Some must like it dirty.....

[cloverleaf]

Knew I would get some of you with that one! Shame on you :grin:

Anyway I need some advice. I am looking at half a dozen targets shot with different bullets and weights (although all use H4350) and I can confirm a frustrating pattern:

(I always pull a bore snake with the brush cut out through the bore of my rifle a few times when Im done shooting. I use "break free CLP" as a cleaner. I have teried running a dry patch through before the next shooting session but it seems to make no difference)

From a clean cold barrel as described above, my fist three to five shots fall on the target in a 3-4 inch pattern. They are usually high, some times 4-6 inches. Shots 5,6,7 will group into an inch or less depending on the load. Barrel is floated, action is bedded. This is embarassing. Just about the time my pride gets the better of me and I start talking about how accurate my rifle can be, I sit down at the bench and shoot a pattern. The rifle is usually ready to go once the laughter starts.

I dont know the origin of the barrel, how many rounds have been through it. I do know that after about 30 rounds it seems to benefit from a good cleaning with "wipe out". The process is the same, several rounds all over the place- then it sucks 'em right in again, for a while. Whats going on here? Will lapping help? Is the barrel worn out? Any ideas? CL

 

[6ppcar]

Sounds like a real good cleaning might be in order, break free is not going to get the copper fouling out. Try some Sweets 762 and JB bore paste. You may need to check the scope an mounts plus the the action guard screws.

 

[cloverleaf]

6ppcar
good point it may be a screw, although Ive checked them before shooting and had the same results. As to copper fouling, thats why I was using "wipe out" as part of my cleaning regime. It has a good reputation as a copper remover. Also I would think that if build-up of copper was a problem, accuracy would continue to deteriorate as I shot. It actually gets better. If I cant get through a half box of shells w/o having to stop and clean copper out then there must be somthing wrong w/ the barrel. Thanks for your thoughts CL

 

[Ol` Joe]

Some rifles simply need a fouler or two before they settle down and shoot. It sounds like yours is one of them.

 

[Guest]

I'd consider experimenting with a pressure point in the forearm, as it sounds like your barrel is whipping a lot until it heats up, then becoming more stable. Pull the action and see if there's somewhere the barrel is touching (or just try to move a couple of dollars down the channel once it starts shooting well). If it were me, I'd run by a model train/hobby store and pick up some styrene shim material (available in varying thicknesses, get a few so you can 'tune' the pad thickness), and put a pressure point under the front of the barrel. I'd probably start about 1" behind the tip of the forend, with the idea that I could move it as I shot to see where worked best. Check for proper thickness on the bench (and consider a dab of glue to hold the stacks together if using multiple pieces, but just a dab, don't want to attach the pad to the stock until you find the sweet spot) and maybe even make a few of different thicknesses. Take your gun to the range and try them out, moving them back in regular increments to see what happens to the groups. You'll have to cool the gun down between groups, though, so it doesn't just start shooting well on it's own (as it's doing now). Once you find the sweet spot, just epoxy the styrene shim in place, and use a little floor wax or clear shoe polish on the bottom of the barrel to keep it from bonding to the shim, and then just remount the action in the stock. I bet that fixes your problem.

 

[dakotaelkslayer]

After the gun settles down and starts grouping tight, put it away for a while without cleaning. Take 'er out again and check the groups.
My Ol' Handi-rifle doesn't go out in the field with less than two fouling shots through her. She's high and right until after the second shot; then she shoots great. My CZ, on the other hand, goes to the field with a pristine barrel...no change in POI from clean to dirty.

Jim