What Would Cause This????

[nerfsrule2]

I took 2 pistols out for some practice. An 8 3/8 model 17-6 and a model 41. Ran about 175 rounds through each of "Winchester Target" 40g copper coat. (with good accuracy). Sometime shortly after that the Winchesters started to stray off course.. I then switched to "CCI" 40g standard velocity lead round nose and the accuracy came right back.... :confused:Why????:confused:

[wep45]

maybe somebody passed gas:uhoh:

[Sunray]

"...the Winchesters started to stray off course..." Out of both? If so, Winchester's QC was off when that box of ammo was loaded. It's not entirely unusual given the amount of .22 ammo loaded every day.
Any problems with the 41 not feeding or cycling? It's a fabulous pistol, but they're very particular about what ammo they'll both shoot well and cycle the action. They won't shoot and cycle with all .22 ammo. You have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your 41 will shoot well(you should do the same thing for your 17-6) and cycle the action. And no two 41's will do it with the same ammo. The price of said ammo means nothing. High velocity ammo won't hurt a 41 either. Lots of U.S. squirrel hunters use 41's, where it's legal.
My 41 shoots Remington Target and IVI Standard Velocity(Canadian made that I don't think is available Stateside.) and nothing else. I have lots of part boxes of .22 ammo.

[nerfsrule2]

Yes, I lost the accuracy out of both guns @ about the 175 round count.. CCI standard velocity is what S&W tests the model 41 with before it gets shipped out.. There were about 6 FTF with the Winchester ammo in the Model 41 over those 175 rounds... OH BTW anybody want some Thunderbolt .22 ammo?/ I do not want to start a collection of .22 ammo that my guns do not like.. I have about 600 rounds...

[Z71]

Huh? Thats odd. Almost sounds like the guns leaded up, or got heavily fouled otherwise.

Shouldn't lead up with copper coated bullets though.

When I was a kid, my dad had a worn out Remington Model 12A pump .22 rifle. The rifling was visably worn on this particular gun. The old rifle would shoot great for 100 shots or so, then lose accuracy for some reason. My dad would pull a bullet out of a .22 cartridge. Start the bullet in the muzzle, then push it through the bore with a cleaning rod. The accuracy would miraculously come back!?

I never did really figure out why that worked for sure, my guess being theat the gun was leaded up, and the bullet pushed the lead out. But I don't know that for sure. Just some trick my dad learned as a poor kid in the 1930's shooting worn out guns I guess?

[Jim Keenan]

FWIW, some folks swear by filing the bullet of a .22 round flat, so it is a cylinder with sharp edges - they claim it cleans out fouling.

As to the sudden loss of accuracy, some Winchester ammo has been known to give erratic performance. But may I, with the utmost courtesy, suggest another possibility.

After firing 350 rounds, even of .22, my accuracy would certainly decline, due solely, I am sure, to problems with the ammo or the guns. After a break to analyze the problem and closely check everything out, the accuracy of my guns and ammo would be somehow miraculously restored. (Could I just get tired, washed out or washed up? Of course, not!)

Jim

[fireman 9731]

I have kinda noticed that before with a few of my 22 rifles... always just thought that it might be the chamber and bore heating up and expanding, leading to less accuracy....

[nerfsrule2]

More facts to help get to the Bottom.. the rounds (175 in each pistol) were shot in about 1 1/2 hour period.. the air temp was about 25 degrees..I also shot a S&W 586 with an 8 3/8 inch barrel and was able to put two six shot groups inside a fifty cent piece at 15 feet....late in the session ...there was no real time delay between shooting the Winchesters and the CCI, the only reason for the change was when I noticed the Accuracy drop..:banghead:.FYI Thanks, Dave

[rcmodel]

Your arm got tired shooting Winchester ammo.

Then it got a little rest when you went back to the car to get the CCI stuff out! :D

rcmodel