaced free of charge!

Keep us posted as I was planning on using Gary for a custom build...how you're treated when you have a problem in my mind dictates how good customer service is...not how fast they take your money and ship!
 
hawk-i said:
That should NOT be the case...if the barrel is a bad one it should be replaced free of charge!

Keep us posted as I was planning on using Gary for a custom build...how you're treated when you have a problem in my mind dictates how good customer service is...not how fast they take your money and ship!
Click to expand...

But it was a smith of my choosing so I'd day I'm probably hooped but I'll get a hold of Gary and see what he thinks.
 
Spoke with Gary, going to try a few things , he says this barrel should not be doing this, and I believe him.

He figures try a different scope regardless of what my bore sighter showed.

As well to go over some of the hardware and fasteners for possible interference.

He was more than easy to deal with and very cordial.
 
Even though you have threatened to take it to the chop saw,I hope you have the patience to see this through as I have been following this with “I wonder what’s going to fix this?” every time there is a new post to the thread. :)
 
So, after speaking with Gary I came home and did some looking.

Here is what I believe may be the biggest factor...

This is the front base, front screw.I looked into the threaded hole and noticed circular marks on the barrel threads, then looked at the bottom of the screw.





After finding this I am not going to try another scope but see if this was the source of my problems.

I also found the front action screw hole in the bottom metal to be slightly misaligned, bottom metal hole being further rearward on the rifle than the center line of the front action screw threads.I opened this up a bit to gain a bit of clearance, however I don't feel this was much of a factor.

Ignore the left/right aliment as it is aligned but I was trying to get an angle for the photo to work.



I will also post in the gunsmithing thread.
 
Well, no dice with those corrections.

Today's test targets.................

180gr SGK - 7828 73.5gr





180gr SGK - 7828 76gr



H1000 80gr, 190LRAB



I'll try one more ladder test with a different scope with the 180gr SGK and 7828 , if it is still all over the map, the gun is getting sent to someone.
 
Last edited:
maybe a 300 isn't for you

7mm Rem Mag is no slouch, 6.5 PRC another good option for lower recoil, high performance ballistics
 
Kelly, have you tried shooting it off a bipod?

If not, give it a go to see if it makes a difference.
 
todbartell said:
maybe a 300 isn't for you

7mm Rem Mag is no slouch, 6.5 PRC another good option for lower recoil, high performance ballistics
Click to expand...

I can do 1/2 MOA past 500 with my 338LM and my BLR 7WSM does 1 MOA out to 200 and has more recoil than the 300 or 338 and isn’t very comfortable to shoot off the bench.

Maybe THIS 300 isn’t for me, ;)

What I am likely going to do is sent it to someone to test , try , inspect and run some loads through.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom