Poor accuracy with BSA .222 - Ideas ??

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JASQOR

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I have a BSA (British Small Arms) in .222 cal but 100 yd. groups are in the 10" to 12" range rather than 1" to 2". I have exchanged scopes but am having same results. Put lock-tight on all screws, scope seems solid.
Any ideas?
Do certain bullets perform better than others ? Have used Winchester factory 45 gr. as far as I recall. I would appreciate any tips. Thanks
 
First check under the bedding to make sure there is no oil. While this may cause groups to be bigger, it won't make your groups 10"-12". If you have taken the action out of the stock since the last time you fired it, make sure you have put the bedding screws in the proper hole. Some are longer then others :oops:
For checking to make sure the bedding screws are not bottomed out colour the end of the threaded end of the screw with a marker, and tighten it up. Take the screws back out and make sure the marker has not rubbed off. If it has you will have to shorted the screw by a thread. Torque down to 40-60 INCH pounds if possible.

Next guess would be to try different ammo.
 
As Woodchopper says, how heavy are the bullets. It actually sounds like they may be to heavy (long) for the rifles twist rate and won't maintain stability, or as above to light and over rotating and separating or again not maintaining stablity. It could also be a damaged crown. :D bearhunter
 
Thank you (all) for your helpful replies. I have been using Winchester 45 gr. and some 40 gr. loads from a buddy. Will now buy heavy Winchester Supreme and / or Federal Match and see if the group tightens up.

The BSA is a bolt action, not a "martini single shot". Thank you for asking.
 
JASQOR said:
I have a BSA (British Small Arms) in .222 cal but 100 yd. groups are in the 10" to 12" range rather than 1" to 2"........ I would appreciate any tips. Thanks
Click to expand...

I had a BSA Hunter with what looked like a miniature mauser action it was very accurate. It had one piece rings that clamped directly to the dovetailed reciever witout any bases required. Very sweet rifle and very well made.
bigbull
 
JASQOR said:
I would appreciate any tips. Thanks
Click to expand...

A couple of things to check:
Have you checked your action screws?
Have you checked your stock to see if it is putting alot oe pressure on the barrel, or any pressure at all?
Is your barrel crown in good condition?
Is your bore in good condition?
Give us some feedback.
bigbull
 
Really clean the rifle and make sure you strip all the copper out of the bore,. As the rifle is going on to 60 years old I would not be surprized to find a huge build-up of fouling which will sour your accuracy.
 
bigbull, Thank you very much for your tips.

I am not sure what "action screws" are ? I have never removed the action from the stock. Bought it used and someone had refinished the stock to a very nice satin finish. Is it easy to remove the action ??

I can slip a piece of dental floss between the barrel and stock but not thicker fishing line.

The crown looks unmarked - even using a magnifying glass.
The bore looks good usint a light. I did clean it very well last week.

I plan to test fire again October 10th using 50 gr. bullets and will report my findings.
 
JASQOR said:
bigbull, Thank you very much for your tips.

I am not sure what "action screws" are ? I have never removed the action from the stock. Bought it used and someone had refinished the stock to a very nice satin finish. Is it easy to remove the action ??

If memory serves me there are at least two action screws on this gun, tang and reciever, I can't remember if there was a third screw that was accesible from the top just behind the rear bridge, you can easily see it when the bolt is removed.

I can slip a piece of dental floss between the barrel and stock but not thicker fishing line.

These barrels were not freefloated and that may or may not be your problem, you will have to exhaust your other options before dealing with the barrel floating. Your accuracy is just too bad for barrel contact issues at this point. First assure yourself that the optics and the mounts are solid reliable performers and that your action screws are tight, if the scope is new try a scope that you know works well in other rifles, I would go to the barrel next and see if you can see any defects in the bore like dark areas or ring marks, anything out of the ordinary.


I plan to test fire again October 10th using 50 gr. bullets and will report my findings.
Click to expand...
 
Is your barrel crown in good condition?
Click to expand...

The crown looks unmarked - even using a magnifying glass.
Click to expand...

Take a q-tip and run in around the junction of the crown and bore. Tiny dings that are hard to see even with a magnifying glass will pull strands off the q-tip.
 
Thank you again "Bigbull" - I will check all screws and clean the barrel again before my test Oct. 10th. Everything looked good inside the barrel last week after cleaning but will give it another.

Great advice Joe - the Q-Tip ran around very well, no pulls or catches. That's a good idea for checking any crown, thank you.

I will advise.
 
I removed the action from the stock, cleaned under and around action and reinstalled (two bedding screws). Not sure if I am seeing things or if all is normal but inside the bore near the crown end I think I see a few very small bumps??. Will have a friend take a look as well since they are difficult to see. A bright light helps.

Test fired at 75, 100, 150 and 200 yds. with much better results using factory Winchester and Remmington 50 gr. ammo. Could get two shots within one inch of each other but 5 shot groups at 75, 100 and 150 yds were 2" to 3.5". Got a few bulls at 200 yds but overall group was 6". I attribute the groups to my holding ability. Bench rest on a resin filled bag using 8X Leupold gold ring scope.

Thank you for all of your help. Will investigate the barrel further and test fire using different ammo in a few weeks.
 
.....'Probably too late, but you might want to slip a folded piece of cardboard under the barrel, at the tip of the forearm, creating upward pressure. ....David K
 
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