6.8 Western Accuracy Expectations Unrealistic?

[270win88]

I have a Browning X bolt western hunter chambered in 6.8 Western. Scope is a Leupold VX5HD 3-15x44 with the Browning integrated scope mounts. I am tearing my hair out (figuratively, I shave my head) over the accuracy of this thing. I've had if for over a year now. I've shot 340 rounds through it, including following Browning's recommended barrel break in process. Used 3 types of factory ammo from and the BEST I can get at 100 yards is 1.5-2 inch groups. At 200 yards I get 4in groups all day long.

I've remounted and checked torque screws (FYI-those nice little fix it sticks torque stix? Don't trust them. My set was torquing at 30% less than my digital wheeler gunsmithing torque wrench). I made some alterations to the stock fore end because it came from the factory with a big glob of epoxy touching the barrel in front of the rectangular lug so now the barrel is free floated all the way to the action. I have a different scope coming so I can test out another scope to see if the Leupold is the problem (I don't know if I trust the adjustments to track correctly). I've shot with front and rear sandbags from prone and from shooting table with similar results.

Am I ever going to see MOA or sub-MOA groups with this gun without hand loading? Am I expecting too much? Did I drink the Kool aid of the "hot, super accurate, high BC" cult and get burned? Do I have a lemon? Time to move on?

Don't no how much it helps but I shot Winchester long range hunters I believe is the name they use 165gr accubonds in my xbolt they shot just a bit over 1in groups at 200

 

[rpolar]

Reviving this slightly older thread for anyone looking for more info on the 6.8.

To the OP, how did your rifle like the choice ammo?

I have one in a xbolt Mtn Pro with talley lightweights that had to be lapped, i’ve had some talleys that were kinda bad before but these were by far the worst. Once at the range it shot the factory 165 ablr’s in a vertical string but all about 1/4 inch apart, the 162 copper impacts were worse at about 2” moa but all the same elevation..all shots were at 100 yds. After that session I checked the bedding (all good there) and retorqued the action screws to 45 in lbs ( top screw was around 35 in lbs and the bottom was maybe 25 in lbs from the factory). next session the 165’s grouped at about 3/4” in a nice close to horizontal line and 162’s around 1 moa. Picked up a couple boxes of Choice ammo (150gr ab’s and 155 lrx) the 150’s all touch at 100 yds and 155’s are a consistent 1/2-3/4 moa. I don’t handload and I have always had great luck with Choice Ammo. Might be worth it to put a little more torque on your action screws. I also have a 6.5cm in a mtn pro and it shoots the best at 40 inch lbs..that is a 3 shots in 1 hole rifle with 130gr terminal ascents.

 

[HuskerHunterFisher]

Reviving this slightly older thread for anyone looking for more info on the 6.8.

To the OP, how did your rifle like the choice ammo?

I have one in a xbolt Mtn Pro with talley lightweights that had to be lapped, i’ve had some talleys that were kinda bad before but these were by far the worst. Once at the range it shot the factory 165 ablr’s in a vertical string but all about 1/4 inch apart, the 162 copper impacts were worse at about 2” moa but all the same elevation..all shots were at 100 yds. After that session I checked the bedding (all good there) and retorqued the action screws to 45 in lbs ( top screw was around 35 in lbs and the bottom was maybe 25 in lbs from the factory). next session the 165’s grouped at about 3/4” in a nice close to horizontal line and 162’s around 1 moa. Picked up a couple boxes of Choice ammo (150gr ab’s and 155 lrx) the 150’s all touch at 100 yds and 155’s are a consistent 1/2-3/4 moa. I don’t handload and I have always had great luck with Choice Ammo. Might be worth it to put a little more torque on your action screws. I also have a 6.5cm in a mtn pro and it shoots the best at 40 inch lbs..that is a 3 shots in 1 hole rifle with 130gr terminal ascents.

I ordered the 165 gr Accubond LR from Choice. The rifle likes them okay, my best groups are right at 1 MOA but typical groups are around 1.15-1.25 inches at 100 yards. It worked well enough for me to shoot two antelope a couple weeks ago in Wyoming, but I'm still going to off-load the set up after hunting season. Planning on building a 6.8 with a friend of mine who builds and shoots PRS matches.

 

[rpolar]

I don’t blame ya there..love the caliber and I think for the most part it’s very accurate. One other thing to note is the browning triggers aren’t that great..crisp but heavy. I installed mccarbo trigger springs and brought all 4 of my x bolts from 3.5-4lbs down to 2.5ish lbs and they all shoot better from it.

 

[HuskerHunterFisher]

I don’t blame ya there..love the caliber and I think for the most part it’s very accurate. One other thing to note is the browning triggers aren’t that great..crisp but heavy. I installed mccarbo trigger springs and brought all 4 of my x bolts from 3.5-4lbs down to 2.5ish lbs and they all shoot better from it.

I didn't know a guy could even replace just the springs...I did buy a timney trigger and put that it since the factory trigger wouldn't adjust lower than 3.75 pounds of pull. The trigger job helped as much as anything on it.
I also love the caliber and the short action. I'm not giving up on it, but definitely disappointed with all the time and effort spent trying to make a $1000 rifle shoot worth a damn.

 

[rpolar]

I’ve revived alot of rifles that “didn’t shoot” with either a new trigger or a lighter spring. I’ve done a lot of r&d on trigger pulls, rarely does a rifle with over a 3.5 lb trigger pull shoot great, under 2 lbs kinda scares me for a hunting rifle and 2.5-3 lbs is the ticket.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I'm not aware of any situation where trigger pull weight impacts mechanical accuracy of a rifle but certainly less pull weight helps shooters break triggers with less disruption of the POA.

I cheat it like everyone else and like a lighter pull weight. In an ideal world we'd become better rifleman and shoot 3-4# triggers just as well.

My solo xbolt rifle does have the aftermarket trigger spring to bring the pull weight down.

 

[rpolar]

I worded that post poorly and you’re right, the trigger has nothing to do with how the rifle shoots mechanically but in most cases people do shoot better with a lighter trigger.

 

[Mtnhunter1]

Question for you all that are shooting factory 6.8 Western ammo. Have any of you ran a chrono while shooting the factory ammo?

Just curious as I have been reloading for three different X-bolt rifles in 6.8 Western. I have zero experience with the available factory loads.

 

[coleslaw]

Does it have a muzzle break? I have an xbolt pro that would never shoot better than 2 MOA. Did everything I could think of... check screw torque, different scope, bunch of different factory and handload ammo combinations and always shot 2-3 MOA no matter what. One day I took the muzzle break off and was astonished to see it print a .5 moa group. Has shot .5 to 1 MOA ever since I took the break off.