Marlin X7 accuracy problem

[Dave Workman]

I'm trying to zero my brother's Marlin X7 in .30-06, using measured loads with 180-grain Noslers, Nosler brass. For some reason it seems all over the place.

Synthetic stock comes up to touch the barrel at the front end of the channel, just like on my XL7 (as per the design) which zeroes up nicely, same loads.

Any thoughts?

I could easily switch bullets and powder, which will be the next move.

Anyone have experience with floating that barrel?

Harrumph

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Check the scope and mounts.

 

[Hunterdad]

Check the rings and mounts. I've shot several X series guns and all of them had exceptional accuracy.

 

[Gtscotty]

I second checking the scope and mounts, do you have another scope you know to be good that you could throw on there for testing purposes? I'd also make sure the action screws are tight.

I think I would be sort of wary of free floating a rifle that was designed to have a pressure point from the stock.

 

[sansone]

dave I have had the same thing happen and discovered the stock caused the problem.
Those Marlin X7 rifles have proven to be exceptionally accurate. I worked-up a load for mine that was regularly shooting 1/2 moa. When I installed a camo stock to replace the black stock (purchased from Marlin) the gun was all over the paper. Same loads, factory replacement stock. It seems that a small percentage of plastic stocks come out twisted and need to be bedded properly. Go to the Marlin Owner's Forum and you will find suggestions. http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php

 

[Tim the student]

How all over the place is it?

Has it been shown to like any ammo, or is that all that has been shot in it?

 

[hoghunting]

Has it been shown to like any ammo, or is that all that has been shot in it?

Completely agree with Tim. Each barrel is different and you need to find a loading that your brother's rifle will shoot accurately. Randomly picking one bullet and one powder loading doesn't mean it should shoot tight groups or that there's a problem with the rifle.

 

[sansone]

since you both have an X7, try swapping stocks to make certain you don't have the same problem I had (post#5)

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

More than likely it is the scope. But one thing that was slightly touched on was your reloads. It could very well be a seating depth issue as well. What may be perfect for YOUR XL7 may not be agreeable with your brothers. His lands and grooves may very well be half a thousandths deeper or closer than yours. Check his base and rings for tightness as well as try YOUR scope that you know works well to see if it is a scope issue first. Then start playing with loads and various bullet seating depths.

 

[00]

Any thoughts?

Dave,
I have an XL-7 in the same caliber and it shot "all over the place" for the first 40 shots with factory and reloads. With no change in mounts, rings, or scope, it started to group with the same factory ammo and reloads on shot 41. I'm not a believer with breaking-in a rifle but something happened and it is now consistently accurate.

My best groups so far are:
.82" at 100 yards, W760(52.5gr), CCI primer, Nosler 165 gr Partition
.90" at 100 yards, IMR4350(57gr), CCI primer, Barnes 168 gr TSX

I've tried various bullets @180gr but could not get it to group under 1.5" @ 100 yards consistently.

Good luck with your rifle.

 

[WYcoyote]

dave I have had the same thing happen and discovered the stock caused the problem.
Those Marlin X7 rifles have proven to be exceptionally accurate. I worked-up a load for mine that was regularly shooting 1/2 moa. When I installed a camo stock to replace the black stock (purchased from Marlin) the gun was all over the paper. Same loads, factory replacement stock. It seems that a small percentage of plastic stocks come out twisted and need to be bedded properly. Go to the Marlin Owner's Forum and you will find suggestions. http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php

This

 

[don]

Could be the scope OR the stock. I float all of my barrels and glass bed the action in the stock. Actually I use an epoxy compound called JB Weld. Brownell makes a superior bedding compound that is stronger, but I am cheap.If you have never glass bedded a rifle, you had best read some instructions before trying or get someone with experience to do it for you. Incidentally all of my rifles are sub-MOA with sporting (thin) barrels and none are expensive rifles.

 

[Dave Workman]

Ladies and gents:

I identified the problem, almost by accident!

The factory-mounted scope base had worked itself loose and only became evident Saturday evening at the range.

I tightened it down, almost at torque, and then added a drop of clear nail polish on the head of each screw to leak into the threads and not allow the screws to back out.

I then sat down at the bench today, with my brother spotting, and shot a three-shot group using measured handloads (180-grain NOSLER AccuTips over 57 grains of Alliant 4000-MR powder) in front of witnesses that we covered with a dime.

Now, just for the record, my own Marlin MR-7, which is no longer made, can do the same thing with the same bullet over 57.0 grains of Hodgdon's Hybrid 100V, and Nosler brass! Beat that with a stick!

Friends, I am grateful to you for all the feedback on this. It helped me eliminate possible problems and worked me down to one that I had not thought possible because factory-mounted bases are typically rock solid. This one, for whatever reason, worked itself loose, .001 by .001-inch,

Had I not taken a lesson from Conan Doyle and my old pal Holmes, I may never have arrived at this discovery.

If my brother misses a shot at an elk later this month, it will take a miracle.

Good huntin!