22 Hi Power TD accuracy? your experience solicited

[kurtvn]

I just recently picked up a shooter class 99 TD (interrupted thread) in .22 Savage Hi power, serial 14XXXX. Sent off for some S & B 5.6X52R ammo and took to the range. I couldn't do better than about 3" at 25 yds! From the look of the target, the bullets are yawing. And reading Ken Water's classic on this cartridge, it seem that the 1:12 twist may not stabilize a 70 gr bullet with a longer ogive. Should i give up, or try some 55 or 60 gr .228 bullets? What kind of accuracy are these interrupted thread takedowns capable of?

[Mad Dog]

Try the smaller pills but your problem might be a binding forearm as well. Try shooting it off the bags with the forearm removed.

[kurtvn]

MadDog,

I'm in awe. I took the forend off like you suggested, and shot 2X and they were touching!   Night and day difference. 

So what exactly causes a "binding forearm" and how do you fix it?

many thnx,
kurtvn

[Eric in NC]

Is it safe to shoot a TD with the forearm off?

[1899Sav]

Is it safe to shoot a TD with the forearm off?

Yes It Is.
Steve

[Bad Water Bill]

I do not know if it would be safe. I just checked mine #2xx,xxx so yours is a few years older and may have more twist with the fore end removed. Mine has over 1/4 inch movement which WILL change headspace. No i would not try to fire it till I could try a headspace gauge in it. That being said mine killed many deer using hand loaded lead bullets before I bought it from an old logger in 1965. I have many rounds from him with small primer pockets.                                                                               BWB

[kurtvn]

Mad Dog,

Well, I asked a gunsmith friend of mine who only works on single shots, lever guns -- anyway guns with 2 piece stocks. He said that for accuracy, he tries to make any contact between the forend & receiver be on the sides, but not front to back. Is this kind of what you mean by a binding forearm -- that there is pressure from the forearm back to the receiver? If so, can it be adjusted so as not to have that back pressure on a 99 TD?

thnx

MadDog,

I'm in awe. I took the forend off like you suggested, and shot 2X and they were touching!   Night and day difference. 

So what exactly causes a "binding forearm" and how do you fix it?

many thnx,
kurtvn

[Mad Dog]

Kurt, don't worry, it's not a headspace problem. The problem you have is a common one, thats how I knew what to answer the question with. For some reason some of the forearms tighten up on the gun, no biggy, I'd find out where it's binding and take it down a hair with some really fine sand paper. It's most likely at the rear of the forearm where the serial numbers are stamped on the wood.

The nay sayers that don't believe in this should have a look at the picture of Arthur Savage himself shooting one of his rifles with no forearm or buttstock on it.