Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

[One-Eyed Jack]

Who makes a great shooting replacement barrel for a 22LR Remington 40X? I checked Lilja and they don't have anything for Remington on their website.

My 40X doesn't shoot as well as it could, so it may be time to replace the barrel (which isn't very old).

 

[cmh2007]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I am sure you have tried it, but have you tried testing different ammo? its pretty much impossible to shoot out a .22lr barrel. give it a seriously good cleaning.

If you must have a new barrel, Lilja, Shillen, Pac-nor among others all make .22lr blanks that can be used for the 40x

 

[cattle buyer]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: seaaggie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am sure you have tried it, but have you tried testing different ammo? its pretty much impossible to shoot out a .22lr barrel. give it a seriously good cleaning.

If you must have a new barrel, Lilja, Shillen, Pac-nor among others all make .22lr blanks that can be used for the 40x</div></div>
What Seaaggie said... If it was an accurate gun ,give bore a military , to the metal cleaning, probably carbon or lead build up unless U shoot a lot of copper plated hi velocity ammo.... .22 rimfire is dirty stuff, it is dog damn hard to wear out a good barrel and I would bet a 40X barrel is good steel. if and when you clean it to the metal shoot a half box wolf MT 's thru it to season it, U will not need to clean again for another 10 years.. YMMV very best

 

[lachoneus]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I agree that it is hard to wear out .22 LR barrels. My Remington 540x was used for many years by a high school shooting team, and I have put many thousands of rounds through it myself. It still shoots extremely well.

As others have said, though, it may just be a question of finding the ammunition your barrel likes. The 540x likes CCI Blazers, of all things. My Savage Mark II shoots well with most budget ammo, but does best with SK Standard Plus while my CZ 455 is mediocre with anything but Wolf Match Target.

If your barrel is truly worn out, or just won't shoot, you may consider a barrel liner. I have heard that they can give very good results while maintaining your original barrel contour. Check out this link: Brownell's Barrel Liner

 

[cmh2007]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

the "copper plated" bullets are actually copper washed, and that stuff comes right out of the barrel really easilly with something like wipeout

 

[chris84]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I would go with Rock or Brux if you end up getting a new barrel.

You won't find any drop-ins like a 10-22. It will have to be fitted & headspaced to the action because it is threaded in the action, just like a Rem. 700 centerfire is.

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Who makes a great shooting replacement barrel for a 22LR Remington 40X? I checked Lilja and they don't have anything for Remington on their website.

My 40X doesn't shoot as well as it could, so it may be time to replace the barrel (which isn't very old). </div></div>

I have a bunch of take off barrels from rifles that were built into benchrest guns, PM if you need one. If you are going to go with a new barrel use a barrel from a well known maker like Krieger, Douglas, Hart, Bartlein, or Broughton. Any good smallbore gunsmith can put one of those barrels on your rifle and get it to shoot. If you go to Benchrest Central you will be able to find a gunsmith that specializes in smallbore rifles.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 168BTHPM</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> If you go to Benchrest Central you will be able to find a gunsmith that specializes in smallbore rifles. </div></div>
Excellent point, thanks.

 

[KevinU]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Had my 40x re-chambered with a Rock barrel, very accurate with Lapua Center-X ammo. 22lr gunsmith, Brian Voelker, trued the action/chambered it.

Here's a place to buy a rock or Broughton.

http://www.killoughshootingsports.com/in...rrel-blank.html

 

[cattle buyer]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Yep, hearing great things out of Rock, Kidd uses Lothar Walthar barrels and we all know they SHOOT. he may screw one on for U, I would sure try cleaning and reseasoning first.

 

[264win]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

If your looking for a replacement barrel, take a look at Benchmark Barrels. Their barrels have set quite a few records in the Rimfire world.

 

[Tantrum]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Any of the premium barrel makers would have something that will work on the 40X.

 

[DRAGON64]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

My 40X is shooting pretty badly as well. I started a thread over at Rimfire Central about the rifle, which has plenty of pics and video. after 100+ posts with many helpful shooters giving me advice about my lousy shooting form and technique, it would seem that I have an issue with the bore in my rifle. I would start a thread here on my rifle, but I really don't want to go through all of that again...

I will know for sure if the bore on my rifle is defective some time next week, after I have a small bore guy slug the barrel and take his various measurements... Hopefully counter boring will fix my issue, as I really do not want to rebarrel this rifle if I do not have to... not mention, my 40X doe not have a blued finish, it is parked. This rifle may have belonged to the Air Force at one time, hince the Park finish, and stock bedding.

 

[tman300wm]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

+1 for Benchmark. They seem to be the current flavor in the rimfire benchrest world these days. I have one of their center fire barrels and its as good as they get. I have been using PacNor for my centerfire rifle and it's a hammer as well. I understand that Lilja was the go to barrel maker for 22cal till Benchmark came on the scene.

 

[sormi]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

First off make sure your crown is good. Next find someone with a bore scope. I've seen 3 US rimfire 40x's with their throat's smooth!

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

benchmark barrels, nough said.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sormi</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First off make sure your crown is good. Next find someone with a bore scope. I've seen 3 US rimfire 40x's with their throat's smooth! </div></div>
I bought my 22LR 40x UNFIRED and there's nothing wrong with the crown or bore (I have a borescope). I've put only a few hundred rounds down the tube and cleaned it almost every time I've been to the range. My next step, based on some of the above replies, it to try even more types of ammo, shoot it and not clean the barrel, and see whether it starts to group better. I've been reluctant to burn up my Eley ammo as I've always found some reasonably priced ammo to do the job. My Win 52C shoots lights out with iron sights at 100 yards with CCI ammo.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Unfired? Me thinks the problem is a loose nut behind the trigger!

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

If you try sail to bermuda and end up in china...it sure as hell nots the boats fault

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joe40x</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Unfired? Me thinks the problem is a loose nut behind the trigger! </div></div>
I can assure you that my nuts are not loose. I went to the range today, broke out the Eley, and the 40X shoots fine. Too bad it doesn't like cheap ammo like my other 22LRs.

 

[Layton]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I've worn out just about everything on a 22lr except the barrel.

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Unwilling to give up your eley...but feel free to bitch that your gun does not shoot? Guess what... I own 3 40x's and they do not shoot worth a danm with Remington golded...Get off your quality ammo and shoot in a quality wepon...if it does not shoot...than call me, and I can probably help you

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

sorry, meant no offense...I still have one I cannot make shoot! Rd box, black box, RWS 50, RWS 100, and ...omg remington subsonics, just will not shoot

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Ser#s match..bedding done by professionals... form OK...scope proven... just does not shoot..sorry if I have stolen your thread!

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Layton</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've worn out just about everything on a 22lr except the barrel. </div></div>
The barrel life of a 22LR should be in the hundreds of thousands of rounds, it would be very difficult to actually wear one out. However, not all barrels are great barrels. My 40X may have a good barrel but there could be something about the chambering, throat, or headspacing (distance between boltface and barrel face) that makes cheap ammo (CCI, Aguila,...) not work well. I noticed it was hard to close the bolt on the CCI Green Tag, but the Eley EPS ran like butter in the action. And I love the sweet smell of Eley burned powder!!

Joe, thanks but I'm not interested in another rifle, I just wanted this 40X to shoot well since I've invested about $1800 in it already, not including the 1.5-6x Hensoldt scope. I also bought a Remington 40X target stock, had it refinished, and put the 40X barreled action in it. The 40X was originally a "Remington position shooting rifle" made only for righthanders and I'm lefthanded.

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I do not have a 40x for sale? I just wanted to help you with your rifle

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Jack...Whoa! Just trying to help.

 

[Joe40x]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Just sharing your pain...it is hell having a quality rifle and not being able to find a Factory load for it.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I belong to a rimfire shooting club and we shoot a 50 yard match every week and a 100 yard match once a month. We normally have 14 or 15 shooters for any given match and usually 10 to 12 of those shooters are shooting either an Anschutz 54 or 40X, with those being about evenly divided. I consider the Anschutz 54s and 40Xs to be about the cheapest way to get into a real match grade rifle.

From what I've seen over many shooters is that the only way to get these rifles to be able to consistently shoot into a 3/8" target is to feed them right. I take any claims of shooting .5" groups all day long (or with any consistency) with any typical rifle with typical ammunition with a huge grain of salt. I have to call BS on most claims, just based on my experience.

Just saying that you tried Eley, Lapua or RWS and got bad results really doesn't say anything. You really do have to do some hunting around. I've found that changing lot numbers affects accuracy as much as changing ammunition. What I'd suggest is that you get in touch with a place like Killough's or Champion's Choice and get them to put together a brick of your chosen ammo containing 5 to 10 different lot numbers. Find a lot number that your rifle likes and order a lot of it.

For those guys with the rifles that will shoot .3s and .5s consistently at 50 yards with less than premium ammo, all I can say is you'd better hang on to that rifle, because it's really special.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Good point, Tony. Most of my 22LRs are for hunting or simply trigger time, or for target practice with my young nephews. I do have a Winchester 52C that shoots exceptionally well with plain ole CCI ammo and Redfield peep sights. When I bought an unused 40X I thought it should shoot better than it did with similar ammo, but it didn't like cheap ammo as you've read above. I know some people buy ammo by lot numbers, but you guys are real rimfire competitors. I'm pretty anal about handloading for centerfire, but not as much as the benchresters.

I haven't tried my Wolf ammo yet, just forgot to bring some to the range yesterday. Right now I'm happy that my Rem 40X shoots well enough to justify its cost! I wanted a 22LR that was similar to my Rem 700s.

Here's a pic of my new 40X in a refinished vintage target stock. The barrel is the original factory length, 24 inches. Scope is an older Hensoldt 1.5-6x with fine crosshairs:

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Jack, on another note, I just wanted to confirm that I didn't misunderstand something. Am I to understand that this particular 40X that we are talking about was acquired in new or like new condition. "Never been shot?"

From what I've seen with new builds, it takes a good 5000 rounds to let a new barrel settle in before you'll start to see what it can really do.

Oh, and as far as the Wolf goes, I don't know what's been up, but the last four or five lots that I've tried were really bad. Using ARA targets for practice, I've hit as many as 10 straights 100s in a row only to have one fly out (way out) for no explicable reason. I'm not the only one that has experienced this. Let us know how it goes.

BTW, that's a nice looking rifle. Do you always shoot it off of a bipod? Have you tried bagging it?

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Yes, I bought it unfired in the original box from a collector a few years ago; he had a few like that. I checked the serial number once and recall it was made in the mid to late 1990s (date code "XQ" = December 1996).

My Wolf ammo is at least 2 years old, bought during the Obama ammo scare when prices were high.

Yes, I normally use a bipod like I would for a centerfire - it's for "training" and not rimfire competition. I have a Sinclair front benchrest and rear bag setup that I could use too. There's no bipod "hop" with 22LR!!!

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Oh man, don't get me wrong. I don't have any aversion at all to using a bipod. I do most of my shooting from a bipod, regardless of caliber.

So, we aren't talking a CMP rifle, are we? Maybe something directly from Remington? Anyway, I'd send a bunch of rounds down range before I came to any conclusions about the accuracy of the rifle.

If it is a CMP rifle, check to see if it is the original bolt.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

New in the box. Since it originally came with a "position" stock (see image below), I doubt it was ever in the CMP program.

Original position rifle stock:

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

Jack, that rifle is the shizz. I wouldn't go replacing the barrel. Give the barrel some time to settle in. If after 5000 or so rounds, it still won't shoot to your satisfaction, you might give a thought to getting a tuner for it.

Man, I think the wait right now for a rimfire 40X from Remington is over a year.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

It shoots fine with Eley EPS, Tony, but I'd like to find some cheaper ammo that works as well. Next time I'll try some SK and Wolf.

There's no question now that the barrel is OKay, it took the Eley to answer that question.

PS How often do you recommend cleaning the barrel? I don't usually clean 22LRs, but I've cleaned this 40X a few times.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I really don't like cleaning the barrel of a rimfire. Maybe every 5000 rounds or so, although when shooting a match, I'll brush the chamber out with a nylon brush every 25 rounds. When just shooting for fun, I'll brush the chamber out at the end of the day, when the chamber is still hot. I'm just trying to keep the chamber and throat from getting any sort of build up.

When I do clean, I don't use anything special. Just hoppe's and a nylon brush.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

That sounds like a reasonable course of cleaning. I prefer nylon brushes for everything, just to avoid scratching the bore, throat and chamber. Thanks!

 

[DRAGON64]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I am looking at truly needing a barrel for my 40X. The muzzle end has damage from cleaning rod use; the chamber is step cut for some unknown reason; the bore is scored from many many rounds being shot throught it. A local guy slugged the barrel for me, and noted that the bore opens up about the 14" mark this runs for 3" before tieghtening up again... so what does a 40X shoot like with a barrel in this condition?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLT_nCEDoAU&feature=plcp

My form is terrible, I get that, my table wiggles and the rests etc are just not right for this type of rested shooting... I get that. But if you watch the other videos that I made day after day of this rifle shooting, I have changed much of my set-up, but the rifle groups never changed... This rifle truly needs a barrel I do believe.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

The suggestions made for my rifle were:

* Clean the barrel throughly.
* Try a variety of ammunition.
* Check the crown and bore.

You've taken the third suggestion and you should try the first two as well. You'll answer your own question - how well does it shoot. If you can't get it to shoot as well as you'd like, then it's probably time to either sell the rifle or get a new barrel.

 

[DRAGON64]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

The bore on this barrel has been slugged with many observations noted by the gentleman looking the rifle over... this 40X needs a barrel. For now, since we have nothing to lose, he is going to counterbore the last 3/8 of an inch on the crown, and the put a 45 degree cut on the muzzle, to see if we can squeek out a few hundred or thousand rounds from the barrel.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I hope that works, it sounds like the barrel has been abused (stepped throat, for example). Good luck and report back with the results.

 

[kytrapper]

tag

 

[rideHPD]

Here are some things you don't seem to have learned about rim fire yet (which is perfectly fine) that I am surprised have not been fully disclosed yet.

1. Don't mix makes of ammo. Each company uses a different wax and mixing waxes is very detrimental to accuracy.

2. Rim fires are very picky between lots of the same ammo. I have 5 lots of Eley Match, only 3 shoot well.

3. You don't clean rim fires like you do center fires. It takes several-20ish rounds to lay the wax (seasoning the barrel), which you remove when cleaning. Shoot it til the groups open up then clean. I understand you aren't getting the accuracy you want, but this takes a long time. I have 500 rounds on mine and still going good.

4. Ammo may perform wildly different at 50 and 100 yards, in any possible combination.

You're going to get what you pay for with rimfire ammo. On the cheaper end sk and Wolf tend to offer at least one cheaper option that a particular rifle will like. Don't forget to clean the wax or you won't see the change. If it does such get a rock, broughton, Lilja, mullerworks, or brux. Chad Dixon has a lot of experience with 40x's. He knows what he's doing.

 

[Frank Green]

No drop in barrels to my knowledge. You want it done right you get a premium barrel and have it installed by a good smith.

We've made test barrels for Remington and installed them on 40x actions and had to put the pressure port thru the receivers. Also built a 40x for one of the R&D Eng. at Remington also.

I'm getting ready to redo a couple of Win. Model 52's. One is a C model and the other a D model.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[rideHPD]

And, you know, of course Bartlein.

I don't know how I forgot you, Frank. That 52 of yours is most envied.

 

[orkan]

Benchmark 3-groove or 2-groove would be my choice. ... and if you don't have a smith to swap them for you, check out TS Customs. He re-barreled one of my 40X's and it will run with the best of them.

Primal Rights ? View topic - 40X Smallbore Benchrest Rifle

 

[Parkerized 1]

Re: Who makes a replacement barrel for a 22LR 40X?

I belong to a rimfire shooting club and we shoot a 50 yard match every week and a 100 yard match once a month. We normally have 14 or 15 shooters for any given match and usually 10 to 12 of those shooters are shooting either an Anschutz 54 or 40X, with those being about evenly divided. I consider the Anschutz 54s and 40Xs to be about the cheapest way to get into a real match grade rifle.

From what I've seen over many shooters is that the only way to get these rifles to be able to consistently shoot into a 3/8" target is to feed them right. I take any claims of shooting .5" groups all day long (or with any consistency) with any typical rifle with typical ammunition with a huge grain of salt. I have to call BS on most claims, just based on my experience.

Just saying that you tried Eley, Lapua or RWS and got bad results really doesn't say anything. You really do have to do some hunting around. I've found that changing lot numbers affects accuracy as much as changing ammunition. What I'd suggest is that you get in touch with a place like Killough's or Champion's Choicez and get them to put together a brick of your chosen ammo containing 5 to 10 different lot numbers. Find a lot number that your rifle likes and order a lot of it.

For those guys with the rifles that will shoot .3s and .5s consistently at 50 yards with less than premium ammo, all I can say is you'd better hang on to that rifle, because it's really special.

Or, you could just get a barrel that shoots. I have lost patience, and money trying to make bad barrels shoot, both center-fire and rim. 40X is not magic nor is it factory tested like some.