The Art of Rimfire Accuracy
by
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Now Folks, How to Slug A Bore and Read the Results
Step 1. The first thing we want to do with a new blank, or a finished barrel, is to carefully clean the bore.
Step 2. We want to clamp the barrel in a padded vise, so it will be solidly secured and insert a slug in the end of the blank designated as the “breech” by the barrel maker, or in the chamber end of a finished barrel. We want to push this first slug completely through the bore, slowly. We want to catch this first slug so we can measure it. This first slug we push through the bore establishes, in our mind, the “feel” of the bore. Actually folks, I repeat this 2nd step several times; until I have it in my mind how this barrel’s bore “feels” from end to end. (Don’t forget always push a dry patch through the bore between slugs.)
When I slug a bore and want to keep the slug, I attach a plastic baggie over the exit end of the barrel to catch the slug. Warning: If you try to stop, and catch, the slug with your bare fingers, it can sometimes be a painful experience, especially if the bore you are working with has the tightest place at the exit. You will be applying pressure on your cleaning rod and holding your finger over the exit end of the blank and when you reach the end the slug can really “pop” out of the exit end of the bore and bite your finger. So use a plastic “baggie” to catch the slug to protect your fingers, ok? You don’t need to tape the baggie to the end of the barrel. Just hang it over the exit end and it will work perfect. Now, save this first slug you push through your bore.
Step 3. Push a dry cleaning patch through the bore. Again, always push a patch through the bore between each slug. Wax can build up on the surface of the bore if you don’t do this and can give you a faulty “feel” of the bore.
Step 4. Now folks, start a slug in the end of the barrel that the maker has designated as the breech-end or in the chamber-end of a finished barrel. Push this slug in a couple of inches, then withdraw your cleaning rod and Insert it in the other end of the barrel. Push the slug back out of the breech end and catch it and save it. Use your baggie to catch it.
Step 5. Now, insert a slug in the end of the blank the maker has designated as the muzzle end. Push the slug in this end of the blank a couple of inches, then withdraw your cleaning rod and insert it in the other end of the blank and push the slug back out the muzzle, catch it and save it, oh mark your slugs someway so you always know what part of the bore they came from… I have a little plastic, divided, tray I keep them in.
Step 6. We now want to carefully measure these three slugs. What would be ideal here folks is for the slug you pushed in the muzzle a couple of inches and the slug you pushed completely through the bore to measure exactly the same. Think about what I just said for a second folks. If the muzzle slug and the slug we pushed completely through the bore measure exactly the same diameter across the grooves, we know, for sure, the muzzle is at least as small as any spot in the bore. What you absolutely don’t want to see if the muzzle slug measuring larger in diameter than the one pushed completely through the bore, man, we would have problems then as the tightest place in the bore would be back toward the breech end someplace. Folks, are you following me OK so far? Now, we also ideally want the slug that you pushed into the breech, a couple of inches, to measure slightly larger in diameter across the grooves.
Now folks, here’s what you don’t want to see. You don’t want the slug that you pushed completely through the bore and the slug you pushed into the breech end a couple of inches to measure the same, particularly if the slug you push into the muzzle a couple of inches measures “larger” in diameter across the grooves. This obviously means the muzzle end of your blank, or finished barrel, is larger than the breech. You can’t have killer accuracy with a barrel like this.
Folks, have I explained all this so far so it makes sense to you?
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About the Book
Bill Calfee has been working with guns since the 1970’s and decided to focus on the 22 rimfire beginning in the 1980’s. Since the 1980’s Bill has had many ideas on how to improve the accuracy of the 22 rimfire, some ideas have increased the accuracy potential tremendously and some ideas proved out to be learning experiences for future ideas. Since about 2001 Bill has tried to capture his ideas, experiments, testing, and conclusions by writing about them. He has written about the successes that increased accuracy as well as the ideas that didn’t improve accuracy. Although Bill is not a writer, he felt compelled to pass along the knowledge that he has obtained in the spirit of improving the accuracy of the 22 rimfire benchrest guns for everyone that has like goals. He has shared his writings previously with the benchrest community through different avenues. In this book, all of Bill’s writings are assembled in a chronological order to show the evolution of the accuracy of the 22rf as he has experienced it. He goes into detail about each aspect of rimfire accuracy discussing all of the components and their contribution to the improved accuracy. This book is a must have for everyone that is serious about increasing the accuracy in their 22 rimfire guns.
About the Author
William “Bill” Stewart Calfee was born September 1944 about half way between Hindman & Hazard, KY. His family relocated to New Albany, IN during 1953. The Calfee family didn’t have much but, they had plenty of love to smooth out the rough times. Bill spent his youth in New Albany doing research along the Ohio River as most young boys love to do. He loved to spend his free time enjoying Mother Nature to her fullest. As a young lad Bill would scan various mail-order catalogs using a flashlight under his bed covers while dreaming about owning guns. Of course, he was supposed to be sleeping. Sleeping or dreaming about guns….that was a no brainer for Bill…he could sleep another time. Bill enjoyed the mechanics of things and how they worked so much that he always had to dis-assemble items to see why they worked the way they did. This “Have to know why” spirit carried over into his love of guns. Bill was fortunate to be growing up during a time that allowed competing high school rimfire rifle teams. Bill was a member of his New Albany high school’s rimfire team. This time sparked his interest into accurate rifles and what causes them to be accurate. Unknowing to him at the time, his future path was coming into focus. Back in the early 70’s Bill had a terrible accident while driving his employers’ utility truck. He had multiple fractures of his left leg and hip, a broken right hand and some internal injuries. This accident played a large part in him devoting more time to his gunsmithing interest due to the prolonged time needed for his recovery. His interest in guns helped him through this trying and difficult time. Bill had this desire to understand and make accurate rifles. The biggest obstacle to reaching his goal was that he didn’t know how to operate a metal lathe or mill. He met this challenge by reading all he could about them and putting his hands to the controls. He is self taught on his metal working equipment and now operates all of it proficiently as an extension of his own hands. Beginning in the late 1980’s Bills drive focused on the rimfire rifles and improving their accuracy as much as possible. Since then, this desire has consumed him in his every waking moment and controlled any idle time he may have enjoyed. He continues his quest to build the most accurate 22 rimfire rifles possible today.