Hawkeye Accuracy Issue

wayspr · Jul 21, 2013

Long time reader, first post. I purchased a standard Hawkeye in 257 Roberts about 6 months ago. Stock fit and finish was horrible along with accuracy (3 moa). I floated the barrel and bedded the action, accuracy improved to about 1.5 moa. I called Ruger who sent me a new stock. New stock finish was very good, accuracy returned to very bad. I bedded and floated the new stock, accuracy improved to about 1 moa with 110 gr Accubonds and IMR 4350. While fine tuning the above load, accuracy opened (2.5 moa) for no apparent reason. Initial thought was a mounting issue, scope remounted, no improvement. Scope was replaced with a new Conquest I bought for a custom rig that I have yet to receive, no improvement. Torque setting on angled action screw has been adjusted at 30, 50, 60 and 75" lbs with middle and rear screws ranging from 15 - 30" lbs. Bore cleaned of all copper multiple times. Crown appears to be fine. Rifle has been fired about 400 times. I have considered adding back the pressure point in the stock but have not tried yet. Any suggestions as to why a rifle that was a consistent 1-1.5 moa shooter change to a 2-3 moa gun? Thanks for your insight.

427mach1 · Jul 21, 2013

I can't explain why accuracy would suddenly change but.... What is the twist rate in the barrel? Maybe it doesn't like the longer, heavier-for-caliber bullets if the twist rate is too slow. Have you tried other bullets and worked up your loadings, finding the most accurate combination? You might just be off of the "sweet spot" combination of bullet, powder, barrel.

wayspr · Jul 21, 2013

Twist is 1:10. I have also tried 100 gr Ballistic tips and 117 gr Hornady SPBT. The 110 Accubonds were easily the most consistent with average groups during load development being in the 1-1.75" range across all charge weights.

leon670 · Jul 22, 2013

"I bedded and floated the new stock, accuracy improved to about 1 moa with 110 gr Accubonds and IMR 4350. While fine tuning the above load, accuracy opened (2.5 moa) for no apparent reason."

Let me get this right: You were getting 1 inch groups from this rifle and you decided to "Fine tune" it?

Lloyd Smale · Jul 22, 2013

my guess is you have a bad barrel. I bought a hawkeye 264 that had a barrel so rough that it would show pressure signs with starting loads out of a manual. Try cleaning the barrel real good and shooting the load that shot well. Ill bet accuracy drops off after two or three groups and its due to your barrel fouling. Ruger replaced mine. I also had a wby vangurard 257 wby that would shoot moa for about 10 rounds and then fall apart. Took me a while to figure out that it would shoot well when clean but would go to hell in a hand basket in short order. I would shoot a group and think id found my load. Shoot another to verify the group and it would be crap. I was even blaming myself.

wayspr · Jul 22, 2013

"Let me get this right: You were getting 1 inch groups from this rifle and you decided to "Fine tune" it? "

Yep. After floating and bedding the 2nd stock, I loaded 8 different charge weights and went to the range. Half of those were in 1-1.75" range, the other 4 were in the 3/4-1" range, all 3 shot groups. I then loaded 5 each of 3 different charge weights in what appeared to be the "sweet" spot, all 3 groups came in around 3/4 moa. Next range trip with exactly the same components yielded 2-3" groups. Initial thoughts was scope or mounts, no improvement.

Lloyd, does not appear to be a copper issue as the barrel does not foul that bad. I have doubted myself much as of late but do not think its me as other rifles at the same range trips have given the expected accuracy.