RAR shoots lousy

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NorthBorder

NorthBorder

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I bought a Ruger American Rimfire Target (used) at the LGS several months ago. A few weeks ago I finally took it out to the range, mounted a Nikon 3x9 rimfire scope and dialed it in as best as I could. I say "as best as I could" because at 25 yard the rounds were so inconsistent they would spread out upwards of 5 inches with no pattern. I double checked the screws on the scope rings and mount, all were tight. After about 200 rounds I gave up, went home to clean the rifle. That's when I discovered a potential problem. My cleaning rod would not go past the chamber like it hit a wall. I ran the rod down from the muzzle and it would not protrude through the breech, like that wall. Today I went back to the range and tried again. Same problem. I know the cleaning rod is the right size. I've used it for years on other 22s with no problems. I even ran it through 2 other 22 rifles today and it fit fine.
I don't want to sell it and I probably wouldn't sell it to another without disclosing the problem.
Thank in advance
 
The "wall" sound odd; does the Target model have a smaller diameter bore like a CZ? If so, the standard .22LR cleaning rod will not go past the chamber, and also try match grade ammo. Otherwise, it sounds like a trip back to the mothership is in order. It should group way better than that.
 
That's probably why it was on the used rack. I bought a used Ruger Red Label and it developed a problem. Ruger repaired it, no questions asked. Send yours to Ruger...that's a weird problem.
 
If it will go in from both ends up to the end of the chamber I don't see how it could be a manufacturing defect unless the chamber reamer plowed up a burr. Is it possible that the previous owner was shooting shorts or something in it and leaded up the throat? That's where I would start.
 
I bet it’s leaded up. My friend has an old JC Higgins 22 that couldn’t hit a milk jug at 15 yards. Turned out you couldn’t get a 17 caliber rod down the barrel it was leaded so bad
 
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If it is leaded up that bad there is an underlying issue that if not addressed will cause the barrel to lead up again.

Numerous ways to remove lead from a barrel. The one I use is the Copper Chore Boy method cuz it’s so fast. If you use this method it’s imperative to use pure copper Chore Boy instead of copper coated steel Chore Boy.

IXtdPJx.jpg
 
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Just to be on the safe side try a different scope beflfore you send it to Ruger.
 
Thanks for the replies. I don't know the history of the rifle so I don't know what types of bullets were fired from it. Ontarget, it won't go in past the throat from the breach but a bore brush will extend into the barrel. But, to be safe I will give it a good scrub, and try that choreboy technique. Then see if that changes the equation.
 
+1 on the copper pot scrubber, works amazing

I had my savage mark 2 lead up on me really bad several years ago. It kept coming back after a few attempts because I wasn't getting all of it out using the lead remover cloths I bought to clean it. After doing the copper pot scrubber thing I finally got 100% of it out and its never came back since, so there is still hope for it.
 
I've had both an American Rimfire, and Ranch Rifle that didn't shoot well out of the box. Upon taking a close look I noticed that the barrel on both of them was touching the stock about halfway down the channel on one side. They're supposed to be free floated. I removed the action, then sanded/filed a little material off the inside of the stock until it had some clearance, and the groups tightened right up. They're nice rifles but the factory stocks definitely need better QC.
 
OK...looking down the barrel from the muzzle I can see what looks like a coulpe of burrs. I used my Hoppe's number 9 and a brush. The burrs remained. I ran a bore snake down it several times from both ends. The burrs are still there. I opened a box of 22 bullets and chambered and ejected two rounds. Here is the pic. P1030714.JPG
Two rounds have near identical gouges (as well as on the other side of the bullet). The third bullet is just for comparison. It was not chambered.
 
cdb1 said:
If it is leaded up that bad there is an underlying issue that if not addressed will cause the barrel to lead up again.

Numerous ways to remove lead from a barrel. The one I use is the Copper Chore Boy method cuz it’s so fast. If you use this method it’s imperative to use pure copper Chore Boy instead of copper coated steel Chore Boy.

View attachment 809791
Click to expand...

https://www.big45metalcleaner.com/
 
Another problem can be a carbon ring buildup just ahead of the chamber.
 
My gun-store consignment purchase MkII had a loose frame.

They sent me a shipping label, I sent it in. It came back with new springs and a perfect frame fit.

Call them. Let them know the issue and send it in with their label. You'll be happy when it comes back.

Stay safe!
 
I’d clean the lead out and shoot it. If you get the accuracy you want I’d still send it to Ruger with the issue being undue lead build-up. If you don’t get the accuracy you want I’d send it to Ruger with two issues of note, lead build-up and inaccuracy.
 
The rod not going all the way through the barrel and stopping at the chamber meant something was wrong with the bore and only the bore. I would do the choreboy thing on the off chance it's a lead deposit. I doubt it's lead and think it's a burr left somehow by the chambering reamer. Ruger will fix it.
 
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