NEF single shot doing poorly

[dodge]

A friend of mine lent me his NEF in 243 to try and work up a load for it. Needless to say everything that I've tried so far hasn't worked. He has a Tasco 6x-18x on it. If it was my gun I would get rid of the Tasco and put something else on but I can't. It seems to be just scatttering shots all over the target so I think that the scope has gone bad. When I see him on Wed. I'll ask him if the scope came with the gun or if he put it on. Does anybody have any other suggestions?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Most NEFs shoot pretty well, so I think your identification of the scope as the problem might well be correct. The first step is to beg or borrow another scope and mount it on the rifle and see if that cures the problem. If so, definitely return it to the maker for repair/replacement. If not, then you start experimenting with other things -- like the forearm screw and so on.

 

[Redbeard55]

I have a Handi Rifle with 5 barrels. As with other single shots, the fore-end pressure might be affecting accuracy. I cut out some plastic shims that I sometimes use when switching from one caliber to the next, depending upon the barrel. If I don't get the fore-end pressure correct the groups can be all over the place. It also seems as though some barrels group better than others. Was having trouble with the 30-30 barrel, but once I rechambered the barrel to 30-30 Ackley Improved the group size improved immediately. I can now get the lead bullets to shoot well.

 

[griz]

Check that the scope mounts are tight. If that's not the problem, ask him if you can try another scope.

 

[joebogey]

Another vote for checkin the scope. Either the mounts, or the scope it's self.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

NEF's usually shoot very well, another vote for checking the scope.

 

[rangerruck]

try a known good scope firts. secondly, you really gotta know your nef/h&r.
I would try it , after you know your scope situation, like this. put the forearm on loosely, that is to say, put the screw in until it just starts to snug up to the forearm then stop. Then when you fire it, put your front bag right under the hinge, where it opens, just in front of the trigger guard. On each folowing shot, make sure that the front bag is in the exact same place, right under the hinge. if you start to move that rifle back or forwards on the bag, you will be putting different upward tension on the bbl. usually, this will clear up your problem. then you can figure out what you wanna do about bedding or channeling out the forearm.

 

[rangerruck]

dont use jus diff scope, though, use diff rings first. you could have a microcrack in one of your rings and not see it, and that will make your shots jump everywhere.

 

[dodge]

Thanks for all your help. I have a scope with rings that I can try out. The tip about where to place my sandbags is one that I've never heard before and is well worth trying. I tried the loosing the forearm screw on a limited basies so I may have to try that somemore.

 

[Ranger J]

The .243 along with the .44 mag are the two ‘iffy’ barrels that NEF makes. If you check on the Graybeard site there will probably be more complaints about those two calibers than all the other ones put together. On the other hand my 45/70 and .223 are good shooters.
RJ

 

[one-shot-one]

when this

happened to me it was a broken cross-hair in the scope, you could not tell by looking when i changed scopes it worked fine.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

First thing I would do is make sure the mounts are tight, check the crown of the bbl and make sure there is no damage and then I would give it a good cleaning with a copper solvent.

 

[rangerruck]

yep , there is an expert nef guy named fixinit, who does some of the best aftermarket work you have ever seen, and he specializes on nef/h&r. he put an 11ounce trigger job on mine, and told me about the bag right under the hinge.
A bigger difference I cannot explain to you.








these are my 5 shot groups, at 100 yds, with a 17mach2, nef. the weird flyer,
is actually a problem , that is going around right now, with the ammo mfgrs.
We gotta get on their a@#$es to fix this problem, so they can sell more ammo,
then the rifle folks can sell more m2 rifles.

 

[rangerruck]

these are the guys here.
http://www.precisionrifleworks.net/services.html

 

[Dr.Rob]

Check the mounts and avoid pressure on the forearm... H&R's aren't 'freefloated' but you can put a spacer in to keep the wood from touching the barrel.

 

[GardDog223]

Check the rate of twist versus the weight of the bullet, also.

 

[hagar]

One way to check the scope is to load an empty case and pull the trigger and watch the crosshairs to see if they jump. If you rule out the scope, clean the barrel with Sweets 7.62 till ALL the copper is out. Then clean with a good bore cleaner and maybe brush with JB bore paste. The 243 fouls easily, and you will be amazed at how much better it will shoot with a clean barrel. Check the crown of the rifle for nicks and dings, if present have it recrowned.