Eddystone 1917 Mark

[browningautorifle]

I have a Krag from CMP whos barrel was way too bad to shoot.

On that...we've seen '94 Winchester rifles with almost nothing left shoot fine with jackets and Lee Enfields too. I've shot M1 rifles that had little left but jackets shot OK as long as not pushed too hard. It's hard to tell without shooting them. Now it's replaced though, it should be good. I had a Krag rifle with a dark bore shot fine but pattern 24" to eleven on the clock. Turned out it had a ring within an inch of the muzzle that was oblong, thus throwing the bullets. It still grouped fine, just off to eleven...

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[Patrick Chadwick]

On that...we've seen '94 Winchester rifles with almost nothing left shoot fine with jackets ...

It just so happens that today I made an ammo comparison test with my WIN94 in 32-40. This rifle was once inspected by an expert shooter with a professional endoscope (NOT a cheapo borescope). His verdict: the rifle was useless for shooting - bore heavily worn at front and back, and rough in the middle. “Put it in a display cabinet or sell it to a collector” was his recommendation.

Fortunately, my rifle does not understand German and was thus not offended. I continued to use it, and last year managed to win the BDMP national competition at 100 meters /seated (I cannot manage prone any more). This was (and has been for years) using Speer .321/170gn flat-nose jacketed bullets (Hot-Cor).

However, those bullets are pricey over here, and today I tried out some g-g lead bullets and some plastic-coated thin-copper jacketed bullets. (Yes, I confess - looking for a cheaper solution!)

The results: the Speer performed as expected, the g-g lead were all over the target, and the plastic-coated ones must still be under way, as they haven’t reached the target yet.

Conclusion: as Jim pointed out: an optically lousy barrel can still perform well with the right ammo!

[ArtPahl]

Mr. Chadwick,

I have two questions: First; I have a Winchester 1894 in 32-40 and a Marlin 336 in .32 Special but .32-30? That's one I haven't heard of.

Second; I know that Speer makes a 170 gr. .321 diameter flat point bullet #2259. I have a box of them on the shelf. But I can't find any reference to a 180 gr. .321.

Can you elaborate?

[DustyRusty]

Patrick, the crown shows no sign of 10,000 strokes with a segmented steel cleaning rod or snake bite.
I'll get her on paper when the range dries up a bit and see how she acts.
My oldest is the trapdoor and she kicks like an angry mules.

[browningautorifle]

I'll get her on paper when the range dries up a bit and see how she acts.

Take a sandbag to rest and then there's no messin' around. Nice and careful at 25 and 100. Very interested...

[Patrick Chadwick]

Art, your questions have been answered - I corrected the typos!