So I bought the boys an Axis HB 243 earlier in the year, and have been extatic at how it shoots. So far it's been an honest 1moa gun with several groups inching down twist the 1/2moa mark. To say I was shocked from a sub $300 gun would be an understatement.
I have fed it approx 200rds of various hand loads, with it favoring a 90gr nosler being pushed with 42gr of imr 4350.
While cleaning it over the weekend, I found that the bore was a copper coated mess. So, I go to town with the butches bore cleaner and get it clean as I could get it, followed by a patch of them-oil for rust prevention. I assumed several shots would be all over the place, as that has become the norm with my other savage centerfires, but good lord, I'm 40 rounds into it and nothing will group. It did show some promise going back to the 90gr noslers, but at 1.1" for a 5 shot group, knowing how they normally shoot, is unacceptable.
So frustrated as I was, and with impending rain, I pack up and head back to the house. Now, mind you, I had the barrel spotless before hand, yet now every grove is completely coated with copper, and there is even some sticking on top of the lands. Way worse than before cleaning.
So I suppose my question is this, should I clean it all out again and start over, or keep shooting and hoping it will settle down? Anybody else have the same experience?
Here is a Pre-cleaning group of the 90gr noslers. The center dot is 3/4" for reference...
Here is a 10 shot group Pre-cleaning of 85gr game kings behind iirc, 38gr of Varget. The flier was my fault...
I'll post today's groups in a few...
Bookmarks