M1917 Stock question/issue

[oldfoneguy]

I recently shimmed the barrels of my M1917 and P14 because they weren't touching and I felt it was affecting accuracy. I made a .020 shim for the 1917 and a .034 shim for the P14. It made a big improvement on both, a 1/4" tighter group improvement for each! I had the 1917 in a sporter stock that I had glass bedded and fully floated. It never seemed to achieve the accuracy that I was trying for. It shoots more accurately now in the full military stock with the front of the barrel supported than it ever did in the sporter stock.

When fired in the sporter stock you could feel that long barrel whip and swing down to the lower right as the bullet exited the barrel. It was a strange experience that everyone who shot the rifle felt happen and this was with no front sight.

My assumption is a 26" military contour barrel is just to long to be unsupported. The original barrel is too thin for that much length. It should be supported centerline of the bore the length of the pad at the end of the forestock. The front band doesn't need to be tapped on tight, just enough to be snug.

This is my opinion, others may disagree but I have experienced the results of both firsthand and a supported barrel does work better. - Bill

[browningautorifle]

you could feel that long barrel whip and swing down to the lower right as the bullet exited the barrel

Interesting, never heard that before...

[BobinNJ]

I recently shimmed the barrels of my M1917 and P14 because they weren't touching and I felt it was affecting accuracy. I made a .020 shim for the 1917 and a .034 shim for the P14. It made a big improvement on both, a 1/4" tighter group improvement for each! I had the 1917 in a sporter stock that I had glass bedded and fully floated. It never seemed to achieve the accuracy that I was trying for. It shoots more accurately now in the full military stock with the front of the barrel supported than it ever did in the sporter stock.

Where are you placing your shims? At the fore end or the receiver?

[oldfoneguy]

Where are you placing your shims? At the fore end or the receiver?

Fore end.

Here is a before and after. 3 shot groups. The group on the left (should be on the top!) is the after, group on the right is before. Please ignore the marked shot that was my brother being an idiot because he was jealous that I out shot him that day.

The load was 50gr IMR 4895 behind a 150gr Sierra SPFB with a CCI-200 primer. Same load for both outings. I find the Enfield rifling prefers a flat base bullet which gives excellent results. - Bill

[jamie5070]

I have always heard that 3-4 lbs (?) of upward force of the barrel against the front barrel band would help accuracy. I don't know how you would measure it. A hundred years of compression and shrinkage can make things a little loose.