Problem with a Telescope

[Tequila jake]

I was sighting in my Howa 1500 bolt action (.308) today and it (not me, of course!) was really shooting strangely. The first group wasn't too good, about 2 3/4", 4" low and and 1" left. I adjusted the scope (1/4" per click at 100 yds) and the group tightened up to about 1 3/4", but it shot about 2 1/2" high and 1" right. Thinking I had not counted my clicks correctly, I readjusted for this second group and the next group was about 1 1/2", but it shot about 2" low and 1" right (and I had counted my clicks carefully). I readjusted for this group and it was shooting high and right again. The barrel is free-floated and the action was tight in the stock and I checked the rings and mounts and everything was O.K. What gives? This has to be a problem with the internals of the telescope, right?

Tequila Jake

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Parallax issue maybe???

 

[Tequila jake]

Could be, I guess. I've never had this problem before when shooting this rifle at 100 yds.

Tequila Jake

 

[TonyAngel]

Which scope are we taking about? How old is it? Did you try a different scope to narrow it down to either the scope or the rifle? Do you have a parallax adjustment on your scope?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Try this: double your correction, then dial back to the desired setting. For example, say you need eight clicks left. Take 16 clicks left, then 8 clicks back right. This may take up the slack in the adjustment mechanism.