Winchester 1885 220 swift shooting poorly on 2nd day at the range

[Iron Worker]

Adjusted the "Zero Stop " its on the money at 100 yds. Shooting 55gr Speer TNT ,some one on FB posted his accurate loads out of his 220 swift. Those loads out of my new rifle shot poorly ,in fact so does factory ammo and all my loads. Now its been dang hot here in Wild Nevada . Maybe I'm seating bullets out to far? So far powders have been W-W760 and Re#16 . The forearm on my rifle isn't free floated. This is first time I've ever shot a falling block rifle,seems to take some getting use to. Thinking of buying some 50 gr Nosler BT bullets . )-:

 

[kiwikid]

My 220 Swift shoots best with 37 grains of IMR 4064, FED 210m primers pushing a 55 grain Sierra Game King. It will group 0.5" at 100m. At just under 3700 fps it's not fast but I have never found a hot load that will shoot well out of my Ruger 77 Mk1 other than the old Norma 50 grain factory loads.

 

[Iron Worker]

I'm learning that these two piece falling block rifles are super sensitive to pressure points,a totally different animal then a bolt action .

 

[elkaholic]

I'm learning that these two piece falling block rifles are super sensitive to pressure points,a totally different animal then a bolt action .

You are correct on the different animal. Some folks use a screw in the foreend on the B78's to apply some pressure on the barrel to tune. Another trick that I used, which really helped my B78 was to bed the tang because that's their "recoil lug" so to speak. I actually drilled out the stock and epozied an aluminum pillar in and then glassed the wood to tang fit. I used a rachet wrench with a long extension to tighten the bolt good and snug against the pillar I put in. This was on my 30/375 S.I. and it shot .3's.....rich

 

[Iron Worker]

You are correct on the different animal. Some folks use a screw in the foreend on the B78's to apply some pressure on the barrel to tune. Another trick that I used, which really helped my B78 was to bed the tang because that's their "recoil lug" so to speak. I actually drilled out the stock and epozied an aluminum pillar in and then glassed the wood to tang fit. I used a rachet wrench with a long extension to tighten the bolt good and snug against the pillar I put in. This was on my 30/375 S.I. and it shot .3's.....rich

Where do you put this "Screw" in ? The rifle is so pretty I'm not a gunsmith . I'm told there is a gunsmith in Missouri that specializes in these rifles. Another thread they say no downward pressure on rear stock and hold your hand in same place on forearm every time,another said your hand in between the sand bag and forearm ? Will these rifle shoot with a bi-pod ?

 

[kiwikid]

The Ruger No 1 can be another finicky rifle to get to shoot well for the same reasons you are experiencing, not that that helps you much. Any chance of a photo or two please?

 

[elkaholic]

The screw, I never used, but I believe there is a steel rod under the fore arm that people threaded for the screw pressure, or maybe just used a modified screw for the front forearm mounting screw. Some people used spacers between the hanger and barrel to free float it as another approach.
The bedding on the tang, if you do it, will resolve any issues with pressure on the stock and take away inconsistent recoiling. It works!

 

[HARPERC]

I have a No. 1, with a synthetic ready to pick up later this week. Rifle has never shot well, or maintained zero. It will be pillar bedded front and rear. Free floated fore arm.
I'd start with the fore arm free floated. If that didn't meet expectations I'd layer tape to the tip, slowly adding pressure. On some you can actually see groups shrink, then open again when you've gone to far.
Rich is pretty much on regarding the butt stock.

 

[Mike 338]

Try a flat based bullet. It made a difference in my swift.

 

[Iron Worker]

The Ruger No 1 can be another finicky rifle to get to shoot well for the same reasons you are experiencing, not that that helps you much. Any chance of a photo or two please?

The Ruger No 1 can be another finicky rifle to get to shoot well for the same reasons you are experiencing, not that that helps you much. Any chance of a photo or two please?

 

[kiwikid]

Thank you for the photos Iron Worker. That is one fine looking shooting iron!

 

[Iron Worker]

Thank you for the photos Iron Worker. That is one fine looking shooting iron!

As it sits right now ,I've realized this is a totally different animal than a bolt action. Trigger is 3lbs and must hold it just right when shooting it. Expert gunsmith says send him the trigger group and he'll make it right and also don't rest the forearm on sand bags,rest the barrel. So others have said once they learned to shoot it,its their favorite rifle and will buy another. Your welcome

 

[HARPERC]

Good looking stick! The issues can be overcome, just a slightly different path.

 

[kiwikid]

Life would be rather boring if every new rifle shot .25 MOA straight out of the box no matter what ammo we chucked at it, if every trigger was always factory set to our personal preference and scopes, rings and bases did what they were meant to first time and every time. We wouldn't need this forum as there would be no questions to ask. A man can only do so much house work and going to the mall to buy shoes that hurt isn't my cup of tea. Thank goodness for rifles and there idiosyncrasies.