Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Note to self, Don;t clean THAT rifle

Semi custom M70 fwt 280 em. when zeroed it shot a 5 shot group that was sub half MOA. took it home and cleaned it thoroughly. took it back to the range today and the first shot was 6 inches low and 3 inches left. next two shots were and 2 inches left of center and dead center vertically. next shot was an inch further right adn an inche higher. the next several shots were dead center adn 2 inches high. Right where the original zero was. all I can think of is that the rifle likes to be dirty

6" off from dirty to clean?

I'd be checking on a few other things. That's pretty extreme.

everything was tight and to torqued, like i said shots 5 through 20, even letting the barrel cool for a half hour put bulets 2 inches high and dead center. the fouling is the ony thing i can think of

When you say semi custom, I sure hope that 'aint a custom barrel ...

tno factory barreled action with a custom stock made from a fairly nice piece of French walnut

There's a reason they're called "fouling shots". Some rifles just plain won't shoot with a clean barrel.
Paul B.

I always shoot a couple of fouling shots after cleaning the bore, but the fouling shots are always dead on or very close on all my rifles (all with after market barrels). And they all shoot great with a dirty bore until the bore gets too dirty, which varies with the rifle. It would worry me if fouling shots were far away from normal. I need to be confident on the long shots.

the last 3 shots i shot today landed in a group that mic'd .787 inches at 200 yards. an inch under the X the only thing that makes any sense is that it doesnt like a clean barrel.

I'd be getting a new barrel then. I couldn't handle that.


YMMV.

Been there, done that.
Your barrel is shot out.

I suggest either a new barrel, or if this one used to shoot well, you can have a smith set it back a thread or two and cut a new throat. Regardless, you are near the point where no matter how many fouling shots you fire it won't group.

its a brand new barrel, I dont think its ahd 60 rouneds through it. are you missing the part where it still shot half inch groups after fouling today? or the 3/4 inch group at 200 yards?

original zero being 2 inches high at 100 yds

why? it shoots sub half inch groups. and after four foulers it shot to its normal point of aim.

If you don’t shoot it much, I wouldn’t clean that bastid for the next 10 years. 😀

Ive got one like that John. Mine takes about 3-4 rounds from a clean barrel to come in to where it belongs. Odd part is when you switch loads, it takes a couple round to refill it with whatever is different before it starts grouping again.

Why? Because my barrels both factory and custom shoot +/- less than an inch from where they are suppose to be. Clean or dirty. Doesn't matter. If you're happy with it, that's all that matters. But I couldn't be.

I just ran back down to the range to satisfy a curiosity. mild rain and losing light so I stuck a paper plate up at 200 with an orange thumb tack in the center. didn't have time to set up bags. Shot off of a pack using the oarange tack for an aimp point. 10 round fairly rapid fire. all landed in a 2 inch group about 2-2.5 inches above the orange pin

Tom, you saw the bench target from this 280...I dont think the barrel is shot out

My .22/6mm takes about 12 or so rounds after cleaning to get back to where it shot before cleaning.

Some rifles are just weird.

When I’m working with a new rifle, I make notes in my range book on where the first shot goes if I’ve cleaned it or even if it’s been a while since I shot it last. I note barrel condition, cold, clean or cold, fouled.

I’m currently working up loads in a used 300 Wby which I had treated with DBC when I got it and after a round of 20 shots, I cleaned it and a week later was testing some more loads with a different powder. I got lucky and the first shot of the day was in the group of 0.85”. I’ll check it again later to see if it’s a trend. Of course that’s not how it always works but I’ll find out over time. Then I’ll do what it takes to ensure a good first shot.