AI AXMC Problems

[Barn Side]

I recently acquired an AI AXMC Long Action with conversion kits so I can shoot 300 win, 7mm Rem Mag, 260 Rem & 243 win. I have shot with all except the 243 win and the best groups I'm getting are around 1MOA.

It was set up by a bloke that runs a precision course here with Premier Tac Gen 2 XR 5-25 scope with Spuhr mount and LRA bipod. We bore sighted and levelled it.

On the course I just thought it was poor marksmanship on my part with the grouping at 100, but I gave the instructor a group and he did about the same as me. I'm only shooting factory ammunition as well.

After zeroing it at the course I put it in the safe for three months. Then when I took it out and shot it from the bench my zero was way high at 100 so I wasn't even on paper. So I dialled it back down onto the paper. I just thought maybe it got bumped and lost zero.

Three days later I take it to the range and the best group would be 1MOA but most around 3. The groups were all over the place and slightly high. So I go home and lower the zero. I tighten the barrel locking screw to the correct lbs per inch according to AI and the Sphur screws as according to the Sphur manual. I didn't think anything was loose now.

Anyhoo I go to the range today and it's still grouping s@$t, but not as high.

Any ideas what it could be????????


Now I have an AI AX 308, Sako Trg 22 & Tac Ops Tac51 and consistently shoot much better groups with them. The best groups being around 1/4 MOA.

There's nothing more embarrassing than having the best rifle set up at the range and being the worst shot.

As a side note the bloke running the course here was unsure how to zero a premier scope and slipped the drums despite me saying I didn't think it necessary. Could that have buggered the scope?

 

[jaycoux]

What you are describing sounds more like a scope issue than anything.

Download the Premier instructions to verify the zeroing procedures, but it sounds like there's more to it than that.

If you in fact do have an issue with the scope Tangent Theta will still work on them from what I've heard.

Are you saying that just the 243 shoots poorly, or ALL the calibers shoot barely moa?

 

[SkyScrapin]

Could be an issue with your optic. Do you have a spare laying around you could mount up and use to see if that eliminates your issue?

 

[TheOE800]

Every barrel shoots the same and you’re losing your zero? I would say that’s likely a scope issue and the place I would start.

 

[dbransco]

Are you certain the barrels are torqued properly and are not walking loose for some reason?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Are you making sure the mating surfaces are clear from debris when swapping barrels? Ideally you should be removing the handguard, wiping the action face down, barrel shoulder and installing the barrel before the handguard so no debris from inside the handguard can get knocked down either.

Install the barrel with the butt flat down on the ground and muzzle up, use a little bit of oil, grease, or anti seize on the threads and snug the barrel a little on the wrench flats before tightening the quick lock screw.

That’s my method for swapping barrels and I have zero issues with return to zero and it never takes any rounds to settle in, goes where it needs to from round one.

I’d also address the optic and swap it with something else to test. Do only one or the other first to determine what the cause it. Hopefully it’s just done debris between the action and barrel not allowing it to fully seat.

One last thing, have you checked your headspace?

 

[diverdon]

There are a lot of good suggestions above. If you try most or all of them and still have no clear solution then when you come back post what specific factory ammo you are using with each caliber, and how that caliber is preforming.

 

[Barn Side]

Thanks for the replies.
All are shooting barely MOA.
I haven’t checked headspace, but did have a custom 260 barrel spun up where the gunsmith checked it.
I haven’t been wiping the action face down before installing the other barrels, but otherwise I make sure everything is very clean.
ATM it's grouping like a cheap scrub rifle shooting crap ammo.

 

[diverdon]

I think your next step has to be trying a different optic.

 

[pineoak]

diff scope

and remove the barrel and retighten using 53 inch pounds

 

[Barn Side]

Will do
Cheers

 

[jaybigboy34]

Scope problem

 

[Pyotrpumpkinhead]

I recently acquired an AI AXMC Long Action with conversion kits so I can shoot 300 win, 7mm Rem Mag, 260 Rem & 243 win. I have shot with all except the 243 win and the best groups I'm getting are around 1MOA.

It was set up by a bloke that runs a precision course here with Premier Tac Gen 2 XR 5-25 scope with Spuhr mount and LRA bipod. We bore sighted and levelled it.

On the course I just thought it was poor marksmanship on my part with the grouping at 100, but I gave the instructor a group and he did about the same as me. I'm only shooting factory ammunition as well.

After zeroing it at the course I put it in the safe for three months. Then when I took it out and shot it from the bench my zero was way high at 100 so I wasn't even on paper. So I dialled it back down onto the paper. I just thought maybe it got bumped and lost zero.

Three days later I take it to the range and the best group would be 1MOA but most around 3. The groups were all over the place and slightly high. So I go home and lower the zero. I tighten the barrel locking screw to the correct lbs per inch according to AI and the Sphur screws as according to the Sphur manual. I didn't think anything was loose now.

Anyhoo I go to the range today and it's still grouping s@$t, but not as high.

Any ideas what it could be????????


Now I have an AI AX 308, Sako Trg 22 & Tac Ops Tac51 and consistently shoot much better groups with them. The best groups being around 1/4 MOA.

There's nothing more embarrassing than having the best rifle set up at the range and being the worst shot.

As a side note the bloke running the course here was unsure how to zero a premier scope and slipped the drums despite me saying I didn't think it necessary. Could that have buggered the scope?

 

[Pyotrpumpkinhead]

Sir:
I have had the same problem of a wandering zero and mediocre accuracy on a short action AI AXMC that I purchased. I actually did have a Peemier scope on it also, and thought that maybe the turrets were slipping, but I changed optics and still have the problem. Have you found any solution to this?

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

The little flapper that locks the turret down is a screw. So if it was unscrewed at all it is likely not locking the mating surfaces from the outer turret and inner turret cause you to lose zero. Try lifting the flap tab up and screwing it in a bit and closing the flap. Should be just hard enough that it feels like it will bend the washer it cams on but not too much that it does bend the washer.

I did that once...not a fun range day but easily fixable.