lost accuracy

[tom338]

I have had more than one rifle do this. Shoots extremely good. Then groups start to open up and fall apart all together. Clean the barrel but the rifle will not shoot the same load. Groups will be terrible. Even after shooting lots of rounds to foul the barrel. Just had a 25/06 go from shooting 1" groups at 300 yards to 2.5 inches at 200. So cleaned the barrel. We back to range, shot 7 fouling shots, then back to the good loads. 5 inch groups at 200 yards???? Back to load developement again, sucks. Rifle was going to Montana Saturday but not any more.

[Rick_W]

Handloads or factory loads?

If handloads, any change in components (to include a different lot of powder)?

[eddiesindian]

Do you know what your speeds were with 1"@ 300 load?

[NiMiK]

Check for loose rings, bases and stock. Re-torque and see if that helps.

[D.ID]

Check for loose rings, bases and stock. Re-torque and see if that helps.
+1
Enough rounds threw it to need to start chasing the lands?

[eddiesindian]

+1
Enough rounds threw it to need to start chasing the lands?true that. My HS in 308 made me do that at about 1500rds

[tom338]

Not for sure on how many rounds have been fired thru this rifle, maybe 350-500. Yes hand loads, and now remember opening a different jug of powder (re 19), bullets were Barnes 115 grain flat base, caliber 25/06. Took a while to find a bullet to shoot in this gun, LRH 111. 50 grains of rl-19, seated .055 off lands, speeds right at 3050. This was the ONLY load this gun would shoot that I could find.

[earl39]

I have had more than one rifle do this. Shoots extremely good. Then groups start to open up and fall apart all together.

Right there is your answer. If it was the first time this happened then maybe the rifle but multiple times points to components or ammo in the case of factory ammo. You state that you reload so it comes down to components.

[orcldba]

I know that load books vary, but Nosler says that 50.0 is max on a 115gr pill using RL19; good for 3007 fps. using a 24" barrel.
It sounds crazy, but drop the charge to 49.7 and 49.4. I think you'll see a big difference in groupings with very little loss of velocity.

As a generalization, and from my experience with a 25-06 with a light 26" barrel, RL19 tends to run better on lighter 100gr bullets; IMR 4350 and IMR 4831 tend to be better at the slightly 'over-bored' cartridges where there's room for it to really work.

[tom338]

The Barnes load data on line says RL-19 and 115 grain tsx flat base bullet max is 52.0 grains. 50.5 in my rifle is just starting to get to hot, so left it at 50.0
Loaded 7 different loads today, no success yet. One pound of powder to the other make that much difference?? Bullets were all bought the same time and the last loaded ones were all from the same box. I also checked my notes all loaded from the same lb of powder. I assumed that the barrel was getting copper fouled and thats why groups were starting to open up.

[eddiesindian]

The Barnes load data on line says RL-19 and 115 grain tsx flat base bullet max is 52.0 grains. 50.5 in my rifle is just starting to get to hot, so left it at 50.0
Loaded 7 different loads today, no success yet. One pound of powder to the other make that much difference?? Bullets were all bought the same time and the last loaded ones were all from the same box. I also checked my notes all loaded from the same lb of powder. I assumed that the barrel was getting copper fouled and thats why groups were starting to open up.
It sure can. one pound against another can turn a nail driver pattern into a shot gun pattern.
It s****s when this happens
If anything, id ck what others have mentioned from scope to rings to base to action screws...anything.
have you been able to verify your speed with the new lot of powder.
Varget did that to me in where I had to change my OAL to get me consistant and accurate again

[foxx]

I had the EXACT same problem with RL 19 and my 25-06. I found it was very temp sensitive. I may have been working on the edge of a node and didn't realize it, but it went berserk at 80* vs. 20-35*. Never got around to solving the problem, I simply changed to some other powder I don't remember what offhand.

[tenshot]

Neck tension can cause this problem.
If you have multiple loads on the brass and don't anneal, the necks get hard and the tension changes.

I have had loads open up with just 3 or 4 firings and after annealing they settle right back to original grouping.
If you cant find any other cause try to anneal a few pieces of brass and see if it helps.

[tom338]

Well after cleaning and the loads I had not shooting I went back to the drawing board. Found a different load that shoots fairly good. A little more range time and maybe will be able to tweet it even better. Think the barrel was just copper fouled enough it quit shooting good groups. Now shooting a 110 accubound over H4350 and 47.5 grains. Shooting just under a inch at 100.

[schnyd112]

My 25-06 loves 110 accubonds at just over 3100 fps. I use 4831, have single digit ES, and great groups at 100-400 yards. Unfortunately mine does not like to shoot more than 3 shots at a time. I can shoot lights out, .5ish" groups for 3 shots, then shots 4-5 are inconsistent. It is money cold bore though, and that all that matters as it is a hunting rifle.