break action accuracy??

T

tpende

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i switched from a .223 to a .308, but i still have all my .223 reloading brass and equipment so im considering buying a cheapy rossi heavy barrel break action single shot with 23" barrel and 1-10 twist because i can get one for 200 bucks.

my question is how accurate are these? or could i make it for that matter? im guessing its fairly accurate because theres not a whole lot of moving parts and the barrel is heavy as heck, but im wondering if the bad harmonics would make it a 300yd and under gun?
 
That all depends on your definition of accuracy. If you are looking to stack 'em all in the same hole, you'll be disappointed. If you want to hit a 3" circle @ 100 yards, you might be alright. So, what do you expect from a $200rifle?

Rick
 
I tend to agree with Rick. Buy a Savage?Stevens for around $299 and then you can concentrate on a 1" circle.

FWIW
From what I hear the "cheap" break open actions can exhibit quite a bit of flex causing banana shaped brass and stretching headspace problems. Never had one myself tho.

I do have a 12 gauge Rossi Coach Gun. The action was pretty tight in the gunstore but after 300 rds or so it wiggles a bit. A scatter gun hits what you aim it at as long as you aim it at what you want to hit. Rifles aren't as forgiving.
 
Have 2 heavy barrel handi rifles in .243. 1.5-2" with handloads.
 
You'll have difficulty getting benchrest accuracy with any action which doesn't use a one piece stock. It's also a problem with many non-break rifles such as falling blocks and rolling blocks. Those could have one piece stocks but usually don't. Those actions gnerally have lilttle bedding area to attach the action to the stock.

Bolt actions generally use one piece stocks and have a relatively long bedding area with the abiltiy to firmly hold and free float the barrel with few moving parts. They also have reasonable space on the receiver for mounting a scope. That's lacking on most other action designs.
 
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Break action accuracy

tpende said:
i switched from a .223 to a .308, but i still have all my .223 reloading brass and equipment so im considering buying a cheapy rossi heavy barrel break action single shot with 23" barrel and 1-10 twist because i can get one for 200 bucks.

my question is how accurate are these? or could i make it for that matter? im guessing its fairly accurate because theres not a whole lot of moving parts and the barrel is heavy as heck, but im wondering if the bad harmonics would make it a 300yd and under gun?
Click to expand...

I have an NEF Handi Rifle that is very accurate for what it is. This is my second barrel, through the barrel exchange program, with a 1:9" twist. I found a load shooting 55 grn. Hornady V-Maxes with IMR 4895 powder seated .103 from the lands @ 100 yds. The first time I shot this load from the bench I was able to shoot a 5 shot one hole group < 1/2". Quite frankly, I was ecstatic and am content with this type of accuracy from a $200 'beater' rifle I use for walk around varmint hunting. My first barrel would yield approx. 1" group accuracy @ 100 yds. I tried, like a fool, to tighten that group up which was a futile waste of time. I learned a very important lesson in the process and that was you'll never get a $200 rifle to perform like a pedigreed rifle; it's not meant to. So, to answer your question; it's a roll of the dice. My rifle is plenty accurate for walk around off hand shooting of groundhogs.

Lou Baccino
 
my experience

i dont have any experience with break open rifles like the NEF.
however i had several contender pistols and they shot the best when i would resize the brass so i had to snap the action closed to get the action lock to fully engage. this would headspace the brass tight on the shoulder and vastly improve the accuracy. this worked both with a rimmed cartridge (357 herrett) and a rimless one too (7 TCU.)
Fred
 
I have a Thompson Encore rifle with 3 barrels 6.8SPC, .222Rem, 22-250.

Gun is very accurate I call it my hitman gun because of the changeable barrels. I have a 8-10oz trigger in it walnut stocks 2 stainless 1 blued 26" Barrels. One of them has the best group I've ever shot at 220yds 3rounds.
Shooting score targets and under MOA very easy with hand loads. The process of rechambering for the next round changes positioning on the rest and shoulder and trigger finger often.

I also have a NEF Handi Rifle in .243 winchester. This gun is accurate and precise with hand loads. Not as Fancy as the Encore but it will outshoot guns costing several times more.

Break barrels are difficult to get sized/headspaced for sometimes. I still chamber each round after sizing to make sure the barrel closes properly before priming powder and projectile.

The Stevens Savage are slightly higher. somewhat rough finished and shoot as good as fancier Savage models. Barrels can be changed, triggers upgraded, stocks upgraded etc.

For a walking plinking truck gun Buy an NEF.

For an upgradeable modular inexpensive rifle buy a Stevens model 200.
 
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