I recently got a Christensen Arms Mesa in 6.5 creedmoor after about 15 shots my groups open up so I would clean again several people told me to just keep shooting it and it will tighten back up anyone else have this rifle who might have suggestions on which way to go thanks
Christensen Arms Mesa question
- Thread starter Kwaynem
- Start date
What are we talking about when you say the groups open up? Going from 0.75" to 1.5"? Going from 0.5" to 0.75"?
Do the groups continue to get larger the longer you shoot? What's the most rounds you've put through it between cleanings?
When you clean the gun, does the bore seem rough?
Did you follow the manufacturer's recommended barrel break-in process?
https://christensenarms.com/barrel-break-in/
Have you contacted the manufacturer about the issue? That rifle has a sub-MOA guarantee.
https://christensenarms.com/support/#warranty
Do the groups continue to get larger the longer you shoot? What's the most rounds you've put through it between cleanings?
When you clean the gun, does the bore seem rough?
Did you follow the manufacturer's recommended barrel break-in process?
https://christensenarms.com/barrel-break-in/
Have you contacted the manufacturer about the issue? That rifle has a sub-MOA guarantee.
https://christensenarms.com/support/#warranty
Also how many total rounds have you sent down the bore, checked screw torques, etc.
My standard Mesa wont consistently shoot smaller than MOA or so with the bullets I want to use. It dosent open up much if at all tho as it heats up. Its also light enough that it's not the easiest rifle to shoot for an extended period of time.
My standard Mesa wont consistently shoot smaller than MOA or so with the bullets I want to use. It dosent open up much if at all tho as it heats up. Its also light enough that it's not the easiest rifle to shoot for an extended period of time.
I didn’t buy the rifle new not sure if the original owner did the break in or not when I clean it the barrel does not seem rough this is for hunting I can clean it every 15 shots to get the groups back smaller but every other rifle I have they shoot better on a dirty barrel I wasn’t sure if this was something the Christensen didn’t like or I needed to shoot it more clean barrel it shoots better after the first couple shots 1/2 to 5/8 groups after that it starts to open up
What are we talking about when you say the groups open up? How big are they getting?
Do the groups continue to get larger the longer you shoot? What's the most rounds you've put through it between cleanings?
You can do the break-in process now, even if the gun isn't new. Perhaps that would help.
Do the groups continue to get larger the longer you shoot? What's the most rounds you've put through it between cleanings?
You can do the break-in process now, even if the gun isn't new. Perhaps that would help.
This is a good question. Do the groups still get larger if you let the gun cool completely between shots?
Demi-human
maybe likes firearms a little bit…
No.
In my experience, rifles that begin to shoot poorly after a certain number of rounds won’t become more accurate with continued shooting.
In the case of soft bullets and extreme fouling, extreme inaccuracy and baffle strikes, with suppressor use, can occur.
Some very clean rifles can shoot more accurately after a couple or few fouling shots. A surgically clean rimfire may take up to twenty or thirty shots to season the bore and lay a layer of wax across it to become its most accurate.
But, if they are already fouled and inaccurate, more won’t make it better.
My own Savage will go a hundred fourty or fifty rounds before it opens and needs a bore cleaning. It has never shot better with more rounds being sent down. Not that I wasn’t already completely frustrated by round one hundred seventy five, but I brought two hundred and was going to shoot them all at this particular trip!
I wonder if any of the “several people” have had their personal vehicles “fix themselves”, or if the parts just fell off…
In my experience, rifles that begin to shoot poorly after a certain number of rounds won’t become more accurate with continued shooting.
In the case of soft bullets and extreme fouling, extreme inaccuracy and baffle strikes, with suppressor use, can occur.
Some very clean rifles can shoot more accurately after a couple or few fouling shots. A surgically clean rimfire may take up to twenty or thirty shots to season the bore and lay a layer of wax across it to become its most accurate.
But, if they are already fouled and inaccurate, more won’t make it better.
My own Savage will go a hundred fourty or fifty rounds before it opens and needs a bore cleaning. It has never shot better with more rounds being sent down. Not that I wasn’t already completely frustrated by round one hundred seventy five, but I brought two hundred and was going to shoot them all at this particular trip!
I wonder if any of the “several people” have had their personal vehicles “fix themselves”, or if the parts just fell off…
I don't disagree, however, the OP hasn't stated how much the groups open up, or if they keep opening up with more shooting.
I'm not asking if the groups get smaller at some point, nor suggesting that they will, but it would be useful to know if the groups are going, say, from 0.5" to 0.75" and then staying there, or if they are gradually increasing the more the gun is shot. Or if they are starting out at, say, 0.75" and growing to 2".
The groups never get over an inch at 100 yards and I do let it cool down between shots the first 5 or 6 shots are about half an inch after that they start to open up. I tried shooting several without cleaning about 80 and it never got better I haven’t ever had a hunting rifle that I had to clean this much my other rifles get checked for zero taken hunting put back in the safe at the end of the year and repeat the next year I have had some for years and not been shot 50 times
I'm with LoonWulf, I would ignore it too, after all it is a hunting rifle, barrels are sensitive to heat. I would check and see if after you shoot 3 or 4 rounds if the barrel is still free floating by running a dollar bill between the barrel and forearm, this will show any contact points where the barrel touches the forearm causing your groups to open up. Also I would check that the action screws are tight and have not loosen up, also same thing with your scope mounts make sure they are still tight. Hate to say it but we need to go back to basics and ensure with every shot you take that your cheek weld is the same , your breathing, and that each squeeze of the trigger is identical, too fast a pull equates to jerking the trigger.
Personally I make sure that my cold bore shot is always the same where I am aiming as it is the most crucial to killing a deer, or elk , or a squirrel.
Personally I make sure that my cold bore shot is always the same where I am aiming as it is the most crucial to killing a deer, or elk , or a squirrel.
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If you’re worried about a hunting rifle opening up from .5 MOA to 1 MOA after 5 or 6 shots your “problem” is solved. You don’t have a problem.
With that being said when you clean the bore are you getting all or at least most of the copper out? Have you tried Wipe Out or something similar. Sounds like you might have some copper fouling in your bore.
With that being said when you clean the bore are you getting all or at least most of the copper out? Have you tried Wipe Out or something similar. Sounds like you might have some copper fouling in your bore.
Last edited:
d2wing
Member
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I agree, in my opinion that is not a problem. A light hunting rifle that shoots that well clean is super. Most hunting rifles don't get that many rounds in a hunt so shouldn't be a problem. I have rifles like that too. They don't like getting very dirty but they don't have to. I have never had a rifle that shot better the dirtier it got.
dranrab
Member
Sounds to me like you have an outstanding hunting rifle on your hands. Clean it as necessary and enjoy it.
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