Why?

Alex

Alex

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Golden, BC
I've got this nice little hunting rig; Bushnell 3200 on top a Ruger M-77 in 30-06. As much as I hate to say it......It's a safe queen. I only take it out for bear and deer (spring and fall). This spring I shot my bear right in between the eyes at 85 yards. (I took this shot because I was very familiar with my rifle and the conditions were favorable). Anyhoo, I shoot the bear, put the rifle in the truck and into the safe until today...

I went to sight it in, and it shot 3 inches below and about 1 inch to the right(in a sub MOA group) same bullets; 180 grains Silvertip. What could have caused this? I have never dropped the gun, the rings and scope are tight. I bought the scope, rings and mounts 3 years ago.

BTW this is my first post in a while. It feels good to be back!

Alex
 
maybe the weather has been more humid or whatnot and the stock has slightly warped enough to put some odd pressure on the barrel
 
"...I went to sight it in..." Well done.
"...the stock has slightly warped enough..." That'd be my guess too. I'd bet the inside of the stock is not sealed and it's warping enough to move the action and/or barrel a tick. This is exactly why sightly in before going hunting is essential.
Glass bedding the action and sealing the barrel channel will help make this go away. Bedding and sealing doesn't mean you don't have to sight in every year though. Nor does a snythetic stock.
 
I'm pretty sure it was the same lot of cartridges.

After deer season I'll take it to my smithy and see what he suggests. The wood in the "barrel groove" is not treated at all and does touch the metal at various points.

Alex
 
I have had that same problem and found that the mounts were loosening( ever so slightly) after shooting. I would reccommend you check to see that everything is tight and use some lock-tight. After I did this w/ one of my rifles I never had a problem again.
Good points on the warping of the stock. I don't own any wood stocks because of that.

Cheers!!
 
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