Browing A-Bolt .22= POOR GROUP! Help!

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NB Rifles

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I bought this Browning A-Bolt Gold Medallion about 15 years ago, did a little plinking with it then shortly after stored it away.
Now years after I dig it out, put it on the bench with a 10x scope at 60 meters. I've tried several types of ammo, from cheap to
hi$$ match ammo. The best it will do with any of it is 2" groups........5 shot or 10 shot..2" groups. Now it came with a full flooting
barrel, 2" groups . I've tried putting a plastic shim under the front end of the barrel, same thing, 2" groups.
Anyone know how to improve the accuracy of this rifle? or is this as good as it gets?
Thanks
B.
 
I am hoping you can rectify the issues with your A-Bolt rimfire.
But....I have now seen/heard of a number of those early A-Bolts with accuracy issues. :(
You may be stuck with a poor performer, but my first line of addressing the accuracy would be to recrown.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
~ Make sure rings/mount/scope screws are tight.
~ Tighten action screws.
~ Use tiny aiming point on the target.
~ Use a solid rest.
~ Clean the barrel.
 
camster said:
How did it shoot before you tucked it away?

If it used to shoot well, and doesn't now scope/mounting is suspect. If you never saw a good group from it "secondary" measures may be in order.
Click to expand...

I don't remember that I checked it for bullet group back then, just some off hand plinking. FWIW am old and getting forgetful. I'll contact a gunsmith about it.
This isn't something I want anyone else at the range to witness.
Thanks
B.
 
According to some guys in Rimfirecentral, the A-Bolt seem to be a hit or miss when it comes to accuracy... But 2" at 60M, that's more like a pattern than a group!

Mine is not a benchrest gun by any stretch of the imagination, but it will keep them under 1" at 50Y most of the time... which is OK with me, since I seldom shoot off a bench, and most of my plinking is done off-hand between 15-30 yards.

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As for your particular problem gun, how's the crown? a small nick/burr/inconsistency would really open up your groups. If you're handy with hand tools, look up the procedure for crown lapping on rimfire central. It might be worth a try.

Also, are there any 'benchrest' shooters at your club that could give the rifle a try?
 
Pick your favorite ammunition and fire 100 rounds through the barrel to condition the barrel to this amo. Now take your amo and weigh each round and sort it by weight. You will begin to notice a bigger pile in the middle. We will call this the average pile. This is the pile that you will shoot your groups with. Any amo heavier or lighter than the average pile is amo you will use for conditioning and plinking. If you cant tighten up the groups by using this method, change amo and do it all again. Good luck, have fun, oh and NEVER CLEAN THE BARREL ONCE YOU FIND THE AMO IT LIKES. If you change your amo you must recondition the barrel with 100 or more rounds of the same amo.
 
Pick your favorite ammunition and fire 100 rounds through the barrel to condition the barrel to this amo. Now take your amo and weigh each round and sort it by weight. You will begin to notice a bigger pile in the middle. We will call this the average pile. This is the pile that you will shoot your groups with. Any amo heavier or lighter than the average pile is amo you will use for conditioning and plinking. If you cant tighten up the groups by using this method, change amo and do it all again. Good luck, have fun, oh and NEVER CLEAN THE BARREL ONCE YOU FIND THE AMO IT LIKES. If you change your amo you must recondition the barrel with 100 or more rounds of the same amo.
Click to expand...

I do find that it takes some shooting to stabilize groups after cleaning, or when changing ammunition, but never more than 10 to 20 rounds at most.
 
Perhaps the crosshairs in the scope are on the fritz?? Perhaps you might try a "known" scope to check it out......
 
Eagleye said:
I am hoping you can rectify the issues with your A-Bolt rimfire.
But....I have now seen/heard of a number of those early A-Bolts with accuracy issues. :(
You may be stuck with a poor performer, but my first line of addressing the accuracy would be to recrown.
Regards, Eagleye.
Click to expand...

Thanks to all that have replyed.
The muzzle has a .025"x.350" recess............I guess someone must have thought this was a proven process but don't seem
to be all that common. I've only had one other rifle with this design, a Ruger#1V. Cold weather has keep me from getting back to the range.
No issues with the scope, it's a proven optic. I've been treating this rifle like a centerfire with testing and cleaning, maybe I should
stick with one type of ammo for a box or so and see if it comes around any better in the accuracy department. Turns out I've had the gun 24 years
and not the 15 I had thought. How time flies. I have not spoke with a smith yet about recrowning the pipe.
 
As you are probably aware, the recess is to protect the crown. The only critical area is the actual end of the bore. If after recrowning the groups are no better you may want to inspect the bedding under the action and rebed if necessary. Do one change at a time and see which change makes the improvement.
I concur with the poster who commented that the A-Bolts are not stellar performers. Many of them do look pretty though !
 
NB Rifles said:
...on the bench with a 10x scope at 60 meters...best it will do ... is 2" groups........5 shot or 10 shot..2" groups.
Click to expand...

Is your scope a rimfire scope? If not, the parallax setting is likely 100m. 10x is a lot of magnification, and at 60m parallax error can potentially contribute to your 2" group size. If you are unsure, you can check for parallax error yourself.
 
TAP375 said:
Is your scope a rimfire scope? If not, the parallax setting is likely 100m. 10x is a lot of magnification, and at 60m parallax error can potentially contribute to your 2" group size. If you are unsure, you can check for parallax error yourself.
Click to expand...

That shouldn't make that big of a difference. I have 1 scope on a rimfire with adjustable objective and I don't see much difference in group size. With my scopes that have 100 yards parallax I can still shoot under .5" at 50 yards lots of the time a lot smaller. Last time I had the cz on paper it was around .4 at 50 yards for 5 shots.
If you are shooting in matches then I could see needing adjustments more then just recreational shooting.
 
The A-Bolt 22 Medalion that I bought new in 1986 was the most inaccurate but very pretty 22 I have ever owned, the only way I rectified the problem was to trade it in to LCS
 
mule said:
Perhaps the crosshairs in the scope are on the fritz?? Perhaps you might try a "known" scope to check it out......
Click to expand...

I treid another brand new scope today knowing darn well there was nothing wrong with the 10X weaver. Am going to glass bed the action and barrel next, if that
don't improve accuracy to my liking it's going for a one way ride to the gun shop! A guy at the range today had a single accient 29.00 Coey that would hold a far better pattern
that this shiney POS.
 
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