[jon lynn]

Larryjk, here is what I did, or was done in reguard to your list. Please crituque and add to or take away:

Scope mounts were tightened and Lock-Tight applied when installed (Warne Maxima Weaver) style bases, but I did check them and they were still tight.

Action screws are tight as I dare for a Mauser, you know the lower assembly (trigger/magazine) with the guide screws.

Scope is a Burris Fullfield (older, not a "II") in Weaver Rings.

Please explain the 'settle in stock'

Now as for cleaning, I treat this as I do any new rifle, because what is the difference in a rifle purchased new, and a new barrel threaded on to an action? I myself, see no difference.

After every 3 round shot group, I clean the barrel using my Otis cable system, running the brush through five times with Break Free, then pull through the patches through until they come out clean.

I wait a minimum of 15 minutes between groups.

This rifle has had less than forty total rounds through it, and the groups are shrinking nicely. But when it starts off with a good grouping of three, then a spread in the next, after a cleaning, just makes me ........MAD!

How can the first three be so tight? What makes bullet number 4 through six be like teenagers (all over the place for no good reason)?