I have a 6.5 Creedmoor Thompson Center compass Gen 2. It wouldn't shoot well until I put that little red piece of plastic that came with it up under the rifle barrel. If you take a dollar bill and slide it up under the barrel when you have it on the tripod you can tell if it is still free-floating. My experience with the Thompson Center Compass rifles is that they will not shoot well off of a tripod. The stock has to much flex in it to be shooting it off of a tripod. Remember, you are shooting a 338 wm. If you change the stock you won't have that problem. Watch Johnny Reload.
Would love to see a follow up on this. Most of us are assuming it’s the scope, but could possibly be the bipod/sand bag setup. Maybe swap the optic to a different rifle and show results on that. Swap in a new optic here and keep the bipod and sand bag. Then add in the lead sled. I have to believe that hard recoil might come into play, but the old video shows you can handle it and make tight groups.
Adam I think having a bipod on the rifle can make some difference. I like Federal Fusion in my 280, 6.5 x55 and got some in 308 haven't tried them yet but the fusion kicks butt! lol.
I ran into this problem when testing some hand loads that I knew were good loads. What ended up happening is the glass in my scope came loose and eventually cracked and the scope was ruined. My guess is that there is something not right with the scope. Just my thought!
Its maybe, because of switching from the lead sled to bi-pods. Especially if everything on the gun and scope is tight-ey up all good. Either if your shooting of a bag or lead sled, or bi-pods. Stick to using one, or take lots a practice shots using the other...
I have 3 rifles in .338wm and Hornady SST’s in 200 gr. shoot great and perform great on game. The Barnes 210 gr and Federal trophy copper in 225 gr pills aren’t bad either. The lighter bullets are fast and noticeably recoil less. And lets face it, still more energy than most .30 cal magnum rounds in 180 gr.
My best guess is difference in front stock pressure on the barrel. Possibly in the sled it was free floating, but on the bags there was more upward pressure on the stock causing contact. Cheaper rifles have flimsy stocks and it doesn't take much to flex them into the barrel. Can cause lots of impact shifting.
Lot of recoil for the stock on the Compass. May see what Boyd's has for it. Scope and rings should be fine. May try a brake on it. See if the free float is good. Take your pick, could be 1 or 10 things.
I have a Winchester Model 70 Winlite .338 Win. Mag also that did the same thing. It shot decent new but accuracy went south. I kept the barrel very clean. Two scopes qnd two mounts later , no change. I am going to rebed and free float the fiberglass MacMillan barrel. I'm suspecting the heavy recoil changed the bedding in my 8.25 lb. rifle. Crossing my fingers. Good luck.
Something that might help you find out what could be the problem is put it back in the sled and try that same sight in. Sometimes you can get used to the sled and without it the first few weeks especially with something that has such light weight and heavy recoil, of course it could be something else but this would be a very quick and inexpensive test that might help a lot or at least eliminate one the possible causes of such a dramatic shift in POI and MOA. It's definitely happened to me before going back and forth between the sleds and the bag or shoulder especially LoL, good luck buddy 👍🇺🇸!
My T/C Compass (300 Win Mag) did the exact same thing first time at the range. It shot great groups with the first ammo, then went all over the place with the second kind of ammo. I had squirted some spray CLP in it and it sprayed more than I intended. The rail screws had come loose from getting some oil on them. I got a full rail and used some blue loctite on the screws. I put an SD Tactical Titan brake on so I can put my Form 1 458 can on it. It's a lot better now.
My thoughts would be uneven forend pressure as some others mentioned below. The TC compass is a decent rifle but have a very cheap plastic stock. Use of bipod on plastic stocks will sometimes do really funny things due to stock flex when loading the bipod. Either upgrade the stock or simply take the bipod off and I’d bet you’ll be fine.
I had a .30-06 that I spent $100’s trying to get to group (less than 3-4 inches) with 5-6 different types of ammo, bullet weights, etc. It ended up being a Bushnell elite scope I had on it. I torque all my scopes per spec using a Fat Wrench. Same for action screws. New scope and the rifle was a tack driver. Old scope went in the trash.
Not tryna hate or anything Mr whoteewho but you looked like you were flinching and I can understand 338 is big and has a lot of recoil and can cause flinching which decreases accuracy
If using a bipod like you were . With that plastic stock if you move left to right or up and down the stock will flex against the barrel . I have had the same thing happen . I bet if you used the old vise again you can repeat the first results .
first time out it looks like 3 shots in single hole, BUT, third shot never showed any changes to the hole. either it was a perfect two shots in one hole, OR third shot was off the paper completely. so its POSSIBLE this rifle dont shoot.
I have the same rifle, from kygun. It was very accurate the last time I could afford to shoot it. I have it in 300 win mag as well. I hope and am sure you will get it shooting again.
as Andrew just stated, I would also love to see a follow up video with different scope and rings.....the sandbag and bi-pod shouldn't have made that much referents surely? 😎👍Aus
Scope, stock, ammo, rings, screw loose behind the trigger....LOL Lots of factors at play. No matter what its not going to be cheap to figure it out unless you get really lucky.
Something I might pass along that I was told by a buddy who has competed in championship matches (when telling him about my Howa 1500 in .308 shooting wider groups than my other bing bangs) is torque the trigger housing bolts to 50 in pounds on the front screw and 25 inch pounds on the rear screw. He said if the front screw isn't 50 in pounds your trigger housing can move and your groups will spread. I followed his advice and got 1/2 MOA groups
I’ve had luck getting 410 on midway USA, it doesn’t last long but it seems to come in semi regularly. Obviously not much for selection but at least I’ve got some rounds for it lol
I keep seeing people complain about not being able to find .410 but it has been on most all of the bigger name internet gun stores fairly regular. Like Jay mentioned it doesn’t last long so if you see it in stock you better not hesitate but even if you do they have been restocking pretty regular and quick. Not sure if you are aware of ammo seek website just type in what bullets you are looking for and it will show you what sites have it in stock.
Love the channel!!! Your comment about lack of accuracy with copper bullets. I have to say I have had terrible luck with copper Winchester or Sig Sauer copper. Terrible grouping. Tomorrow (Easter) I hope to go try my Norma White Tail 100gr that just showed up at my front door today. I will let you know how it goes. By the way, I’m shooting a Henry Long ranger 20” barrel 243.
I'm curious are you seeing any marks on the sides of your barrel? I really haven't shot with a bipod much but I wonder if your torquing the forearm from the recoil.
Don't you love that? Why did you change scope and rings in the first place if it shot so well before? It seems to be the scope can't take the recoil of the 338. With ammo as expensive as it is now and as hard to find as it is right now, I feel your pain buddy, I got a new 7mm rem mag I need to dial in as well. Here in Maine we are now just finally getting rid of the snow so that will be on my agenda list soon. Good luck with getting her dialed in.
I had exactly the same issue with a model 70 extreme weather winchester. After many rounds and many scope combinations as well as a bedding job it will still only group 2 shots touching. When the barrel heat up its every shot on a different continent.
I had an Extreme Weather in 30-06 that did the same thing. The 2nd shot would always go wide, 1st and 3rd shots would be touching, regardless of the ammo I tried. If I sent a 4th shot, it would be wide and next to the 2nd shot. After a lot of research, it seems that it was a very common issue with the rifle and most people cured it by getting a McMillan stock for it. Maybe there was a run of bad Bell and Carlson stocks where the bedding block was moving in the stock? I debated buying the McMillan stock for it and getting rid of the Bell and Carlson that came on it, but decided to just trade it back into the dealer I bought it from. I wasn't going to spend $600 to restock a $1500 rifle. Bought two special run Weatherby Vanguard rifles with a #3 barrel contour in .308 and 30-06, they both group multiple factory loads into less than 3/4" consistently for 4 shots.
I’ve never shot a .338 wm but I imagine since it’s such a big round with lots of boom 💥 powder maybe the rifle is dirty….. just saying cause u always admit u “NEVER CLEAN YOUR GUNS” maybe give the ol girl a good cleaning…. Maybe it’ll help…???
I bet a heavier rifle would help out. I've got a Remington 700 in 338WM that I've never fired. Its got a nice weight though! Hefty. The ammo has always been expensive! No excuses... gotta get this rig going someday!!
WTW, what you need is for me to send you some custom handloads for that bing-bang,,, that I get on average .631" groups @ 200yds, I sight all my rifles in @ 200yds to get as much maximum point blank range as possible.
I hope you get it sighted on the money Adam! Can't wait to see the video 😀😀. Also, I want to be one of the first to congratulate you on 400k subs!!🥳🥳🎉🎊🎊 I hope your old boss can see this!🤣🤣🤣🤣
Old Savage 110 3006 loves wichester super x 150 grain power core 95-5 copper hollow points. Just wish I could find them again. Gun loves them deer drop in their tracks. My local shop has had them on back order for at least 2 years now
Watching my buddy light off his m77 all weather light weight 338 win mag,the shock wave bounced the shirt on his back! Worse than 300 win mag I had by a feelable margin. Can't hit any thing after 3rd or 4th round, All ready for the shock wave again.Ouch!
I saw a video where someone was having the same trouble with a mossberg rifle, also in 338 win mag. I think they said the problem turned out to be the scope base screws weren't tightened down from the factory very well.
Hey bro, like you I reckon it's time to scrub that barrel! Copper fouling is what I think your problem is - especially since you've been shooting copper projectiles in it. In fact, I'd bet money on it. I've seen you shoot in enough video's to rule out the shooter! I really think scrubbing the barrel with a good copper solvent will solve your problem. Hope you get it sorted as the .338 is one of my very favourites as well! - Russ
A friend of mine, and one of the four best rifle shooters I have ever known (one of whom was a sniper during the Vietnam War), owns both a .300WSM and a .338 Win Mag. It took him about three days and over 100 rounds to find the ammo his .300WSM liked best and nearly double that before his .338 Win Mag decided it was happy. To be fair, both rifles were "tuned" by an Old School Master Gunsmith and the loads my friend uses, with amazing down range effect, are VERY CAREFULLY handloaded. Oddly enough, my friend has found (no surprise to this Old Goober), that out to around 150 yards, his Marlin 336 in .35 Remington launching the "traditional" 200grn JFNSP puts every bit of the smack down any hunter worth his or her salt would hope for on Southeastern whitetail deer or hogs one would hope for with a newer, whiz bang, cartridge. I taught him that!
Hold the forend of the stock . Its a light rifle with heavy recoil, therfore you get a vertical spread with the norma oryx. Haft to hold the rifle so it doesnt jump around and throw the bullets aroud. Compare the video when you put them in the same hole. Norma oryx is a very good bullet i use it in 9,3x62 and 308 Norma Magnum and 338 Federal.
WTW if you can find some Hornady SST 200 gr. they could be a good choice. I've been shooting in my Winchester model 70 for years. Or just try a liter bullet.
How fast was the wind? I thought I hear the wind blowing. In your first video when you are shooting, it's quiet. No wind. Also, temperature has a lot to do with it! I say it's the weather! GOOD LUCK 🤞!
The rifle and its accuracy are worth nothing without a quality scope. SWFA is a good compromise between price durability and quality. People freak out when they see my savages with a Nightforce or zeiss on it at the rifle range.
Bipods on hard surface not gd especially with the .338. When you were using sled, you were holding the forend. Bipod need pressure forward like from prone position. Hold the forend when using pods on hard surface or try it lying on ground where you can lean into it. There are tricks to using pods off the bench. Once you learn them, they can work extremely well. It's just my preference as do all my load work using them. No need to drag extra crap to the range for me. Sorry so long. Keep vids Rollin.
Could be the way you are sitting down on the rifle. The bipod may be flexing the forend enough to push on the barrel. Some rifles that have particularly flexible stocks have this problem.
Ok whoteewho 1: look up the specs for the torque on all screws on the rifle. Every single one. And check them. 2. Get a buddy inn the same shooting position behind your rifle like hes going to take a shot. Bipod bag everything.. take 3 sheets of printer paper. Stack them and wrap around the barrel in a belly shape " the U" of the paper on the bottom of the barrel. Finaggle it in a way that it goes between the stock. People do this to check for free float but they use a dollar bill.. i use three sheets of printer paper on heavy recoiling rifles. If it has that much clearance its good if it dont..replace the stock with one that does. 3: clean the rifle good , with good solvent. Check it with a borescope. 4: youbtube will show you how do a recticle track test on your scope.. do that if it passes #1&2 5. try a different scope that you know is good. And make sure the ct is rated for that level of recoil. 6 talk to mcmillan or another stock maker and inquire about a better stock and forend .. i say this even if the stock passes my float test because the stock on this rifle is flimsy. And will warp, swell, expand and contract greatly with changing humidity and temp. There isna variable thats changed since your last sight in.. you find it and youll find the problem.. even with crap ammo that rifle should do waaayyyy better than that...
I put it back in the lead sled and shoot a test group and see what it does....if it gets better don't shoot it off a bipod....if it don't help.... I'd call both Thompson center and crimson trace and see if there's any gun or scope issues.....I remember going thru 3 scopes when I first set up my smith and Wesson 500 magnum revolver because recoil destroyed them........another issue is that stock could have some how flexed I now no longer free float...had that issue on a few flimsy 22 lr stocks destroying groups
Just my thoughts! Those bipods will kill accuracy if you have a stock that has flex in it. I noticed on your first video you had more support under the front with your hand and vise. I would shoot off sandbags before any changes.
I think you should stay with the same ammo. On my 22.250 I always used the same ammo and relouded t he same powder and lead. i ALSO check every batch of reloud and never hand any trouble with anything I shot. One time I changed the amount of powder and had a wreck. Darrell Thanks for all the info.
Two things I would check try that scope on another rifle. One lens inside the optic may not seated correctly. Or with that type of synthetic stock/furniture the bipod can flex during the shot release. When you have rechecked everything and still nothing improves either, think outside of the box, you have missed something, or something is ten minutes pregnant? A polite alternative to fubar.
1st thing I would do is clean the barrel. You have said in the past you don't break in barrels or clean them regularly. That's the 1st thing I would do.
I bet you the issue is the rifle. Most likely the stock and bedding of the action. Also the Compass doesn't have a very good reputation. It's a budget rifle they cut corners in places to save money. Not a bad thing necessarily bad thing depending on what corners they cut.
I shouldn't have said it's obvious because I'm no expert and could be other stuff too. Didn't want to come off all knowing etc. That is definitely not the case. Just sharing an idea and what sounded like probably cause to me. Keep us posted on updates
Free float the barrel And bed contacts in the stock. Definitely need a brake too. Heating the barrel by shooting multiple rounds doesn't help either. Scope maybe a big issue too
You said you checked the ring cap screws and the screws that attach to the base. Did you check the base screws themselves? Had a similar issue with my son's Mossberg Patriot and it ended up being loose front scope base. I couldn't tell with the scope mounted, the rear base still held it tight enough that it didn't wiggle in my hand, but when I took the scope off, the front base rattled when I shook the rifle.
Happy 😄 to hear ur going to clean the gun I know u hate doing that but it will help. It could be the scope but more likely the rings. They look too flimsy to handle that recoil
Bipod is the problem for recoiled and your position is not behind your gun, rifle rest is not stable. Can you rewatch your video what is different between first signed group and 2nd signed group. It’s really different gun rest and different shooters positions
Back to the original scope and rings? I fix things that aren't broke all the time, and constantly have to clean the slate because I like to tinker. At present it happens to be guitars. Live and learn! And try it again, and again!
If you can find Hornady 225 gr interlocks, my friend's 338 loved it. I decided to install a muzzle break on my 375 Ruger in the Mossberg Patriot. Not overwhelming recoil but wanted to make sure that what happened to my son didn't happen again. He got into the scope and got laid open. Not something you want in the back of your mind when concentrations on making your best shot on a game animal.
Seems to me as if the barrel is fouled with copper. Friend of mine bought a brand new model 70 and the barrel copper fouled within the first couple boxes and the groups did the same thing. It’s a process to get it out but I bet that’s the problem.
Slide a dollar bill between barrel and stock check for clearance it’s shooting like the stock is touching the barrel probably gets worse when it heats up 👍👍
Why dont you just get a proper tripod front rest and a leather bag at the back? I can almost guarantee you that with the bipod the plastic stock of the compass is touching the barrel and that causes the inconsistent groups.
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