I have a Anschutz 1903 MSR that I am not satisfied with it's accuracy , have tried several brands of hi end .22 ammo. Am wondering if a local machine shop would be able to install a new 1903 pre fit barrel that's available from Nordic. I've been told this rifle has a 64 Action. Has anyone had experience replacing a barrel on this type of Anschutz rifle?
Replacing a Anschutz .22 Barrel.
- Thread starter NB Rifles
- Start date
I might be inclined to have a capable gunsmith give the gun a once over, since there are other factors like a damaged crown/chamber that might not be obvious to the naked eye...and could definitely impact accuracy. Since it popped into my head I'll just add this anyway-my own experience with a 64 is that they are very ammo sensitive.
The the gun may be high mileage/10 owner thing=needing a new barrel, but 22LR barrels take a long time to wear out...and there aren't many production 22LR barrels made better than a 64's.
The the gun may be high mileage/10 owner thing=needing a new barrel, but 22LR barrels take a long time to wear out...and there aren't many production 22LR barrels made better than a 64's.
- Location
- Northeastern Ontario
The 64 action Anschutz barrels are pressed and pinned. Replacing a barrel on the 64 (and the pressed and pinned 54 action) is a job for a gunsmith who's done this kind of job.
A 1903 MSR is probably no older than ten or eleven years. If it has shot as much as a case of ammo per year it should still have life.
A frequent source of frustration for many .22LR shooters is when a rifle that's supposed to be good doesn't shoot well. The fact always remains that no rifle, whatever it's pedigree, will outshoot the ammo it's given. Ammo described as "high end" may not be especially good ammo as the name is never a guarantee of performance.
What ammos were tested? How much testing was done? Smaller testing samples with .22LR can be quite unreliable for drawing firm conclusions.
A 1903 MSR is probably no older than ten or eleven years. If it has shot as much as a case of ammo per year it should still have life.
A frequent source of frustration for many .22LR shooters is when a rifle that's supposed to be good doesn't shoot well. The fact always remains that no rifle, whatever it's pedigree, will outshoot the ammo it's given. Ammo described as "high end" may not be especially good ammo as the name is never a guarantee of performance.
What ammos were tested? How much testing was done? Smaller testing samples with .22LR can be quite unreliable for drawing firm conclusions.
Have you tried cleaning the thing? Like proper CLEANING it?
It is REALLY HARD to wear out a rimfire rifle. It is very easy to let it fill up with lead and carbon.
The cost of the barrel and the gunsmithing will definitely exceed the value of that rifle.
Thanks to all that have replied. FWIW it's a low round rifle and the barrel has been keep super clean after each range visit. My expectations might be a little to hi for the setup. It seems quite ammo sensitive and temperamental. I've been shooting centerfire rifles and handguns for 6 decades and only been taking .22 rimfire serious the last couple years. Am working on another project gun and barrel replacement though has been put to rest. A serious Anschutz shooting has offer to give it a thorough going over. Hi end ammo of Eley, SK, Lapua and RWS has been tried. I find dealing with even a small amount of wind in the rimfire world very frustrating. Again it's a 1903 MSR silhouette.
Doping wind is the essence of long range shooting. Doping wind with a 22 rimfire is probably the best way to learn how to do it.
If you have trouble with the wind, one might suggest the problem is not with the rifle.
Border Barrels in the UK made high grade "drop-in" replacement barrels for the M54 Anschutz. The original barrel was secured by pressing and pinning, with two tapered pins.
The installation instructions were interesting. Tap out the pins. Secure the stripped receiver in a padded vise, and drive out the old barrel. Clean everything thoroughly. Check the fit of the new barrel - should be push in. In lieu of notches for the pins, there was a groove around the shank. Install the barrel using a bonding agent, making sure the barrel is indexed properly, headspace correct, etc. Replace the pins for cosmetic reasons. They no longer secure the barrel, the bonding agent does.
The installation instructions were interesting. Tap out the pins. Secure the stripped receiver in a padded vise, and drive out the old barrel. Clean everything thoroughly. Check the fit of the new barrel - should be push in. In lieu of notches for the pins, there was a groove around the shank. Install the barrel using a bonding agent, making sure the barrel is indexed properly, headspace correct, etc. Replace the pins for cosmetic reasons. They no longer secure the barrel, the bonding agent does.
- Location
- Northeastern Ontario
You don't say if the Eley or RWS is indeed high end. Both make entry level ammos that may not always perform well. SK is an entry level ammo too, and in terms of performance all of them can be Jekyll and Hyde.
All .22LR match ammo performance can vary by lot. In other words some lots can be better or worse than others. A random lot of any Lapua may not shoot well in any rifle.
To better assess your rifle/ammo it's necessary to shoot a sufficient sample of ammo in calm conditions. Small samples can give wildly misleading results, especially with five round groups. At 50 yards shoot ten ten-shot groups to get a reliable idea of performance.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I have next to no experience at shooting "higher end" rimfire ammo, and I have never competed - however, an acquaintance does. He tells me that he fires 5 x 10 shot groups to evaluate a particular lot of ammo - records the average group size. Said he started that after "losing" a competition - came home and fired better groups than the "winner" had shot, using a different lot of ammo that he already had, but had not tested accurately enough - he thought he had taken his "best" to that competition, but that apparently was not the case in that instance. He also says he cleans to bare metal in the bore when changing brands - he believes the lube is different, one brand to another - less of an issue if you stay with same brand - he says.
The wind is my biggest enemy. Our 50M range is a U shaped range with three hi berms with a cover over the shooting pad. Flags can be blowing in several different directions at the same time. Seldom I get a calm visit but when I do my scores are quite a bit higher. I shoot mostly IBS 50 yard targets for practice and at our old folks events.
Eley. Team and Match.( Lapua. Center-X and LR). SK LRM and RWS Match. At the present time all I can get is Eley and I have found a difference in the 4 different lots that I have shot.
All this and you haven't said WHAT the accuracy down range is! We need distance, ammo brand, and 10 shot group size avg (5x10, first should be worse as the barrel is re-fouled with the new ammos lube/coating)
How good of a shooter are you? What setup are you using? Does your buddy shoot way better with the same setup?
How good of a shooter are you? What setup are you using? Does your buddy shoot way better with the same setup?
