New 204 fluted, mistake?

[kybrder]

Hi folks,
 Just found GBO . Love the wealth of info. I bought a Ultra 204 fluted with the synthetic stks.Have not got to site it in yet.But got scared when I just read a post about fluted barrels being poor shooters. Anybody have experience with fluted barrels, any cal.
                                                                            Thanks,Doug

[Devy55]

I've got the same rifle as you...204 ultra Varmint fluted with synth stock, and have been happy with it.

I've not heard of any problems peculiar to fluted barrels.  However a recurring theme with NEF Handi's, is that accuracy varies between each gun and sometimes they need tweaking to optimize their performance.  Some can drive a tack right out of the box, and others need to either float or bed the barrel.

To optimize your rifle, I would perform the following:

1.  Optimise your sights.  Unscrew the scope rail and thoroughly clean any oil or solvent between it and the barrel (mine had some machine oil).  Then apply thread bond between the barrel and rail, and on the screws.  Tighten everything firmly and wait to dry.  I've heard you can also apply bedding compound under the front rail overhang, but I haven't tried it myself.  Then use a scope mounting kit to ensure the rings are aligned and firmly mount the scope.

2.  Optimize the barrel.  Pass a dollar bill between the front stock and barrel.  If it hangs, use sandpaper to sand the ridges in the synth stock until the dollar passes easily.  NOTE:  Try this configuration first.  Then, if unsatisfied with the accuracy, you can always add a small spacer or pad between the barrel and stock for comparison.

3.  Optimize the rifling.  Make sure the barrel is clean and polished.  Make sure there are no burrs from the machining.  Some folks use a little Fitz to polish the bore.

4.  Optimize your ammo.  Some guns perform better with certain brands of ammo, than others.  I have tried remington and Hornady ammo in mine, and have found greater accuracy and consistant performance with Hornady, than the other ammo.

5.  Optimize sighting in your rifle.  Bore sight your scope before going to the range.  Fire a few rounds at a 50yd target and adjust the scope to fire consistantly near the bullseye.  These shots will also help break in the bore.  Then, clean the bore and let the barrel cool while you prepare 100yd targets.  When the barrel is cool, fire from a rest.  When the barrel is cool, fire again.  Do this 3 times and adjust the scope as necessary.  Clean the bore again, and repeat until you have consistant shot groups.

According to Remington's ballistic software, if you zero approximately 0.9" high at 100yds, you will be zeroed for about 235 yards.  With that zero your bullet will hit within 1" of your aimpoint between 25 and 250 yards, and dead on at 55 and 235 yards.

Hope this helps.

[quickdtoo]

Welcome to GBO, Doug!! You would do well for yourself to read the FAQs and Help info, there's plenty of info in there that will help you get a leg up on getting the most from your H&R. There's info on the scope rail in addition to info that Devy55 omitted that is critcal to scope base mounting, also, but pretty much everything he mentiioned is right on.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,88476.msg534522.html#msg534522

I have a .22-250 fluted Ultra, it shoots very well with the right ammo, I'm working with handloads of 50gr Vmax and H4895, after bore polishing and floating the forend from the stud out buy sanding it clear, I'm getting sub moa accuracy.

If you have a good trigger, you've got half the battle won, trigger info is also in the FAQs if you need it.

Clean it, and shoot it, then go from there, that's the best advice, don't make any changes unless they're needed, then only make one change at a time, if you don't do the bore polishing, it will more than likely need quite a few rounds down range to get acceptable accuracy, but not always, as was said, some shoot very well with no changes right out of the box, others require a change or two.

As usual, range report required!!

Tim

[kybrder]

    Hey guys,
 Thanks for the info.I hope to play with it this weekend. Went quail hunting this afternoon, but should have stayed home and started on the H&R. Would have been a better use of my time.
   I think I'll start with a good scrub of the bore with the fitz. you mentioned. And take the scope mount apart and remount everything. I'll let you know how it turns out.
                                           Thanks again,Doug

[cascadedad]

    Let the games begin! 

[poncaguy]

My 204 Fluted shoots MOA and better, great rifle and caliber!