Remington 700CDL grouping poorly

[gamestalker]

I have a 700CDL in 7mm Rem. Mag.with a Leupold VXIII 3.5x10x40. I bought it 2 years ago new and hand load for it only. Up until the last couple of shooting sessons it would group pretty nicely, however I noticed the group would rise higher and higher in a near oerfect vertical line with each bullet fired no matter what bullet I was using. I decided to float the barrel and it seemed to remedy the problem. Now during the last 2 shooting sessions of about 40 rounds, my groups were unpredictable with one high left, low right, every where but together with spread being 6" or so. This is at 100 yards. I'm shooting the same load/bullet combo that was last producing excellent groups after the float job. Nothing with the brass is indicating issues and looks absolutely perfect. Does this sound like it may need to have the action bedded? I neck my brass, seat the bullets to just off the lands, not touching, and weigh every powder charge with 70.0 grainsof RL22 as has always been the chagre with the Speer 130 grain BT. I've also used Nosler and Hornady with the same exact groups. Any suggestions would be great. And my last question is, how do I know if bedding is needed?

 

[Remmy700]

Wow. Have you got a new jug of powder? I am sure you have checked all your hardware on scope and gun. I had a problem like that before in a rem 300 win mag and I bedded it no change, changed trigger no change even changed ring and base combo. Ended up being a bad scope and it was a leupy. I took a scope off another rifle just for giggles to rule out the scope and ended up the scope was the culprit. Also check your crown just to ensure you have not done dinged the crown on safe or wherever. Good luck hope you find it.

 

[gamestalker]

I'm glad you mention that little tid bit. I have taken care of the trigger and checked the crown and all mouting hardware, all good. I was actually thinking scope, but doubt hit me as I've never has a problem with Leupold. So I'll pull another Leupold off my other 7 mag and see what happens.Thanks!

 

[Remmy700]

CDL shooting poorly

No worries man. Good thing is hey its a leupy so if it is bad hey they will hook u up anyhow. When mine went bad you could still make adjustments and it would adjust but would not hold them and espically with a gun with some kick you will chase it all over the place trying to tighten groups. As far as bedding I am sure there are exceptions with different rifle calibers and makers but I have had three remington hunting rifles bedded by professional gunsmiths and I did not notice no group change, but like I said I know they will be rifles that it will matter on all depends on the stock material etc. Good luck.

 

[hoghunting]

Another question: How and with what are you cleaning your rifle? Too much fouling can screw up groups.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Sounds like a classic case of the scope not holding adjustment to me. Sent it back to Leupold, they'll make it right.

 

[Picher]

If the stock screws are tight and the barrel is floated at least 1/16", the scope seems like the problem.

 

[Al Thompson]

Scope. BTDT.

 

[cal74]

I'd remove the pressure points at the end of the stocks barrel channel if you haven't done so already. Sounds like a bedding problem to me...

 

[UniversalFrost]

anybody verify the issue with the gun other than you? sometimes it is the monkey behind the trigger that is inducing the problems...

also, did you check and double check all the scope mounts (you would need to pull off the rings to check the screws on the bases)....?

 

[slowr1der]

At this point I'd be checking the scope too.

I've had a Leupold do this to me, as well as 2 friends that had them. Although granted they were VX-I's, not VX-III's but I'd still be checking the scope at this point.

 

[gamestalker]

I feel like an idiot, seriously. I've been hand loading and have never had a load cause my groups to do what this rifle has been doing the past year, or since I started loading nickel brass, yes, nickel brass. My other Remington 7mm mag. hasn't had any issues with it so I didn't even consider it until today during a shooting session. I grabbed a box of the exact same hand load recipe, but standard yellow brass instead of nickel, and proceded to put some 5 shot groups on paper at 200 yds. and nearly fell off my seat. They were tight and as consistent, as what I've always had with my loads, even after I had heated the stainless steel barrel up pretty good. But I haven't ever loaded any high power rilfes with nickel before, so I didn't give it a second thought. I guess I'll reserve the nickel for the rifle that likes it. I've heard stories about nickel but never really took it seriously. I've really never been all that picky about brass because even my loads with mixed head stamps have been consistently accurate on paper.
But thanks to all that had something to offer for solutions.

 

[Durty]

I have found in my experience, the prettier they try and make a cartridge, the less I trust it. Gimme an ugly, boring bullet in a regular ole brass case!

 

[UniversalFrost]

interesting.. I mix nickel and brass all the time and never noticed a difference in any of my rifles or pistols.