rifle drifting question

[biggamefish]

  I have a Winchester 94 24" barrel. I have a scope on it (weaver classic).  I used to be able to hold 2" groups at 100 yards with it, using Rem core lokt 170 hp.  For some reason the gun has started to drift when shooting.

 

This first shot cold is always 5-6" high even after redialing it in.  After the first shot it walks 2-3 inches down in a straight line.  Left to right is minimal.  After about 2 times doing this in repetition (letting it cool down) it will hold a group.  Then I let it cool down and the whole processes starts over again with a high shot.

 

  Yesterday I tried screwing the dials on my scope all the way in and out to reset the screws but that didn't help. I can't figure out what is going on and before I totally remove the scope I wanted to see if you guys had any ideas of what could be going on or suggestions to try to figure it out.

[Mr VJP]

I don't think it's a scope issue.  Just to be sure I'd remove the scope and see what happens when shooting with the iron sights.

[RSRAINS]

If the barrel has been cleaned the first shot being a fouler shot 9 times out of 10 it will go high.

 

Push a patch with some Lock Ease through the bore of the barrel before your first shot and then let us know what happened.

[philoshop]

Doesn't sound like a scope issue to me either, but it's the easiest thing to rule out first. Swap it with a scope that you know is top quality, or try the open sights like MrVJP suggested.

 

Your description sounds more like a bedding or barrel inletting problem, or a combination of both. Vertical stringing in a downward direction is pretty unusual but certainly not impossible. A little bit of oil seeping into the stock and causing it to swell here and there can do a lot of strange things. Step one here would be to check your action hold-down screws. Loosen them up and then re-tighten them. They should be snug but definitely not 'farmer tight'. Like you would tighten a lightbulb is usually pretty close on most of my guns. Maybe a wee bit more.

See if that helps.

 

And make sure the nut behind the trigger is doing its job. (Sorry, old benchrest joke.)

Keep us posted please.

Edited August 11, 2015 by philoshop

[thphm]

It is not a bolt action rifle where the action is screwed and held in the stock.

Did you replace or add anything to the rifle, as slings, or change the forend grip ?.

Are you shooting the same ammo as shot in the past. And yes try a different scope.

Have you tried shooting  it with the Iron Sights.( I would try this first ) .25 yards or 50 yards.