Author Topic: float the barrel? (Read 1429 times)

bobg · « **on:** September 29, 2003, 01:48:32 PM »

Tried the washers between the barrel and forearm on my 7-30 Waters. Now it shoots about 4" low. Is this normal when you do this? The way my luck goes i probably did something wrong.

Thanks,
bobg :eek:

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2003, 02:01:51 PM »

If the forearm was exerting preasure on the barrel it's certainly possible. Re-zero and shoot some groups, let us know if it helped. KN

bobg · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2003, 09:03:10 AM »

Thanks for the info guys. I thought i would get to shoot it today but it hasn't stopped raining . Maybe next week if i get a day off work.

Thanks again,
bobg

carolcann · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2003, 09:54:27 AM »

Its easy enough to "float the barrel" on your T/C. Try a nylon washer dropped into the mounting post relief(s) in your stock.

That should effectively separate the stock channel from contact with the barrel, yet allow tightening of the stock mounting screws.

Of course no barrel-mounted (swivel points) bipod should be used if you are concerned with dynamic barrel vibrations.

bobg · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2003, 11:36:27 AM »

Finally got out to shoot some groups today. If you remember, my Contender was shooting about 4" low after putting the washers between the barrel and forearm. Today i fired 5 shots at 100 yds. Darn not a hole in the target. Not even a hole in the 2 foot by 4 foot frame the target was stapled to. Fired three more. Same thing. Moved up to 50yds. fired 3 shots. One hole in the 2x4 foot frame. What the heck is going on?

bobg :eek:

KN · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2003, 12:10:03 PM »

Check your scope mounts first. Some thing has moved. KN

bobg · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2003, 12:54:39 PM »

KN, thanks for the reply. I checked all the mounting screws before i shot it today. Now i have another question for you. I'm useing a Bushnell Trophy scope. The one with the changeable reticles ( i think that's the right word) I changed it from a red dot to the dot with a cross hair. That's the only change i made. Do you think that would-could move the point of impact that much?

Thanks for the help,
bobg :?

KN · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2003, 03:32:22 PM »

Im not really familiar with that scope but I wouldnt think it would change much. You might try a different scope and see if it helps. KN

Tdot · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2003, 04:35:08 PM »

bobg,
Here's my 2 cents:
In my opinion, you don't have a problem with the forearm unless you are over tightening the screws. The " Red Dot " is the logical problem.
Jerry

bobg · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2003, 08:34:32 AM »

I'm back again guys. I changed scopes on the Waters barrel and tried it again. Same thing. Can't hit a 2x4 foot board. Thought maybe something was wrong with the frame. Put the barrel on my other frame, same thing. Thought maybe my homemade forend screws were to long. I shot it without the forend on it. Not only was there no hole in the target but nothing yet in the 2x4 foot frame. Come on folks help me out. What do you think? I think i have the answer. My wife said something was wrong with the barrel. Looks like a great time to trade it for something else.
bobg

KYODE · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2003, 10:27:06 AM »

what load are you shooting? just wondering if it could be a bullet that doesn't like that barrel, or twist rate, etc. can you get a smith to check the crown? if nothing else, maybe TC will replace it. :?

bobg · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2003, 12:26:47 PM »

Kyode, i'm useing factory ammo. The strange part about this is it shot great until i stuffed the washers in to float the barrel. I would get rid of it but i have bought dies, bullets and 5 boxes of factory ammo for the thing.

bobg :?

Tdot · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2003, 01:27:35 PM »

bobg,
Are you shooting from a bench with a rest?

X-Ring · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2003, 01:33:38 PM »

Bobg, Try taking the washers out and see if this is your problem.

KYODE · « **Reply #14 on:** October 10, 2003, 01:44:56 PM »

i don't have any washers in my forearms for floating. i havn't got that fancy yet. what i have done so far with both contender and encore is use a trick of graybeards, only slightly modified. i took three thicknesses of thin metal shims(actually broken tape rule pieces :roll: ), and wrapped them with a couple layers of black electrical tape. i placed one near each forearm screw. you could try that and see if anything changes, or heck if it shoots good enough without it floated, then just use it that way. it could be that load prefers the particular barrel vibrations it gets with the forearm touching. :? keep us informed, and we can all learn from it. all guns are different in preferences. maybe this one prefers no bedding with that particular load. if i was you, i would also hate to get rid of it. just be persistant, and experiment. i know it can be frustrating sometimes. i been trying to get my 6br encore to shoot some varmint weight bullets for a good while now. no luck so far, but i'll not give up. :wink:

patw · « **Reply #15 on:** October 10, 2003, 02:49:56 PM »

Just a thought, but you may want to set your barrel in a good steady rest with the action open, look through the barrel at something, and then look to see if the scope is aiming anywhere near where the barrel is pointing.

bobg · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2003, 02:13:09 PM »

I'm back again. Yes i am shooting off a bench with a rest. When i put on the new scope i bore sighted it. Everything is tight. This is the same ammo i was shooting in it before and it shot good. I don't have much time to fool around with it. Deer season will soon be here. Looks like i'll be using my 300Whisper barrel this year. You're right i don't want to get rid of it. I'll play with it when i get a chance and let you folks know what happens.

bobg

Bullseye · « **Reply #17 on:** October 11, 2003, 05:43:26 PM »

You keep saying it was shooting good before the washers. What is good? If it was good to start with, get rid of the washers. It might be boresighted, but it would not be the first boresighted gun I have seen that would not hit a 2x4 piece of wood.

longwinters · « **Reply #18 on:** October 12, 2003, 07:59:06 AM »

Send it in to Thompson. They were excellent with me when I had barrel problems. But like a couple of the guys already said, if it shot good before your alterations then it does not seem like it would be the barrel. Sounds like it needs a pressure point or something. But you should call Thompson. I am sure it is a very busy time of year for them, but they sure did right by me.

long

bobg · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2003, 12:32:35 PM »

I put everything back to normal on the Waters barrel. Made sure everything was tight. Checked the scope with my bore sighter. Everything looked great. Darn it still shoots like crap. I guess it does. Idon't know where i am hitting. I put on my Whisper barrel and tried that. It's never been shot before. Same thing. At 100yds. nothing on the target frame. Moved up to 50yds. and tried again. This time there was a hole just touching the bottom of the target frame. Did some adjusting on the scope. By the time i was done i was shooting 1/2 to5/8 inch groups at 50 yds. This is 3 shot groups. While i was admireing my groups i looked back toward my bench. What do i see but bullet holes in the dirt about 30ft. in front of the target frame. Three of them. The last 3 from the waters barrrel??? Now i believe my bore sighter is goofed up. I'm going to put the red dot back on the waters barrel and move up to 25yds. and start over. Why it changed i don't know but i think i can fix it now that i know where it is shooting. bobg

Possum · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2003, 02:10:56 PM »

It is not unusual to be that far off when boresighting. My 30-06 was dead on with the boresighter and then at the range it shot 1ft high at 25yds. I ran out of adjustment with the scope. Ended up putting a shim below the base in the rear to get to bullseye at 100yds.

chazgin · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2003, 02:56:28 PM »

Reset your scope adjustments to mechanical center. Get some 100 yd bullseye targets (the round black ones). Set them at 25 yds. With your Contender open lay the pistol securely on sandbags. Look through the open barrel and center the target in your view. Now, carefully without disturbing the pistol look through the scope. What you see is where the scope is pointing at. Adjust the scope until the difference between what you see through the barrel and the scope is about the same. You are now boresighted. I've done this perplexed when my boresighter (Bushnell) delivered shots way off. I mechanically boresighted as above, put my boresighter on and discovered that it was WAY OFF from true. Further investigation revealed this contraption had way too much slop in fit. It could not deliver on it's intended function (junk) and was sold off on Ebay.

Paladin · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2003, 03:16:27 PM »

I always start at 25 yds and the bigger the target the better. from what I'v seen bore sighters do not work very well, they are intended to get ya into the ball park. I can do that with one shot. get it on at 25 yds and than move out to 50 or 100 good luck don't give up

bobg · « **Reply #23 on:** October 14, 2003, 01:50:38 PM »

Hey guys, Thanks for all the help. You have been great.

Thanks again,
bobg :-D