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Guys,
I have a target model 75 that is really lacking in accuracy. The bore is pristine the entire length after checking it with a bore scope. It will shoot high velocity ammo into nickel sized groups at 50 yards but any type of target or standard velocity ammo(I have tried at least 8 types) I am lucky to keep in a 2 inch group. Winchester did not do much for a crown on these rifles and I have a strong suspicion that the problem may be there. Before I recrown this barrel I am hoping to hear if anyone else has come across a similar situation, and if they found a solution other than to recrown the barrel. The existing crown does not appear to be damaged. I guess I should not refer to it as a crown as it is a flat cut with a slight chamfer at the edge of the bore.
Erin
Hi Erin,
The Winchester 75 Target has the same rifling as the Model 52 Target and the chamber was cut the same as the 57 Target so accuracy is usually pretty decent. It looks as if you have covered most of the normal issues which can affect Model 75 accuracy but I will list them again here for your review;
– Worn/damaged crown (common)
– Worn rifling at the muzzle from improper cleaning, especially military or club rifles (common)
– Worn/pitted/fouled bore (common but does not always significantly degrade accuracy)
– Throat erosion in the lead area before the rifling (not common but does degrade accuracy with some ammo)
– Improper barrel bedding (not common but check the centering of the barrel in the barrel channel)
– Tight bore (not common)
– Bent/bowed barrel (not common)
So that we don’t miss anything obvious I have to ask if you are sure the barrel has not been replaced or set back and is original to the gun?
Having established that I would re-examine the rifling at the muzzle for wear. If the muzzle face is flat I would not re-crown it but just lightly recut and debur the chamfer. That should be all that is necessary for the crown, anything more is just a waste of time/effort on the Model 75.
Since you have access to a borescope I would re-check the throat area in front of the chamber. It usually takes thousands of rounds to get significant erosion in this area but it does occur.
Try loosening or tightening the tension on the front barrel band screw (the tapered cross screw in the forestock).
Remove the barreled action from the stock to make sure stock warpage is not applying undue pressure on the barrel (not common). Check the barrel stock stud to make sure it is properly positioned in the dovetail on the underside of the barrel. If it is shifted slightly left or right in the dovetail it can cause the barrel to contact the side of the barrel channel on one side with a slight gap on the other.
Finally, you might want to slug the bore to see if the bore is excessively tight and in what areas. As new the bore should have been .217 +.001 which is a bit tighter than a sporting rifle of the same period.
Hope that gives you some guidance, they are not listed in any particular order but I would only correct one item at a time and then re-test so you can ultimately determine what the issue is/was. Let us know your results and if any of the above helps. The 75 is usually a solid performer in the intermediate target class of rifles.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thanks for the checklist Jeff,
The tension on the barrel band was another thought I had. The barrel measures a full 28″ so I don’t believe it has been messed with.
Metal condition is 95%+ and nothing to indicate any type of marks or blemishes from a barrel vise. I will start working down the checklist and save the crown for last.
Erin
Erin Grivicich said
Thanks for the checklist Jeff,The tension on the barrel band was another thought I had. The barrel measures a full 28″ so I don’t believe it has been messed with.
Metal condition is 95%+ and nothing to indicate any type of marks or blemishes from a barrel vise. I will start working down the checklist and save the crown for last.
Erin
Whatever you do, do not cut the bbl. You will devalue the rifle by 1/2.
The M75 is not in the same category as the M52’s, so don’t expect a lot out of one. They were a medium priced 22 to compete with the Rem. M513-T.
Triggers are OK, but adjustable. Compared to the real accurate rifles of the day, these were made for Jr. shooters as they were much cheaper than a M52 or M37, or a M40X.
I have 10 M75’s in my collection and have never fired one of them. I guess I had better do it, and soon. Big Larry
For what its worth.
I too have noticed a drop in accuracy with some target ammo when compared to standard Winchester Super-X and even CCI Mini Mag.
There is the expected difference in point of impact, but the surprising smaller groups has been a pleasant result!
I like less expensive ammo and the resulting better groups is great!
R
I find it surprising a rifle designed for target shooting, shoots high velocity ammo better than bona fide target ammo. I have tried several HV types and mine likes the Remington “Golden bullets” best out of any I have tried. Any of the target ammo with the exception of T22 Winchester ammo has provided dismal results. The T22’s were nothing to write home about, they just did better than the rest I tried. I have not had a chance to work on my rifle as work has kept me away from home but I am anxious to solve this problem. I have heard of others getting very good accuracy out of their 75’s with a variety of ammo but such is not the case with mine.
Erin
I wasn’t quite clear in my comparison.
The higher velocity ammo shot better than some of the target ammo I tried.
You are correct that the T-22 does perform better than the higher velocity ammo, as does the Federal Gold.
I have been told, “When you find a 22 cartridge that works for you, stick with that one”.
Each gun has it’s ‘one favorite’ that works the best.
Thanks for your post. Good job!
R
Roger,
Actually I was referring to my particular model 75 when I stated, “I find it surprising a rifle designed for target shooting………” In my particular rifles case, the HV ammo shoots more accurately than any of the target ammo I have tried. The T22 shot the most accurately at about an inch at 50 yards while the golden bullets did the best at about 5/8″. I hate to say it but I have an out of box M77-22 that will literally stack several types of ammo into a little ragged hole at 50 yards. I am anxious to try and find what ails my 75, I believe there is better potential than the results I am seeing.
Best regards
Erin
OK, Solved the problem. It took a magnifying glass to see it but the chamfer was slightly peened over in a very small area exiting the muzzle. I did a .003″ cleanup cut on the chamfer and the rifle is now shooting as one would expect. I tried 4 different types of standard velocity or target ammo this morning and all 4 groups were a ragged hole at 30 yards. 
Erin
Glad you solved the problem, thanks for the update!
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 7, 2015
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Good job, glad to hear you worked it out.
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