possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

[cinosbus]

I have noticed that my Rem 700 5R Milspec .308 shoots absolutely great right after I put the action back in the stock and torque it (65inlb), but the groups start to open up pretty quickly (less than 50rds) to over an inch. It has tightened right back up when I remove it from the stock to clean it, put it back in, and re-torque it.

Is the action sliding? How can I fix? I wasn't really looking to bed this rifle since it shoots so well - sometimes.

I have not done enough testing to see if it could be due to fouling, since the times I have pulled it out of the stock were times that I also cleaned it. Although I'd be surprised if it is the fouling since cleaning it yeilds patches that are not very blue and it cleans up in only a couple of patches. It seems like to me only 50rds would not be enough to take it from grouping like a benchrest rifle, to producing groups slightly over an inch.

This is not terribly consistent, as even after it "opens up" it will still occasionally shoot a tight-ish group (5/8" or so), but not under 1/2" like I can usually produce right after the re-torquing for the first few groups. These are 5 shot groups.

 

[Tangodown911]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

I would have it bedded anyway. My 5R had a similar issue. What ammo or load are you shooting? Does it string in any direction or does it scatter the rounds?

 

[300sniper]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

why don't you try cleaning it without taking it out of the stock?

 

[awp762]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

Have you tried letting the barrel cool down completely between groups to see if heat has anything to do with it?

Try a 5 round group right after cleaning/torqing, then let it cool completely & try another 5 round group.

 

[flyboy]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

How bout you try not cleaning it every so many rounds and when the groups open up, re tourqe the action and see if that changes anything. Then without cleaning it, if that doesn't fix it, take the action outta the stock and don't clean it. Then but it back in the stock and torque the action back down without cleaning it, and check your results.

By the way, did I mention not to clean it?

Try that and get back to us. It may work or may not but then we will have a much better Idea of what is happening.

On a side note. when you place your action in the stock are you making sure that the recoil lug is ALL the way agenst the recoil lug recesse in the stock? Be sure and try that again. If its not then it could be moving around, maybe.

 

[cinosbus]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

I plan to try re-torquing without cleaning when it opens up again.

I have tested barrel heat and it does not seem to effect it much until at least 20rds.

The only thing I think I could be doing wrong with sticking it back in the stock is putting too much oil on the bottom of the action. I have always made it slightly "wet" since I figure it will be a while before I dig back in there, so I should "protect" it well.

I always stand it on the buttstock so that the action is slid all the way back before I torque the front action screw first and the one behind the trigger guard next.

 

[Tangodown911]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

Make sure the screws aren't touching the stock anywhere.

 

[Red_SC]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

There are plenty of good tutorials, bed it yourself. Shouldn't hurt anything, and is inexpensive to do yourself.

 

[Rntobey]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

I would do what FLYBOY recommends first. I have a 5R that was doing the same thing your is doing, after about fifty rounds the groups would open up. the problem was severe copper fouling. Once I got around 300 rounds the problem went away. What cleaners are you using & what is your round count? Check inside the bore very closely. My barrel had some deep tooling marks about a inch from the bore.

 

[cinosbus]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

Round count is 358. I'm using wipeout with accelerant. I don't have a borescope and don't see anything bad with my naked eye. The bore of this rifle is the smoothest I've ever felt and there are no spots that feel different as I slide a patch. It's definitely smoother than it was when I first bought it.

 

[Rntobey]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

I am also using wipe out. It really works good for removing cooper if you give it enough time to work. If it was my gun, I would bed the action before I went any further.

 

[flyboy]

Re: possible Rem 5R / HS Stock problem

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cinosbus</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I plan to try re-torquing without cleaning when it opens up again.

I have tested barrel heat and it does not seem to effect it much until at least 20rds.

The only thing I think I could be doing wrong with sticking it back in the stock is putting too much oil on the bottom of the action. I have always made it slightly "wet" since I figure it will be a while before I dig back in there, so I should "protect" it well.

I always stand it on the buttstock so that the action is slid all the way back before I torque the front action screw first and the one behind the trigger guard next. </div></div>

Quick question, If its a 5R, you shouldn't need to oil the bottom of the action to keep it from rusting (asumption) more than just wiping it down. Not that I think thats hurting anything other than maybe (speculating) making the stock swell up or something along those lines. I'd just do the regulare prventitive maintnace and put it in the stock dry.