VERY strange BSA problem.

I just realized it has iron sights too.

Pull off the scope bases and go shoot it with the irons. That’ll tell you right away if your issue is the bedding or something in the sight setup.
 
9.3mauser said:
If it's happening with 3 different scopes, then I would say it's more likely to be a bedding/barrel issue. Have you tried letting the barrel get dead cold between shots?
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I haven't,.... yet. Can't imagine a barrel warping enough to produce five inch spread at 25 yards. That's 20 minutes of angle!

However, did check the barrel for straigtness, and it reads very straight.

Thanks for the suggestion. It all helps.

Ted
 
kodiakjack said:
I just realized it has iron sights too.

Pull off the scope bases and go shoot it with the irons. That’ll tell you right away if your issue is the bedding or something in the sight setup.
Click to expand...

Did that, and was still the same. Since then, have discovered the rear sight leaf was sliding back and forth sideways. Not the base in the barrel dovetail, but the little adjustable aiming leaf. Another interesting quirk. Need to replace the sight, and try again.

Thanks kj,

Ted
 
Potashminer said:
Probably not real helpful, but I notice that barrel has a "boss" for the rear sight mount, like the pre-64 Winchesters. Does it have a stock screw up into that boss (again, like a pre-64 Winchester)? I have a number of those BSA conversions here, but all are or were 30-06, (none in .270), and the rear sights were installed with a simple dovetail into the barrel. These were former Model of 1917 Enfields, converted by BSA. As a 270, it should have serial number starting with "HA###x". Since there were no milsurp 270 barrels, I presume that BSA had to get them made somewhere.
It appears to have Weaver bases. From what I've read, the receiver was supposed to be ground for Parker Hale #3 and #4 bases (similar to the Win Model 70 contours). The rear base hole spacing from BSA was .605". So far as I can find, only a #36 in the Weaver line-up has that hole spacing. If that rear base is #36, it has a larger radius than the rear bridge was ground for, and apparently can "rock" under recoil, even though the screws are tight. Might be worth investigating.
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No screw in the boss, but that is a good checkup.


Bingo!

View attachment 268440

Can't believe I never caught this before.

Potashminer, for the win! Thank you.

Okay, going to remedy that, and see what happens. One step at a time, eh?

Ted
 
What a dunce, I am. Knew it had to be something simple.

Never even checked the front base, just took them both off the receiver. Decided to find out, once and for all, if it is the scope mounts that are the problem. There are no cracks or pieces missing in the bedding area of the stock.

Cleaned the receiver ring and bridge really well, put some Lubri Plate in the screw holes, and cleaned it all again. Sanded the underside of both bases, and then scratched them up really well with a small screwdriver blade. Mixed up some Permatex Cold Weld, which has over 3,000 PSI shear strength on steel. That should solve that problem.

Put it all back together with screws just snugged up finger tight.

View attachment 268503



If I want to remove the bases later, it softens at 300F.

View attachment 268504


It is now hard, and will be well-cured up by morning. Checked the screws, and they will still turn out. :)


Will also remove the magazine box, and give that a try after test firing with bases bonded to the receiver.

Interesting stuff,
Ted
 
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From your last picture that serial number looks like it starts with "H", not "HA". If so, it left BSA with a 30-06 barrel. I have 3 of the BSA M1917 conversions - they all have 5 digits after the "H", not 6, like yours (unless that is actually an "A" after the "H".

By the way - fingers crossed here that your "fix" worked - I am facing similar issue - to find find bases to properly fit and end up on plane! Can not find an A4 Parker Hale base anywhere!!
 
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I performed a similar fix on a couple of Enfields in the past including the one I had in 458 Win. What I did though was wax the receiver with Aerowax before setting the glue coated bases down on 'er. I also tightened the screws tight to hold the bases firm to the receiver whilst the glue cured. I then sliced off the excess glue from the bottom edges of the bases once the glue had hardened to the non sticky, putty stage. That way, it's ready to go the next day fer sight in & the bases can come off proper without the hassle of having to tink them off using a stiff dowel & a light hammer.

Helps a bunch when a future buyer comes along.;) After all, ye don't want yer work to be called "Fuddly".

Hope the fix works for ye Ted.

JJ
 
JJ, that's what I usually do, too, using a couple of coats of Johnsons's Paste Wax on the receiver. Purely bonded them this time, just for kicks.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Ted
 
Of course, that would be the definitive proof, but discovered the rear sight leaf was sliding back and forth sideways. Not the base in the barrel dovetail, but the little adjustable aiming leaf. So, the irons were not really dependable either.

Looks like we are closing in on either a bedding issue or a junk barrel. Will know for sure after tomorrow's test with the bases bonded to the receiver.

Thanks Suther,
Ted
 
Well, it's definitely not the scope mounts. This is at 25 yards again.

View attachment 268735

Either the barrel is toast, or the bedding is really messed up somehow.

Purposely been going down this road one step at a time, so bedding or barrel scrub next?

My thoughts are that the two group patterns are too distinct to be barrel condition, which usually result in shots all over the place.

Ted
 
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sherlockbonez said:
My 300 ruger was like that when i got it. Found it would shoot one, the barrel whip to the opposite side, and back to the first side after the 2nd shot. Ended up bedding the foreend and now does 3/4" group.
Click to expand...

sherlockbonez said:
I dont think its an upwards pressure issue. I think you need to bed the 2 sides of the foreend instead of the bottom.
Click to expand...

Looking that way.

kodiakjack said:
If it’s a barrel heating/metallurgy/unequal heating issue, then the bullet holes should walk along a line, then settle down into one spot after the first 2 or 3 shots, so I don’t think it’s that.

Op, could you post more pictures of the rifle and sight set up? Not that we could diagnose a bedding issue through a photo, but sometimes staring at something helps with the chin scratching. ;-)
Click to expand...

That has always been my experience. The barrel moves as it warms up, but eventually settles in one spot. 9.3 Mauser suggested allowing the barrel to cool down between shots. I haven't tried that yet, partly because the bullet prints are not walking, but in two distinct groups.



SHELL SHUCKER said:
... Hope the fix works for ye Ted.

JJ
Click to expand...

The first two shots looked like it might have. :rolleyes:

Ted
 
Is the top of the magazine box tight to the underside of the action? I know many Mauser 98's do not like that. Symptoms are like something moves for one shot, then moves back for next shot. Maybe the action screws tightening up, are actually the trigger guard tightening the Magazine box against the receiver, and the receiver not actually pulling down into its bedding? I think you had mentioned try it without the mag box?
 
I have one in 30-06. Shot fine first time out. All over the place next time. Turned out to be the rear base was wrong contour plus holes were not squared up properly. Open sights it is!
 
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