ELEY TENEX ISSUE

[SST2500]

Gents, I have a custom built .22 benchrest rifle with a Shilen ratchet barrel (I don't know what the chamber was cut with). The rifle shoots very well with Lapua Midas Plus. I have tried Eley Match Black Box but was not seeing the same accuracy as the Lapua. A while back, I ordered a brick of Eley Tenex to test in the rifle. Upon firing a box of the ammo, I was having issues with about every third fired round not extracting from the chamber, requiring the point of my pocket knife to remove the fired cases. I have not had this issue with any other ammo other than the Tenex. I don't know if its a different case head shape that's causing the extractor to slip or if the cases are expanding in the chamber to the point they're sticking. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue. I was going to take the rifle to the Eley Test center in June for ammo testing but I'm now thinking that would be a waste of my time. Let me know what you think.

 

[PatMiles]

Post your query in the Technical Discussions section over at Rimfire Accuracy.

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Chamber a few Tenex rounds then extract them. Look at any deformation or engraving on the driving band of the bullet itself. Look for the same on the case.
Do the same with Midas Plus.
22 riflesmiths have been using different reamers for Lapua and Eley for quite a while.

 

[VLNBYR]

Gents, I have a custom built .22 benchrest rifle with a Shilen ratchet barrel (I don't know what the chamber was cut with). The rifle shoots very well with Lapua Midas Plus. I have tried Eley Match Black Box but was not seeing the same accuracy as the Lapua. A while back, I ordered a brick of Eley Tenex to test in the rifle. Upon firing a box of the ammo, I was having issues with about every third fired round not extracting from the chamber, requiring the point of my pocket knife to remove the fired cases. I have not had this issue with any other ammo other than the Tenex. I don't know if its a different case head shape that's causing the extractor to slip or if the cases are expanding in the chamber to the point they're sticking. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue. I was going to take the rifle to the Eley Test center in June for ammo testing but I'm now thinking that would be a waste of my time. Let me know what you think.

Why even mess with the Eley? Accuracy is the pits, extraction problems and then go to their test center for more of the same? And yes it is a common Eley problem for some lots to have extraction issues.

 

[greisdor]

I had this problem - the extraction problem was caused by the rim size and cone of the barrel. Changed to slots on the barrel and set head space to the ammo and now works without issue….

 

[Tim Slater]

Tenex has a thinner rim than Lapua, so perhaps it's looser under the extractors than Lapua. However, you'd expect to see this with Match too, as the dimensions are the same as Tenex.

Perhaps that batch has fatter cases? I had one if Match five or six years ago that was too tight for a shilen barrel (not sure of the chamber, but probably cut for '90s era Eley), but was fine in a friend's Anschutz 1813.

 

[VLNBYR]

My experience with the Eley extraction is that it is pretty much lot specific. Some have it and some don't, both Match and Tenex. Others have seen the same thing.

 

[JMayo]

I've seen that before. Guys at the matches having a tool (knife) to pick them out. Most were tenx if my memory is correct. Tenx does fit different in my rifle also.
Might try starting bullet with fingers and use bolt to finish it with agression.
If it fits tight in the chamber maybe it's not being blown back into the extractor.
Or Sell the ammo and move on.

 

[VLNBYR]

It's beyond me why any benchrest shooter would even consider ammo that isn't accurate and doesn't extract. Move on down the Lapua Road.

 

[mongo chicago]

Maybe a notification to Eley is in order. Even if you change brands, tell them that also.

 

[Thud]

There are so many 22rf reamers out there. You need to specify the ammo you are going to shoot in the rifle and only use that ammo and reamer combo.
There are a few universal type reamers the best one I ever had was a Winchester 52 reamer with a 1.5 lead.
Need to go to a smith who is versed in 22 stuff.

 

[SBS]

I have six .22 match rifles, Anschutz, Walther, Win. 52 and 40X; some factory barrels, some custom barrels. I only shoot Eley -- Team (older lots), Match and Tenex (from the 80's to last year) in multiple lot numbers off different machines. Never a problem with extraction. The more specialized our reamers are, the more problems arise from using ammo not matching the chamber -- also headspace matched to our ammo becomes more critical. Rifles with marginal ignition are problematic with reamers causing heavy engraving of the bullet, particularly with ammo with rims allowing a little more headspace.

 

[Cbashooter]

I have six .22 match rifles, Anschutz, Walther, Win. 52 and 40X; some factory barrels, some custom barrels. I only shoot Eley -- Team (older lots), Match and Tenex (from the 80's to last year) in multiple lot numbers off different machines. Never a problem with extraction. The more specialized our reamers are, the more problems arise from using ammo not matching the chamber -- also headspace matched to our ammo becomes more critical. Rifles with marginal ignition are problematic with reamers causing heavy engraving of the bullet, particularly with ammo with rims allowing a little more headspace.

Spot on post! .My time precision/Douglas barrel is a sub .5 gun at 100 and so is my CPA Schuetzen.Eley Match has been reliable for me.This Eley bashing is usually from once a year shooters, 10 posts a day forum posters.Ive seen extraction issues with many different brands of 22 ammo and it's usually chamber related.
I use eley in all of my nicer .22 rifles. My sporters use cci blazer or mini mags.

My rifles that use only Eley Tenex,Match and Contact are-

Winchester 52a
Time Gorham BR
Remington 40x
Ballard offhand
Ballard BR
Cpa Pope Schuetzen
Anschutz 64 sporter
Kimber of Oregon 82
CZ 457 sporter
Cz 457 HB
H&A custom HB
Varner Favorite
Hammerli and Hausch Martini
BSA International mk2

 

[VLNBYR]

This Eley extraction issue is not a chamber problem. It is a fairly recent thing and is LOT related. All rifles up until recently shot both Lapua aand Eley fine with no issues. Lot test some Match and you will find out what is going on.

 

[Cbashooter]

This Eley extraction issue is not a chamber problem. It is a fairly recent thing and is LOT related. All rifles up until recently shot both Lapua aand Eley fine with no issues. Lot test some Match and you will find out what is going on.

I bought 5 cases of match from this year (3 lot numbers) with no issues .im not saying it isn't happening but I'm not seeing it.in my rifles.i had an Anschutz with a custom barrel in the 1980's that had a tight chamber and chambering was hard and extraction was often poor with many brands.That's when we got gold box SK for $9 a brick and it to was tight.
Generally saying all eley is garbage is just silly.You must watch too much YouTube.

 

[VLNBYR]

I bought 5 cases of match from this year (3 lot numbers) with no issues .im not saying it isn't happening but I'm not seeing it.in my rifles.i had an Anschutz with a custom barrel in the 1980's that had a tight chamber and chambering was hard and extraction was often poor with many brands.That's when we got gold box SK for $9 a brick and it to was tight.
Generally saying all eley is garbage is just silly.You must watch too much YouTube.

I don't think anybody ever said all Eley was garbage. Facts are SOME shooters are having problems with SOME LOTS. It is not across the board, only in some lots and those lots seem to cause problems in multiple rifles.

 

[SBS]

Why even mess with the Eley? Accuracy is the pits, extraction problems and then go to their test center for more of the same? And yes it is a common Eley problem for some lots to have extraction issues.

It's beyond me why any benchrest shooter would even consider ammo that isn't accurate and doesn't extract. Move on down the Lapua Road.

I don't think anybody ever said all Eley was garbage. Facts are SOME shooters are having problems with SOME LOTS. It is not across the board, only in some lots and those lots seem to cause problems in multiple rifles.

It does sound like a Lapua shooter bashing Eley ammo, rather than just helping to figure out the problem.

 

[VLNBYR]

It does sound like a Lapua shooter bashing Eley ammo, rather than just helping to figure out the problem.

I'm not bashing Eley at all, I wish more shooters were using it. My reference was to ONE user who tried it without success but seemed bound determined to make it work.

 

[Thud]

There are too many Keyboard commando's.

 

[greisdor]

Gents, I have a custom built .22 benchrest rifle with a Shilen ratchet barrel (I don't know what the chamber was cut with). The rifle shoots very well with Lapua Midas Plus. I have tried Eley Match Black Box but was not seeing the same accuracy as the Lapua. A while back, I ordered a brick of Eley Tenex to test in the rifle. Upon firing a box of the ammo, I was having issues with about every third fired round not extracting from the chamber, requiring the point of my pocket knife to remove the fired cases. I have not had this issue with any other ammo other than the Tenex. I don't know if its a different case head shape that's causing the extractor to slip or if the cases are expanding in the chamber to the point they're sticking. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue. I was going to take the rifle to the Eley Test center in June for ammo testing but I'm now thinking that would be a waste of my time. Let me know what you think.

Do you have a stiller 2500 with a cone barrel ?

 

[SST2500]

LOL, didn't realize you boys were going to get into a Will Smith vs. Chris Rock fight over a simple question. Like any .22 rimfire benchrest shooter, I am ALWAYS trying new ammo and equipment in order to squeeze the last bit of accuracy out of my rifles. Since I had plans to take this particular rifle (along with another one) to the Eley test center in June, I thought it only prudent to try the best Eley ammo in the rifle prior to that appointment. Never said I was determined to use Eley in the rifle, only that I had tried it and was having some issues and wondered if anyone else was seeing the same type of problem or was it just me. I have seen a lot of rifles that shoot lights out with Eley ammo, they make a great product. Simple question and got some good answers. Thanks for all the input guys, so put down your gloves and shake hands, some of you are reading way to much into a simple post.