Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Kimber and Leupold accuracy gone to hell

Ive got a Kimber 8400 300WSM that has been accurized by hill country. When I got it back I shot a couple groups to make sure it was sighted in, and then I just hunted with it. It shot 165gr Fusions into tiny little holes. Last week I took it back out and it shot 4 3-shot groups between 1.5-2 MOA at 100 yards. It ticked me off but I though maybe it was me. Shot the gun yesterday at 100 and the first shot was 7 inches low but perfect horizontally. Next 2 shots I have no idea where they hit. Wasnt even on paper. Got a bigger target and shot once. 14 inches high and just a little left. WTH. Im thinking it has to be the scope, or the mounts. Im planning on making sure the mounts and rings are tight, and if that doesn't work Im gonna try a different scope. Is there anything else I should look at? The stock screws seem tight and there doesn't seem to be any movement between the action and stock.

Even the best scopes go bad once in awhile, and they usually let go pretty fast.

If your shooting Talley L/W's make sure there not broke from over tightening. It's been happening alot lately....
This is not my photo but one I got off another sight.

Yeah, it's frustrating when they spray for no apparent reason. Crystal ball time.

how did you tighten your rings??? with the little allen wrench they supplied or something else!!!

the erector system in Leupolds do fail...put another scope on it and try it again...

Everything you've posted points to the rings and/or scope...

I didn't touch anything when I got it back from hill country. The scope sits in Leupy rings and bases. Its not noticable loose, but that doesn't say much. It the wrings and bases are tight, should I just throw a different scope on it, or remount the same scope first to verify its not the rings and bases.

If the rings and bases are tight and truly good to go, I'd mount up a different scope and see what gives. Rifles can tear apart scopes, especially something as light and snorty as a Kimber 300 WSM.

I would also check the action screws to make sure that recoil or vibration hasn't caused them to loosen up...

I think it's more like Kimber gone to hell, an all to frequent story.

Typical... wouldn't want to strain yourself actually thinking.

Umm... No... The gun shot great when I got it. Sent it to Hill Country because the stock was moving in the action and the groups opened up a bit after 150 rounds. I just wanted them to look at it and give me an opinion. They bedded it (something that all rifles should have done to them IMO), and sent it back shooting sub 3/4 groups. I shot 3, 3/4 groups and quit. I went to shoot 2 weeks ago and the gun opened up to 1.5 MOA groups. Now its shooting 2 foot groups. I fail to see where that could be the gun!! It went from 3/4 MOA to 1.5 MOA, to 2 foot MOA in about 15 rounds!! Interesting thing about Kimbers. Had a guy in my deer camp with a 270WSM Montana. He was complaining that he couldn't get the gun to shoot less then 2 MOA and almost sold it. I told him to have the scope profesionally mounted, and adjust the trigger (he was complaining about that too). That same gun he was complaining about now shoots sub MOA and is his favorite gun. Now please, lets not turn this into a Kimber pissing contest. I love my gun!

When something like that happens to me, I usually start from scratch. I take the rifle out of the stock, check the bedding, check to make sure nothing is touching, etc, and work my way out. I take the bases off and re-mount them (with a bit of fingernail polish), and then re-mount the scope. Maybe another scope if you've got one with a proven track record.
Oh, while you've got it out of the stock is a good time to clean the bore down to the metal. Be sure and use a good copper cleaner--Butches Bore Shine is one --, a one piece rod, and a bore guide. Of course, clean from the receiver end.

I want you to love the gun and I'm not trying to dis a brand!

I have two good hunting partners who post here at the Fire
who shoot Kimbers. Both of them have accuracy fits with their Kimbers. One of them sent their rifle to Hill Country to get it worked on far more extensive than you did. Came back shooting great them went to hell. It wasn't the scope.
btw, both his Kimbers cause him fits.

Take it for what it's worth cause I could really care less.

Just making note of what I see all to frequent.

Change out the scope, rings and mounts and see what happens.

Just curious. What was wrong with you buddies Kimber after it went to hell?

That's what he would like to know and he CAN shoot.

I've heard a few stories of Kimbers coming off the line as a basket case. But I have never heard of the wheels coming off of one that came out shooting and functioning well. Usually they are tough as pine knots in terms of holding up to abuse.

I'll second the suspicion of the scope coming unglued. I'd give the stock a thorough look as well.

Will

If one identifies the problem then you will rest easier after changing the cause.

I suggest testing one thing at a time. I bring screwdrivers with me to the range each time and I check mount screws right there.

Of the 8 extra scopes here one has duct tape on it and its written: "poor groups, 7mm WSM, 8/10/09" Its a 4X12 VARI-X IIc.

After the season I will test it on another rifle.

I like my Kimbers. They have similar quality to other rifles with lighter weight.

I agree as far as a Kimber shooting fine, then going nuts. The stock warping on a wood-stocked gun is all that I could see producing that. I'd check the scope pronto. Put on a known good one and don't overtighten the rings. Please let us know what happens as I have owned 2 Kimbers and am curious as to what you find. Good thing is wiht Leupold, they will make it right!
Jed

Any rifle can be off. Not just Kimber.

The 7mm WSM that had the suspect 4-12 on it is a M70 Classic!