I need some gun help(updated)

[Ryan T]

I've never had this problem before, but my gun is patterning low.  It is perfect left and right, but low by about 6 inches.  I've shot Mag Blends (which is what I've shot out of it for the last few years), Nitro 3" #7s, Nitro 3.5" #4,5,7s, Win Xtended Range 3.5" #4s.

I saw the problem coming last weekend, so I grabbed a wad of shells and prepared for a sore shoulder.  The gun is throwing a good pattern, it's just hitting lower than I want.  It will kill a turkey everytime at 40 yards, but it just ain't quite right.  

Any suggestions?  May need a good cleaning?  Could I have damaged it and not known it?  Here's a pattern of Nitro 3.5" #4,5,7s that I'd like to shoot because I had the best pattern out of them.  When aiming at this target, I was covering his head completely with the bead, which is not what I usually do.  I usually hold where I can see his beak still.  

What say the experts?

Oh yeah, the gun is a Winchester SX3 with a .665 Indian Creek Tube

[PA Boxcall]

Couple background questions:

Is this a sudden and new problem, shooting low?

Does it shoot low with its factory choke tube too?

When was the last time you had it apart?

What sights are on it?  Beads, fiber rifle sights, red dot, scope?

[Ryan T]

Couple background questions:

Is this a sudden and new problem, shooting low?

Does it shoot low with its factory choke tube too?

When was the last time you had it apart?

What sights are on it?  Beads, fiber rifle sights, red dot, scope?

yes, it's just come to my attention. It didn't shoot low last year.

Haven't shot it with a factory choke.

Had it apart today to run a bore snake through it.

Only a bead on the end.

[PA Boxcall]

Sometimes the barrel doesn't seat all the way when you put it back together, and if you don't screw the mag tube cap back on as tight as you had it before, that could change your point of impact.  I would start by taking the barrel off, reseating it, then shoot it again to see what you get.

Before that try some light field loads to see if it shares the low PoI, if so after putting it together again you can save your shoulder to see if the reseating worked.

[GR8CALLS]

Put a scope on it, or have the barrel bent to raise the POI.

Bill

[Zumer]

That's a headscratcher....

      Why the sudden change to a low POI...

       Did you polish the barrel recently by chance.....??

       Make sure your barrel is seated properly as mentioned & make sure your lock down nut is as tight as you can get it.......

       Check to make sure the choke hasn't backed out a couple threads as well..

        Talk to a local gunsmith for his take on the problem......

        Good luck.....

[Ryan T]

I have the extra shims that came with the gun.  Would that alter my POI?

[PA Boxcall]

I have the extra shims that came with the gun.  Would that alter my POI?

I wouldn't make a change like that until I figured out why, suddenly, the POI changed.

Did you reseat your barrel and tighten the mag tube cap?

[Ryan T]

I have the extra shims that came with the gun.  Would that alter my POI?

I wouldn't make a change like that until I figured out why, suddenly, the POI changed.

Did you reseat your barrel and tighten the mag tube cap?

Can't shoot until tomorrow... 

[Porter]

You didn't bend the barrel did you? 

I'd do like they said, but the gun back together and make sure everything is in all the way.  Also, make sure your choke is in all the way!

Are any of these shells you shot last year?  Nitro made some changes on some of the shells, so if new that could be it.. but you said all of them were shooting low, right?

[Ryan T]

You didn't bend the barrel did you? 

I'd do like they said, but the gun back together and make sure everything is in all the way.  Also, make sure your choke is in all the way!

Are any of these shells you shot last year?  Nitro made some changes on some of the shells, so if new that could be it.. but you said all of them were shooting low, right?

All shells were low. 

Everything was tight on the gun, I just broke it down again and cleaned the crap out of it!!!! Everything is tight on the gun. 

Planning on shooting some dove loads in it tomorrow with my normal chokes to determine if the POI is the same with those chokes.
Then if it is, I am going to put a recoil pad on the gun or put new shims in it to try and raise my pattern.  What do you guys think about
that?  I really don't want to shoot anything other than a bead on my gun. 

[Shadetree Callers]

Ryan , if it continues to shoot low , I suggest getting a set of Tru-Glo adjustable rifle sights . They are made from steel and they tighten onto your vent-rib . This will allow you to raise the poi and get your pattern centered without any major modifications to the gun . Let me tell ya , those sights line up alot better than a bead does and you can see them in low light and bright light situations . I've been using them on all my shotguns for many years and they work great !

[limbhanger87]

The first thing you need to do is shoot the gun in a lead sled and see if it trues up. Most of the time when we are anticipating the kick of those turkey loads we tend to hit low. If it shot fine last year I am willing to bet this is the case. If it still is shooting low then get  the tru glo gobble dot.

[Ryan T]

The Tru-Glo sights don't work on my gun because the rib isn't vented all the way back like most guns... 

[limbhanger87]

Well I just got a mueller quick shot for my mossy 835 and love it. If your gun is tapped for mounts then that would be a good route. But I would still shoot it from a lead sled. I bet that is all that it is.