I recently bought a .243 for my wife. Yes its a cheap Rossi. It has a 1:10 twist barrell. I put a new Nikon on it and went to the range today. I'm sure the scope mounts are secure (rechecked several times). I was looking for 2-3" groups since I have heard bad things about this gun. What I got was about a 9" (yes nine) group. The only thing I can figure is 100gr corelok is too heavy. I went through 2 boxes. But 100gr should be at the upper limit for this barrell shouldnt it? What to do. I'm going to try some 90gr or maybe even lighter but this is too far out there.

Note: it wasnt just me having a bad day I also brought my 22 hornet and burned up 50 rounds in it drawing smiley faces at 100yds.

I would try the scope on another rifle to make sure the scope isn't broke. I know you said it is brand new, but bad scopes make it out of the factory sometime.

Look up some reviews of the Rossi rifles. It might not be the scope either, but the rifle itself. I seem to remember more bad threads than good ones on the various sites, especially on the 243's. You might even find some tips to make it shoot better (which I know, that's what you're looking for).
I know a buddy bought one in 223 for his boy to shoot and we couldn't make it shot better than about 4" groups. We threw every handload at it we could find info on, swapped scopes, everything we could think of. The thing still wouldn't shoot right. Well, it'd shoot right, left, up, down, and evry which way.

Scopes can be bad from the factory, no denying that. But so can rifles. And Rossi seems to have more than their share of sub par rifles out there.


Jay

I haven't tried this with mine since I thought about but...
Try loosening that front swivel / forestock screw. Maybe it's pulled down too tight and warping the barrell.

There's another problem right there. I've never had a rifle shoot P.O.S. Core Lokts worth darn. If you're not a reloader, go buy some Hornady's. Or my second choice Federal.

I actually shot hornady's through it today after the two boxes of corelok. I only put about six of those down the tube before I got the "100gr too big" comment.

I will try backing off the barrell lug. I didnt think of that. As far as scopes I do have a Simmons 8 point in the cabinet that I know is true, if not the clearest thing.

The 100gr 243 bullet is not "too big" for a 10" inch twist. That has been the standard twist rate for M70's in 243 since it was introduced in 1955.

Thats what I was thinking about the 100gr. I knew it was on the heavy side but shouldnt be too much. I just read the reviews. I saw everything from guys with each hole touching the other to the extreme of 8" groups after trying several different weight bullets and several hundred rounds. Most said 2-3" groups at 100 is about normal.

See if the muzzle is crowned sufficently. A rough crown or no crown at all can cause all kinds of accuraccy problems.

I don't have any experience with Rossi's but maybe 2-3" is about right for an untuned rifle. There are so many factors that influence accuracy (barrel, beading, trigger, crown, scope, bases and rings, action allignment, shooting kill, etc). When one is not shooting right, it's hard to knwo where to start.

But, you know, depending upon what you are going to use it for, a 3" group may work fine. If you are sitting in a box blind hunting for deer coming to a feeder at 75 yards, a 3 inch group means your shots will be within 1.5" of where you aim. And that will kill a deer for sure.

not sure that is fair on the corelokts. i have shot both corelokts and the high dollar safari grade remington ammo out of my 30.06 and both were in the 1" range at 200 yds.

i have been shooting the cheapo corelokt in my new 25.06 and it seems to like them just fine. under an inch group at 100 yds

i always try them first to see if my gun likes them since they can be found so many places in a hurry.

but like any rounds, if your gun doesnt like them, shoot something else..

read it all. 9" groups

ugh..that's pretty bad!

I'm proud for you that Core Locks work well for you. My 30-30, .30-06 I had, .308 never shot a good group with em. They can be found in the hardware stores and holes in the wall though. I'll only buy more if I'm in a real jam.

Run the 85 gr tsx awesome bullet for deer.

my dad had the same problem for some reason he thoought he need one in 223... Finally got it to shoot 1.5 after box or two of the finishing ammo at Cabela's.. Think its called final finish or something like that.

Rifling was really rough, the finishing ammo really smoothed it out.

daughters rossi 243 shhots fine

Fed 85 BTHP (Sierra bullet)

Good accurate round in 243

Rossi 243 like the lighter bullets for some reason. Also can back off on the barrel lug but I didnt like doing that. Try bedding or bubba bedding and lighter loads. It will be MO (deer) but never better for some reason.

I killed a deer with mine but sold it because I never relly trusted it.

Like has already been mentioned, make sure the forend isn't binding the barrel. On an NEF single shot, you can put an o-ring on the screw stud that will help float the barrel. I've never looked at a Rossi, so the design might be different.

Also try resting the gun on the frame and not the forend when you're shooting to make sure you're not stressing the barrel.

SOUNDS LIKE A BAD OR LOSE SCOPE!

I COULD BE A BAD BARREL CROWN TO!

Hell yea check the scope...I have a Nikon buckmaster, had it on my ruger no.1 22-250, NEVER liked its performance!!! took it off that and put it on my new Rem.700 308, same...no grouping WHAT SO EVER!!! its comming off ASAP!!!

I used to shoot .243 and my experience with it is that it's about the pickiest round there is. I don't know of a round that is more rifle-specific.

You'll definitely want to try a different weight round. I was shooting with a guy who was hand loading .243 earlier this summer and we chatted while letting barrels cool off and on for a couple hours. He said that they both seemed to like higher pressure, fast burning powder best and that Remington factory ammo shot best out of them. I didn't ask him but I'm +1 on the dumping on core lokt comments. Remington makes some good ammo, that just isn't it.

If you decide it's the rifle and not the scope or ammo, look at the crown and inspect for nicks.

Make sure the butt piece of the stock is not wiggling around.

this is funny. My son has the Rossi 243 and his would not shoot the cheap Remington 80 grs worth a darn. I put in some Hornaday 100 gr BTSP and man it was a little tack driver.

I have now put six yes 6 boxes of shells through this gun including 80, 85, 90, and 100gr bullets. I also swapped scopes, inspected the crown, loosened the barrel lug, tightened the barrel lug, let it cool alot between shots, shot it till the barrell was hot as hell did everything I could think of. Best group came from game kings 80gr and ww super 100gr. 3.5 inches. JUNK!!! I've spent as much on ammo as the gun is worth.