I think those of yall asking about the scope were correct. I got out to the range this morning. 1st shot 2.5 inches high on the lead sled. Next shots start grouping at the right elevation as before. Went through a box of ammo before another guy that being helpful suggested the scope mounts. "Nah, can't be that" But I thought I might as well try. I did have a couple of hex screws on the rings move a lot more than they should have when tightening. Same with my side screws on the rail. It wasn't loose enough to be obvious, but looser than what they should have been.

I did a lot of experimenting with letting the barrel cool. Waited 30 min with a cool rag on the barrel at one point. Once the screws tightened up I got 1 inch groups at 100. Things became much more consistent. I didn't have enough time to let the barrel cool more than 10 minutes again. I just ran about another 15 rounds to see where things get hot enough to make a difference. Seems like after about 5 shots in a row I start to get some drift mostly about an inch and a half to the right, but that doesn't concern me too much. The good news is every shot that came out of that gun before and after tightening the scope were kill shots at 100.

Here's a kicker. The guy helping me had a sweet 300 Win Mag and excellent grouping. He said he never ever cleans the barrel. He wants as much fouling as possible for accuracy. What say you guys on that hot opinion?

I only shoot stainless guns so after that sighting treatment I give it, the bore gets cleaned (blown out 😂🤣) with every kill shot. I clean the bore maybe once every 2 years, the rifle maybe 6 years.

A blued gun looks 100 years old with me in about one season.

I pay no attention to torque specs on mounts and optics, its crank the piss out of it for me.

Fouling is just carbon and lead on your lands. It builds up slow on most rifles. It also can fill in imperfections in the rifling(takes the slop out of your barrel).

Fouling ain’t just carbon, would be lead or copper too. I find it builds up faster depending on caliber.

Depends on several factors. A rough barrel that has not been lapped will foul quickly. Some bullets like Barnes bullets copper foul heavier and faster.

Took mine outa the safe, one shot, 1” high at 100, go hunting.
Every year.
I’ve never even considered cold bore, etc.
I have a 1996 Abolt and Leupold scope on it that I haven’t touched since 1996.
Scope is a little cloudy now, but accurate.

So this morning (with the scope screws all tight) my POI on a truly cold bore was at the right elevation
First shot grouped about half an inch to the right of the others at 100 yards. Nice tight groups. First shot could have been the wind or the shooter. Either way, I'll take it. Good lesson learned, tighten down those scopes after pulling it put of the safe. Thanks for all the help Aldeer

Yep, several factors. I don’t lap barrels I just do my first cleanings with a tornado brush and a drill

I use blue loc-tite on my scope mounts and rings screws.