Question for you precision guys.

bill c68

bill c68

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I just recently picked up a Marlin 17hmr heavy barrel...

Swapped out the scope with a 3.5-10x36 Bushnell Banner D&D which came highly recommended for an inexpensive scope.
Now I can shoot pretty good but this thing won't group at all. See pic.

image1184.jpg


I'm going to try a different brand of ammo tomorrow and if that fails I'm swapping the scope.
What else should I be looking for if these don't cure it?

The mounts are snug, the action is snug in the stock. I've never experience this.
 
l had a savage heavy barrel in the hmr, it shot like $hit for about 100+ rounds, then the groups tightened right up, from 3-4'' @ 100 yards to about an inch. these calibers also need more cleaning than most people realize.
 
I've got a 22LR, but I assume with the 17HMR it also depends highly on what ammo you are using? Do you have options in this caliber?

I can pay anywhere from Eley Team at 12$/50 to some pretty pricey stuff from Lapua, RWS, Eley, etc at... well 20-35$/50? I don't look too much in that range, yet the 12$/50 would have most .22LR guys choking.

Quality matters huge though. Don't expect good results from cheap ammo.
 
There's cheap ammo and pricey ammo but but a 3-4 inch group?
I'm using Hornady 17gr. Worst am case senarii should be a 1.5" group with any 17 ammo.
3/4" is the norm in this cal.
 
Let's start simple , make sure all mounts are torqued down evenly and correctly - incorrect tightening of the rings can put weird stress on the scope

Try different ammo

Put the scope on a known shooter and see if it tracks and adjusts properly .
 
bill c68 said:
I just recently picked up a Marlin 17hmr heavy barrel...

Swapped out the scope with a 3.5-10x36 Bushnell Banner D&D which came highly recommended for an inexpensive scope.
Now I can shoot pretty good but this thing won't group at all. See pic.

image1184.jpg


I'm going to try a different brand of ammo tomorrow and if that fails I'm swapping the scope.
What else should I be looking for if these don't cure it?

The mounts are snug, the action is snug in the stock. I've never experience this.
Click to expand...

distance shooting???
 
caustic said:
distance shooting???
Click to expand...

100 yds. I did manage 1 -1" group, in fact is was a straight horizontal line. But after about 5 or 6 groups of 4" or so, packed up and went home.
It's had a thorough cleaning and I checked all the screws in the scope mounts and the stock. I'll try it again tomorrow and I'll take another scope with me. Here's hoping.
 
Although I don't shoot the .17, I was impressed with how accurate a 22LR can be at 100y. The problem is that these rounds with be effected by wind drift far more than heavier centrefire calibers. I'm assuming you're shooting off a consistent, stable rest? Start with groups at 25y, then 50y then move to 100y. If you're grouping well at those closer ranges first and it's opening up at 100, then it could be many more reasons than your scope (especially if it's tight).

If you clean the barrel, shoot a few foulers before going for any accuracy test. I only wet patch clean my .308 and it still needs a couple foulers to get accuracy back (watch the Magpul series on long range shooting, it's amazing).
 
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If you have only tried one type of ammo, thats the first problem.

Second is that a Bushnell Banner came "highly recommended".

Your initial impression that it was the scope is exactly why I don't buy cheap optics anymore. I want to go to the range and know my scope is not the problem. Leaves much fewer variables in situations like yours.
 
Well, I've tried two types of ammo, a second scope and re-tourqueing the stock screws. I managed 2 1" groups today and about 10-12 groups were at least in paper. The scope is not the problem, the ammo is not the problem.

Any more suggestions? Damaged crown was my next guess but how can I tell?
 
As far as the Banner is concerned I'm actually extremely impressed with the clarity and quality for $110 scope. I usually never buy a value scope. Elite 3200 or better, but I'm super impressed.
 
shell_guy said:
Savages rimfires are notorious for uneven contact between the stock and action. I would bed that rifle first thing and then evenly torque the screws.
Click to expand...

OP is using a Marlin. I do agree about trying to evenly torque the action screws. Now to what setting, I have no idea for a Marlin.
 
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