1 in 16 Twist
- Thread starter Pioden222
- Start date
I didn't get the barrel shortened as I tried the bullet down the spout thing and it does not go in at all. The rifling is very prominent at the muzzle buts definitely not the best bore but not the worse I've seen by a long way.
The barrel touching the stock at two pressure points is very, very secure unfortunately.
Someone had tried to float the barrel in the past and made not to good a job of it.
I shot it with a floating barrel but the stock us so thin at the fore end it flexed and touched the barrel on every other shot and really was awful.
I think I will have to leave it at home on windier nights and let my mate shoot with his 223.
The barrel touching the stock at two pressure points is very, very secure unfortunately.
Someone had tried to float the barrel in the past and made not to good a job of it.
I shot it with a floating barrel but the stock us so thin at the fore end it flexed and touched the barrel on every other shot and really was awful.
I think I will have to leave it at home on windier nights and let my mate shoot with his 223.
Steff
Well-Known Member
Oh Dear, you need a new rifle unless you not only want to rebarrel but also want to restock it. Regardless of what you try, with a barrel touching the stock in a variable manner as you described it, it will never shoot satisfactorily.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Hmm, very suspect. The stock is my number1 suspect.
The action is bedded to the stock.
The fore end should not be flexing at all. Something is very wrong. I wish I could investigate it. Originally I think they had a single pressure point at the front of the fore end. Pressure points are OK but generally if you want tiny groups freeloading eliminates another potential variable.
If I remember correctly the action is flat where it sits in the stock. You could and I have done so in the past many times cut thick plastic to form shims that the fixing screws must also pass through. This lifts the action a little so the barrel is off the foreend. The low recoil of a 222 won't harm anything. It is a simple means to see if things improve and thus highlight the problem area.
It's now definitely touching full time on the pressure points so no variables thankfully.
If I can not get a 5 shot group under an inch it may well be time to start saving my pennies and buy a cz instead of an old bsa. I think I've got the old bsa's out of my system now but I would love a hunter in 22 hornet or 222. Maybe one day if I can a afford a rebarrel.
If I can not get a 5 shot group under an inch it may well be time to start saving my pennies and buy a cz instead of an old bsa. I think I've got the old bsa's out of my system now but I would love a hunter in 22 hornet or 222. Maybe one day if I can a afford a rebarrel.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Yes, I appreciate your point about the pressure points but they only work if they or rather the stock is applying a certain amount of pressure. The pressure has to stop vibration ( except for any free length of barrel), if it is not sufficient pressure the barrel harmonics or vibrations will not be consistent and open groups up.
Another test would be to add a clamp to the barrel and forend and note the effect.
If it was a 50 grain Varmint grenade you need a 1:10!
The OP’s issue almost certainly sounds like a stability issue.
Find a cheap Tikka in .222 and start again, you can find them easily at a good price.
Absolutely possible, the 53gn V max I tried produced a few round holes, a lot of oval ones and quite a few sideways ones, all because they were too long to stabilise.
52gn A max, 5 shots could be covered by a penny, 53gn Vmax, could probably have covered 5 shots with a dartboard.
OP,
You could have a look at this JBM - Calculations - Stability
If you put in bullet length, your twist and what velocity you think you can get with you reloads, it will give you an idea of whether the bullet will be stable.
The US Military have a minimum figure of 1.5
I ran it with Berger 52gn FB HP at 3000fps in a 1:16" and it gave a stability of 0.71, so way short of what would be stable.
You could have a look at this JBM - Calculations - Stability
If you put in bullet length, your twist and what velocity you think you can get with you reloads, it will give you an idea of whether the bullet will be stable.
The US Military have a minimum figure of 1.5
I ran it with Berger 52gn FB HP at 3000fps in a 1:16" and it gave a stability of 0.71, so way short of what would be stable.
1 in 16? This sounds like a clear stability issue and more so when you look at the target and can see that it does produce some sort of grouping with the 40 grainers. If something else was amiss, it would not shoot those either.
The stability calculator has 50grain Vmax as being properly unstable in a 1 in 16. I tried the old school flat based SPSX to see if it was better and it is still unstable and not quite in the marginally stable category. If it wont stabilise that, then it aint gonna do any 50 grainers I reckon.
To be honest, I have never heard of a 1 in 16 twist .222rem. Seems odd. I thought most were 1 in 14's. I have a 1 in 10 .222rem and it shoots a huge array of bullets well.
Chop the rifle in for a standard twist and it will shoot the 50 grainers that you covet for your windier conditions. You can normally find .222's for give away money. Sell yours honestly with the 40grainers as an example of what it does and you hopefully will not lose too much and will end up with a rifle fit for your needs.
The stability calculator has 50grain Vmax as being properly unstable in a 1 in 16. I tried the old school flat based SPSX to see if it was better and it is still unstable and not quite in the marginally stable category. If it wont stabilise that, then it aint gonna do any 50 grainers I reckon.
To be honest, I have never heard of a 1 in 16 twist .222rem. Seems odd. I thought most were 1 in 14's. I have a 1 in 10 .222rem and it shoots a huge array of bullets well.
Chop the rifle in for a standard twist and it will shoot the 50 grainers that you covet for your windier conditions. You can normally find .222's for give away money. Sell yours honestly with the 40grainers as an example of what it does and you hopefully will not lose too much and will end up with a rifle fit for your needs.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I think my rifle was a Friday afternoon special and someone in the bsa factory ran out of 1-14 .222 barrels so used a 1-16 Hornet barrel to make the last rifle before beer time.
I will put my tnt loads through the chronograph and then use the stability calculator that has been suggested. Thank
I have an funny idea that my majestic was a friday afternoon special and someone couldn't find a 1-14 .222 barrel so used one from the 1-16 Hornet box to get finished before beer time.
I will put a 50gr tnt load through the chronograph and then use the stability calculator that Lancaster has suggested and see the terrible results.
Thanks for that Lancaster and everyone elses suggestions and help.
If I can achieve a good/accurate 40gr load then I will probably keep the light, annoying rifle as where I shoot its not long range at all. It is bloody windy though. So if it shoots I will probably put in for a like for like variation when I can afford it and turn my other heavy 222 into a lightweight 223.
I've always fancied a 220 Swift but one would really not be needed for the shooting I do. Lots of powder to keep it fed as well.
I reckon that you could probably run a 45gn bullet to 3300+fps in a Deuce that would cope with most windy conditions at reasonable range without a problem.
Buy a anemometer and you may be surprised that it isn't always as windy as you think.
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