Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots 1885 question.

Im getting some vertical shot stringing on a new 1885 low wall. I suspect forend pressure is the culprit. Any experience here with bedding, shimming or removing wood to better float the barrel? Im thinking shimming would be the most expedient method, any suggestions there?

I’d be dang sure it wasn’t the ammo before I started whittlin’. Both my LWs, a Hornet and a .44, have tightly bedded forends. Never had either off actually. Both are good shooters.

You can take a look, but I don’t recall this ever coming up here with 85s. Mine are both older Brownings, but they all come out of the same factory.

What’s the chambering?

Chambered in 6 Creedmoor. I’ve loaded everything from 60’s to 105’s. The lightweights shoot half MOA at 100 yards. 95’s-105’s all get wonky, 2 shots touching with one strung high or low vertically, flyer is never the 3rd shot so can’t blame barrel heat.
Lookin for previous experience with shimming the forend prior to removing any wood from the forend.
Wind hadn’t been 20mph here today I had intended to shoot it without the forend installed. Also want to try a method I was told about where you rest the rifle on the barrels harmonic “dead spot”.

I would try non-permanent fixes such as shimming first. Definitely try it with the for end removed too and if it improves then you know you have to address the bedding.

I rest my heavy barreled single shot target rifles at the harmonic dead spot for best accuracy. I often use a barrel sled that's clamped in that spot too, the whole arrangement slides on a flat level piece of Delrin. Forearms on or off with that technique doesn't seem to make any difference.

I'd completely float the barrel before I'd bed anything under that forend.
You can add glass later if it doesn't solve the stringing.
One thing to remember is... The first shot out of a cold barrel is usually the
most important. We sometimes forget that while chasing gremlins.

Both my 1885s have the forend floated, not touching the barrel. They are quite accurate.

[quote=BrotherBart]I'd completely float the barrel before I'd bed anything under that forend.

I agree.

Fwiw, my new Winchester 1885 22 H came with the forend free floated. It’s very accurate.