what to look for if scope runs out of windage?

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txblackout

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3 days ago I shot about 20 rounds with a DNZ scope mount and a leupold vx3 scope on a remington 700 w/20" heavy barrel in a mcmillan stock. The Gun was shooting around 1moa. Then the groups totally opened up and I was all over the place (maybe 3-5 inch groups).

I took that scope off and didnt see any blue loctite so thought maybe the screws got loose. I took the entire scope off and put a trijicon and 20moa weaver rail on using vortex rings..

The scope is running out of windage and the gun is still shooting about 6 inches to the left.

Obviously the scope is pointing too far to the right but I have run out of adjustment.

I have tightened everything using a torque wrench and used blue loctite.

another issue is the groups are all over the place. Could there be any issues in the receiver that would cause this or is it definitely a scope mount problem?


What are the possible things that could be wrong and what are some things to test?

Here are some things I was thinking about:
I was thinking about was switching the rings front and back.
I was thinking about reversing the rings

I bought a laser boresight to see if I can get the scope more centered.

Anything else to do?
 
I'll say up front that I use scopes but am not a scope expert.

I'd mount the scope, center the cross hairs and use a laser bore sighters or look down the bore and see where it's pointing. At 50 yards or so it shouldn't be too far off. If it is I'd try different rings. Then I'd try those rings and scope on a different rifle.
 
It would't be the first 700 reciever drilled not aligned with the bore.
Using your laser boresight, remove scope and sight down the scope base to see if it is aligned with the bore CL left to right. If not remove the scope base and install the mount screws and use them as a sight to check the reciever drilling alignment. Go from there. I would not expect problems with the Vortex rings and moving them front to back should not make a difference. Are the rings seating completel to the base? Not being held off by the cross bolt?
 
Check the rifle first to make sure the action is properly secured in the stock and other such things. It'd suck to chase the optic around only to find out that the POI issues are caused by a stock fitment issue or similar.
 
As mentioned above, holes are not always drilled correctly or have the tooling properly sharpened.

I would check stock fitment, and re mount, lap, the whole nine yards. Make sure you mark front and rear ring tops when lapping (it makes a difference).

Bore sight, Ideally the traditional way and with laser. Then shoot factory ammunition from same load #, or if your handloading, double check all weights to ensure identical.

Just my thoughts.
 
I moved the rings closer together on the scope and bought a laser bore sighter.

This seems to have fixed the issue. Ill find out for sure when I shoot this weekend.
 
Is it at all possible that you've mounted it out 90 degree's? you would think this is very unlikely mistake to make for an experienced individual, but while in a hurry, and not paying attention, I managed to do this once a couple years back when changing a scope at the range. It didn't take me long to realize my mistake, but it was a bit embarrassing.

I thought I was adjusting the windage, I was actually adjusting the elevation turret, and visa versa with the elevation turret, I was adjusting the windage.

GS
 
I would guess ring misalignment is what ruined your first scope. You first need to fix that. If it is drilled that far off you need to contact Remington and send it in. You can buy windage adjustable rings like the millets but its like putting a bandaid on a compound fracture
 
I have a scope base on my 700 that has lateral screw adjustment. Leupold IIRC. It should have plenty of adjustment range

As noted above, I'd be concerned about misaligned rings damaging the scope body.
 
Havent had a chance to shoot it since I made the adjustment, hopefully some time this week.
 
With the 20moa slope mount, the erector set in the scope is at the extreme end of its adjustment range when zeroed at closer ranges. This puts the erector set near the top of the inside of the tube, limiting travel when adjusting for windage.

Adjust the reticle to its mechanical center, then see if you have enough travel for windage.

I use Redfield mounts & rings which allows the scope to be centered for windage externally
 
Since you didn't have the alignment problem with the DNZ mount, it would lead me to believe the 700 is drilled correctly and maybe the rail mount isn't or
its in the rings. One thing to check on the DNZ mount screws is if they bottom out in the hole before the mount is tight. We habitually always count the turns for each screw to bottom out without the base, first thing. Mainly to make sure we don't get a short hole or a long screw. If your new setup works , might be a good idea to verify the Leupold scope on the new mount setup.
Good luck OYE
 
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You said it shot great at first and then after many shots, the group opened up - to me that seems like a bedding issue where the barrel is heating and expanding and causing the gun to move
 
I guess my first thought would be to check the gun over. Why would it go from moa to 5-6moa. Bedding, bore, action screw torque, crown, everything.
 
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