Note: The following is a guest post submitted by “Brent”
In the recent times, shooting has become a huge trend. Whether you are a professional shooter or prefer shooting as a sport, the basic knowledge about the rifle is a necessity. Though shooting is a thrilling activity, the same requires strength and efforts especially carrying the rifle, aiming the target, and operating the weapon is not that easy task. The efficiency of a shooter also depends upon the accuracy of their rifle. An inaccurate rifle can turn out to be the major cause of your miss shots and the wrong aim. Whether you are opting to buy a fresh rimfire scope or desire to repair an old airgun, the accuracy of a gun is the key factor that should be considered before opting for a shot.
Now the question arises “how to make a rifle more accurate?” there are various things that have a negative impact to the rifle’s accuracy among which some of them can be easily sorted by the shooter while other require the professional assistance. In most of the cases, the old guns are observed to be less accurate as compared to that of the newly bought model. This mainly happens because the shooters do not provide proper maintenance to the gun making it hard and filthy. This dirt and filth obstruct the rifle to operate and aim the target or place the shot. Although the maintenance issues of a rifle can be easily detected through the visual inspection, in other cases such as the improper functioning of the gun, you might require hiring a professional for repairing the gun. If you desire to maintain the accuracy of your rifle in the easiest yet effective way then here are the major components that require proper care.
How to make a rifle more accurate?
In order to maintain your rifle and ensure the proper functioning of the same, follow the below-mentioned tips and observe the changes.
- Barrel, Muzzle crown – Muzzle is the ultimate portion of the rifle that has the major influence on shooting the target. Whether you install the muzzle brake and sound moderator in the rifle or not, even a small destruction and corrosion can affect the accuracy of your rifle negatively. Since the path of the bullet is determined by the Muzzle, the imperfection in this spot can be a major loss.
- Throat – throat is the spot located at the chamber end of the gun. If your rifle is not working appropriately then the damage in the throat section can be the reason behind it. The damage in this part may occur because of the great pressure produced after the bullet or due to obturation (a state when bullet swells and doesn’t fit the barrel). This initial movements of the bullet lead to the extreme wear of the same causing it troublesome for the shooter to move the bullet up the barrel. Though the cartridges can be refilled and loaded if the issue is minor, you might be necessitated to re-barrel the rifle if the problem continues.
- Rifling erosion – the rifling erosion is mainly caused due to improper maintenance of the rifle i.e., not cleaning the same after operating it. If you do not clean the rifle, the copper (inside the barrel of the rifle) and the recurred residues of the burned powder would catch combustion chemicals and unwanted moisture from surroundings. This moisture deteriorates the metal and thus, the functioning of the rifle to a great extent. Apart from this, operating the rifle continuously without taking way the sound moderator from the same can also lead to the generation of toxic chemicals into the barrel. This then further leads to corrosion. The only way to get rid of the corrosion is to cut down the barrel. Since cutting the barrel is not an easy job, it is recommended to seek the aid of some rifle repair agencies to correct the issues. Moreover, you should always maintain the rifle by cleaning it and removing the sound operator after each session of shooting.
- Bedding vibrations – the vibration sound is generally observed when the bullet exits the gun. The vibration of the gun should be uniform i.e., the shooter must not focus to obstruct the vibrating sound of the rifle as this may lead to the generation of inconsistent harmonics and thus, deteriorating the accuracy of the rifle.
- Bolt handle binding – regardless of the type of rifle, there is a possibility that the bolt handle of your rifle gets attached to the stock leading to the obstruction in vibration sound during the exit of the bullet. In order to ensure the free movements of the bolt, it is advisable to eliminate the unwanted stuff from the binding section.
- Accessories – apart from the bolt lugs, action, and stock or bedding, the loose-fitting and inappropriate accessories can also lead to the decreases accuracy of your rifle. Whether you are buying the scopes, sound moderators or are opting for the bipods, it is a must to buy the entire accessories from the reputed stores. Usually, the bipods should not get connected to the barrel as bipods lead to the generation of diverse kinds of pressure and hence, may make your rifle inaccurate. At the same time, the inappropriately fitted and heavy sound moderator can also damage the accuracy of the gun. So make sure to test it before fitting the same in the rifle.
Conclusion
If you are a professional shooter or have the desire to learn shooting then it advisable to learn the basics of maintaining your rifle. As the problems in the rifle can not only misplace your shots but the same would diminish the accuracy of your gun. These problems can be either in the action, stock, bedding, bolt lugs or the loose fitting accessories. The basic step in correcting the issue is to analyze the obstruction. If the issue is minor then try the DIY tips to correct it on your own. However, in case of a major deterioration, approach a professional person. In order to get rid of unwanted damages, follow the above- listed tips and safeguard your rifle.