Remington 597 Won't Hold a Group

[Span24]

I have a Remington 597 I purchased some years ago and I have had nothing but problems with it since day one. It has never held anything resembling a tight grouping. I'm talking silver dollar sized groups at 25 yards. In contrast, my abilities and a Ruger 10/22 can easily do better than dime size at the same range. I'm on bags, looking down the scope at dead center of the target and see the bullet strike over an inch off. And the misses are very inconsistent, all over the clock.

I have tried all kinds of different ammunition (federal, remington, CCI, etc) with no change.

I sent the rifle in to Remington in 2009 and they sent it back with some BS about polishing something. After testing and becoming frustrated with them I put the rifle in the safe and left it until recently.

A friend suggested that I float the barrel. So I carefully sanded the synthetic stock with an emorycloth wrapped socket until it does not touch the barrel anywhere. Still no relief.

I took the scope off thinking maybe that was it but my eyesight won' let me use irons at that distance consistently. Can a scope cause this sort of problem?

Anyhow, Im looking to the experts here for guidance. I do not want to sell this POS to anyone currently living and don't just want to throw it away. I really like the look and feel of the rifle and have heard people brag about how well they shoot though obviously this is not my experience.

Thoughts?

Recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SpaldingPM]

Well for starters I would most definitely try another scope. The ones that come stock on the 597 are pretty crappy. Not horrrrrrrible, but not good by any means. Mine wouldn't hold zero after about a year, and thats saying something about a product if it cant take .22LR recoil.
You can pick up a scope from walmart for $40-$50 that might solve your issue.

If thats not it, then most likely you have a faulty barrel and the rifling is no good, but seeing as you sent it back to remington and they didn't say anything about that... I'm guessing its fine.

If a rifle isnt holding groups, then pick from the weakest links first..... def put another scope on there... borrow one from a friend if need be.

 

[chubbs]

Its all about the guide rods for reliability. I had a first generation that I couldn't get rid of fast enough, but I've given it a second chance by getting a new production one. It's been amazing for several thousand rounds. So they have either improved them or they are hit and miss.

 

[netsecurity]

Absolutely the scope can be the problem. That is what I would've suspected first.

Also, put a light in the barrel and look for leading.

 

[SpaldingPM]

Another thing... you said you sent it back to remington and they said it was basically fine.... well a scope isn't part of a rifle. Its an accessory. I highly doubt the even took a look at the optic. They probably figured you have already looked into that (no offense).

 

[foxmustang]

My 597 Has Been Very Accurate And Trouble Free, Save For The Volquartsen Extractor Is Put In 2 Years Ago. I Would Say You Either Need New Optics Or You Got Yourself A Lemon Of A Gun

 

[Span24]

Well for starters I would most definitely try another scope. The ones that come stock on the 597 are pretty crappy. Not horrrrrrrible, but not good by any means. Mine wouldn't hold zero after about a year, and thats saying something about a product if it cant take .22LR recoil.
You can pick up a scope from walmart for $40-$50 that might solve your issue.

If thats not it, then most likely you have a faulty barrel and the rifling is no good, but seeing as you sent it back to remington and they didn't say anything about that... I'm guessing its fine.

If a rifle isnt holding groups, then pick from the weakest links first..... def put another scope on there... borrow one from a friend if need be.

Thanks! I have another scope I can try (the one on my 10/22).

 

[Span24]

Another thing... you said you sent it back to remington and they said it was basically fine.... well a scope isn't part of a rifle. Its an accessory. I highly doubt the even took a look at the optic. They probably figured you have already looked into that (no offense).

I did not send the scope in with it.

 

[SpaldingPM]

Ohhhh ok. Well there ya go!
I bet ya that solves your problem!

 

[Span24]

Absolutely the scope can be the problem. That is what I would've suspected first.

Also, put a light in the barrel and look for leading.

I will do both! However, I have to say that it has had less than 500 rounds through it and I wouldn't expect leading with that few rounds of new ammunition. I am also very anal about keeping my firearms clean. They get a cleaning after every outing.

 

[Span24]

Ohhhh ok. Well there ya go!
I bet ya that solves your problem!

HAHA! Seems really odd to me that a scope can do that (change zero that much with each shot). It's not a particularly good scope (Center-Point) but it was new when I got it.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I was shooting 1/4" groups with mine using a red dot at 25 yards.

 

[sloughfoot]

I had a 597. And a couple of Nylon 66's. I couldn't make any of them shoot. I sold them and got a 10-22. Happiness everafterward.

Scoped or iron sighted, the damn things won't shoot no matter what ammo I tried.

My Remington Number 5 is a great shooter. But it is a bolt action and Czech or Bosnian or Rumanian or something. It really isn't a Remington.

 

[maxmayhem]

sell it in the classifieds with all the other broke down guns

 

[Zoub]

I bet your scope was previously used on your 10/22 before being mounted on your 597. 10/22's are scope killers and your scope has a busted reticle. Put it on your 10/22 and you will have the same problem chasing your zero around.

if not, your scope was broken from day one.

 

[ghitch75]

I bet your scope was previously used on your 10/22 before being mounted on your 597. 10/22's are scope killers and your scope has a busted reticle. Put it on your 10/22 and you will have the same problem chasing your zero around.

if not, your scope was broken from day one.

10/22 a scope killer?......

 

[KJQ6945]

I bought a 597 AAC SD just because it was threaded and I could put my can on it. I've had the same issues. I read a lot of other forums about the 597 and the general opinion seems to be to replace the hammer with the volquartsen(sp). The trigger on the 597 absolutely sucks. The aftermarket hammer is supposed to make it a respectable .22. The hammer is around $40 bucks, and I'm ordering one SOON.

 

[42769vette]

It could easily be scope, rings, or base's. With a centerpoint scope thats the first place I would look.

 

[1911ly]

10-22 a scope killer? Seriously? I have had everything from El-cheap to El-primo on my 10-22's and have never broke a scope.

 

[KJQ6945]

It could easily be scope, rings, or base's. Im not sure what your equipment is, but the free scope that comes on most rifles is worth just that.

Theres no such thing as FREE bacon..................or scopes!