Occasionally, we get a barrel back that someone is having an issue with. Most times, it’s a Rimfire barrel. While, like any other company, once in a while something slips through, and we generally just replace it. With Rimfire we test them before replacement. This does a couple things. Firstly, it helps us get better if we have missed something. This is most important. Secondly, specifically with Rimfire, there are a LOT of variables that can make it seem like a barrel is having an issue. There are 2 factors that I feel cause the most issues.
#1. Ammo. It can’t be tuned. Lot testing is a must, even with high-end ammo. If you are looking for elite-level performance, then you must put in an elite-level effort to find the best ammo for your rifle. As an example I bought a CASE of Tenex last year. At 50M, it was near 1” for 10 shots. $2900!
So I lot tested some other lots and was able to find a great lot to take to the UK. Shooting random lots of ammo hoping it is killer benchrest accuracy might happen. But it also might not. I’ve been lucky and not lucky. Do your due diligence.
#2. Chassis and mag fitment. The long and the short of it is your ammo must be injected directly into the chamber without weird angles and edges touching as they go in. This has ZERO to do with the barrel or action. Feeding correctly sits solely in the lap of the mag and chassis. These should be tuned to suit the barrel and action, not the other way around.
So, as an example, I got a CZ barrel back that someone said they could not get to group at all. Ok I’ll stick it on my CZ and if she has issues we’ll replace it no sweat. This testing basically has everything going against it lol. It’s going to be random lots of ammo, and to boot. I have a Boyd’s wood laminate stock that is not pillar bedded, and the barrel touches all the way along the barrel channel. Is not free floated at all.
Below are the results at 50 and 100m. I tested a bunch of different ammo that I had available at 50m. Once I found the best, which in this case was my first lot of Lapua Midas+, I took it to 100m, and the results were pretty great. This lot of Midas shoots like hot garbage in my Deuce and the Eley Team and Tenex that shoot like hot garbage in this CZ shoot like a house on fire in my Deuce.
Pics below. What say ye all? Shoot or doesn’t shoot? 
