Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Problem Child 243 Featherweight

Pretty Random. Might get a couple close then the third is inch high inch to the right. Fourth might be inch low inch to the left. I think the ones that do start to look like a group are simply part of the randomness. Usually it is not the first two that group. Might be the 2nd and 5th. I let the barrel cool between shots.

Haven't tried the fusions. Shot Remington 100 and Federal blue box 100. Also tried Sierra 85s, Hornady 100s, Nosler 95 BT.

Might try the fusions just for fun.

[/quote]Where at in Or and how much do you want for the poor shooting bastid....Don't worry about that bad mojo stuff if the price is right....Another thing, don't waste your hard earned money on Hill country, especially if you live close enough to me [/quote]

I am close to Albany. I can't see myself using Hill Country although I am sure they do quality work. I would hate to perpetuate the bad mojo and burden you with my problem at any price

I have been contemplating this option. Seems like a fair price and I know some of the members speak favorably of ER Shaw to include Mule Deer. I wish I had a bore scope to give the throat a good look. Either way what I have going isn't working.

Ouch, lets not get hasty.... ...OP, can you show some pics of the rifle, groups. What scope and mount set-up are you running right now? Is it a pushfeed or a classic CRF?

Have you checked the scope for Parallax?

You mentioned the caliber, but never said what model of rifle we are discussing.

If handloading for this, I'd try 95gr Nosler BT and H4831, IMR7828 (cci 200's) , and W760 (mag primer with the ball powder).

If it still didn't shoot, well, it might just be a bad barrel, and could be time to move on.

I've got the same rifle also chambered in .243win. It too is finicky about shooting tight groups. I've had it bedded and free floated but that didn't make much difference.

What I have found is it has a certain way it likes to be held wile shooting off the bench. If you just lay it across sandbags or put it in a vise and shoot it, the bullets are going to be all over the paper.
You have to take a firm grip on the fore end with your left hand underneath and not let it touch the actual rest itself. It has fired sub moa groups before using this method, shooting Winchester 100gr. Power Points.

Also, no matter what I've tried it refuses to shoot Winchester 95gr. BSTs into anything resembling a group.

CRF model 70 featherweight blued in a wood stock. It's a New Haven gun. Scope bases and rings are Leupold dual dove tail. First scope I had on there was a Vari X III 2.5-8x36. The scope that is on there right now is a Vortex Viper 3-9x40. I do have a past Target that I will post when I get home.

This is the best I have been able to do. I added back a pressure point near the end of the stock and the results were much worse. The 100 grain Hornady and 95 BT were loaded with 41 grains of H4350.

All of these were shot from sandbags off a concrete bench at 100 yds.

Good picture. Shows a lot of horizontal stringing. Typically that points to uneven contact at the forend (one side or another). Bad bedding, did you bed it yourself and did you also bed the tang area? Where are you positioning the bags?

Two things I can think of are, one, how tight is the middle action screw ? It should be only snug, not any tighter than that. Do the front action screw, then the rear and check the middle one.
Second, if you are sure the scopes are good, then I'd look at first the barrel crown, and then the rifle's chamber.
Just for the record, I've hunted throphy deer with ammo that wouldn't shoot better than 2.5 inches with my M70 Fwt., .308. That's because of the bullet I insisted on using. However, it will shoot from .5-.8 for three at 100 yds. with ammo it likes. As rule, an inch or so for three should be quite possible. E

Yep bedded it myself. I am 99% I bedded the tang but I will have to pull it apart to make sure. I usually do. I have a rear "rabbit ear" style leather bag and a couple large bags I use up front. Usually place the front bag about mid way up the forearm behind the sling stud.

What's the condition of the rifle? Do you have any pics of it?

Middle screw is barely snug and the magazine box is not tight.

It is 97% looks great. Hardly any exterior wear at all. I have not idea how many rounds down the pipe before I got it. I can take pictures for you but it likes like a model 70 featherweight in really nice shape. Anything specific you want to see?

Price tag

There is that

150 miles separates....

I am a model 70 guy and usually have really good luck. I am apt to rebarrel and march on before I sell.

Good man, that's what I like to hear. Do you have any pics of your bedding and is it bedded tight? How much compound is under the chamber area?