I had the barrel and brake done at the same time. The old barrel had around a thousand rounds through it and velocity was falling off and accuracy starting to drop too. It still shot better than this one though. I ran my fired brass through my concentricity gauge. I get 2 thou to half a thou run out on the case neck after firing.
Is my brake ruining my groups?
- Thread starter Markus
- Start date
I had the barrel and brake done at the same time. The old barrel had around a thousand rounds through it and velocity was falling off and accuracy starting to drop too. It still shot better than this one though. I ran my fired brass through my concentricity gauge. I get 2 thou to half a thou run out on the case neck after firing.
Hmmmmmmmmmm???? It could just be that you have a barrel that just doesn't want to shoot well orrrrrrrrrrrrr???? Lots of causes for this. Hard to tell without actually putting eyeballs onto the unit.
Was the barrel purchased from the maker already profiled???? That isn't pointing any fingers but sometimes profiling the barrel can create accuracy issues for several reasons.
One thing you may want to try, put a pad made from solid cardboard between the barrel and the fore end. Then shoot for grouping. This sometimes will help and indicates harmonics or bedding issues. I suspect you've tried different loads?? Bullet lengths????
Was the barrel purchased from the maker already profiled???? That isn't pointing any fingers but sometimes profiling the barrel can create accuracy issues for several reasons.
One thing you may want to try, put a pad made from solid cardboard between the barrel and the fore end. Then shoot for grouping. This sometimes will help and indicates harmonics or bedding issues. I suspect you've tried different loads?? Bullet lengths????
Yep, a few weeks ago I built 2 epoxy pillars in the fore-end with no luck. I've used 180 grain nosler ballistic tips and accubond, 190 Berger VLD hunting, 200 Accubonds and ELD-x bullets, 180 grain Barnes ttsx, probably a few others I'm forgetting. I've used IMR 7828, Reloader 25 and Retumbo powders. I have pulled the scope and made sure everything was tight and lapped the rings. Still everything shoots 1.5" groups. I'll say this about it though..... It's consistent. I am in the process of rebedding it over the next few days. After that I think I will see if another Smith wants to take a look at it and see what they can figure out. At the rate I've been going I'll have the barrel wore out before I get it shooting well.
Backcountryal
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Zealand
Have you checked the twist rate of the barrel, maybe it is too slow to stabilise the projectiles you are using.
I've rebedded the rifle and made another trip to the range. I am pretty happy with the results. It'll put the first 3 shots pretty much touching with a couple of the loads I tried again but the 4th and 5th walk away from the first three. I am pretty sure that is a barrel heat issue. I'll either spread out my strings or just conceed it to 3 shot groups. It's not a target gun anyhow it's my elk rifle so I can definitely work with what I got out of it today.
Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions.
Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions.
For a hunting rifle decent three shot groups are all you need. If you need three shots or more, likely the animal is lost to you anyway.
BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
I know lots of guys that would have been thrilled by 1.5" groups out of their hunting rifles. Not saying it's right...just that it's so.
Glad you got it to tighten up.
Glad you got it to tighten up.
