Help with my Contender

[Surfcitydude]

I just put together a Thompson Contender (old style) with a new, Thompson Arms 204 Ruger , 23" SS barrel with the standard 1:12 twist. Beautiful custom stock set from Highplains Gunstocks and Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44 scope. It is one of the best looking rifles in my arsenal. Now the problem. Taking it to an indoor, 100 yard range, I sighted in the scope in 3 shots, using factory, Hornady 40 gr. V-Max rounds. When I sent the target out to 100 yards, something is off. Groups are 4" at best. Right, then left then low, high, etc. brought the target to 50 yds. and could shoot 1" groups.

The next day I returned to the range with some hand loads, IMR8208XBR, using the recommended loads from the Hodgeon website. Loaded 3 different loads, 3 bullets of each. Same result, wide pattern at 100 yards. I checked scope mounts were tight, gun closes tight and true. Comments from shooting friends are it either the barrel, scope or the 40gr. bullets are too heavy. That being said, why does it shot good at 50 yards?

By the way, I built another Contender exactly like this one for a buddy first and it shoots perfect. Same caliber, same barrel, same factory ammo. Suggestions?

[Grendel]

Holes should be touching @ 100 & 50 yds. The rate of twist my not be fast enough to stabilize the 40gr prjectile. Does your buddy have the 1:12 twist? Try a 32gr and see what happens....

[Surfcitydude]

Grendel, as I said, my buddy's gun is exactly the same, 1:12 twist, 23". Only difference in our guns is mine is fancier looking.

[Grendel]

Wierd how that fancier stuff throws off the grouping......

[Rick in Oregon]

With both guns together, accurately measure the actual rate of twist in each. You may be surprised to learn that there's a slight difference in actual twist rate, and that difference if present, could make shooting the problamatic 40gr V-Max not stabilize properly.

As you're probably aware, the majority of 12-twist 204's do not shoot the 40gr V-Max well, but may shoot the 39gr SBK into bugholes....three of my 12-twist 204's do.

[gemihur]

204 Ruger in 23" SS contender w/custom furniture
She likes 32 gr. pills

[Rick in Oregon]

204 Ruger in 23" SS contender w/custom furniture
She likes 32 gr. pills

Nice Contender, but you do realize that this post is 8 years old, right?

Resurrecting old posts is called "Zombie Posts".......

[skipper]

gemihur, nice rifle Start a new thread.