Does any one know of any barrel manufacture that makes a factory replacement drop in barrel for an Anschutz 1413/1411 match 54 rifle? Anschutz 1913 factory barrels are available from Nordic Marksman which I assume would be a direct replacement for mine although I emailed them to see if it was an exact fit but they did not respond. Has anyone ever changed one of these barrels over themselves? It is a pressed in barrel, not threaded. I have an older 1411 that was made in 1974, which I bought used about 30 years ago. While it is still quite accurate compared to many off the shelf rimfire rifles it is not exceptional compared to the best custom rimfire rifles. Any recommendations for a good rimfire gunsmith? Here in Manitoba good gunsmiths are few and far between. I hear Benchmark barrels are highly rated by the BR 50 shooters.
Anschutz 1411 match 54 barrel change
- Thread starter Hunter7
- Start date
Older model Anschutz barrels are indeed pressed and pinned and they are usually TIGHT. I had a match grade barrel fitted to a single extractor bolt 54 - Had the receiver threaded - All done by an experienced smith and it turned out well. Many 22LR Anschutz barrel replacements are slip fitted and glued with good results.
I also have a Weihrauch (pressed and pinned a la Anschutz) which is fitted with a match chambered 3 groove Benchmark - This receiver was also threaded and it is a great shooter - All work also done by a specialist rim fire smith.
This type of work costs big $ and only you can decide if the expense is justified.
I also have a Weihrauch (pressed and pinned a la Anschutz) which is fitted with a match chambered 3 groove Benchmark - This receiver was also threaded and it is a great shooter - All work also done by a specialist rim fire smith.
This type of work costs big $ and only you can decide if the expense is justified.
Anschutz pressed and pinned barrels are not usually changed as a DIY job. The 1913 replacement barrel at Nordic may well be suitable, but a skilled smith is highly recommended. Unfortunately there aren't enough gunsmiths in Canada who specialize in rimfire. I know of no other replacement barrels made specifically for use with the 54 round action (there is one for the square 2013 action and it's made by Lilja, but the 2013 model uses a clamping system for mounting the barrel). As Allan Harris suggests, any barrel blank should be turned and fitted by a specialist gunsmith and it's not inexpensive.
More generally, unless they've been abused, good quality .22LR barrels usually have a long life and don't easily loose their accuracy. Many Anschutz shooters report very good accuracy with the barrels original to Anschutz rifles from the early 1960s. The key to accuracy with any rimfire rifle is two main factors, and only one of them is the barrel (and chamber). The other is ammo. No custom barrel will cause inconsistently shooting ammo to become more consistent. If the ammo isn't good, the results won't be good, no matter the barrel.
The OP is probably aware of this, but for the general reader it's worth noting that the name on the box of ammo is not a guarantee of results on target. Match ammo is made in batches called lots, and not all lots of the same variety of ammo shoot with the same results. In other words, one lot of Lapua Center X may not shoot particularly well in a rifle, but another lot might shoot lights out. I've had Center X lots that struggle to produce consistent MOA results at 50 yards, and others that can produce results twice as good -- with the same rifle.
Before anyone concludes that a barrel that began its life as a high quality barrel has "lost" its accuracy, he should consider trying different lots of ammo. Of course, decisions such as this should be based on results from good quality ammo. Using ammo that is prone to having too frequent fliers, such as entry level match ammo like SK Standard Plus, can't give sufficiently reliable results to evaluate a barrel's role in producing accuracy. He should try a few different lots of at least mid-level match ammo such as Lapua Center X to evaluate whether the barrel needs to be replaced.
More generally, unless they've been abused, good quality .22LR barrels usually have a long life and don't easily loose their accuracy. Many Anschutz shooters report very good accuracy with the barrels original to Anschutz rifles from the early 1960s. The key to accuracy with any rimfire rifle is two main factors, and only one of them is the barrel (and chamber). The other is ammo. No custom barrel will cause inconsistently shooting ammo to become more consistent. If the ammo isn't good, the results won't be good, no matter the barrel.
The OP is probably aware of this, but for the general reader it's worth noting that the name on the box of ammo is not a guarantee of results on target. Match ammo is made in batches called lots, and not all lots of the same variety of ammo shoot with the same results. In other words, one lot of Lapua Center X may not shoot particularly well in a rifle, but another lot might shoot lights out. I've had Center X lots that struggle to produce consistent MOA results at 50 yards, and others that can produce results twice as good -- with the same rifle.
Before anyone concludes that a barrel that began its life as a high quality barrel has "lost" its accuracy, he should consider trying different lots of ammo. Of course, decisions such as this should be based on results from good quality ammo. Using ammo that is prone to having too frequent fliers, such as entry level match ammo like SK Standard Plus, can't give sufficiently reliable results to evaluate a barrel's role in producing accuracy. He should try a few different lots of at least mid-level match ammo such as Lapua Center X to evaluate whether the barrel needs to be replaced.
Border Barrels used to sell pre-fits which were intended to be bonded in place. Knock put the two retaining pins, drift out the barrel, clean and bond in the new barrel. Replace the pins for decorative purposes.
I have a Model 54 Supermatch that came to Canada along with a load of surplus from Bangladesh. It doesn't shoot badly, but the bore is noticeably rough in front of the chamber. I have a couple of NOS .22 target rifle barrels (non-Anschutz) and have considered rebarreling it.
I have a Model 54 Supermatch that came to Canada along with a load of surplus from Bangladesh. It doesn't shoot badly, but the bore is noticeably rough in front of the chamber. I have a couple of NOS .22 target rifle barrels (non-Anschutz) and have considered rebarreling it.
Any recommendations for a good rimfire gunsmith in Canada?
I know threading and re barreling is not going to be cheap but it would be a lot cheaper than buying a brand new Anschutz match rifle or a custom rifle costing 4 to 5 thousand $. If I have to pay some one to install a factory press in barrel then I might as well kick it up a notch or two and get a custom match barrel installed. The match 54 is a great action and the two stage match trigger I have on it is the best trigger of any other rifle I own including the Jewel trigger on my custom 7mm magnum.
As good as the factory Anschutz barrels are, as far as factory barrels go, I am told that they are not in the same league as the high end custom barrels. Recently I bought a borescope and was surprised to see how rough the Anschutz barrel was, no tool marks but tiny pits along the whole length, it looks like it was bead blasted. I have heard other people claim the same thing that for a match barrel Anschutz bores seem to be unusually rough.
I just thought I would like to re barrel it with the best barrel money could buy and see what it could do with good ammo. I guess the issue is finding a capable gunsmith in Canada that specializes in this type of work.
I know threading and re barreling is not going to be cheap but it would be a lot cheaper than buying a brand new Anschutz match rifle or a custom rifle costing 4 to 5 thousand $. If I have to pay some one to install a factory press in barrel then I might as well kick it up a notch or two and get a custom match barrel installed. The match 54 is a great action and the two stage match trigger I have on it is the best trigger of any other rifle I own including the Jewel trigger on my custom 7mm magnum.
As good as the factory Anschutz barrels are, as far as factory barrels go, I am told that they are not in the same league as the high end custom barrels. Recently I bought a borescope and was surprised to see how rough the Anschutz barrel was, no tool marks but tiny pits along the whole length, it looks like it was bead blasted. I have heard other people claim the same thing that for a match barrel Anschutz bores seem to be unusually rough.
I just thought I would like to re barrel it with the best barrel money could buy and see what it could do with good ammo. I guess the issue is finding a capable gunsmith in Canada that specializes in this type of work.
In the U.S. serious .22LR bench shooting has been much more popular over a long period of time than in Canada. Custom rimfire barrels as well as other custom accoutrements are easy to get south of the border and as a result rimfire specialists are in greater demand than in Canada. Gunsmiths specializing in rimfire don't appear to be easy to find here.
Barrels that aren't cleaned after every use often develop the conditions described. That doesn't necessarily mean that their accuracy is diminished. Borescopes give an incomplete picture and shouldn't be used to determine the accuracy potential of a bore. Many shooters report that what doesn't look good through the 'scope doesn't necessarily cause problems with accuracy.
What kind of results are you getting with the rifle? What are your expectations?
In any case, if you are satisfied that you've tried a variety of ammos, including different lots of at least mid-level match ammo and found that the barrel has lost accuracy, then you should re-barrel if the rifle is otherwise worth keeping. No doubt you are aware of this, but the general reader may wish to know that to make the most out of a new barrel it is recommended to pillar and glass bed the rifle.
Bench rest shooters who compete seriously, typically use custom receivers, stocks, and barrels. The name Anschutz -- or that of any other factory-produced rifle -- doesn't appear on the winner's lists often, if at all. Of course serious shooters and competitors in bench rest use barrel tuners as well, without which they could not be competitive. These shooters also lot test ammo extensively and frequently. Without the best ammo they wouldn't be competitive, even with the most expensive custom rigs.
Barrels that aren't cleaned after every use often develop the conditions described. That doesn't necessarily mean that their accuracy is diminished. Borescopes give an incomplete picture and shouldn't be used to determine the accuracy potential of a bore. Many shooters report that what doesn't look good through the 'scope doesn't necessarily cause problems with accuracy.
What kind of results are you getting with the rifle? What are your expectations?
In any case, if you are satisfied that you've tried a variety of ammos, including different lots of at least mid-level match ammo and found that the barrel has lost accuracy, then you should re-barrel if the rifle is otherwise worth keeping. No doubt you are aware of this, but the general reader may wish to know that to make the most out of a new barrel it is recommended to pillar and glass bed the rifle.
Bench rest shooters who compete seriously, typically use custom receivers, stocks, and barrels. The name Anschutz -- or that of any other factory-produced rifle -- doesn't appear on the winner's lists often, if at all. Of course serious shooters and competitors in bench rest use barrel tuners as well, without which they could not be competitive. These shooters also lot test ammo extensively and frequently. Without the best ammo they wouldn't be competitive, even with the most expensive custom rigs.
Re-barrelling a 22LR is a personal choice and I'm guilty of doing it many times - I am very fortunate in that I have access to a highly skilled rim fire gunsmith who is capable of doing any custom work "in house".
As previously stated, in order to get the most from a premium blank, you have to go "all in" with chamber, crown, barrel fitting to receiver, headspace, ignition, (usually) trigger work and bedding. I've done this with many production actions and only once did a completed project not shoot to my expectations - Even expensive hand lapped barrels are not all created equal!
Mind you, I have a couple of Savage Mark II's here which finished up costing more than an Anschutz 54 sporter - Yes, it's expensive!
The smith is the key and it would appear that your choices are limited in Canada. The rifle needs to be chambered & head-spaced for your ammo of choice & the reamer linked below is currently well regarded in the US for Lapua.
http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/22-cal-239-cal-chamber-reamer-nopix-/18369-22-nevius-chamber-reamer.html
As previously stated, in order to get the most from a premium blank, you have to go "all in" with chamber, crown, barrel fitting to receiver, headspace, ignition, (usually) trigger work and bedding. I've done this with many production actions and only once did a completed project not shoot to my expectations - Even expensive hand lapped barrels are not all created equal!
Mind you, I have a couple of Savage Mark II's here which finished up costing more than an Anschutz 54 sporter - Yes, it's expensive!
The smith is the key and it would appear that your choices are limited in Canada. The rifle needs to be chambered & head-spaced for your ammo of choice & the reamer linked below is currently well regarded in the US for Lapua.
http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/22-cal-239-cal-chamber-reamer-nopix-/18369-22-nevius-chamber-reamer.html
I had bought the rifle used, it was and still is in mint condition. It was 15 years old when I got it so I can’t speak about how often the previous owner cleaned it but I cleaned it regularly. It is glass bedded. I should give the bore a good polishing with JB paste and see if it looks any better through the bore scope and if it improves the accuracy. From what I gather a rifle like this should average about 1/4 inch groups at 50 yards with the right ammo under optimum conditions. Mine does closer to 1/2” at 50 yards, not terrible by any means but always thought it should be able to do a little better. It seemed to prefer RWS R-50. I should try a few more types of Lapua or some RWS R-100.
Before committing to the cost of re-barrelling, it would be a good idea to make sure the barrel as well as the chamber and leade area are cleaned, using a bronze brush. Since you have access to a borescope, make sure there is no carbon ring near the chamber. Often what appear in a borescope as rough spots or the tiny pits that you've described previously don't have a noticeable affect on accuracy. Many barrels have them. In short, what appear to be imperfections don't always condemn a barrel's accuracy. If you have pictures from the borescope examination perhaps you could post them so that readers can see the conditions you've described.
I speak from some experience with Anschutz rifles. Custom barrels are hand lapped, a time consuming process, and should be very smooth. Anschutz barrels are of high quality and get a lot of attention, but they aren't hand lapped. My two current Anschutz 14xx rifle bores are not in pristine condition and neither were all the others I've had. Some have had some signs of tool marks, and some show places were there are tiny pits. This usually occurs at 6 o'clock because that's where gravity causes a lot of fouling and abrasive primer material to settle. They still shoot as well as expected.
Groups averaging .25" at 50 yards are possible with an Anschutz 54 match 14xx rifle, but the key is having the best ammo available. It's not just the name on the box -- whether it's Center X, Midas +, or Tenex, or RWS 50. Not all lots of any variety of ammo will necessarily be the same, with the result that it can make the difference on the target. The importance of that can't be overstated.
For the general reader, a note on pits in the bore. Some "pitting" is worse than others.
For example, serious pitting looks like this.
(Photo taken from Steven Boelter's excellent piece on Rimfire Cleaning in pdf h t t p://www.ssvtexel.nl/index.cfm?act=files.download&ui=C5C9D865-2200-0A21-B5F5CF897974784F)
What I think of as "tiny pits" (though perhaps the term is not appropriate) is shown below, which occur at 6 o'clock in the bore. All images are from the same 1974 vintage bore that still delivers very good accuracy with good ammo.
The same bore with images taken elsewhere.
Some tooling marks are visible near the chamber.
Years ago I saw a video from one of the major barrel manufacturers in the USA. (J Krieger??? Sorry, memory fails me) He was talking about what makes a great barrel and at the end of the video he says he took a barrel from their "garbage" bin, one that did not make their grade for tolerance/finish. As it was a JUNK barrel he decided to have it fit up to a rifle just to see how bad it was. Much to his surprise he said the barrel performed wonderfully, exceeded his expectations. Just a thought on judging a barrel only from a visual.
Years back I bought a custom barrel from a well known Canadian maker. I was disappointed with the performance on a Target Rifle, the type used for Palma shooting, Prone, sling, glove etc...... I could rarely get 5/10 shot groups below 3/4 MOA, occasionally yes but mostly hovered around 3/4. That was with 155 Lapuas/Sierras etc. Then, one day I figured I'd just try some 185's to see how bad they grouped. If I remember correctly the first 5 shot group @ 200 was 1 MOA. and it consistently performed that well using 185's. This barrel simply didn't like any 155 but was wonderful with the heavier bullets.
Sorry for the rambling on, just sometimes a barrel doesn't like what its fed, it needs another diet.
Years back I bought a custom barrel from a well known Canadian maker. I was disappointed with the performance on a Target Rifle, the type used for Palma shooting, Prone, sling, glove etc...... I could rarely get 5/10 shot groups below 3/4 MOA, occasionally yes but mostly hovered around 3/4. That was with 155 Lapuas/Sierras etc. Then, one day I figured I'd just try some 185's to see how bad they grouped. If I remember correctly the first 5 shot group @ 200 was 1 MOA. and it consistently performed that well using 185's. This barrel simply didn't like any 155 but was wonderful with the heavier bullets.
Sorry for the rambling on, just sometimes a barrel doesn't like what its fed, it needs another diet.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
This might sound like a silly (and obvious) question but, how's the crown?
How does it shoot and what are your expectations?
What kind of game are you playing? Maybe a new stock, optic or rest would yield a bigger performance gain than a new barrel.
How does it shoot and what are your expectations?
What kind of game are you playing? Maybe a new stock, optic or rest would yield a bigger performance gain than a new barrel.
Thanks for all the replies. My bore certainly does not look as bad as the first image posted but not quite as nice as the other photos either. Although I don’t see a carbon ring in the chamber or excessive fouling I am still going to give the bore a good cleaning and follow up with a polishing with JB paste. Then try a few more types of ammo.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You could check it with a q-tip, for burr/nicks.
Depending on the damage (and if you're handy with tools)
- https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=901410
Depending on the damage (and if you're handy with tools)
- https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=901410
