Rifle Scopes Vortex Factory Defect...?

[USMC8551]

Purchased a Vortex Razor HD Gen III 6-36 from EuroOptic that I mounted on my MRAD. Ran my new 6.5 Creed barrel over two trips to the range. My groups are wild. I'm not an expert marksman by any means, but I'm also not new to shooting (or this bad at 200 yards). Likewise, I've mounted a lot of scopes over the years; I'm fairly certain I didn't fuck anything up, like crush my tube.

These groups were shot today between 11 AM and Noon at 200 yards. Sunny, zero cloud cover. About 77 degrees, 55% humidity. Little to no wind. Factory ammo: Hornady Match. BTHP. 140gr. Benchrest with bipod and squeeze bag.

I had my dad shoot two 3-shot groups just to see if really was me. It wasn't.

I didn't do any barrel break-in for this barrel. It's chome-lined, and I'm not a big believer in break-in in general, anyway. I did clean it before shooting it (Bortech carbon remover, copper remover, EWL, dry patch).

Anyone ever have a factory defect scope like this, particularly a slightly higher-end optic? I contacted Vortex anyway, but I'm curious. I suppose it could be the barrel, but that seems somewhat unlikely.

S/F

 

[Vivacious Stallion]

From what you have described, its far more likely that this is due to your barrel and ammo combination not working than the scope. Not saying it can't be the scope (I had an XTR ii completely fall apart), but you said this is a brand new barrel which raises the eyebrow.

Do you have a second scope to swap on and check with?

 

[USMC8551]

I thought about the scope swap as I was driving my dad home….

It could be the load; though, it was pretty standard 140gr shelf ammo out of a 24” 1:8 twist. Good thought, though. Maybe it just doesn’t like that ammo.

I’ll try different ammo this week. If it doesn’t like that, I’ll swap a scope off another rifle and see how that goes.

Those are just wild 5-round groups to me. Some thing seems off. Disappointing, but a good work through, I suppose.

S/F

 

[Jrb572]

I’m pretty sure Vortex will take care of you no matter what.

 

[ChrisAU]

New rifle, factory ammo, 200 yard groups.

Damn scope!

 

[Vivacious Stallion]

@USMC 8531 Sometimes you encounter a ammo combo that doesn't work. My LMT 308 wouldn't shoot any M80 type ammo into a 4" group at 100y, but would shoot 175 fgmm 3/4 any day of the week.

Check all your torques, barrel included, and I would shoot at 100y to just remove another factor.

 

[Rob01]

Yeah going right to the scope in this situation is a big jump. You do t know what the rifle shoots like with that ammo and being new what the rifle shoots like at all.

That said put another on there and see what it does. Would have been my first move if I was worried about the scope being the issue. Use the same lot of ammo and rifle and put another scope on and try it out.

 

[Sogan]

You need to start working through the variables; different scope, ammo, torque on screws, scope on a different known shooter etc.