Or, perhaps I should say - always call your rifles donor rifles, that way they will all be accurate when you go to the range or hunting.

I thought I would pass on something I learned today. I just bought a new Ruger MKII in 30-06, and no I didn't scam it for a penny. I paid a fair and good faith price for it from a GB auction. Of course I intended to shoot it for accuracy, and use it as a donor action if that didn't work out. Went to the range this morning and shot the first groups - two different loads - shown in the first picture below.

That's about what I've seen often with Rugers.

So, I switched stocks. I have a Hogue with a large barrel channel, so the 06 factory barrel is completely free floating. I went back to the range. The second picture shows the groups, from the same two loads. The first shot was almost off the paper. See the single hole way at the bottom. The other two groups were after adjusting the scope up, and those groups are very satisfactory with me.

It's an amazing difference, and resulted just from free-floating the barrel, no other changes, same ammo.

I all most allways free float my barrels and glass bed them. I am guessing that if you free float the factory stock and bed the rifle it well shoot just as good

So are you going to donate this one for a penny?

quote:

Originally posted by Rub Line:
So are you going to donate this one for a penny?

I've been offering all my "friends" and supporters a free rifle.

It's been interesting, because my real friends, have understood the joke and irony, and would say something like "why should I want another rifle, to clean and maintain, and keep up with, when I can borrow it anytime I need it, with ammo, and can be assured it's accurate and sighted in, and in good working order."

KB

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I all most allways free float my barrels and glass bed them. I am guessing that if you free float the factory stock and bed the rifle it well shoot just as good

Me too.

KB

I always get better results from free floated barrels too.

I made the mistake of shooting a donor rifle recently as well. Put 3 shots with factory ammo, at Winchester's suggested sweet spot (it has BOSS, the CR not the braked version)in a group thats covered with a nickel. Man, if I got some more of that ammo.....spent more time tuning the BOSS...it would be one sweet rifle...if it wasn't supposed to be something else lol

With my 30/06 will shoot a 1.5 group at 200yds.
Can't ask for more then that. I use imr4350 powder.

Pretty great improvement. One thing to note maybe, is that changing stocks does more than just providing a floated barrel vs the previous stock. the action to stock fit may be much better, the new stock (in this case almost certainly) may be stiffer--better IME for accuracy, and the recoil engagement/management may be better as well......

Having said that, sometimes just floating the barrel is HUGE!

Good on ya!

The most time consuming thing about new rifles, is figuring out whether they are keepers or not. Sometimes it is evident right away, because 1" groups speak to me.

More often though, especially with rugers, out-of-the-box accuracy is awful. So then the process of elimination, figuring out what is bugging this rifle. I used to do the load development thing, routinely, but without much success. Now I look for shortcuts, and try stuff like switching stocks, allowing the barrel to free float.

KB

It's saddening when I see someone with 6" groups asking how to measure distance to the lands as a way to correct it...or asking what is the better powder to use.....or in any way thinking reloading is the answer.

Almost always when the groups are running over 3" it's bedding that needs to be addressed.....

Me too! bought an old commercial FN mauser barreled action at a gunshow for $225. had a 30-06 barrel on it and a set of Redfield mounts and rings.. had some other project in mind, but before I unscrewed the barrel, I checked HS, strapped it down in a $50 Core-lite synthetic stock and put a scope of some sort on it, tried a few shots of my favorite load for my S&W model B in it ...BUG HOLE AT 155 YDS!! now I'm stuck with another 30-06 that I'll prolly never use.... Damn.... Les