Frenchieboy Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I have recently had my .243 barrel screw cut and then fitted a moderator on the rifle. I had not used the rifle for a while and when I tried to zero the rifle with the moderator fitted I found that the groups had opened up a little (To about 1.5 inches at 100 yards) even though the rifle was much more comfortable to fire with much less recoil and a pretty good sound reduction. I first checked the moderator to make sure that the bullets were not "clipping" the moderator and all was well. My next move was to check that the barrel was free floating. I should add at this stage that when I bought the rifle it had been glass bedded and the barrel was fully floating! On checking yesterday morning I found that the woodwork was in fact touching the barrel half way down the fore-end. I stripped the rifle and used a bit of fairly fine sandpaper to get the clearance needed to fully float the barrel and all is well again with the rifle shooting a sub 1 inch group at 100 yards using 100g PRVI Partizan ammunition. The one thing that I did notince was that where the barrel had been touching the woodwork it looked very dry, as if when they originally glass bedded the barrel they had left the wood "bare" so I suspect that some moisture had got into it and swolen the woodwork while being used in all winds and weather. I have now rubbed 3 coats of walnut oil into the effected area in the hope that this will offer some degree of waterproffing. Would it be better to give that part of the woodwork (The part that the barrel covers which is normally unseen) a coat of varnish to minimise the chances of this happening again if the rifle gets damp or will the coats of walnut oil suffice? Your opinions or advice are most welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Not ontop of oil it won't. BTW is 1" at 100yds what you expect from the rifle normally? if it is not then look at the moddy again, is the back bush too tight or too slack? has the smith damaged the crown etc. On naturally grained timber in the past i have increased the clearance a lot then wrapped the barrel (covering the wraps in clear boot polish) and then bedded it synthetically along the forearm. Subsequent removal of the tape wrap then gives you the clearance and stiffens things up a little. The bedding compounds can often be coloured to a nice match for a "working" rifle protect it from the very worst weather and go as far as you can to prevent further distortion without fitting a more stable stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Not ontop of oil it won't. BTW is 1" at 100yds what you expect from the rifle normally? if it is not then look at the moddy again, is the back bush too tight or too slack? has the smith damaged the crown etc. On naturally grained timber in the past i have increased the clearance a lot then wrapped the barrel (covering the wraps in clear boot polish) and then bedded it synthetically along the forearm. Subsequent removal of the tape wrap then gives you the clearance and stiffens things up a little. The bedding compounds can often be coloured to a nice match for a "working" rifle protect it from the very worst weather and go as far as you can to prevent further distortion without fitting a more stable stock In answer to your question Kent, Yes, I am happy with a sub 1 inch group at 100 yards, and that is what I expect to get from any of my rifles as long as I do my part, My rifles can usually shoot a lot straighter and more accurately than I can! - The group I shot yesterday afternoon was in fact a three quarter inch group which I am more than happy with, especially using "cheap" Partizan ammunition, which I find quite good and my rifle quite likes! The barrel was screw cut by David Mercer who did an expert job and the moderator fits snugly over the barrel without the delrin(Spelling) touching it and the crown was checked by David Mercer and is perfect and unmarked. I did think after I had rubbed the walnut oil into the wood that it might effect the use of varnish (if needed) but it is maybe a bit too late for that now. I would however be prepared to strip, clean up the woodwork if varnishing was needed on that part of it to eliminate the possibility of this happening again, followed by re-staining and re-oiling the woodwork to improve the overall looks of the rifle. I think I understand what you are saying about wrapping the barrel but I have decided that this is something that I would rather avoid unless it is unavoidable. Thanks for your thoughts mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggiegun Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 (edited) In answer to your question Kent, Yes, I am happy with a sub 1 inch group at 100 yards, and that is what I expect to get from any of my rifles as long as I do my part, My rifles can usually shoot a lot straighter and more accurately than I can! - The group I shot yesterday afternoon was in fact a three quarter inch group which I am more than happy with, especially using "cheap" Partizan ammunition, which I find quite good and my rifle quite likes! The barrel was screw cut by David Mercer who did an expert job and the moderator fits snugly over the barrel without the delrin(Spelling) touching it and the crown was checked by David Mercer and is perfect and unmarked. I did think after I had rubbed the walnut oil into the wood that it might effect the use of varnish (if needed) but it is maybe a bit too late for that now. I would however be prepared to strip, clean up the woodwork if varnishing was needed on that part of it to eliminate the possibility of this happening again, followed by re-staining and re-oiling the woodwork to improve the overall looks of the rifle. I think I understand what you are saying about wrapping the barrel but I have decided that this is something that I would rather avoid unless it is unavoidable. Thanks for your thoughts mate! Frenchie, . Did you get the DM80 mod, have you any pictures please. Reggiegun Edited July 25, 2012 by reggiegun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Frenchie, . Did you get the DM80 mod, have you any pictures please. Reggiegun My original intention was to get a DM80 but I came across one that was custom built and pre-owned (By another forum member) but with very little use so opted for that! The mod I bought and fitted to my .243 is practically identical to a DM80 mod. I am however planning on getting a DM80 built for my .22WMR in the relatively near future! I will get a few photos of the mod fitted to the rifle later today and post them on this thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I have a DM 80 in 223 that i may be getting rid off if any one is interested it is new it wont work with my D760 Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggiegun Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I have a DM 80 in 223 that i may be getting rid off if any one is interested it is new it wont work with my D760 Mark Of what rifle mate, what thread? Is it in the way of your night vision? and is it the new type which screws of by hand to strip it down? Reggiegun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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