Previously reading this thread a day or so ago, got me sore for shooting my "Bob" again. I've recently sold off my Ruger 77MKII. It was a "lackluster" shooter and I wanted to capitalize it to buy another Ruger.
The old M98 has a 1983 mfg'd ER Shaw barrel. It has always been a good shooter (sub moa), but following a rain drenched hunt in Dec. of 1993, and spending 5weeks in a case in the attic the following summer, developed some pitting in the mid barrel area ~5" ahead of the throat, and spotted for about 7" thereafter. Last 12" of barrel is sharp and bright.
I put a fairly new Nikon 2x-7x ProHunter on it as I'd taken the Leupold off of it and put on another aquisition.
After sighting in, I tried a 3-shot group that I extended to 5-shots after I saw the result. With the first three 100gr Sierra GameKings over 45.0gr of IMR4350, I had a neat 1/2" group centered 2.5" over the bull. I couldn't stand it. I flung two more at it and resulted in a ~0.75" group with 3 touching a fourth close and the 5 just a tad below the other 4.
I shot another ~30rds through it "shooting up" some of the ammo I'd developed for the "other" Roberts. I then went back and shot a three shot group with some Hornady 110gr Accubonds over 45.0gr of IMR4831. The Ruger refused to shoot these into anything resembling a "group". The M98 Sporter threw two touching and the third 1/2" below them in the same POI as the 100gr load.......
I guess the "old barrel" isn't shot-out as bad as I thought......
Now I'm in the quandry of which rifle to take to the airport to "control" the deer........ Longest shot on game I've ever made was with the "Old Roberts" in Montana in 1993. Took a Muley doe at 378yds (measured). And the next day shot over 50 prarie dogs, a few at over 400yds with the "Old Roberts" and some 85gr Nosler Ballistic Tips......
It is now solidly back in 2nd place for the most accurate rifle I own...... The first is a Rem. 700 in .22-250, that's a tad better, but only a tad!