First Shot Flyers

[K22]

Recently began shooting a 22 rimfire rifle after many years of layoff with this caliber. I been frustrated since I've been experiencing first shot flyers. When I say flyers, I mean as much as 3 to 4 inches from the bulleye.

The flyers occur 100% of the time from a fouled barrel (at least 50 rounds shot through it). After the first shot, the rifle produces acceptable groups for me (about 1 inch at 50 yards) for the quality level of ammo I've been using. Shooting through a clean barrel doesn't help since it takes about ten rounds through a clean barrel before the rifle begins to produce acceptable groups.

The rifle is a CZ 452, ammo tried: Federal American Eagle, CCI Standard Velocity, and Federal Standard Velocity. I expect to get a flyer once in awhile from this ammo but clearly something is going on to produce a systematic first shot flyer all the time.

I'd like to use the rifle for hunting but the erractic first shot condition leaves me with too much uncertainity.

Any thoughts on this issue would be appreciated.

 

[Travelor]

This is not unusual for for a RF rifle. The fist shot tends to "loosen up" the lube in a barrel. The trick is to know where it shoots and compensate for it.

This is called a Cold Barrel shot and "snipers" shoot this shot and have the ballistics recorded for this first shot not being in the heated barrel.

Some guns are worse than others - sounds as if yours is one of the tough ones to know where it will shoot.

George

 

[hardluk1]

Try to step up to fed match - 711b or one of the other fed match ammo, wolf or sk and see after a few rounds if the fliers stop or decrease group size.

 

[jbpmidas]

My Kimber 82G does the same thing. It is even worse when it is below 50 degrees. I shoot Eley Black Box. I don't think ammo will solve this, but it might. If you figure it out, post back what you did.

 

[K22]

I did try some Wolf Target and Federal Gold Metal, only a few rounds however, lent to me by a fellow shooter. Groups were tighter but I still got first shot flyers after the rifle remained idled for a day.

Groups are not the problem, its the first shot flyers from a cold barrel that's bugging me. Sounds like "Jbpmidas" is having the same problem as me with his Kimber 82G. Also, the flyers are not consistant with regards to location so compensating won't work either as suggested by "Travelor".

I'm afraid the solution just might be to accept it and use the rifle for practice and forget about hunting with it.

 

[jbpmidas]

You are correct. I have the same problem. The "flier" is not consistent. Sometimes I think it may be a little "me" needing to get settled behind the rifle.

 

[Shynloco]

Not at all surprising! I'm going to guess that you just either cleaned the barrel or patched it, unsuspectingly leaving some moisture in the barrel. That is why I just don't even bother trying to shoot for accuracy on my first round through after patching because I don't brush my barrels, only patch them, both wet and dry. But then I also don't shoot ANYTHING but coated/lubed ammo such as Wolf, Eley, Federal or Lapua through my barrels. Just the nature of the beast with RM barrels at least thats what I've found.

 

[jbpmidas]

I have not cleaned mine, patch or brush, since the original cleaning. I only shoot Eley in it. It has several hundred, possibly approaching 1000, rounds and it still easily outshoots me. I am going to have to clean the bolt and action pretty soon.

 

[K22]

First Shot flyers occur from a COLD FOULED BARREL. I've learn that the rifle will not group very well until 10 shots or so are fired through it so I don't clean it very often, usually ONLY when I pull it away for the winter.

As I said previouly, it shoots fine for me after the first shot but the first shot always goes wild. I'm not sure what "Shynloco" means by "coated/lubed ammo. All 22 ammo has some sort of coating, at least that's what I've been told. Also, as I said in my second post, I've tried Wolf ammo, not a lot of it, but I still obtain a first shot flyer.

 

[timbertoes]

CZ is not supposed to do that, but it has occured to others.
rimfire central has several threads on the problem.

also check your pm inbox.

 

[K22]

CZ is not supposed to do that, but it has occured to others.
rimfire central has several threads on the problem.

also check your pm inbox.

Please advise how to access "rimfire central" and "pm box". Thanks.

 

[tunered]

up on the top of the page you will see messages, that is your PM, private message.

 

[Shynloco]

First Shot flyers occur from a COLD FOULED BARREL. I've learn that the rifle will not group very well until 10 shots or so are fired through it so I don't clean it very often, usually ONLY when I pull it away for the winter.

As I said previouly, it shoots fine for me after the first shot but the first shot always goes wild. I'm not sure what "Shynloco" means by "coated/lubed ammo. All 22 ammo has some sort of coating, at least that's what I've been told. Also, as I said in my second post, I've tried Wolf ammo, not a lot of it, but I still obtain a first shot flyer.

To clarify the "coated/lubed ammo" re,ark. All .22 ammo IS NOT coated and lubed. The more expensive competition ammo is and the typical Walmart/Sporting good .22 ammo is not. Take a look at the Wolf, Eley, Lapua and compare it to any of the Winchester, Remington or Walmart struff and you'll see the difference. There are several OTHER differences including how well the first three shoot and compared to the latter mentioned. That is also part of the reason why I personally don't shoot the latter in any of my .22's.

 

[K22]

Shynloco,

Thanks for the clarification on Rimfire Ammo coating. I shoot Federal and CCI and they all group well for me except for the first shot cold barrel flyer.

 

[25AI260]

there is a couple of thing that happen in in semi auto that you can try in your bolt action... one is magazine alignment an firing pin slop [vertical]
i assume your 1st shot flyer is from the first shot of newly installed magazine.. have you tried extracting the 1st round before you fire it... then bring up another as a first shot ?
just a thought i don't own .22 in a bolt action any longer ..
never had that problem in my 75winny

 

[K22]

25AI260,

Never tried what you've suggested but I'll give it a try and let you know.

 

[25AI260]

you could also count your shots.. the last round you chamber from the clip 'don't fire it'... rather pull the clip ... load it an re install
try both..

 

[fastcars69]

My Savage Mark ii first cold shot is always 3/4 low and 3/8 to the right. The next shot is in the 10 ring at 50 yards.