This sounds like superstition but I'll say it. In my experience there are times when a rifle comes along that just won't shoot accurately, no matter what. I've had it, and I bet others have too. Sitting here right now I can think of two examples.

One was an FN Deluxe bolt gun (commercial FN 98)chambered in 7x64. The rifle was in brand new condition, and I was tickled to death to get it. This was 30 years ago. I bought dies and gleefully started loading. Never could get it to shoot accurately to my standards.

Another one is more germane to this thread - a single shot rifle. This was nothing less than a DeHaas-Miller Single Shot. It was serial number 12 or 13, if I recall correctly. Also this was 25+ years ago. It was brand new condition and chambered for 6mm Remington. I was an avid varmint hunter in those days and was tickled pink to get that rifle. Long story short, it wouldn't shoot a lick. I tried every bullet weight, every bullet brand, everything imaginable. I talked to David Miller about it. I had a very skilled gunsmith check it. I did everything but pull my hair out. It almost made my hair turn straight!!! I couldn't make it work. Here we're talking about a hand-made custom rifle off the top shelf. Wouldn't shoot.

There can be goblins in these boomsticks.

Curl