Trouble with accuracy

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cea1960

cea1960

Member
Mar 12, 2017
1,273
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Oriental, North Carolina, United States
This is my scenario; I have a Daystate Regal XL that shoots JSB 15.89s and Hades equally well. Both can print 1/2" groups at 40 yards from the bench. Last week I shot about 20-25 NSA .217/20.2gr. slugs out it. They shot fairly well at 40 yards. On that same day I went back to the JSB 15.89s and they were shotgunning and the best I could do was 2" at 40 yards. This morning a gave the barrel a thorough cleaning with Balistol and pulled dry cloths through until they came out clean. After shooting 50 rounds of JSB 15.89s, the best I'm getting is 1" at 40 yards. The Hades are all over the target. Is my accuracy suffering because of the cleaning, and I need to keep shooting to season the barrel, or could I have damaged the choke by shooting slugs?
 
You've not likely damaged the barrel by shooting slugs. Four things come to mind...

1. damaged breech seal- is it louder or air leaking from the breech during shot cycle?

2. Stressed movement of the shroud ... a friend's was clipping the mod because of similar actions.. he needed to loosen the muzzle end shroud mount ring screws and let it re-center itself, then tighten them carefully , starting at the bottom screw.

3. Might not be clean... you might have to actually remove the barrel and use a rod and tight patches w Ballistol to really get it clean

4. Damaged crown from shoving a cleaning device in the barrel from muzzle end. Disregard if it was just a soft string 

Bob
 
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I don't think the choke area has been damaged, but I did have a Daystate barrel that was heavily choked and had a tendency to lead at the muzzle. I could see slugs being even more of a problem in that regard. I would pull the barrel so you can clean it from the breach end, and give it a good scrubbing with JB Bore Paste using a cleaning rod, jag and cotton patch. I sometimes use standard cleaning solvent like Shooter's Choice to wet the patch before charging with JB to help loosen any deposits. Polishing with JB might even help reduce future build up of lead.
 
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...slugs intrigue me greatly but also IMHO largely defeat the inherit "advantage" of pellets...

...I have shot some H&N Grizzly 31 grain slugs with good results in the .25 cal Escape, except for the occasional flier...

...I have some 43 grain Seneca hunting pellets too but mostly I shoot 26 grain Polymags for reduced ballistic potential whilst still being deadly at close range... 

...for something heavier for longer range I usually use the 33.95 grain JSB Exact King Heavy MKII's for much the same reason...they smack hard but they are still pellets not bullets...

...I too was thinking "clean the barrel"...
 
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Okay, I went back and cleaned it again. I don't have any JB, so I used Wipe Away. If you're not familiar with it, it is a yellow cloth impregnated with a very fine abrasive that is very good at removing lead. I especially like it to clean the front of the cylinders of revolvers. After pulling the Wipe Away patches through, I pulled patches with Goo Gone on them and then dry patches. The probe's o-ring was dirty, but in great shape. I cleaned it up along with the moderators o-ring. With the gun in a vise I shot 50 pellets through it to season the barrel. Unfortunately, the kids behind us are in their pool so I can't test it outside today. 

1596051286_9204522635f21cf567fba13.23797510.JPG
 


 
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Probably Fouled from shooting slugs. Clean extra well then run at least 50 pellets to season that barrel then it should be fine.

Buy another just to specifically shoot slugs with.

Buy the new side lever version then decide which is the better pellet or SLUG shooter.



If only I had the money and an understanding wife!
Click to expand...


 
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My FX Royal .177 lost accuracy after a few thousand shots or so, ( a lot of tins of 500 ). It was incredibly accurate and I was very bummed out that the accuracy went from a ragged hole at 40 yards to a 3/4 inch group. When you looked down the barrel with light it looked fine. But when I pushed the brush through and then looked with the light, I could see how the brush had scored the lead coating. It took a lot of cleaning, but the accuracy came right back. It’s the smooth twist barrel. I’d push a brush through and check with a light to see if there’s a coating of lead. Just a guess! Good luck.
 
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