Some rifles seem fine at first. They cycle, they feed, they don’t jam—and they’ll put that first shot exactly where you want it. But then you send another round downrange, and that group starts to fall apart fast. If you’ve ever benched a rifle that couldn’t keep zero or sprayed patterns instead of groups, you’re not alone. Plenty of rifles fall apart when it’s time to repeat precision. Whether it’s barrel harmonics, sloppy bedding, wandering zero, or a shaky action, here are some rifles that have a hard time shooting to the same place twice.
Remington 770
You won’t find many bolt guns more frustrating to shoot than the Remington 770. It’ll put one on target now and then, but you better not expect a group. The plastic stock flexes under pressure, and the bolt feels like it’s riding on gravel. Add in the pencil-thin barrel that heats up fast, and you’ve got a recipe for inconsistent follow-ups. It may look like a deal at first, but plenty of hunters regret it once they try to zero.
Century Arms C308
The C308 can shoot well enough for battle rifle work, but if you’re chasing repeatable accuracy, it’s not the rifle for it. Most shooters notice groups spreading wide after the second or third shot. Between the heavy trigger, inconsistent surplus barrels, and the slapdash fit of parts, you’ll burn more ammo trying to chase zero than holding it. It’s a good blaster, sure—but don’t ask it to repeat a cloverleaf group.
Ruger Mini-14 (older models)
Ask anyone who ran a Mini-14 back in the day—great handling, terrible groups. Before Ruger tightened up the barrels and changed the tooling, early Minis had a hard time keeping anything tighter than 4–5 MOA. Heat was the big problem. As the barrel warmed up, shots wandered left, right, and usually off paper. It’s fun to shoot and reliable enough for ranch work, but older models were never tack drivers.
Mossberg MVP Patrol
The MVP Patrol sounds like a good idea—AR mags in a bolt gun—but most owners found accuracy to be a mixed bag. Some shoot fine, others open up like a shotgun pattern past 100 yards. The lightweight barrel and rough triggers don’t help. And even with decent glass, the groups shift when the barrel heats or if you put any pressure on the forend. It’s more of a truck gun than a precision rifle.
Norinco SKS
SKS rifles have a decent reputation for reliability, but repeatable precision is not their thing. The Norinco models especially can scatter shots, especially when using different types of surplus ammo. Most of them were built for function, not accuracy, and the heavy triggers, loose tolerances, and poor sights make it tough to hold a group. Even scoped, you’ll be lucky to get consistent hits past 100 yards.
Marlin Model 336W (post-Remington takeover)
After Remington took over Marlin, the early 336W rifles took a dive in consistency. Accuracy was hit or miss, but mostly miss. Some rifles couldn’t hold zero due to misaligned barrels or sloppy scope mount holes. Combine that with rough triggers and quality control issues, and a lot of shooters had to relearn their zero every trip. It wasn’t until Ruger stepped in that things started improving again.
KelTec SU-16
The SU-16 is light, handy, and folds up nice—but it’s not known for putting follow-up shots in the same place. Between the polymer receiver flex and thin barrel, consistency is a real struggle. Most owners report wandering zero once the rifle heats up, even at moderate round counts. The sights and trigger don’t help either. It’s more of a backpack survival rifle than a reliable precision tool.
Remington Model 710
This one’s been out of production for a while, and that’s probably for the best. The Model 710 had a reputation for poor accuracy, with shots walking all over the target. Plastic parts in key areas like the bolt sleeve and stock made the whole platform unstable. Even with good ammo and a steady rest, repeatable shots were rare. It was a budget rifle that never quite delivered.
IO Inc AKM247
If you’ve ever shot an IO Inc AK, you know why it made this list. Even among AKs—which aren’t exactly sniper rifles—these had accuracy issues. Canted sights, poorly riveted trunnions, and inconsistent barrels meant you never knew where the next shot would land. Some were downright dangerous. Holding a group at 50 yards was a challenge, let alone 100. There’s a reason these faded from the market fast.
Thompson/Center Compass
The T/C Compass had good reviews early on, but real-world accuracy varied wildly. Some rifles grouped great, others scattered. The issue often came down to inconsistent barrels or torque-sensitive stocks. If you rested it differently from shot to shot, your point of impact could shift inches. Add a gritty trigger and cheap rings, and your groups could drift without warning. Some folks had luck, but many didn’t.
Rossi R92 (in .44 Mag especially)
Lever actions aren’t usually precision rifles, but the Rossi R92s in .44 Mag can be downright unpredictable. Between barrel whip and heavy factory triggers, they’re known for throwing rounds around. Some shoot decently, but others open up with every shot, especially with hot loads. The lack of a solid scope mounting option doesn’t help either. If you want accuracy, you’ll have to tune it—or look elsewhere.
DPMS Oracle
The Oracle is a bare-bones AR-15 that works fine for plinking, but consistent groups? Not so much. The barrel profile heats quickly, the triggers are rough, and the gas block is known to wander over time. Add in low-tier assembly quality and you’ve got a rifle that might shoot okay cold, but struggles to hold anything respectable once you start shooting strings. It’s not uncommon to chase zero between mags.
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Calibers That Shouldn’t Even Be On the Shelf Anymore
Rifles That Shouldn’t Be Trusted Past 100 Yards
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
