lost accuracy

dlzbrg · 12-22-2008, 03:28 PM

i have a sako hunter left hand 338 mag when I first got the rifle.I worked up a load with 210 nos. par. And it was shoting under 1 inch now some 15 years later I went to the range and it is all over .Any ideas

SwedeSteve · 12-22-2008, 07:25 PM

Scoped, or unscoped ??

dlzbrg · 12-22-2008, 08:22 PM

scoped with vx111 2.5x8 leupold and sako mounts

billy · 12-22-2008, 08:24 PM

tighten everything.
all scope mounts,rings,action to stock etc.

dlzbrg · 12-22-2008, 09:08 PM

Cheked and all is tight.It seems my first 2 or 3 shots are close to each other maybe uder 2 inch then the next 2 or 3 are 3 to 4 inches apart and I let it cool between shots.

kansascoyote · 12-22-2008, 09:17 PM

do you still weigh every powder charge?
Really it sounds like a heat problem , How long since you cleaned the fouling out of the barrell. I mean really cleaned it . How deep are the rifelings are they still ok?
If all else fails try a lead sled we all get shakey in our old age.

dlzbrg · 12-22-2008, 09:28 PM

Yes I do weigh every one.Well I probably didn't clean it often enough. But after getting a bad group I cleaned it really well with shooters choice. As far as the rifelings go, I don't know how to check. I have shot about 400 rounds since the gun was new.I do use sand bags

FortyXDM · 12-22-2008, 10:01 PM

I agree with Kansascoyote about "really" cleaning it. Old old copper can nearly become bonded to a barrel. You need to try something with ammonia which is very agressive. (Butchs bore cleaner is one) You let it set for a while then go back in with clean patches. Stay with it until there is absolutely no green. If you are then having same results and all is tight & clean, I would look at different ammo.
A sako that doesn't group well should be a national concern!!
Keep us posted on your results. Would really like to know how it turns out.

nathangdad · 12-23-2008, 03:03 AM

not considered. You stated fifteen years had passed. It is very possible
and even highly probably some type warpage in the stock has occurred over this time span. Even a small amount can affect the movement of the barrel when the bullet travel causes barrel oscillation or "whip".

As a suggestion I would free float the barrel and glass bed the stock.
There are compounds you can place on the barrel to see if it is coming in contact with the stock when fired.

SwedeSteve · 12-25-2008, 12:07 PM

That is a distinct possibility !!

dlzbrg · 01-12-2009, 09:49 PM

Ok after two weeks of 20 below and colder it warmed up.I have glass bed, floated and cleaned the barrel. Today I went and shot the groups are better at just under 2 inchs.Thanks for all the help

SwedeSteve · 01-13-2009, 06:12 PM

Congrats !! Where do you live in Alaska ??

deerhuntertyler · 01-13-2009, 06:27 PM

another posibility is the ammo you used was old. i know i got some 20+ year old .22 ammo from my grandpa and I could get only 6 in groups at 100 yds.

dlzbrg · 01-13-2009, 09:49 PM

I live in soldotna.How about you. The ammo is fresh reloads

SwedeSteve · 01-14-2009, 06:34 AM

Anchortown.

sourdough44 · 01-26-2009, 09:08 AM

Sounds like you may have it under control. Just a comment, I've never considered the partition in the great catagory when it comes to accuracy. I've shot some, used them on a bear hunt in my 300WSM, & load them in a 243 for deer. I know it sounds like you had them shooting good years ago & all. I usually get better group results with Sierra & Hornaday. I guess up there you may need all you can get though if the griz is around.

12-22-2008, 03:28 PM	#1
dlzbrg Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: alaska Posts: 6	lost accuracy i have a sako hunter left hand 338 mag when I first got the rifle.I worked up a load with 210 nos. par. And it was shoting under 1 inch now some 15 years later I went to the range and it is all over .Any ideas

12-22-2008, 07:25 PM	#2
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 23,549 Images: 1	Scoped, or unscoped ?? __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

12-22-2008, 08:24 PM	#4
billy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 19,721 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 161	tighten everything. all scope mounts,rings,action to stock etc. __________________

12-23-2008, 03:03 AM	#9
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5,164	Here is a thought on something you might have not considered. You stated fifteen years had passed. It is very possible and even highly probably some type warpage in the stock has occurred over this time span. Even a small amount can affect the movement of the barrel when the bullet travel causes barrel oscillation or "whip". As a suggestion I would free float the barrel and glass bed the stock. There are compounds you can place on the barrel to see if it is coming in contact with the stock when fired.

12-25-2008, 12:07 PM	#10
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 23,549 Images: 1	That is a distinct possibility !! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

12-22-2008, 08:22 PM	#3
dlzbrg Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: alaska Posts: 6	scoped with vx111 2.5x8 leupold and sako mounts

12-22-2008, 09:08 PM	#5
dlzbrg Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: alaska Posts: 6	Cheked and all is tight.It seems my first 2 or 3 shots are close to each other maybe uder 2 inch then the next 2 or 3 are 3 to 4 inches apart and I let it cool between shots.

12-22-2008, 09:17 PM	#6
kansascoyote Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 914 Blog Entries: 1	do you still weigh every powder charge? Really it sounds like a heat problem , How long since you cleaned the fouling out of the barrell. I mean really cleaned it . How deep are the rifelings are they still ok? If all else fails try a lead sled we all get shakey in our old age.

12-22-2008, 09:28 PM	#7
dlzbrg Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: alaska Posts: 6	Yes I do weigh every one.Well I probably didn't clean it often enough. But after getting a bad group I cleaned it really well with shooters choice. As far as the rifelings go, I don't know how to check. I have shot about 400 rounds since the gun was new.I do use sand bags

12-22-2008, 10:01 PM	#8
FortyXDM Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Gladstone, Mo. (kc area) Posts: 3,659	I agree with Kansascoyote about "really" cleaning it. Old old copper can nearly become bonded to a barrel. You need to try something with ammonia which is very agressive. (Butchs bore cleaner is one) You let it set for a while then go back in with clean patches. Stay with it until there is absolutely no green. If you are then having same results and all is tight & clean, I would look at different ammo. A sako that doesn't group well should be a national concern!! Keep us posted on your results. Would really like to know how it turns out.

01-12-2009, 09:49 PM	#11
dlzbrg Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: alaska Posts: 6	Ok after two weeks of 20 below and colder it warmed up.I have glass bed, floated and cleaned the barrel. Today I went and shot the groups are better at just under 2 inchs.Thanks for all the help

01-13-2009, 06:12 PM	#12
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 23,549 Images: 1	Congrats !! Where do you live in Alaska ?? __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-13-2009, 06:27 PM	#13
deerhuntertyler Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Medford MN Posts: 412	another posibility is the ammo you used was old. i know i got some 20+ year old .22 ammo from my grandpa and I could get only 6 in groups at 100 yds. __________________ I'm a farm boy who definitely isn't afraid of hard work! If its worth doing, its worth doing right!

01-13-2009, 09:49 PM	#14
dlzbrg Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: alaska Posts: 6	I live in soldotna.How about you. The ammo is fresh reloads

01-14-2009, 06:34 AM	#15
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 23,549 Images: 1	Anchortown. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-26-2009, 09:08 AM	#16
sourdough44 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WI Posts: 100	Sounds like you may have it under control. Just a comment, I've never considered the partition in the great catagory when it comes to accuracy. I've shot some, used them on a bear hunt in my 300WSM, & load them in a 243 for deer. I know it sounds like you had them shooting good years ago & all. I usually get better group results with Sierra & Hornaday. I guess up there you may need all you can get though if the griz is around.