Fermin did make me think of it.

[waterboy]

I've checked three of my revolvers very carefully with precision pin guages and they check out perfectly! No tight spots in the throats or anywhere.

But...

I cheaped out and bought a closeout barrel from Midway, a Adams & Bennett (?). Fluted stainless in .24 cal. Mated to a VZ-24 sporter I slung together. Several told me the barrel was known to be on the rough side but it was cheap. At first it was a .243 Win. Which I was not happy with, then re-chambered to .244 Ackley. From reasonably clean it would do 1.5 or so then open to 2.5-3.25” and hover there. Down the bore it looked nasty after only a few shots. Running a bore snake would start it all over again. I was very systematic in the rate of fire, checked the bedding, ammo etc. It was bore roughness I figured.



Bought a $20 Wheeler bore lapping kit. It amazes me the guys with a fine rifle that shoots .25 MOA and fire lap then wonder why their rifle shows little improvement. My rifle, however, seemed a perfect test mule.

I shot 8-rounds with the 220 grit, cleaned, then 8-rounds of the 320, cleaned, finished with 10-rounds of 600 grit. Took me about a week but I almost followed actually the directions. I had four rounds (several year old starter loads, not accuracy developed) from the first target/set of groups.

I was not having my best shooting day and a bit breezy but managed a good three then flinched on that 6-o’clock. I have not followed up but it does look promising. After firing the bore is still clean looking. There may be something to this fire lapping. I’m pleased.

Now I'm certainly not telling anyone to go out and try this. I just thought it might be interesting to talk about.

SB

[agrizz]

Personally the only interesting rifle is one that will clover leaf at 100 yds nothing more nothing less. I have never purchased a cheap barrel because they are the heart and soul of a rifle. I do not wish to go through the work of trying to get it to shoot after the fact. When I buy a barrel it is normally a Shilen for a hunting rifle or a Mc Millan.

[2 Dogs]

Hart for me!

[Ken O'Neill]

for 2 dogs.

[agrizz]

Waterboy it sure looks like you are gaining on it and a little more firing and load workup may take care of it for you.

[Lee Martin]

Looks like time well spent and that 244 AI is a neat wildcat.

Most of my guns get Shilen, but when we shot a lot of benchrest we also used Hart and Schenider. That being said, I have a few hunting rifles with old ER Shaw tubes that would clover leaf. In fact, most of their barrels would do an honest 1.5" or less with the right load, bedding job, trigger, action true-up, and some lapping. In fact, my dad has a 338-06 that'll cut a MOA with about any load we throw at it.

Now I did use Adams & Bennett once and the reamer chatter was horrific (and it wasn't the reamer's fault). Never tried them again.

Cheap barrels aren't always as bad, especially when all you need is minute of deer.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[joej]

A nice super match barrel is a good thing, no doubt, but sometimes all a poor shooting rifle needs is to be rebedded properly and sometimes that will take a little doing to get it right.