Scorpio EM332A mods - making a silk purse from a sow's ear
- Thread starter jdac
- Start date
To chime in on cigar_man's comment - I too am very happy with the accuracy. Last year I was able to shoot better than 1MOA at 100m. At that point the only modification I had done was to polish and adjust the trigger (and add a good scope).
What I did notice was:
- the first shot out of a cold barrel was always about 1" off expected target point. Subsequent shots were tight.
- the rifle 'hates' Sellier & Bellot Canadian Match - these do not eject, and sometimes the casing gets stuck so well that a rod is needed to push it out. (anyone else see this?)
- the most accurate round I have found so far is RWS Target Rifle.
- CCI Standard Velocity also shoots well (but not as good as the RWS).
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I don't think it's really fair to expect a $200 chinese rifle to be in the same category as a cz 457, especially as far as fit and finish goes. I would hands down take a Scorpio over a Savage though, even if they were the same price. That said, they are a tinkerer's rifle, with no OEM or aftermarket support. They definitely need a bit of smoothing in a few places and a bit of ingenuity to make them work for you. Both the ones I've bought for my kids have acceptable accuracy after bedding and some trigger work, and they can consistently hit an 8" plate at 200m with CCI standard. I can mostly hit a 6" plate at about 240m with them, so good enough for PRS. I haven't tried shooting groups at 50 with anything better for ammo though, so can't really say what they're capable of. My kids are 11 and 12, and haven't really shot a lot, but they can run the rifle reasonably well during the couple matches they've shot. A longer/heavier bolt knob made a huge difference there, and the actions are slick and fast as long as I put a tiny bit of lube on the bolts. I use the heavier barrel Norinco NS 522 for my PRS rifle, and certainly don't feel that I'm being held back by that rifle. It's the same action, trigger, and magazines, with a bit heavier barrel. If I had a time machine, I'd go back to when Canada Ammo was selling those rifles for $200, and buy a truck load of them, but the Scorpios are close.
Kristian
I see where you're coming from. I don't mind tinkering but find myself short of time. That being said the comparison to the cz I was basing it off the time I will spend to make this rifle shoot well is gonna be quite a bit. Which I don't mind but I feel like I would of just been better off to spend more to get another cz 457 in the safe. But then again with this rifle there is zero care of it getting beat up. So far the extractor angle was off so needed tuning to be reliable and the reciever had some nasty machining where the bolt handle locks up that needed polishing. After doing these 2 things 2 issues are fixed. Still have to do some trigger work, bolt handle and bedding.
Would you be able to share a few pic's of the bedding job done on your 2?
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
I find the several I have had/tested did very well with SK rifle match... and Lapua CenterX. Seems these barrels are set up for match ammo and all of mine have hated HV ammo. Adding a tuner really helped to deal with variations between lots.
wrt to cold bore, I have not seen a significant problem but I do foul my barrels and leave them fouled with minimal/any cleaning. As my PRS bolt rifle, a big cold bore shift would be very problematic.
But factory barrels can vary...
If you are going to put a 'value' on the time you spend tinkering and setting up this rifle, then definitely look elsewhere. But when it is tuned up AND it is keeping up with the mega dollar rifles to 400m, time well spent... and an incredible value.
Jerry
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Cut to the chase and shoot the rifle before worrying too much about improving it.
My first range session almost got the rifle tossed into the trash as it wouldn't shoot any common popular HV ammo.... but I had match ammo from tuning my other PRS rifles and gave it a go. with SK RM, it was plunking 5rds under 1" at 100yds. That is when I got real interested and worked the rifle over. Several rifles later which were purchased over a short time frame, they all responded to the same ammo and we have been enjoying them since.
There is no way to know the QC of any particular rifle so test fire before spending time too much effort. If it will not group SK Rifle match, Lapua CenterX or similar Eley or RWS, going any further is entirely up to you. I didn't test CCI SV but others have reported good luck.
My barrels enjoy 20 fouling shots from a clean bore before settling down... why I don't clean often nor all that much. My first rifle didn't have the muzzle threaded, others have been. I run tuners on all of them now
Good luck and I hope yours shoots well.
Jerry
My first range session almost got the rifle tossed into the trash as it wouldn't shoot any common popular HV ammo.... but I had match ammo from tuning my other PRS rifles and gave it a go. with SK RM, it was plunking 5rds under 1" at 100yds. That is when I got real interested and worked the rifle over. Several rifles later which were purchased over a short time frame, they all responded to the same ammo and we have been enjoying them since.
There is no way to know the QC of any particular rifle so test fire before spending time too much effort. If it will not group SK Rifle match, Lapua CenterX or similar Eley or RWS, going any further is entirely up to you. I didn't test CCI SV but others have reported good luck.
My barrels enjoy 20 fouling shots from a clean bore before settling down... why I don't clean often nor all that much. My first rifle didn't have the muzzle threaded, others have been. I run tuners on all of them now
Good luck and I hope yours shoots well.
Jerry
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
No worries, diy stuff isn't for everyone. I like tinkering, so I'm good with it, plus have the tools and a shop to do it in. The bedding job I did was real basic, just a bit of JB weld around where the screws sit and the rear of the barrel with shoe polish for a release agent.
I cut the bolt knobs off and threaded the stub that was left and made bigger bolt knobs on the lathe, maybe 2 hours per rifle for that. I haven't had to touch an extractor yet, and with all the work I've done for trigger job, bedding, make sure the end of the stock doesn't touch the barrel, smoothing the action, bolt knob and polishing the crown, I've spent maybe 10 hours per rifle tinkering. At my usual work rate minus the government's cut, I'm probably a bit more than halfway to buying a CZ. Occasionally being able to outshoot guys with Vudoos using my $200 rifle, priceless. The match I shot on Saturday had a prone KYL at 60m, smallest target was 1/4". I shot it clean including 3 hits on the smallest target, in less than a minute. First match of the year I was in the top 10 overall with a bunch of great shooters, while also sheepherding my two kids through their first ever match. It's certainly not the rifle holding me back, rather my lack of practice and focus.
Kristian
I was considering buying one but if they don't shoot HV ammo worth a dam I'm not sure if I'm interested. that's like having a Girlfriend who will only eat the most expensive steak at every outing or she won't pay any attention to you . I guess it depends on one's budget . I like the ones that will love you for a sausage or a steak . hence HV ammo or expensive target ammo . steak or sausage .
Don't worry too much about it. If a rifle shoots entry level .22LR match ammo like SK Rifle Match, it will shoot HV ammo just as well as any other rifle.
Comparisons between .22LR HV ammo and match ammo or even entry level match ammo is misleading. There is a very simple reason why the rifle won't shoot HV ammo like it would shoot SK Rifle Match or Lapua Center X. It's the same reason why no rifle will shoot HV .22LR ammo as well as even entry level .22LR match ammo like SK. The reason is that there is a big difference in quality between almost all HV ammos and ammo such as SK RM -- an entry level match ammo. In short most HV ammos don't shoot well because they can't.
The following observations shouldn't be taken at face value.
SK RM can be expected to shoot better than HV ammo.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Bizarre... someone wants to discount ACTUAL testing because they believe, think, want, feel a result. 
But anyone is entitled to an opinion. testing a few rifles is certainly not extensive but I feel, better then no experience at all.
YMMV... if you can find a HV ammo to work, please post. The many on here would love to hear cause I am sure many also use these for varmint duty and a HV would come in very handy.
Look forward to seeing real world test results.... FYI, my real world testing showed the better HV ammo I was testing was around 2 to 4" at 100yds... not good enough for my wants/needs. SK Rifle match was 1" or better at the same distance. Others samples might thrive on HV so love to see real world results.
Jerry
But anyone is entitled to an opinion. testing a few rifles is certainly not extensive but I feel, better then no experience at all.
YMMV... if you can find a HV ammo to work, please post. The many on here would love to hear cause I am sure many also use these for varmint duty and a HV would come in very handy.
Look forward to seeing real world test results.... FYI, my real world testing showed the better HV ammo I was testing was around 2 to 4" at 100yds... not good enough for my wants/needs. SK Rifle match was 1" or better at the same distance. Others samples might thrive on HV so love to see real world results.
Jerry
Bizarre... someone wants to discount ACTUAL testing because they believe, think, want, feel a result.
But anyone is entitled to an opinion. testing a few rifles is certainly not extensive but I feel, better then no experience at all.
YMMV... if you can find a HV ammo to work, please post. The many on here would love to hear cause I am sure many also use these for varmint duty and a HV would come in very handy.
Look forward to seeing real world test results.... FYI, my real world testing showed the better HV ammo I was testing was around 2 to 4" at 100yds... not good enough for my wants/needs. SK Rifle match was 1" or better at the same distance. Others samples might thrive on HV so love to see real world results.
Jerry
It's not clear what you are trying to say. What is it that you find "bizarre"?
It's funny to me how much you guys can/want to discuss a $200 gun. Just buy it and have fun, tinker on the weekends or nights when you can or dont and move along and spend more money elsewhere. It takes about 45 minutes to get this cleaned and polished to 90% of its potential.
The debate was over if it shoots HV ammo with excellent accuracy . I was wondering about it . and debating and talking about firearms and selling them is just what this website is about . it's for us Canadians who are being punished for nothing to come on here and enjoy ourselves discussing something that we all Love . and that is to shoot firearms . it's doesn't matter if it costs $200 dollars or $10 thousand dollars . a guy who belongs to my club bought a CZ 452 several years ago and he was complaining that it didn't shoot Federal blue box 22LR HV ammo worth a dam . I thought those CZ 452 rifles were a work of art. I liked the Lux model . but I wouldn't even consider buying one if it didn't shoot everything near what I am looking for .
I used to hunt Groundhogs and I always used HV ammo . I want 22 rifles that shoot everything to point of aim . but I mostly target shoot now . when I get time . you all take care.
You might get lucky and find one that needs some tlc and has excellent accuracy or you prob have a better chance of getting one for what it is..... a $200 rifle. Mine is prob better then a basic mk2 but even after the common upgrades does not compare to my cz 457 synthetic accuracy wise. A bore scope is a handy tool to see what you're dealing with I got unlucky and have some issues. Reliability is great though. Scope is off and I'm having fun with it as a open sight cheap beater.
