.22 Accuracy Questions

[six 4 sure]

I have a couple questions for you .22 Guru’s out there.

I have a Norinco EM322 bolt-action that I’d like to get a little more accuracy out of and was hoping some of you would have a few suggestions or comments. It’s a nice little rifle with three 5 round clips two of which fit in slots on the Monte Carlo stock. I’ve taken a Dremmel tool to the stock and relieved a “palm print?†so that it shoulders a little better and have also refinished the stock. I’ve also mounted an old Weaver 4X on it.

Right now it’s shooting about ¾†groups at 50 yards with its favorite ammo (Remington Yellow Jackets). I shot around 8-10 different kinds of ammo through it and it seems to like them the best. However, none of the ammo I shot was target/match ammo.

My questions are these. What else can I try to make this gun more accurate? I’m considering glass bedding it (more for practice than anything else), possibly recrowning the barrel, and trying some target/match ammo. Are there any other suggestions or am I expecting too much out of a $150 gun?

Six

 

[swingset]

With a 4x scope at 50 yards, you're probably not seeing it's true potential, and if you haven't thoroughly exhuasted the ammo choices through it, you'll NEVER know it's true capability. I have two highly accurized Ruger 77/22's that are both extremely accurate, but both have different "favorites", tho externally they are nearly identical.

I'd start by scoping with a higher power, working on the trigger if it's not down in the sub 3lbs range, and then running a good selection of ammo through it. There is always a good chance that the accuracy you're after is already there. I'd do this before bedding it. Sometimes monkeying around with a rifle can throw a perfectly good shooter to the wind.

Just for giggles, I'd buy some match extra Wolf .22 & some Rem/Eley Club Extra, and see what those do (There are plenty of other choices, but I find either of these to be extremely accurate rounds).

My .02

 

[Jagermeister]

You may find that using the ammo suggested by Swingest will probably enhance the groups along with the bedding. I have learned over the years that the High Power stuff just doesn't have the accute accuracy that the standard velocity does..

Most Olympic shooters use an ammunition close to the Standard Velocity as opposed to the High Veloxity and they also use the lead projectile.

JM

 

[Steve Smith]

Agree with Jagermeister.

FWIW, many HP shooters including myself have found that our (very expensive and accurate) trainer rifles really like Wolf Match Extra and Match Target. They're made by Lapua and are VERY accurate. You wil probably have to order it mail order. Exepect $18 per brick of the Match Target and $25-27 for Match Extra. Cheaper than Eley Club and in many guns much more accurate.

I can hold about 3/8" (5 shots) with it at 50 yards with open sights. I'm sure it will work well for your rifle.

 

[Jagermeister]

One must also realize that to make the gun and ammo compatible they must be married. The best way is by machine rest, and many and varied mfg'd ammo must be tested. Sometimes even the el-cheapo ammunition will shoot better, in a particular gun, than the higher priced stuff. Although tedious, if you want accuracy, it is worth the time money and effort.

Been there and done that.

JM

 

[Dave R]

Another crazy idea I heard somewhere on the Internet...

Some guy takes his digital scale and sorts his .22 ammo by weight. Swears it gives him tighter groups.

I can see the logic. Inexpensive .22 ammo may have variations in the powder charge. (I know some brands have SIGNIFICANT variation. Thunderbolt comes to mind...) Keeping the weights consistent may be keeping the powder charges consistent, giving tighter groups.

 

[larryw]

Ya' know Dave, I've been thinking about doing that as well. My concern was the variation in bullet and case weight may make it difficult to find the light charges (heavy bullet + light powder = normal weight?). I have lots of inconsistant ammo to play with; think I'll give it a try and report back.

 

[Soap]

I would try using better ammo. Weighing ammo works. When you pay for the "Match" stamp, you are hopefully paying them to do the weighing for you. The actual bullet weights of .22 rounds varies more than the powder charge IMHO.

If new ammo doesn't work, I would try doing a pressure bed somewhere along the barrel channel. If that doesn't work, I would glass bed it.

 

[Majic]

Weighing the cartridges do work. You weigh and sort each cartridge in a box or brick. This eliminates alot of the fliers. Some shooters even then true the bullets they indend to usee for the matches. There are tools for this available (Paco makes one that does a decent job).
Installing a match grade barrel with a match chamber wll make great improvements, but this sounds like a project for just improving the rifle as is.
Good stock to barreled action fit, a smooth consistant trigger, quality sights (be it open, aperature, or optics), and compatable ammo will wring the best out of most any rifle.

 

[larryw]

Majic, I've read about Paco's Acurizer and am planning on buying one; do you know of others that do a better job?

thanks,
LW

FYI: http://www.leverguns.com/store/acurizer.htm

 

[six 4 sure]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I'll start by trying some more ammo and see where things go from there.

Six

 

[Okiecruffler]

I just finished customizing my Glenfield mod 15 (well, nothing is truely ever finished) I didn't bed my barrel, just took some sandpaper to it and floated it. Lightened the trigger too much, had to order new parts, now it breaks at about 2 lbs. Took it to the range with some Wolf .22 and it was only shooting about 1.5 inches at 50yrds. Was going to give up, but I had some of my cheap CCI Blazer ammo with me. It shot nice just a hair over 1/2 inch groups with it. Sometime next week I'm going to buy a 50rd box of everything I can find.