10/22 decreasing accuracy?

[Three50seven]

I have a 1985 10/22 with a 4x Bushnell scope, Hogue stock, and Shooter's Ridge mag release. It is completely stock otherwise. I bought this rifle used about 10 years ago and have added the extras myself. I have noticed recently that the accuracy doesn't seem to be what it used to be. It still shoots well, but I sighted in my brother's 10/22 the other day (also stock except for Bushnell 4x scope) and the groups are amazing!

I guess my question is, how many rounds does it usually take to "wear out" a 10/22? I have put 10,000+ rounds through this rifle, and who knows how much the previous owner shot it. And to answer the obvious question, I clean it thoroughly whenever I shoot it.

 

[Snake45]

First thing to do is check all your screws. Barrel screws, receiver/stock screw, scope mount screws, scope ring screws.

Take a look at your muzzle and see if you have any lead buildup there. Such a buildup can affect accuracy, and you can clean the rifle nine times and not touch it if you're not looking for it. Easy to get rid of if you're aware of it.

Could be an ammo problem. Is it uniformly less accurate with all types of ammo? Or do you only shoot one kind of ammo through it, and now it's not as accurate with that ammo?

 

[Three50seven]

I didn't even think about the screws, that will be the first thing I check tomorrow. Could be lead build up as well. I usually shoot Blazers, but also Winchester and Federal plated HP's fairly regularly, so I don't think ammo is the issue. Should be a nice day tomorrow, so I'll give it a good once-over then head to the range with some different types of ammo to make sure.

 

[donut757]

im not expert but i would say that a good look over make sure everything is tight, scope mount too... had a .17hmr that beat my butt just becuase the mount got a little loose

 

[blume357]

Along with all mentioned above... keep in mind different 22 ammo shoots different in different rifles...

 

[Three50seven]

Took the rifle completely apart today and gave it a thorough cleaning. Put it all back together and made sure everything was tight. Went to the range with Blazers and Federal bulk pack HP's. The blazers shot as well as they should have (group on the right), but the Federals failed to impress. Guess this rifle just doesn't like them.

 

[Snake45]

Federal bulk pack HP's...failed to impress. Guess this rifle just doesn't like them.

Not surprising at all. I tested them and five other low-cost .22 ammos in about two dozen different rifles, and the Fed Bulks were the least accurate in almost every single one of them. The one surprising exception was that they turned in the tightest groups in an Anschutz 64 of everything tried--the tightest groups of any ammo in all 24+ guns! Go figger. :?

 

[Mobuck]

I don't how "thorough" your cleaning was but I've found that a couple of my 22 rifles take a little shooting after a real bore cleaning before they get back to best groups. I bought a case of the Fed bulk pack HP and have been shooting it in one 22/45 but haven't run any through an accuracy test in a rifle. Maybe I should.

 

[Three50seven]

I brushed and swabbed the bore, and took the action totally apart. I don't think I left anything untouched. And when I went to the range I shot probably 200 rounds total, the groups pictured were the final ones from each ammo type.

I've shot the federal's in my 22/45 too, and they seem to work pretty well. Of course accuracy isn't quite as big of a factor in that case. I've found blazers, on average, to shoot about the best in most .22s. Probably due to the round-nose bullet and slower velocities I would guess.

 

[dacaur]

yea different guns like different ammo, there is no "best" .22 ammo at any price, but there is always a "best ammo for this specific gun".... Before I sold my SR-22 I took it out one day with as many different types of ammo as I could get my hands on (only about 10 or so) and the federal bulk won the day shooting better than even minimags and blazers, plus the one type of match ammo I sprung for (cant remember now which it was)....

It sounds like you are cleaning way too much..... Keep in mind that more .22's have had their accuracy destroyed by overzealous cleaning than by shooting too much..... Shoot it till accuracy falls off, THEN give it a really good cleaning.... In my experience it then takes around 50 rounds to get the accuracy back to where it should be after cleaning....

 

[hpman66]

Took the rifle completely apart today and gave it a thorough cleaning. Put it all back together and made sure everything was tight. Went to the range with Blazers and Federal bulk pack HP's. The blazers shot as well as they should have (group on the right), but the Federals failed to impress. Guess this rifle just doesn't like them.

Did you check the two allen screws on the V-block that attaches the barrel to the reciever? If they are loose, that could cause inaccurate groups. Also if you are shooting off of a rest, be sure and rest rifle on the fore-end of the stock and not on the barrel(also makes for inaccurate groups).

Something else you might do to improve your accuracy(reguardless of the brand of ammo) would be to install a Volquartsen 10/22 hammer. That will take you trigger pull down to about 2.5 lbs.+/- and makes a world of difference. Another thing is to get a scope that is parallax free at 50yds. or get a scope that has an adjustable objective(AO) lens to remove sighting errors due to parallax. One last item would be to check the muzzle itself for damage. Most people clean the 10/22 from the muzzle and can accidently damage the lands/grooves that will result in bigger groups.

But with what you have said/shown, it sounds mainly like a choice of ammo issue.

 

[Three50seven]

I'm a little obsessed with keeping my guns clean...knowing my 10/22 was dirty would keep me up at night :shock:

As for the other suggestions, I checked the screws on the v-block, made sure the crown wasn't dinged up, and was resting on the fore-end. I would like to put some upgrades on the rifle, but it's not in the budget at the moment.

 

[Snake45]

I'm a little obsessed with keeping my guns clean...knowing my 10/22 was dirty would keep me up at night :shock:

I try to clean my 10/22 every leap year. If I remember. :wink:

 

[rugerjunkie]

I think a bore snake and 22's are a great pair. I dont do a proper cleaning to my 22's very often...cant remember the last time i even cleaned one to be honest! But if I feel things are getting dirty to the point of diminished accuracy I usually just wet a bore snake and run it through 2-3 times and its good to go for quite a while. I'll also add a comment on ammo...most every 22 I own shoots the Win 40gr power point ammo very well. My MkII's,10/22's,77/22's,my Browning,and the old hand me downs from Grandpa...almost all prefer them to any other. Better than the bulk ammo and a little cheaper than match ammo. It is a hard hitting small game round too.

 

[hpman66]

I'm a little obsessed with keeping my guns clean...knowing my 10/22 was dirty would keep me up at night :shock:

As for the other suggestions, I checked the screws on the v-block, made sure the crown wasn't dinged up, and was resting on the fore-end. I would like to put some upgrades on the rifle, but it's not in the budget at the moment.

While it's not exactly cheap, it is a LOT cheaper than most add-ons for the benefits that the Volquartsen Hammer gives to the 10/22 owner. It is the BEST $35.95 that you'll ever spend on your 10/22. I think that there are other other hammers such as the Clark and Power Custom, but I have always used and been quite satisfied with the Volquartsen products and the service that I get from Rimfire Sports & Custom.

http://www.rimfiresports.com/mercha...ode=RSC&Product_Code=VC10TH&Category_Code=R1A

 

[Three50seven]

I did look into the Volquartsen hammers, and that is definitely something that I will pick up in the future. A lighter trigger pull would no doubt be a huge benefit.