Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Remington 580 series accuracy?

Varmitguy,

I have had the same experience with several 541s (mine and others).....seems to be fairly common. I do use my 541s for squirrel but dump a shot prior to actually shooting at a squirrel and then all seems good - they are great shooting rifles as long as your aware of this trait and watch the torque in the action screws.

PennDog

Sent 4 541-THB's back and forth to Remington in the 1990's who kindly refunded my money.Barrel's NG. 4 1/2" flyer's with some.Had 2 NYS benchrest champ's scratching their head. Save your money and buy Anschutz.

It's been awhile since I shot it. I put a Lyman target receiver sight and a globe front sight on it for my son to use when he was is Boy Scout and bought a Cooper for myself. As I recall, that first shot is out about 1" to 2" at 50 yds. A local gunsmith was the one who told me that he had seen others that did the same thing. I was inquiring about what could be done to correct it and was told there is likely some stress in the barrel and that re-barreling was about the only sure fix for it. Since it was used for targets, and, a couple warm-up shots took care of it, I decided against re-barreling it.

As a past NYS rimfire benchrest champ and past Unlimited Class National Benchrest Champion and an inductee in the IR50/50 Hall of Fame myself, it had me scratching my head. For those wanting a great shooting sporter the Anschutz and Cooper are both excellent, but pricey. Heck, my old Montgomery Ward 842/Mossberg 346K makes a better squirrel gun than that 541 THB.

I am the most casual of casual shooters and almost always bring a .22 rifle to the range with ammunition proven to be accurate in that rifle to warm up with prior to shooting my center-fire rifles. The rifles that I bring along for warming up with most frequently are an Anschutz-Savage 141, a Marlin XT-22VR, a Tradewinds (Krico) 311A, or a Winchester (Miroku) 52 Sporter.

From what I've read, first round flyers in a .22 rimfire are often caused by a build up of wax or lead right in front of the chamber. One local non formal match even allowed a "1 shot sighter" into the dirt, partially to combat the problem. After the first shot the build up softens enough that the next bullet through is not sized by it. Some people report success of eliminating it by using one of the fire lapping kits. I have also read some reports that although fire lapping didn't eliminate the problem that in did cut down the amount that the bullet may deviate, i.e. a 2" flyer cut down to 1" or whatever.


A 10/22 with an Adams and Bennet Barrel that I used to own had the first shot flyer. After the first shot it would do pretty good. I sold the rifle before reading of the cure so I did not have a chance to try it myself.

What you read was mostly incorrect. The reason for a first shot flyer, even in a quality match gun, is that the barrel is not seasoned or completely coated with wax/lube. Every top benchrest rimfire shooter I knew cleaned their barrel after every target ~ 40-50 shots. The reason for this is that it is easier to repeat a clean barrel condition than some varying degree of a dirty barrel condition. The lead/carbon ring build up in the leade is a problem, but regular cleaning with a brush keeps that at bay. That ring does not soften and will swag the bullet down in size, which we don't want. During a match I would put about 5 rounds down a clean barrel off target and off sighters, into the berm to thoroughly coat the bore with the wax/lube of the ammo that I was using that day. After that, I would go to my sighters to confirm consistent groups and to get a handle on the wind conditions. When everything was settled down and conditions were figured out, I would then go to my record targets. This is allowed in all the sanctioned rimfire events. Once a good barrel is properly conditioned with lube, the accuracy will be good up to and until the lead ring forms or until the barrel is too fouled. When that happens is a guess, which is why most would clean after every target and then shoot a couple foulers before going to the record targets. I know of no one in competition that used a fire lapping round. Our match barrels were perfectly lapped by our gunsmiths, no need to bugger that up. Just cleaning with a couple passes of a brass/bronze brush after every 40-50 shots is enough to keep that lead/carbon ring at bay. For the average non-match .22 rimfire, it's not an issue as they are not required or expected to shoot the .1-.2" groups that are expected from a match rimfire to be competitive.

My 541 THB will shoot a cold barrel flyer, then settle down. However, if left to cool, even after the barrel has been conditioned/fouled it will throw another big flyer. This is not typical or expected.

It is not just an matter of handiness but also eye dominance. I'm left handed but right eye dominant so I shoot right handed.
I knew a right handed person in the Army that shot left handed because of eye dominance.

The 541-t hb I owned once upon a long time ago had had to have the barrel bedded and the action free floated to shoot well.
After that it was a1/4" rifle at 50 yards.

I have had about as much experience with ACCURATE factory 22 LR rifles as anyone as I have been shooting them for over 60 Years. IMHO the 580 series rifles are WITHOUT a doubt one of the best/if not the best BANG 4 the buck

I currently own 3- 580,5 -581's 3 and 541's each and every one of these will average 1/2" --3/8" or better for 5/5 shot groups at 50 yds . One particular 508 has had minor mods and it will shoot with my Voleker 541 w/Lilja bbl- it has been glass bedded ,2 action screw, bbl shortened and 541 trigger.

I have seen NO measurable difference in the earlier Walnut stock rifles vs the later Birch ones the triggers although different both respond equally to polishing and spring mods .

I no longer have any of the HB 540 models although they are also very accurate-- I had one that my Smith turned the bbl to sporter contour and placed in a 580 stock and in Virginia late 80' shot a lot of "Bottle Cap" matches and won more that my fair share

In searching for a 580 series one thing to do if possible use a tight fitting patch on a GOOD one piece rod and check the bore in the area of the STAMPINGS on the bbl and check for roughness as the bbl is sooooo thin in that area that it moved into the bore- U will B able to feel -my 580 has NONE the bore is as smooth as the 541's

Good Luck

Jim


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And Anschutz is just another name for fancy Savage...

I picked up a 581 right port left bolt several years back that shoots very well !!