Frenchieboy Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 I am currently using an old BSA Bolt Action 22-250 which I got cheap. When I bought the rifle I was told that the barrel had shot a lot of rounds and could do with renewing. It is an ond target rifle with a very heavy barrel and still shoots quite tight groups, I can manage a 1 inch group at 100 yards. However when we were zeroing the gun we found that the barrel warmed up quite a lot after about 20 rounds in about 25 to 30 minutes and the group started to get a bit wider. This suggests to me that the barrel is fairly worn and could do with replacing, even though when foxing you would not expect to use so many rounds in such a short time. Can anyone please advise me - is it possible to get a new, lighter barrel fitted and if so where plus what price might I expect to pay for it to be done please? I should mention that I am quite happy with the gun as it is for the time being for foxing as I am only likely to fire maybe 5 or 6 rounds in any foxing session so there is no rush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 You will be lucky to see much change from £400 for fitting a new, standard-taper barrel, including proof and muzzle threading. My local riflesmith quoted me a ball-park figure of £530 for a new Walther barrel for my .22-250. I'd get the rifle bore-scoped before you start considering such an outlay. The poor accuracy may be more due to your technique, the cleaning regime, the ammunition etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 10, 2009 Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 I would expect groups from a 22.250 to open up after 20 shots. I would never fire more than 3/5 through mine before letting it cool. Hot barrels ruin more barrels then anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted August 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2009 Thanks for that Baldric, and I agree with you that the poor grouping after so many shots in a relatively short time could well be down to my shooting as I am not as young as I used to be and find it harder to keep a rifle on target for long compared to a few years ago, that's why I use a bipod most of the time! There is also the other point that you made about the cleaning regime of the barrel - I have not had the rifle long (It's my first 22-250) and I do not know anything about the history of the gun or the person that owned it prior to me. As yet I have not even tried to clean the inside of the barrel (Shame on me!). I will have to get a new cleaning it and then see how it performs. Like I said, there is no rush as I will not be using the gun that often I am quite happy with the grouping when just putting 5 or so shots through it in reasonably quick succession for zeroing, and I am only likely to fire a maximum of 5 or so shots while out for a foxing session. Thanks for your advice and input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen72 Posted August 12, 2009 Report Share Posted August 12, 2009 22-250 at one round per minutes for twenty rounds that barrel was very hot, if you can't hold your hand on it , it needs to cool! a good cleaning and you will be good to go for a long time at five rounds a day. alot of 22-250 have a 1-14 twist rate and love lighter bullets, 55 grain tops, 40 way better, have fun Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted August 13, 2009 Report Share Posted August 13, 2009 My .22-250 is quite picky with its cleaning requirements, more so than any other rifle I've owned (apart from the .17 HMR). It will shoot blindingly well for approximately 20 shots, all from a cold barrel. After that, the groups start to open up, albeit gradually. I apply the same cleaning regime that my other centrefires receive (one pass with a boresnake, a good blast of Forrest Bore Foam left for 30 mins, and then patch out until clean). I use KG12 copper remover on a regular basis. The first shot after cleaning is always slightly off-course. My rifle has an almost reed-thin barrel, and will be scorching hot within 5 shots in quick succession. However, it cools down very quickly. Get a rear bag to support the butt, if you're struggling with the weight or movement of the rifle. If your bipod has extendable legs, keep them at their shortest setting to minimise flex. I personally prefer to shoot off front and rear bags, either from prone or from a proper shooting bench. You may want to give your rifle a very thorough scrubbing out (starting with something like the aforementioned KG12 or Forrest foam) and then get the barrel bore-scoped by a friendly local riflesmith. You may be wasting energy cleaning a barrel that's firecracked, scratched, absolutely caked with copper or showing some other serious problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted August 13, 2009 Report Share Posted August 13, 2009 I too would recommend a good thorough clean. Scrub out all of the copper that is in there and start from a fairly fresh barrel. Then don't shoot as fast. That said, 1" groups at 100 is good enough for foxing out to 300 if that's all you're doing with it. Thanks, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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