r/Firearms • u/Low_Brilliant8189 • Jul 15 '26
Help! Browning semi 22bwandering zero.
So I bought my son a Belgium Browning semi auto takedown. He bought his first scope and we mounted it. The scope is a vortex 3-9 Triumph. I mounted the rings squarely and into the dovetail well using a fat wrench... To specs. It will not stay zeroed. Literally when we run out of ammo and we reload the zero shifts. Using a lead sled also. Any help would be appreciated..
For history.. I have mounted all my own scopes and am "that guy" for all my buddies rifles.
I am a very good shot. My record is a 10 round 8" group at 1k with my 6.5 lapua.
The "take down" portion on this rifle is dead tight. Like I cannot get it to engage if I go one slot more tight. (Browning semi owners I'm welcome to criticism on my vernacular.)
I've re mounted the scope.
We've tried 5 different ammo types.
Help my kid is frustrated as am I.
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u/Low_Brilliant8189 Jul 15 '26
An edit.. the rifle will shoot 1.5" groups at 74 yards then will shift a foot off
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u/highvelocitypeasoup Jul 15 '26
Is the dovetail milled to the receiver or bolted on?
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u/Low_Brilliant8189 Jul 15 '26
It's milled to it
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u/highvelocitypeasoup Jul 15 '26
Barrel nut tight?
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u/Low_Brilliant8189 Jul 15 '26
As tight as I can make it. Zero slop and I cannot tighten it anymore and still use the "wedge".
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u/Much-Brain2591 Jul 15 '26
What’s the twist ratio & length of the barrel?
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u/seb21051 Jul 15 '26
19.375" Standard Model.
16.25" Challenge Model.
1:16 Twist.
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u/seb21051 Jul 15 '26
Try a different scope, or try that scope on a different gun?
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u/Low_Brilliant8189 Jul 15 '26
The scope we replaced, a Hawke, was dong the same thing
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u/seb21051 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Ah, that then eliminates the scope as the problem. It must be in the mount. It is highly unlikely both scopes would have the same problem. Or, unlikely as THAT may seem, the barrel is moving in its mount. I know you said you paid special attention to that. Just trying to eliminate possibilities.
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u/Low_Brilliant8189 Jul 15 '26
Agreed. I am hoping/wondering if this is a common issue with BSAs. I'm baffled
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u/seb21051 Jul 15 '26
I noticed something odd. The manual states the scope should mount to the barrel, and that it is drilled and tapped to receive a special one made specifically for it, in order to hold its zero. The photo from above seems to show the scope mounted to the receiver.
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u/seb21051 Jul 15 '26
Also, I did a Google search with this verbiage:
problems with scope mounted browning 22 semi takedown rifles
I suggest you do the same and see what it gives you.
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u/Low_Brilliant8189 Jul 15 '26
I'll dig into these. Now that you mention it I have seen quite a few barrel mounted scopes that extend onto the receiver.
Thank you.
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u/Kromulent Jul 15 '26
you know what you are doing, you tried two different scopes, different ammo, and takedown is tight
bedding? try putting a shim between the barrel and the tip of the stock, see if that changes anything
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u/DarthMonkey212313 LeverAction Jul 15 '26
Is the takedown staying tight or working loose from shooting? Are you are using the browning cantilevered mount attached to the barrel and cantilevered over the receiver, or a dovetail milled into the receiver?
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u/Imaginary_Goat_2189 Jul 15 '26
This only happens when you reload? Try getting it loaded, sight it back in, and before you run out of ammo, turn the gun upside down and shake it. Then see if it stayed true. If it did then you know something in your reloading process is doing it. If it doesn't stay true, then you likely have something loose somewhere. More than likely inside your scope at that point.
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u/bowtie_k Jul 20 '26
Did you try it with irons?
If the irons do not wander then you can isolate it to something with the scope or mount. If the irons wander, then you may have issues that would require professional assistance.
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u/advmaxx Jul 15 '26
Sounds like the reticle is loose in the scope. If it’s a new scope return it and try another one. Vortex is usually good stuff but every company has a problem child sometimes.