Not sure what’s going on here

[REN]

Got some new ELD-X 150g ammo to try in my 7mm08. Normally shoot Barnes 120TTSX and accubonds in it pretty well.
Shoot 4 shots at 100yd and grouped pretty good so decided I'd adjust the scope to use them this season.
Some how from there it never would match the first 4 shots. After those shots it started to really get inconsistent so I figured barrel was warming up so took it home and cleaned it.
Came back today on a cold clean barrel and again never would come close to the first 4 shots. Rings and scope seem very solid still so doesn't seem to be that. Shooting from a sled as well (not strapped down or anything





Then today. Shot 4 more after that and same result really. I did adjust back left after the first too that are far right but seems it will shoot 1 high then one dead on target for some reason

 

[Jcalder]

Shoot on a dirty barrel and don't clean it. See if that helps. Have you had it out of the stock. Action screws can do funny things. I'd also want more than just a 4 shot group as my baseline. If you had multiple groupings and all were similar I'd say say you have an issue. But I've shot a few groups in load development that I couldn't get close to duplicating. From the first group I think you're close, but not hardly there. I'd play with that charge a little, .2 increments up and down, and seating depth.

 

[REN]

Shoot on a dirty barrel and don't clean it. See if that helps. Have you had it out of the stock. Action screws can do funny things. I'd also want more than just a 4 shot group as my baseline. If you had multiple groupings and all were similar I'd say say you have an issue. But I've shot a few groups in load development that I couldn't get close to duplicating. From the first group I think you're close, but not hardly there. I'd play with that charge a little, .2 increments up and down, and seating depth.

I dont have picks of the other groups but shot prob 4-5 other 3/4 shot groups and they all where pretty much the same as the bottom picture. Just odd it went all weird after the first 4 shots. BTW this is all factory ammo as I dont reload. I can go back to my other ammo just found it odd that after 4 shots it just went haywire
Il check the stock though

 

[REN]

You can see the bottom left as well. That's another 4 shot with no scope adjustments


And this was yesterday the bottom right and bottom left. Just puzzled why it just went off the rails

 

[Jcalder]

If it's factory ammo it could be anything.

 

[Omega]

Check your crown, may have developed a burr.

 

[Safari Hunt]

Several things to consider. Heard one should shoot one "fouling" shot to clear the barrel. Is you scope loose?
Story- My father and I bought Tasco scopes when the first hit the US. One had the windage change with each shot. The other scope had the same problem with the elevation. Took them back.

 

[Safari Hunt]

Wood, laminate or synthetic stock? Might be a factor.

 

[REN]

Wood, laminate or synthetic stock? Might be a factor.

laminate thumb hole browning eclipse xbolt

 

[REN]

Several things to consider. Heard one should shoot one "fouling" shot to clear the barrel. Is you scope loose?
Story- My father and I bought Tasco scopes when the first hit the US. One had the windage change with each shot. The other scope had the same problem with the elevation. Took them back.

scope is tight as is rings.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Try a 2 or 3 shot group with the new, then pick a different bull on your target and shoot a group with the old. Should confirm it is not a scope issue. It may be the hornady ammo, but that would surprise me.

The eld x bullets have been very accurate bullets for me, but load my own and I have played with charge and seating depth to fine tune.

 

[MUP]

Sounds like the scope may have gone bad after your first adjustments? Lead sled is hard on a rifle and scope I've heard.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I had a similar experience with my 22 CHeetah Remington 40X when working up loads. I don't recall the exact bullet but it was one of the Match grade 52 or 53 grain hollow points and I think IMR 4320 powder. The 1st 5 shot group fired with the bullet was the tightest I ever shot with that rifle at about .190 inches at 100 yards. That load never shot close to that good again with all components from the same lots. I just quit fooling with it since I wanted the rifle for groundhogs anyhow and preferred hunting bullets over Match type. There is always the possibility that the 1st group shot was just a fluke group and there is nothing wrong.

 

[DaveB]

I still own a Barska scope that did very near the same thing. It would shoot 5 rounds really well with #5 maybe a hair outside. The next group would be all over the place. This was a 243 with 95 grain NBT shooting a max load of RL19. Just as I got tired of fooling with it whatever was loose inside the scope stopped being loose and the scope would hold zero. The problem has not recurred.