AR erratic groups?

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Axis II

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My buddy has a BearCreek 350 legend upper on a Ruger lower with 3-9 bushnell AR scope and herters mount shooting Hornady and Winchester ammo. When he first fired the rifle it dang near touched holes. This past week he checked it and first shot hit bull and second and 3rd would hit all over the place then 4th would hit bull.

yesterday with new boxes of both brand ammo it grouped 2 shots at 11 o’clock about 3” from bull touching, 3rd shot went way low at 5 o’clock and then sent 4th shot at 1 o’clock and 5th shot touched the first 2. It seems to either hit bull then send 1-2 all over then touch bull hole then all over again no matter what ammo.

scope mounts are tight, guns been fired clean and dirty. We don’t think it’s a scope issue cause it will hold groups then go haywire and then group again.

so what’s going on?
 
How far away is your target?

What is he using for a rifle rest?

How confident are you in that optic and mount?

No offense meant, but between caliber and equipment, you aren’t describing a sub MOA setup To my knowledge, and any anomaly with the shooter and/or bench rest could result in poor groups.

But there are a lot more smarter guys than I here, so hopefully you will get a better answer.
 
How far away is your target?

What is he using for a rifle rest?

How confident are you in that optic and mount?

No offense meant, but between caliber and equipment, you aren’t describing a sub MOA setup To my knowledge, and any anomaly with the shooter and/or bench rest could result in poor groups.

But there are a lot more smarter guys than I here, so hopefully you will get a better answer.

100yards
Led sled, front rest, sand bags all do the same. This guy can shoot as I’ve seen him take woodchucks at 400 yards with a 22-250 on a daily basis. I think it’s optic but IMO if it was how does it still group?
 
Years ago a friend gave me a pistol rail mount laser and I didn’t think I would ever use it but I have since found it to be quite useful and I bet it would work great to find the problem here.

I used to use this device I threw together to swap scopes on already sighted in rifles.

B02AD85E-1697-42EB-B0DC-0AF4333888C1.jpeg

It works great but slower and not for use under recoil.

The pistol sight fits on any section of rail and can be left in place while firing. Put it on and light up the cross hairs with the dot. Now go shoot it, do they stay lined up?

B99D318B-ABC6-4970-915A-1B679A29C9B0.jpeg

Even if both devices are junk, the odds of them moving the same amount and direction, in both windage and elevation are astronomical.
 
Does he have a different upper of similar recoil he can swap out? Or swap the scope to a different rifle.
 
Does he have a different upper of similar recoil he can swap out? Or swap the scope to a different rifle.
The rifle started as the Ruger MPR in 223rem wearing the bushnell scope in question. The rifle shoots 1'' at 100yards. He put that scope and mounts on the 350 legend upper. I will suggest he put the scope back on the 223rem upper and see what it does.
 
Check for a loose barrel nut on the upper. I can't tell you how many times these things come loose and have people chasing their tails. If that is fine you can pop on a set of iron sights or a micro red dotlike others have said already.
 
Sure sounds like a mount or optic problem to me. Try a scope and mount off another AR if available. If it does the same thing then the upper needs to go back
 
My buddy has a BearCreek 350 legend upper on a Ruger lower with 3-9 bushnell AR scope and herters mount shooting Hornady and Winchester ammo. When he first fired the rifle it dang near touched holes. This past week he checked it and first shot hit bull and second and 3rd would hit all over the place then 4th would hit bull.

yesterday with new boxes of both brand ammo it grouped 2 shots at 11 o’clock about 3” from bull touching, 3rd shot went way low at 5 o’clock and then sent 4th shot at 1 o’clock and 5th shot touched the first 2. It seems to either hit bull then send 1-2 all over then touch bull hole then all over again no matter what ammo.

scope mounts are tight, guns been fired clean and dirty. We don’t think it’s a scope issue cause it will hold groups then go haywire and then group again.

so what’s going on?
Sound like the trigger actuator is not working correctly. Could also be an ammo issue if shooting two different loads/brands.
 
This makes a case for back-up “iron” sights.

The best way is to remove the scope and shoot the gun using the iron sights.

This is what I’d try 1st.

100 yards (or closer if you need) on a lead sled is any easy test of accuracy with iron sights. At least you can rule out the scope this way.
 
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