Poor Groups with my RIA M22

[VancouverSkiBum]

Hello. I have the gun in one of those Choate folding stocks, wearing a Leupold vx2 2-7. Ammo is Federal 525 Value pack. I never had a chance to test it properly before I changed the stock so I cant say if thats the problem. I really like the gun and hope I can get it straightened out. Heres 10 shot groups on each diamond. Rifle was rested and at 25 yards. I have not tried any other ammo. Cheers!

 

[Hitzy]

Try it in the old stock and compare....might be the stock.

 

[crazyjackrabbit]

Check the bore before and after shooting for any odd markings odd deposits. You'll want to try different ammo to rule that out. Old stock and scope would be what Id be looking at after that. Though I doubt it would be the scope.
could just be ammo picky.

 

[little_airwolf]

Omg thats grouping at 25yds with a scope and rested. Sick!
Id try some CCI if you can and maybe a few other brands.
Was the scope fine on another rifle?
My 2¢ is @ 25yds the gun should make 2" groups max. Thus 6moa at 100yds.
With these groupings it would be roughly 12 moa. Which I think is a lemon.
However you did cheap out and buy a clone and use bulk ammo. Im guessing the scope was more than the gun.
So dont expect CZ groupings!

 

[RedApe]

it looks like the shooter.

 

[blasted_saber]

Is the scope tight? Check all the screws, including the bases.

 

[little_airwolf]

Yep I admit I did that once. Tightened the rings down but didnt check the bases.

 

[Phat Eagle]

IME rimfires tend to be horribly ammo specific... Try several different types before making a determination.

 

[grelmar]

Key words in your description, for me, were:

...Ammo is Federal 525 Value pack...

I wouldn't expect 1/2" groups from a 10/22 clone using Eley Match ammo. Using Federal bulk, the fact that most of them hit the paper is probably a good sign.

Try a couple different types of ammo, you'll likely find something the rifle likes.

 

[super7]

I'd check the crown also. The one I saw at a local store, looked like it was cut with an axe.

 

[VancouverSkiBum]

thanks guys. dont have the old stock anymore. ill try some different ammo next trip, which i was thinking of doing anyway. everything is tight. cheers.

 

[sk8snwmx]

You could try and cut those groups in half by just switching to a sling shot! ..sorry, just had too.

I'd guess if the scope is tight that its the aftermarket stock? I just don't see 525 federal bulk shooting that badly.. when I had a 10/22 it would shoot 'soda cans' all day long anywhere from 25-50 yards with that stuff.

P.S. ***kinda miss being a 'snowboard-bum' in Whistler LOL.. LOVE the West Coast!

 

[willisjake]

Just a couple weeks back I saw a gent getting very similar groups with a real 10/22. He was resting it on the barrel and not the stock.

 

[Mumbles Marble Mouth]

Check your scope rail if its loose, check the scope rings, and check the stock take down screw. Also, try the rifle with just the iron sights no scope. I bet it has something to do with something being loose. My Ruger 10/22 always has something that comes loose while shooting. Its usually the stock take down screw and it effects accuracy like you wouldn't believe.

Edit: didn't real the whole thread. Sorry.

525 is garbage but my real 10/22 will still put that stuff with in an inch at 25 meters. Once that take down screw comes loose, its all over the place. Try it without the scope. The scope could just be a POS.

 

[mh434]

Yeah, looks to something really out of whack there for sure. My 10/22 (in an Archangel Marauder stock) will easily shoot into an inch @ 25 yds. with any ammo I shovel into it, so I'd expect your rifle to do at least as well.

It's common, in my experience, that where there are optics added, major accuracy issues are usually due to the optic or its mounts. Major issues with new rifles do occur, but not very often. Mounts, on the other hand, can deform noticeably with unequal torque, for example, throwing point of aim off. Inconsistencies usually indicate an insecure mount, allowing the optic to move from shot to shot. Of course, optics failures occur, too, occasionally, even in expensive brands. Loose internal parts can throw shots all over the map.

If you still have irons on it, I'd start there (to eliminate the rifle as the problem) if the optic & mounts check out.

 

[VancouverSkiBum]

I decided to take the rifle out of the stock for a closer look. I noticed a couple things.

The front sight was loose enough to rattle around. something i have not noticed before. it got locked down permanently.

The stock comes with a piece that clamps on to the top of the barrel over the rear sight. like a fake gas system kinda look. will that being clamped on the barrel affect it?

It came with a barrel clamp thing to hold the top handguard on, and keep the barrel tight against the stock. I believe it may be in too much contact and may be too tight. I removed them both.

When sliding the action into the stock, the barrel is to the left a bit and gets push to the right, into place, when the screw gets tight. A bit of a fit issue i believe. To correct this I put a small piece of metal against the receiver between the stock, and now the barrel goes straight into the stock and seems to be free from the stock at the end.

 

[RobertMcC]

I decided to take the rifle out of the stock for a closer look. I noticed a couple things.

The front sight was loose enough to rattle around. something i have not noticed before. it got locked down permanently.

The stock comes with a piece that clamps on to the top of the barrel over the rear sight. like a fake gas system kinda look. will that being clamped on the barrel affect it?

It came with a barrel clamp thing to hold the top handguard on, and keep the barrel tight against the stock. I believe it may be in too much contact and may be too tight. I removed them both.

When sliding the action into the stock, the barrel is to the left a bit and gets push to the right, into place, when the screw gets tight. A bit of a fit issue i believe. To correct this I put a small piece of metal against the receiver between the stock, and now the barrel goes straight into the stock and seems to be free from the stock at the end.

Front sight loose shouldn't effect because your running a scope.

Not really considering 10/22 been running barrel bands for years and mine don't shoot nearly that bad.

Also did you check if the V block screws are tight?

 

[taprack9]

Looks like they cloned everything...right down to the accuracy

 

[grelmar]

Looks like they cloned everything...right down to the accuracy

But if you spend $1K on aftermarket parts, you can almost make it as accurate as an out of the box, $160 Marlin 795.

 

[.22LRGUY]

What happened to the original stock? How fast were you shooting? If you're confident everything is cinched down the way it should be..make sure the bore is clean, the crown in good condition, then start trying some different ammo. How is the trigger on that gun, and, do you get stellar groups with other guns you've tried? (ruling-out technique/form)

Looks like they cloned everything...right down to the accuracy

You typed what I was thinking. The 10/22 I bought new years ago was the most inaccurate rifle I've ever owned, with the worst trigger too. A less expensive copy of a 10/22~can't imagine a pile of improvements are built-in. My days of recommending the Marlin 795 or Marlin 60 over Ruger 10/22 anything might be done though. People still insist on buying 10/22s then fight (=spend) to get them shooting well. Sometimes they're bought with that as the plan, seems other times...people expect they'll get a gun that shoots decently for about $300 and then learn a tough lesson. Base Marlin 795s60s still sell for less than some Norincos last time I checked, and how many threads do you read about problems with them? They're not perfect, but excellent shooters for the $.