I have an accurate rem 700 chambered in 17 remington. I tried 20 grain factory premium remington ammo and it is shooting 10 inch groups and key holing rounds side ways. What is going on? Has anyone else had this happen? Factory barrel. Any way i can cheaply rechamber this rifle to 204 ruger? What wld need to be done.
17 remington 700 is tumbling 20 grain rounds?
- Thread starter powerbaitron
- Start date
My experience, although limited, was the barrel crown. Check for dings, damage, goo, or any other bit that would interupt the flow of gasses as the bullet exits the rifling. This can 'kick' the bullet in the behind unevenly and cause it to tumble. Get your crown re-turned if you suspect this is the issue.
The second possibility, and probably the one you don't want to hear, is the rifling twist rate. Too high or low a twist rate for the bullet weight and the bullet speed can cause a bullet to destabilze and start to wobble, causing keyholes in the paper. Change your load, or bullet weight, or change your barrel. Hopefully it's just the crown or the recipe you are using.
Good luck!
The second possibility, and probably the one you don't want to hear, is the rifling twist rate. Too high or low a twist rate for the bullet weight and the bullet speed can cause a bullet to destabilze and start to wobble, causing keyholes in the paper. Change your load, or bullet weight, or change your barrel. Hopefully it's just the crown or the recipe you are using.
Good luck!
I gave the barrel a hardcore clean and had it patching clean. It was keyholing at 25 and 50 then not at 100. I am guessing it doesnt like the 20 gr. i ussually ahoot 25 gr flat tip berger they work fine. Have to load some and see. Hope it is an ammunition issue. What does a recrown cost? About 125? Maybe i will just put on a new factory barrel. My father gve me the rifle when i was a 12 year old otherwise i wld sell and move on.
My 17 Remington 700 started keyholing so I cleaned the bore spotless and it did it a bit less, turns out it the barrel was just worn out. It shot 25 and 20 grain bullets fine while the bore was good. Now it is a 17 Fireball, all trued and rebarreled by guntech.
What did that cost?
It was done a few years ago so I'm not sure. I bought a Shilen Select Match stainless steel barrel from Jerry at Mystic Precision which is $355 currently on his site. The barrel was installed by guntech (Sorensen Gunsmithing - Sorensen Precision Machining) his current price on his site is "Chambering, threading and fitting a round blank $250 - $275". Of couse shipping is not included on any of these services.
I gave it a wipeout treatment which was real blue also took it to a smith who said the first few inches of rifling are erroded. I think a recrown may fix it as i have seen ar15s with first eight inhes of rifking erroded with 20k rounds theu that still shot 2 moa.
I can't see how a recrown will fix keyholing as the crown on my 17 Remington was perfect when it was keyholing, if anything setting the barrel back past the erosion might help if it is possible depending on the contour of the barrel.
