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Uh-oh. P17 won't group

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H

Hutch

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Dec 28, 2002
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Opelika, AL
I picked up a P17 Eddystone that looks pretty good externally, but the bore is pitted. I knew that when I bought it, but I hoped it might shoot acceptably well. Wrong-o. I've tried USGI M2 ball, and several handloads, all this after giving the barrel a complete scrubbing w/ several different products, including JB bore paste and Sweet's 7.62. No joy. Won't hold any better'n about 4-5 inches at 25 (!) yards. I've got no leads on repl barrels for it. I'm at a loss, and I'm not willing to double my "investment" in the gun to get a decent (~2-3 MOA) shooter. The only thing that occurs to me to do is to sell it to someone I don't like. Any other suggestions?
 
Hmmmm, make sure the sights are not loose or being bumped. My suggestion after that would be to recrown the barrel. If that don't work, you'd have to put a new barrel on it or enjoy as a wall-hanger. In all honesty, you can sell it advertised just the way you bought it... bad bore. There are many like myslef that would probably pick up the gun if for no other reason than to fill up a collection. I bought a P17 years ago whose bore was nearly completely coated in cosmoline and crud. When I cleaned it, I found a thoroughly pitted bore. Sold the gun to a guy even after I pointed out the condition of the bore.
 
I had a similar experience with either a P-17 or an 03A3-can't remember which. I got some metal stuff from a gunshow that looked like machining shavings, wrapped it around a bronze brush, and honked away at the barrel for a couple of days, The bore cleaned up, but it never shot FMJ very well. I wound up using cast lead gas checked handloads which worked much better.
 
There's a post on the Gunsmithing forum about this... not sure if this is a duplicate. The guys over there were saying that it might have a 311 bore. If so, you might be able to use bullets designed for the 7.62x54 or .303 Enfield and get better results. You should slug your barrel and find out.
 
Badger's got it. Many P17's have worn or oversized bores. Put an M2 projectile in the muzzle end and see if it swallows alot of it. Probably well past the .30 cal spec at this point.

My Eddystone will shoot .311 bullets, and it's really tightened up the groupings. Also, Hornady makes a 174 grn .303 bullet (FMJ with cannelure) that's actually .3105", which is a good happy medium.

Good luck. Don't give up on 'er yet. :D
 
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