CZ Re-barrel

[JEC]

Had KS Arms make/chamber/install a new barrel for a .22 cal 452 CZ American that I had not used in the gopher patch for a few years. I went with a slightly heavier contour which improves the off-hand balance. Got a couple of sessions of ammo testing done at 50 yds which looks encouraging.

 

[stuckon308]

Looks like it worked. Sure liked the SK Standard.

 

[grauhanen]

Can you give a ballpark figure on the cost of the labour and the barrel?

Your ammo packages are all "old stuff". As long as it shoots, its okay.

 

[Musky Hunter]

Looks like it worked. Sure liked the SK Standard.

Should try rifle match

 

[horseman2]

What the chamber reamer was used . . . hopefully something that equates to Match for some particular brand like Eley, RWS or Lapua.
What barrel was used?
My Remington 40XBR was chambered with an Eley Match Reamer and a Lilja barrel but testing of ammo is still required.
My CZ455 American will group five shots under one inch at 100 yards with Remington Eley Match but a lot of ammo has been funneled through it.
It has been pillar bedded, the firing pin reshaped and a YoDave trigger kit has the weight down to around one pound.
What was wrong with the factory barrel? Did a scoping show some serious faults?
The Federal Match appears to have been abandoned with the third group . . . it really is an oxymoron to call it "MATCH".
While the comment was made about your older ammo, it will still accomplish breaking it in and you are currently round 150 rounds. Better results should be seen after about 300 - 500.
Since you went to the expense of rebarreling are the results worth it. Further testing is required and will await your replies.

 

[Paul_T]

Looks like it worked. Sure liked the SK Standard.

Should try rifle match

Yep, then try some Lapua Center-X and run it out past 200 yards

 

[grauhanen]

Yep, then try some Lapua Center-X and run it out past 200 yards

What kind of results should be expected at 200 with that ammo?

 

[Paul_T]

What kind of results should be expected at 200 with that ammo?

I know guys shooting 300 yards+ are hitting a 12" gong 5 out of 5 with Center-X

I'll let you know what I can get at 200 when the it quits pouring rain here.



Ask Jerry @ Mystic as he has much first hand knowledge.

AFAIK you are more of a 22 shooter than I am so you know better ammo QC leads to better accuracy.

 

[slowfire]

grauhanen are you suggesting old ammo may not be as good as fresh ammo? Assuming it has been properly stored? I have a couple of cases ( 2 different lots ) of old Eley black box that I have been hoarding for special projects for years now. One lot is better than the other in most guns. May be I should just shoot it up and get some fresh stuff. Other than bulk ammo I have not bought any premium ammo in years.

 

[RabidM4U5]

If the bullet lube/wax has dried up, yes that will degrade performance. Fortunately, fresh lubricant will solve that dilemma, if only one has access to the proprietary blend

 

[grauhanen]

grauhanen are you suggesting old ammo may not be as good as fresh ammo? Assuming it has been properly stored? I have a couple of cases ( 2 different lots ) of old Eley black box that I have been hoarding for special projects for years now. One lot is better than the other in most guns. May be I should just shoot it up and get some fresh stuff. Other than bulk ammo I have not bought any premium ammo in years.

I was simply making an observation. I haven't seen some of those packages for a while. Older ammo may well be good, so long as it doesn't have dried out lube, as noted above.

 

[Desjard]

Can you give a ballpark figure on the cost of the labour and the barrel?.

Would like to know also

 

[JEC]

The reamer is a 52D, so has a bit tighter specs than standard. The barrel was contoured, drilled, rifled, chambered, installed by KS Arms in Edm. I am a “frequent flyer” at KSA so get a break on price ...but can tell you that the barrel/work would probably come in about $850? I suspect the cost of RimFire installs would vary some as some actions are threaded, others pinned / screwed / glued ...
The ammo I’m testing is probably about 6 years old and is in good shape. Pretty much through all the old stuff so will pick up some of the stuff that looks promising (when available). My plan is to come up with one compatible round for paper and one for gophers.
I purchased the 452 American in 2002 and used it in the gopher patch for several years before shelving it in favor of a VQ semi. The rifle shot well, reliably aging a pretty solid 1/2” @ 50M. A few years ago I bought another brick of its favorite (Winchester Power Point) and the new lot did not shoot as well so I just continued with the VQ. Nothing better to do this spring so I decided on a rebarrel.
I expect results will improve a bit as I haven’t shot this rifle for a few years so need to re-familiarize the hold. I also need to keep reminding myself that this is a sporter, not a “target” rifle.
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[grauhanen]

JEC, thanks for the information.

 

[JEC]

One more trip to the Range as I wanted to get some numbers on the Center-x and SK Standard. Will probably go with the Lapua for paper and SK for gophers. The SK would have looked better if I hadn’t buggered the center group but every hole counts so it is what it is what it is. Given this rig is not sporting a heavy contour barrel or better stock, I am pleased with the performance and have no doubt it will be great in the gopher patch. Kudos to KSA for again, producing a quality product.