Mossberg MVP predator 308 not grouping AT ALL

[bass_blaster]

Hey guys,

I have the 308 MVP and it won't group anything smaller than about 8 inches at 100 yds. I've taken it out twice so far and both times had the same issues.

Ammo used so far is:

1-ZQi from Walmart
2-Perfecta from Walmart
3-PRVI match 308 from cabelas. 168grn HPBT
4-Silver State Armory Match 308 from cabelas. 168grn HBO

I finally have some time to take the rifle apart again this evening. What all should I be looking for? I did a deep clean after the first crappy range session but shooting has only gotten worse.

I'll keep an eye out for loose action screws, scope mount or base being loose, deep clean barrel and chamber for copper fouling, verify scope tracking with it in a vice.

Anything else?

[ElvenSoul]

Check the free float of the stock

All the wood stocks are made by sub contractors. They are behind production and rushing.

[kenl]

When I received my predator mvp, I found that the stock bolts were loose. Torqued it down, and it's a fine shooter now. Also re-check the scope mount bases and rings. Other than that, ????

[coy80176]

Are you

using sandbags from a bench?

...start at 50 yds for a zeroed group.. which should be consistently high from POA.

then move out to 100 yds... mindful of breathing, etc,

[cumafa]

What kind of scope you using?

[Thorax]

What kind of scope you using?

+1

If it's a cheesebag scope the reticle might be moving around inside (classic with junk Chinese wire reticle type scopes, looking at you primary arms).

[bass_blaster]

using sandbags from a bench?

...start at 50 yds for a zeroed group.. which should be consistently high from POA.

then move out to 100 yds... mindful of breathing, etc,

No bags yet. Just bench and bipod and also bench with blocks. Will be getting bags to take next time to try and eliminate myself from the equation as much as possible.

What kind of scope you using?

Primary Arms 4-14 x 40. FFP mil-mil. Cheap scope but it should be able to withstand a 308 bolt action I would think. Currently saving up for a Burris XTR or Vortex PST.

I'm going to take my varmint AR with me next time that I regularly get 1" groups with and swap scopes if I can't get the mossberg to work with the PA scope.

Thanks everybody for the help.

[bass_blaster]

+1

If it's a cheesebag scope the reticle might be moving around inside (classic with junk Chinese wire reticle type scopes, looking at you primary arms).

Haha. That's funny. You typed that just as I was typing my response that it's a Primary Arms. I won't bag on them though until I eliminate other issues and determine it to be a scope issue.

[cumafa]

i did a double take also on the Primary Arms scope...haha! What a coincidence...

[edgerly779]

If you are anywhere near north la county pm me. All of the above items can be easily checked. You should be sub moa.

[cumafa]

you got the right idea... try a different scope.. i dont think the ammo is going to make that much difference at 100yds.

[bass_blaster]

UPDATE:

Just finished stripping, cleaning, and checking everything. Turns out that the screws holding my front scope base were very loose. Once I had the scope taken off I could wobble the base easily with my fingertips.

Proceeded with deep clean. Checked tracking on scope with it in a vice and that was ok. Snapped a screw inside my leupold rings so went to the store and got new rings as well as some FGMM 175grn to try.

Other than the loose scope base I didn't find anything funny. Free-floating is fine all the way back to breach.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I'll be out at South Bay Rod and gun Club Saturday morning to give it another try and I'll report back.

[russ69]

Scope base. Even a crap gun will do better than 8 inches, had to be the scope.

[bsumoba]

if you were saving up for a scope, i would opt for the Vortex PST. If you can afford a $1K scope, go with a Bushnell HDMR 3.5x21x. You could also look at the SWFA line.

what do you intend to use this rifle for?

also, "deep" cleaning your rifle, and by deep cleaning, im assuming cleaning all carbon and copper fouling out of the barrel, will drastically affect your accuracy until you get a few rounds down the barrel to get it "fouled" up. Don't be too bummed if you see horrible groups right off the bat.

[bass_blaster]

if you were saving up for a scope, i would opt for the Vortex PST. If you can afford a $1K scope, go with a Bushnell HDMR 3.5x21x. You could also look at the SWFA line.

what do you intend to use this rifle for?

also, "deep" cleaning your rifle, and by deep cleaning, im assuming cleaning all carbon and copper fouling out of the barrel, will drastically affect your accuracy until you get a few rounds down the barrel to get it "fouled" up. Don't be too bummed if you see horrible groups right off the bat.

Thanks for the info. $1K will be my scope budget so I'll check out your Bushnell recommendation. I want mil-mil with FFP reticle. Minimum of 12X zoom on the high end.

The main use of the rifle is range work out to 300yds at SBRGC. Also shooting out at the desert BLM land. I also want to use it in the future for hog hunting.

It's my only .308 rifle so I'm just trying to have an accurate and portable platform.

I'll keep what you said about cleaning in mind when I take it back to the range Saturday. I'll shoot 20 or so rounds of fmj before moving on to match ammo. I'm really hoping to see groups of 1" or less at 100yds so I can enjoy shooting at 300yds.