Action screw issues

[KennyA]

I have just purchased a new Howa HB in 308.
I'm shooting Aussie Outback ammo and I'm getting around .5 groups on a regular basis.

Problem today......
I just fitted the 10 shot mag and trigger guard over the weekend.
At the range today the first group was about 4" low on my prior outing.
I corrected the elevation up and continued but I could not get a three shot group under about 1.5.

Clearly I have a problem re the torque settings of these screws.
What should the torque setting be for these action screws...?

Is this a common problem with these plastic base plates..?

Thanks in advance.

[bladeracer]

I have just purchased a new Howa HB in 308.
I'm shooting Aussie Outback ammo and I'm getting around .5 groups on a regular basis.

Problem today......
I just fitted the 10 shot mag and trigger guard over the weekend.
At the range today the first group was about 4" low on my prior outing.
I corrected the elevation up and continued but I could not get a three shot group under about 1.5.

Clearly I have a problem re the torque settings of these screws.
What should the torque setting be for these action screws...?

Is this a common problem with these plastic base plates..?

Thanks in advance.

Maybe not installed correctly.
Is the forend still floated away from the barrel?

[KennyA]

Bladeracer,
Yes the barrel is still free floated.

[bladeracer]

Bladeracer,
Yes the barrel is still free floated.

I would put the rifle back as it was and see if the accuracy returns then.

You're shooting it off the same rests you used before?
The scope wasn't removed and reinstalled since?

[Gwion]

Take action/barrel out of stock.
Check for any tiny bits and pieces that may have got between stock and action/barrel.
Check for wear marks on magazine and mag well, also where it meets the action; will show up as shiny spot on the metal work &/or mag well.
My guess is the mag well is interfering with the action and throwing the battery out of whack, so you are getting torque but not the same fit in the stock.

Also, when you fit the action/ barrel back in, firm up front action screw, drop rifle on its butt from about 8" off the ground to set it in place, then torque rear screw then torque front screw.

Good luck and hope that helps.

[Gwion]

PS: if the mag well is rubbing, place some washers under it so that it clears. Try for groups again with washers in place. You only need a tiny amount of clearance.

[Gwion]

How did you go, Kenny; get it sorted???

[KennyA]

Nope....it's still shooting all over the place.
I dropped the action back out of the stock.
I refitted it making sure that everything was sitting nice and tight.
I don't have a torque wrench so the screws were just tightened to a good firm grip.

Again the first shot was extremely low by about 6"
I adjusted the turret and then continued to shoot 3 shot groups. Two groups and then l rack the rifle for a cool down.
Group varied between 1.5 and 3 Moa.

I then dropped out the mag and plastic trigger guard and refitted the original alloy item.
Wow....it still would not group inside 1.5moa.

I'm now wondering if it could be the scope....?

It was purchased new with the rifle. Vortex Crossfire 6-24x50

Very frustrating

[bladeracer]

Nope....it's still shooting all over the place.
I dropped the action back out of the stock.
I refitted it making sure that everything was sitting nice and tight.
I don't have a torque wrench so the screws were just tightened to a good firm grip.

Again the first shot was extremely low by about 6"
I adjusted the turret and then continued to shoot 3 shot groups. Two groups and then l rack the rifle for a cool down.
Group varied between 1.5 and 3 Moa.

I then dropped out the mag and plastic trigger guard and refitted the original alloy item.
Wow....it still would not group inside 1.5moa.

I'm now wondering if it could be the scope....?

It was purchased new with the rifle. Vortex Crossfire 6-24x50

Very frustrating

That first low shot might be an indicator the scope mount might have loosened up perhaps, are the base screws Loctited?.
Are they stringing at all or nice consistent groups?
Can you post pics of the groups?

[Gwion]

Maybe try refitting the scope mounts and scope with a bit of 222 locktite. If it is still all over the place, try tweaking the action screws a 1/4 turn tighter and shoot a group then repeat a few time to see if things improve. Maybe that you aren't achieving the same torque as it was originally set up with.

I assume you have given the ting a good clean?

[KennyA]

Thanks for all the replies and helpful hints....

Ok, I'll refit the scope, mounts and pic rail using lockite.
I'm off to the range on Wednesday so fingers crossed.

The rifle is cleaned after every outing. Sometimes I think that I may actually over clean my rifles.

I have discarded the last few targets shoot as they were so average.
I have attacted a copy of the first few groups shot with this rifle prior to the mag change.

First few groups from the Howa 308

image.jpeg (1.33 MiB) Viewed 3980 times

[KennyA]

Quick update.
Spot on about checking the scope fitment.
The pic rail screws were not even tight. I'd say about finger tight at best.
I'm now refitting all parts using lockite and some torque settings that I found on the net.
15in/lb scope screws
45in/lb ring base and action screws.


I'll still update you after Wednesday's shoot.

Cheers

[Gwion]

Hopefully it's all sorted!

[KennyA]

Update...

All good now. Clearly the problem was those pic rail screws. Here are my first two group once the rifle was rezeroed. They are also my first reloads for this rifle. Looks like a good starting point.

Thanks again for the helpful advice.

IMG_20160831_155915.jpg (1.35 MiB) Viewed 3941 times

[Gwion]

Good news. Well done and have a blast.

Well done on your first hand loads. Looks like they'll work just fine!