Scope problems

[Highlander 15/22]

I bought a 15/22 about 2 months ago, and have been through 4 scopes for it and haven't been able too sights any of them in. The first scope was a AIMS Sports 3X9 that came with a quick release mount made to the scope, the second was a UTG 3X9 Bug Buster II that came with two 4 screw quick release mounts, the third was a Center Point 4X16 that came with factory mounts, and the latest to this list is a Nikon 3X9X40 using the UTG mounts, and I just tried a new set of Burris steel mounts on the UTG today, I am trying to sight in at 50 yards in the prone position with bi-pod, using federal bulk. My problem is that I haven't been able to zero any of them after several thousand shots, the POI just keeps jumping left, right, up, and down. I have tightened everything to the point of stripping or breaking, I don't know where to go from here any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[shawnr5]

What have you been tightening? It sounds like your barrel nut might be a little loose.

 

[GMC man]

What have you been tightening? It sounds like your barrel nut might be a little loose.

that sounds right if its the same problem with 4 different scopes and mounts and the rounds are hitting everywhere the barrel might be moving on you.

 

[Lock&Load53]

Before tearing your rifle down. Try changing ammo. and shoot from a good rest (like sand bags). Mine don't shoot that very accurately. It likes CCI Tactical 22 the best but does ok with CCI Mini Mags. Every rifle has it'sown likes and dislikes for certain ammo, try several brands to see if it gets better or worse. If it shoots well at 25, it's normal for the groups to open up a little at 50 yards.

 

[Allen 1]

Either your barrel is loose or check the flash hider to make sure it isn't bent or somehow obstructing the muzzle. It's totally possible the bullet could be making contact with it. That will make a bullet do some crazy things.

 

[deallad]

In the Uk Federal is supplied in a bulk pack of 525 rounds, it cycles well through the 15-22 but shoots no where near as accurate as the Fiocchi that we get here.

At 25 yards i group about half inch with the fiocchi and the Federal can be as poor as 2 and a half inch with the odd flyer out even further, it does the same in the club Ruger 10-22 as well, it seems to go well in the CZ 452 though, I won't be using it in any comps

 

[Hobie1]

I would like to ask how the flash hider could be bent so much that a bullet strikes it? It's not like a brake that has a slightly larger bore than the barrel. Do you even have a flash hider on your gun? If not, have you dinged the muzzleof the barrel? Do you clean from the muzzle end? Have you tried using your iron sights at the range you're shooting?


The barrel nut suggestion is where I'd first look. BTW Have you tried using your iron sights at a closer range to see if your POI groups tighter?
IMO, it's not the scopes. Are you always getting your cheek weld in the same position? If you have to lift your head off the stock, your parallax error will cause your POA to shift especially with less expensive optics.
I would start at 10 yards, then 25. 50 yards is a ways out to sight in a short range gun.
If all else fails, send the gun back to S&W. I had a Performance Center 15-22 that was all over the place. S&W replaced the upper and the gun shot much better.

Hobie

 

[Majorlk]

I can pretty much guarantee that if a bullet was striking any part of a flash hider (or a muzzle brake) the shooter would know it instantly. The odds are high that the bullet would take a piece of the muzzle device with it - or deform it severely. And then there would be the sound of the bullet striking metal ...

Totally unlikely as the cause of the firearm's inaccuracy.

 

[Aceman58]

Try getting a laser bore sight for your rifle. Shoot at 12yds from a bench with sand bags or rifle holder. Start from as close as possible and work your way out..

 

[Highlander 15/22]

I recently bought a set of weaver quad lock mounts and took it to the local gun store and had the scope mounted and bore sighted. When I got to the range it shot about 4 inches out at the 11 Oclock position. I gave the scope 2 clicks right and 3 clicks down, and on my next set of shots I was completely off the page high, after a couple hundred more rounds trying to get it sighted with no luck, it pretty much stays high and left, and then will jump off the page low. At the end of my shooting session I thought maybe I had found the problem but ran out of ammo before I could test my theory. I believe that possibly my shooting position was possibly putting pressure on the barrel and I was having barrel flex because of it. I haven't gotten back to the range to test this theory yet. But has anyone heard of this kind of problem, will the barrel flex if you have the front on a bi-pod and the rear against the shoulder with my weight on the weapon pushing down as I am sighting my shot?

 

[Hobie1]

As I asked previously, have you tried using your iron sights at the range you're shooting?

Hobiw

 

[MassLiberty]

Adjustments

I recently bought a set of weaver quad lock mounts and took it to the local gun store and had the scope mounted and bore sighted. When I got to the range it shot about 4 inches out at the 11 Oclock position. I gave the scope 2 clicks right and 3 clicks down, and on my next set of shots I was completely off the page high, after a couple hundred more rounds trying to get it sighted with no luck, it pretty much stays high and left, and then will jump off the page low. At the end of my shooting session I thought maybe I had found the problem but ran out of ammo before I could test my theory. I believe that possibly my shooting position was possibly putting pressure on the barrel and I was having barrel flex because of it. I haven't gotten back to the range to test this theory yet. But has anyone heard of this kind of problem, will the barrel flex if you have the front on a bi-pod and the rear against the shoulder with my weight on the weapon pushing down as I am sighting my shot?

Not sure if I'm reading you right, but if you were 4 inches out at 11 o'clock, to bring it back center you follow the bullet that is if you are striking left you want to move the sight left; if high you want to move the sight up. Just like bowhunting where we "follow the arrow" when adjusting the sight. If you did 2 clicks right and 3 down you would, as you saw, perhaps be off the paper.

 

[Highlander 15/22]

I haven't tried iron sights on the bi-pod, but i haven't had any issues off hand.

 

[Highlander 15/22]

I went back to the range today to try out my theory, and was proven right, using a sandbag and only touching just enough to pull the trigger I was able to sight in, in about 20 shots, and exchanged the clip several times and stayed on target. But if I touched the rifle with even the slightest amount of pressure in any direction I was several inches off. It appears that my barrel is flexing very easily. I took it to the local gun shop to let them tighten the barrel nut, but I am not sure the guy knew what he was doing after watching it done on youtube, he tried to tighten the barrel by twisting the barrel by the flash hider, and on youtube they used a long pipe like thing with 4 prongs on it slid down over the barrel, and clamped the barrel at the end so they could tighten the nut.

 

[Highlander 15/22]

What have you been tightening? It sounds like your barrel nut might be a little loose.

I think you were right on target, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[shawnr5]

I think you were right on target, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

No problem. This is a great forum and it's good to help. Have fun. I know I need to go out and spend some time with mine. I'm going to watch 15 hours of Marvel movies tomorrow and have to barbeque 150 pounds of pork and beef this weekend. Maybe next week.

 

[team sidewinder]

I went back to the range today to try out my theory, and was proven right, using a sandbag and only touching just enough to pull the trigger I was able to sight in, in about 20 shots, and exchanged the clip several times and stayed on target. But if I touched the rifle with even the slightest amount of pressure in any direction I was several inches off. It appears that my barrel is flexing very easily. I took it to the local gun shop to let them tighten the barrel nut, but I am not sure the guy knew what he was doing after watching it done on youtube, he tried to tighten the barrel by twisting the barrel by the flash hider, and on youtube they used a long pipe like thing with 4 prongs on it slid down over the barrel, and clamped the barrel at the end so they could tighten the nut.

I just wish these shops would just admit they aren't sure how to work on this gun and tell the customer rather than blunder on which can really screw up your 15-22 for you. There are several threads here on the forum where this has happened with very bad results. Ask if they have the proper tools to work on your gun and if not take it somewhere that does with experienced people.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I went back to the range today to try out my theory, and was proven right, using a sandbag and only touching just enough to pull the trigger I was able to sight in, in about 20 shots, and exchanged the clip several times and stayed on target. But if I touched the rifle with even the slightest amount of pressure in any direction I was several inches off. It appears that my barrel is flexing very easily. I took it to the local gun shop to let them tighten the barrel nut, but I am not sure the guy knew what he was doing after watching it done on youtube, he tried to tighten the barrel by twisting the barrel by the flash hider, and on youtube they used a long pipe like thing with 4 prongs on it slid down over the barrel, and clamped the barrel at the end so they could tighten the nut.

You can be sure he didn't know what he was doing, and that the barrel nut is no tighter after you left the shop than it was before entering. The following link will take you to the Notable Thread Index. You will find everything there is to know about the barrel nut-- How-To... How-Not-To... tools required and where to get them... or how make your own. See the Instructional Video Series. http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/166153-notable-thread-index.html

 

[jb1968]

Is your bipod attached to the barrel? If so pressure on it could be pushing the barrel around.