What's wrong with my rifle?

[R.A.D. Dad]

I'm frustrated with my rifle. It's a Marlin 1894 44 mag, about 10 years old. It has a brand new Leupold 2-7X Rifleman scope on it.

After getting the scope zeroed in I noticed my groups would go from 2-3 inch groups the first 8-10 shots to larger and larger groups there after, and after about 20 shots the thing is just completely erradic. So I'd go to the store, get some different ammunition and the next time I shoot it with the new stuff it would be spot on again (so it wasn't the scope) and once again get worse the more shots I put through it. Is my barrel bad?

-Rich

 

[olyeller]

Id guess that the scope is moving in the rings, any marks?

 

[Brian Williams]

Either the barrel is heating up and moving or the Barrel bands. See if you get smoething between the forend and the barrel, it might need a little free floating. See if the barrel bands are loose and moving with the change of barrel temp. Also are the Mag tube screws tight.

 

[R.A.D. Dad]

Scope is staying spot on. Once I got the scope zeroed I haven't messed with it. After running 30-40 rounds through the gun and then having the groups go wild I'd come back a couple days later with new ammo, the first five or six would be spot on again, and then again groups get worse and worse. At no time had the scope been messed with.

The ammo tube is screwed in securely. I've checked all my various screws on the gun (was just out this morning experiencing this problem again) and they are all still snug.

If the gun is getting this inaccurate from being warm after only 10 or so rounds is that an idication of a bad barrel? The barrel's never hot to the touch, just fairly warm. I have tried letting it cool for a few minutes, but still seems to have problems.

-Rich

 

[Lambo119]

Have you owned and shot the gun for 10 years? If so is this problem new to the gun?

 

[R.A.D. Dad]

I did a little shooting with it back around the time I first got it, but never really bench rested it so the groups would be all over the place and I'd chalk it up to poor form....which I certainly have shooting off hand.

I've only recently begun shooting again, having joined a gun club. And after getting a scope put on the gun and shooting from the bench I came to realize the problem. Was probably always there, just only now shooting in a way that would bring it to my attention.

 

[Lambo119]

It could be that the problem has always been there. The fact that it is on the money when you shoot it cold makes me think its heat related. All guns to some degree have problems with heat but a badly copper or lead fouled barrel will often be much more tempremental. I.E groups will often start to open up after just a few shots. Use a good copper solvent and give it a good deep cleaning. If that has no effect you may ask your local smith about hand lapping the barrel but that may be a long shot. Good luck....

 

[dfaugh]

Probably heat related. I've seen lots of guns that'll only stay "on" for a few shots, even though the barrel isn't really getting all that hot. It only takes the barrel shifting a few thousenths of an inch, or expanding a bit here and there to start throwing shots around. Shoot a few rounds, and let it cool COMPLETELY, then try it again for a few more rounds. You might find that it'll always shoot a few rounds great, then change when the barrel heats.

 

[Brian Williams]

After reading about this both here and on Leverguns, I would get the number for Marlin and give them a call. Marlin has a great customer service and will take care of your needs fairly well.

 

[danang]

Go to <Leverguns.com>. Paco Kelly has an accurizing article for leverguns.