452 custom barrel action

[Wellington]

I am getting into rimfire target. I have a 452 that will shoot 1/2" with the right ammo, not happy with that. If I swap out the barrel to a custom and put a tuner on it can I realistically expect .25" groups?

 

[1Merlin]

That question and the true meaning of life are pretty difficult to answer. Maybe, depends, I doubt it. How much money do you have?

 

[drover]

I am getting into rimfire target. I have a 452 that will shoot 1/2" with the right ammo, not happy with that. If I swap out the barrel to a custom and put a tuner on it can I realistically expect .25" groups?

What distance are you shooting at? If you are expecting .25 groups at 50 yards then the answer is no, if you are shooting at 25 yards the answer is maybe when everything works perfectly. .25 groups are difficult using the best that can be built and even then not consistently.

drover

 

[Wellington]

What distance are you shooting at? If you are expecting .25 groups at 50 yards then the answer is no, if you are shooting at 25 yards the answer is maybe when everything works perfectly. .25 groups are difficult using the best that can be built and even then not consistently.

drover

Yeah I was talking 50 yds.

 

[GSL]

I am getting into rimfire target. I have a 452 that will shoot 1/2" with the right ammo, not happy with that. If I swap out the barrel to a custom and put a tuner on it can I realistically expect .25" groups?

Dear sir ,
At what distance and what number of shots ?
There is most definitely a limit as to what is possible
AND probable … given enough determination and
Money . Please share more info

 

[GSL]

Having read some commentary …
I see that you are shooting 50 yds .
If a custom barrel of the correct length and diameter
Is installed WELL , you most certainly expect .25 groups at 50 yds ! You might possibly get .25 at 100 yds … in my 35 yrs of pursuing smallbore rifle accuracy I believe :
5 shots at 100 yds equaling around .3 inches is about the most anyone can ask for and obtain
Without going bonkers …
At 50yds , good shooting rifles with the sort of attention we are presupposing should shoot in the
.2 range = 5 shots .

 

[butchlambert]

Having read some commentary …
I see that you are shooting 50 yds .
If a custom barrel of the correct length and diameter
Is installed WELL , you most certainly expect .25 groups at 50 yds ! You might possibly get .25 at 100 yds … in my 35 yrs of pursuing smallbore rifle accuracy I believe :
5 shots at 100 yds equaling around .3 inches is about the most anyone can ask for and obtain
Without going bonkers …
At 50yds , good shooting rifles with the sort of attention we are presupposing should shoot in the
.2 range = 5 shots .

If he can find a great trigger.

 

[grauhanen]

I am getting into rimfire target. I have a 452 that will shoot 1/2" with the right ammo, not happy with that. If I swap out the barrel to a custom and put a tuner on it can I realistically expect .25" groups?

Consistent .25" five-shot groups at 50 yards can be a tall order.

Unlike the 455 and 457, changing the barrel of a 452 is not a DIY job.

In any case, even with a change to a custom barrel, to have a chance of improving results to consistent .25" at 50, the stock/action should be bedded, and the trigger changed or improved.

But even before adding a tuner to the equation, it's necessary to lot test to find the best performing lot(s) of ammo. While a properly set tuner will help, it will not turn inconsistent ammo into something else.

There are no shortcuts, such as using a chamber "designed" for a particular variety of ammo. Unless you have great luck, regardless of having a custom barrel and a tuner, a random lot of ammo won't likely to produce consistent .25" results at 50 yards.

 

[ttfreestyle]

That question and the true meaning of life are pretty difficult to answer. Maybe, depends, I doubt it. How much money do you have?

How much money do you have, no truer words were ever spoken.......

 

[PigButtons]

I would save the money and look for a true, used and proven bench rest rig. Benchrest Central, rimfirecentral, both have classifieds where those types of rifles can be found on a pretty frequent basis.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Solid advice ^^^^^^^

 

[ebb]

452 has threaded barrel, not as easy to rebarrel as the newer CZs

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Consistent .25" five-shot groups at 50 yards can be a tall order.

Unlike the 455 and 457, changing the barrel of a 452 is not a DIY job.

In any case, even with a change to a custom barrel, to have a chance of improving results to consistent .25" at 50, the stock/action should be bedded, and the trigger changed or improved.

But even before adding a tuner to the equation, it's necessary to lot test to find the best performing lot(s) of ammo. While a properly set tuner will help, it will not turn inconsistent ammo into something else.

There are no shortcuts, such as using a chamber "designed" for a particular variety of ammo. Unless you have great luck, regardless of having a custom barrel and a tuner, a random lot of ammo won't likely to produce consistent .25" results at 50 yards.

Considering you only have and shoot factory barreled rifles from my knowledge, you need to understand why a certain chamber is done.
here is 5 5-shot groups all done with a barrel setup to give the best performance from Lapua. same barrel with a 20-shot group.
different barrel back to back 5-shot groups with 2 different lot of Lapua same chamber.
I wouldn't say it was luck, but understanding what to look for.

Lee

 

[grauhanen]

Considering you only have and shoot factory barreled rifles from my knowledge, you need to understand why a certain chamber is done.
here is 5 5-shot groups all done with a barrel setup to give the best performance from Lapua. same barrel with a 20-shot group.
different barrel back to back 5-shot groups with 2 different lot of Lapua same chamber.
I wouldn't say it was luck, but understanding what to look for.

Lee

Lee, regardless of what I shoot, you must aware that simply having a "Lapua" or an "Eley" chamber doesn't mean that you don't have to lot test. Otherwise you would never take your rifles to Mesa, as you do.

I meant that having a Lapua chamber doesn't mean all Lapua will shoot well. It doesn't work that way. Even Kevin Nevius, the Lapua sponsored shooter and smith who designed the chamber you use on your rifles, lot tests Lapua ammo.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Lee, regardless of what I shoot, you must aware that simply having a "Lapua" or an "Eley" chamber doesn't mean that you don't have to lot test. Otherwise you would never take your rifles to Mesa, as you do.

I meant that having a Lapua chamber doesn't mean all Lapua will shoot well. It doesn't work that way. Even Kevin Nevius, the Lapua sponsored shooter and smith who designed the chamber you use on your rifles, lot tests Lapua ammo.

I haven't been to the Mesa center since Feb.2019 I haven't lot tested any ammo since 2018 the only lot tested ammo I have is the CX #1117 & 1962 bought in 2019 after testing at Mesa I wish I could lot test as the ammo coming from Lapua is the best I have seen since I started shooting it exclusively back in 2012-2013 seeing what I can get with ammo bought blind I just can't imagine what I could get with lot tested ammo. I have bought 3 cases of Lapua 2 CX and 1 PK since August 2021 and they shoot pretty good for not being lot tested.
The best match score I have shot was done with Pistol King again bought blind 250-21X shot with a 3rd rifle with a Nevius chamber. my first ARA win was done with a lot of CX bought blind my two 2nd place finished behind one of the best ARA shooters was with 2 different lots of CX which one of the lots was from August.
you said something about not being able to shoot consecutive groups regardless of chamber here is 4 groups done with 4 different lots shot in the same rifle that produced the 250-21X with PK only the 117 & 1962 are lot tested ammo and not even in this rifle that 4984 lot is from 2015 a left over from test lots.

am I saying by using a specific chamber you can get the same results no but your chances are much better in having a rifle that shoots most ammo fairly well. again you just need to know what to look for.
you keep believing in the broad generalized beliefs without even knowing for yourself as in never trying a custom barreled rifle with different chambers.
I know and believe in the results I get. I posted to this thread because your statement to the OP is not completely true as I know for myself what can be done.

Lee

 

[slobhunter2]

Would you care to post what you shot those groups with?

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Would you care to post what you shot those groups with?

Here you go rifle from post 13- 1st Gen. Baity Falcon the 2nd picture of the rifle at the range was with a new barrel that was the 2 back-to-back groups.
rifle from post 15 Anschutz Match 54 I don't have current pictures of this rifle as I made changes on the bedding and added 5-lbs. of weight to it. this rifle was done in 2017 and I originally did for a friend and bought it back last year.
the barrels were done by two different smiths but using the same chamber specs. The Falcon is now owned by a match director in KY I no longer have any customs.
Here is the rifle I used to win my 1st ARA H&R M12 tis was project to see what can be done with these rifles trigger was the only thing that makes it difficult, to use this rifle but it has been redone and breaks now just under 2-oz.

Lee

 

[slobhunter2]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Tim Slater]

I meant that having a Lapua chamber doesn't mean all Lapua will shoot well. It doesn't work that way. Even Kevin Nevius, the Lapua sponsored shooter and smith who designed the chamber you use on your rifles, lot tests Lapua ammo.

Glenn,

Not to argue your point. Kevin has posted of about this. Testing rifles would be a fairer description. He receives a case (or two?) every year, and runs this through his various barrels/actions (possibly recrowning/chambering) until he finds one that works.

It's a hard life...

 

[Wellington]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. So I am in the process of ordering a barrel and needed the diameter of the barrel. I pulled the action and low and behold the barrel has a recoil lug machined into it. The action only has one screw, I forgot that little tidbit although I did see that when I bedded it. So I am thinking I will glue in the action when I get the new barrel and not play with the recoil at all, just leave it off. Does this sound reasonable?