Eley Force 22LR

[spclark]

Early last year I noticed I was running low on the stash of RWS50 & Wolf Match Target I'd acquired several years ago. So I ordered up a box of seven or eight contemporary 22LR boxes to test (from among those I considered to be 'reasonably' priced for winter league 3p) in my Anschutz / Eliseo rifle. Surprisingly (at least to me!) the clear winner was Eley Force, a 42 grain 22LR the description indicates is intended for semi autos. At 50 feet it grouped equal to the RWS50 I'd been using for prone. So I ordered a couple of bricks.

Been using that this season (ended yesterday) with good results save for a misfire or two out of each box of fifty. Had a couple of hang fires as well. In this same rifle the Wolf and RWS were entirely free of these things.

I've noted the Force seems to have stickier lube, rounds don't chamber with consistent force with the bolt. Wondering if perhaps a build-up of lube may be the cause of the misfires? Or whether my FP spring needs replacing?

Next practice session I may try wiping excess lube off the rounds I'm going to use, and will test after cleaning the chamber of build-up, see what happens.

Comments welcome, why I bothered to post this.

 

[xswanted]

Eley Force uses their paraffin wax, same stuff they use on a few other ammo. From my experience with the same lube on Eley Club it builds up less than other types of lube BUT more than what SK or Lapua ammo does. I haven't used RWS so I'm not sure if their lube is more of a waxy feel or oily feel.

Having said that, I haven't experienced misfires due to was build up, which of course doesn't mean it can't happen.

Could it be that the case might be shaped slightly different causing a head space difference from your RWS? I would think the Annie has a match chamber and may be picky on this.

I use Eley Semi Auto BR in one of my bolt guns. A factory rifle (match chamber) will extract the rounds perfectly however a match chamber custom barrel will not extract reliably. I believe this is attributed to a slightly different case shape for the semi auto feeding.

I've not had troubles with misfires.

I can't imagine, even being cheap ammo from Eley, that the ammo would be that bad.

Have you cleaned your bolt?

 

[dhagerty40]

you are having the same problem I am having with Eley semi-auto Benchrest-Precision and with 2 different lots causes misfires in 3 different rifles but it is some of the Most accurate ammo i have used.

Changing the FP spring and cleaning the bolt makes no difference. I still get the random misfire.

I have pretty well tracked it down to the ammo. But I am suspecting since the ammo is for a semi-auto, they might be making the brass thicker or harder around the rim requiring more force to fire the round.

 

[spclark]

Eley Force uses their paraffin wax, same stuff they use on a few other ammo. From my experience with the same lube on Eley Club it builds up less than other types of lube BUT more than what SK or Lapua ammo does. I haven't used RWS so I'm not sure if their lube is more of a waxy feel or oily feel.

The SK and Wolf cartridges don't feel quite as 'waxy', no. Chambering each round of both feels consistent. With the FORCE the feel is inconsistent; one round may slide in easy, the next it's obvious the bolt takes more force to slide forward. Force needed to lock the bolt doesn't change so I'm disinclined to think the case rim is any thicker. I ought to measure it though, shouldn't I? I have a rim gauge around somewhere...

Could it be that the case might be shaped slightly different causing a head space difference from your RWS? I would think the Annie has a match chamber and may be picky on this.

Could? Yes, of course. Checking rim thickness may tell me something.

I use Eley Semi Auto BR in one of my bolt guns. A factory rifle (match chamber) will extract the rounds perfectly however a match chamber custom barrel will not extract reliably. I believe this is attributed to a slightly different case shape for the semi auto feeding.

Dunno. My experience with bottleneck cartridges for long range and high power position shooting leaves me thinking that semi's have different chamber specs over bolt guns while the cartridge case dimensions for a given cartridge are governed by SAAMI. Benchrest is a horse of a different color; cases may be 'customized' as well as chamber specs to suit the preferences of the shooter, within reason.

I can't imagine, even being cheap ammo from Eley, that the ammo would be that bad.

It's not, really. Just frustrating (particularly in standing) when a round doesn't go BANG when it's supposed to. Out of a dozen such only one failed to fire on the second hit. Prone's less of a problem. Kneeling's not as bad as standing but it's a distraction.

The two hangfires I've had this season are more of a concern. When I get a misfire I take the rifle down, leave the bolt closed for a ten-count. The hangfires have gone off while I'm still in position but not always on a target bull. One I had to claim wasn't a miss, the other didn't hit paper.

Have you cleaned your bolt?

Not since before the league season began late last November, no. I intend to clean it this coming week, complete take-down. Barrel's chamber and bore as well.

I have pretty well tracked it down to the ammo. But I am suspecting since the ammo is for a semi-auto, they might be making the brass thicker or harder around the rim requiring more force to fire the round.

Interesting, thanks for posting that. My thinking on that possibility is what prompted me to ponder whether my FP spring needs replacing, or whether a slightly stronger spring would effect more consistent ignition. With centerfire cartridges, primer choice makes a big difference of course, and in some instances changing FP spring can improve ignition consistency.

I bought the 1813 barreled action back around 2006 or 2007. It was 'New Old Stock' – unfired – when received, and has been in an Eliseo M1 stock ever since. I've shot every winter in two different indoor leagues since I built it... lots of rounds fired.

 

[xswanted]

Keep this updated if you resolve the problem. I’m interested to know what could be the culprit.

 

[CharlieNC]

Eley ammunition has a thinner rim than other brands, and if your firing pin fall is on the short side can result in misfires which go bang by simply recocking the bolt. My issue was corrected 100% by having the cocking piece adjusted to increase the fall closer to the typical range.

 

[spclark]

Interesting! Thanks for posting that!

Your comment suggest it's not something you were prepared to do yourself? I have to wonder if it's something an Anschutz guru should be asked to perform or if someone who's comfortable with bolt assembly & cleaning would be capable of performing?

German Salazar (RIP) confided it was 'safe' to dry fire an Anschutz action when I was focused upon gaining proficiency with the built-up rifle, that the FP doesn't contact the breech face. I see no need now to engage in that kind of practice.

I'd been unaware there's an adjustment capability built in that could affect strike depth until I read your post.

 

[CharlieNC]

Interesting! Thanks for posting that!

Your comment suggest it's not something you were prepared to do yourself? I have to wonder if it's something an Anschutz guru should be asked to perform or if someone who's comfortable with bolt assembly & cleaning would be capable of performing?

German Salazar (RIP) confided it was 'safe' to dry fire an Anschutz action when I was focused upon gaining proficiency with the built-up rifle, that the FP doesn't contact the breech face. I see no need now to engage in that kind of practice.

I'd been unaware there's an adjustment capability built in that could affect strike depth until I read your post.

I didn't learn about this until I installed a new trigger and could barely close the bolt on a cartridge and began to research why. I used a local rimfire expert (Jonathan at Modacam) to mill the cocking piece to perfection. But it sounds like like you may have too little firing pin fall? Find a rimfire expert gunsmith for sure.

 

[spclark]

Indeed. New trigger can often lead to frustration & not just with Anschutz stuff.

I have a number of friends (now rather distant compared to where I used to live) I have yet to query about this recent phenomenon.

After reading your post earlier I did a bit of Googlefu, learned that Anschutz NA has a support choice on their website: https://www.anschutznorthamerica.com

Lots more info on 'care & feeding' than had been on-line when I added this rifle to my kit many years ago. That URL will take one to their website, Support is available here: https://www.anschutznorthamerica.com/technical-questions.html

(I've queried them on this issue, will update here once I've heard back from them.)

 

[spclark]

What I got back from my query to Anschutz tech:

"On the 1813 there isn’t an adjustment for a deeper strike. I’d bet it’s 100% down to the Eley ammo. They’ve been having major QC issues. I’ve talked to numerous customers that are having light strikes and FTF with Eley, and not just our rifles."

 

[CharlieNC]

I wouldn't say it's an Eley qc problem, but rather the different rim thickness design spec vs the firing pin fall. My rifle now shoots Eley and Lapua equally well without problems, but will not close on a CCI due to thick rims.

 

[spclark]

I need to search for the rim gage I have... someplace. Been years since I felt the need to be so precise.

There's enough LR cartridges in my stash I have a wide selection of older as well as fairly new cases among several brands to compare rim thickness. Should be an interesting exercise given what you've provided.

 

[spclark]

Found that gage. From Sinclair International I think, maybe 15 or more years back. Some of the cartridges I measured today date from about the same time, others from earlier this year to someplace in between.

Numbers follow; my initial suspicion is the thinner rims of FORCE may be causing the inconsistent ignition.
I've not used any of the other included thin-rim products in this particular action.