788 in 222 accuracy problems

[maximimum]

I have a Remington 788 in 222 that i can't get to group my three shots will line up vertically on a 3" or 4" line.
Got to looking at the spent casings and noticed they were deformed on the mouth instead of being round one side is flatten slightly.

 

[mac86951]

Hmmm, the 788 shouldn't cause any problems on loading the round into the chamber, nor should that be an issue. If the brass didn't hit something upon being ejected, it could be that the ejector spring is flattening the case on removing from the chamber, or it could be a chamber issue?

My 788 will shoot 3-4" groups at 100y with the wrong bullet, it likes the 50gr Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmegeddon, and 50gr Sierra Blitzking. I never had good luck with heavier or higher BC match bullets, something about the elongated boat-tail or different bearing surfaces don't work so well with my rifle.

-Mac

 

[BoydAllen]

What is the situation with the rifles bedding? Also, it may be that your ejector spring needs lightening some. Remove the ejector and see if the necks are still flat on one side.

 

[maximimum]

the load is 40gr v-max and 21gr of 4198

 

[maximimum]

the rifle is not bedded

 

[Steve Blair]

the rifle is not bedded

[br]
I have three 788's and the factory stock fit is notoriously bad. Have the rifle bedded and make sure the barrel floats. A 788 .222 with a good barrel should group under .5" at 100.

 

[hedditch]

Check this first then bed your rifle. Make sure your recoil lug and tang screws are not too long. Here is how: take the stock off. On each screw, count the revolutions to bottom out the screws in the recoil lug and tang. Put the stock back on. Lets say your recoil lug screw bottomed out at 5 revolutions. It the screw tightens against the stock at 4 revolutions, you're ok. If it tops at 5 revolutions, it means you have bottomed out on the recoil lug before tightening the stock down. Same for the tang screw. Means your screws are too long. Shorten the screws enough that the rifle is tight in the stock before bottoming out then bed your rifle.

 

[BoydAllen]

Good Tip, but there is one more thing to watch on a 788. The rear screw has a slight shoulder at the ends of the threads, and instead of bottoming on the end of the screw, it can bottom on this instead, correcting the problem the right way involves using a die to extend the threads on the screw shank. I have the die, having owned several 788s. While we are looking at this area, remember that if you have the rifle bedded (or bed it, that the threaded extension at the tang, that the rear action screw engages, should not touch in the bedding, or thrown shots will result. It needs to be masked off so that it does not touch on its sides or ends, and of course, basic bedding 101, the screws should only touch at their heads in the floor plate, and the action, not the stock.

 

[SS427]

I think you have two issues. One thing causing the accuracy problem that more than likey isn't related to the flattened case mouth problem.

I have a Rem model 700 .223 that will slightly flatten the case mouth on new Lapua brass. As Boyd indicates, it is probably the result of a heavy ejector spring. This action will really wing a case out there. However after shooting the Lapua brass a few times, the brass work hardens to the point the ejector no longer flattens the case mouth. Since it is a varmint rifle, I decided to keep the heavy ejector. It never did that on Winchester brass, and the Lapua brass lasts so long I won't be using any new for quite a while.

 

[bheadboy]

I have had a 788 in 222 and it shot great, after bedding, free floating and using a thin washer under the action in the bedding compound to be sure the screws were not bottoming out.

it is easy to remove the spring and take a half turn off, thus eliminate the ding mouth.

the 50gr sierra and 20.5 Imr 4198 with a .020 jump were my go to. 1/5 or less if I did my share.

Bob

 

[stacy]

BED THE RIFLE AND TRY THIS 22.2GRS H-322 52GR BERGER MINE SHOOTS LITTLE BUG HOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[maximimum]

Thanks for all the info I was thinking that maybe the the barrel was shot out.

 

[bheadboy]

it is almost impossible to shoot out a 222
Bob

 

[BoydAllen]

Are you able to seat your bullets so that they have marks from the rifling? What cleaning procedure do you use?

 

[maximimum]

loaded some 50gr barns and the group got tighter but still not all that great. The flatten mouth is from ejecting.

 

[stacy]

Lighten the ejector spring that problem will be solved.

 

[BigDMT]

Yeah, bed the rifle, yeah check this, yeah check that. But as far as the accuracy issues go; did you ever try a different powder than 4198??? Have you tried any other charges besides 21gr? Not trying to say you don't know how to reload, but we have no idea about the depth of your load testing and reloading components or ability.
Better chance than anything that your rifle just doesn't like that powder.

 

[maximimum]

i just make sure not to go over the max cartage length

 

[JG26_Irish]

Usually the 788 is a shooter. The IMR powder will sometimes be finicky in certain powder measures. I do not load for 222 so I cannot help you there but I do load for 223 and they are not that different. I was never able to get good consistent loads with any of the long extruded powders when using my Dillon powder measure because the powder charges varied too much. Rather than weighing and adjusting each charge, I just swapped to a ball powder or some of the others that would feed with 1/10gr or better accuracy. H335, Varget, ww748 were what gave me the best consistent precision as well as the best velocities. Most of those old Remington 22 cal bbls were of a fairly slow twist. Mine was 1:12 and will not shoot bullets heavier than 55g.

Irish

 

[22BRGUY]

VVN133 is also a great powder for .222. I shoot 22.7grains behind berger 52 matches and am able to keep them consistently on a nickel sized target dot at 200 yards and sometimes better but be sure to work your way up from about 22 grains and watch for pressure signs.