ASSRA Forum - Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim

ASSRA Forum › General › Gunsmithing Single Shot Rifles › Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim

(Moderator Group: Moderator)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Pages: 1

Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim (Read 4839 times)

45saa1911 Ex Member	Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Apr 15^th, 2015 at 10:36pm	Print Post
	My son has a 1976 Browning B-78 in 25-06 Remington. He sighted it in to be dead on at 100 yards, then shot a 1/2" group. A week later he shot shot another 1/2” group, but it was 4” low at 6 o’clock. We looked the gun over & found the forearm was putting pressure on the barrel, the barrel was not free floated. I think the forearm hangar might be bent, causing the forearm to put pressure on the the barrel. My son thinks we need to remove wood from inside the forearm to free float the barrel. I convinced him to wait until I could ask the experts on 'ASSRA ‘ what they think the gun needs. Thank you for reading this post, hope someone helps solve this mystery!


	IP Logged

SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2917 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #1 - Apr 16^th, 2015 at 6:55am	Print Post
	Welcome to the ASSRA forum. Was the rifle shot from the bench? Will guess it was with those groups. If so, how was it held? Barrel or forearm supporting the front?

	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
	GTalk IP Logged

40_Rod Frequent Elocutionist Offline Extremism in the persuit of accuracy is not a vice Posts: 4285 Location: Knoxville, TN Joined: Apr 20^th, 2004	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #2 - Apr 16^th, 2015 at 8:41am	Print Post
	I am not one who favors hangers for the attachment of fore ends. The idea of a the barrel out there wagging like a puppy’s tail has never been conducive to accuracy for me. It works for bolt-action rifles but in almost all bolt guns you have more thread contact to work with. In a high wall you have less than an inch of threading holding a 28” barrel to the action. In my opinion get rid of the hanger and properly bed the fore end to the barrel and attach it directly to the barrel. 40 Rod


	IP Logged

kkid66 Full Member Offline Posts: 186 Location: central tx Joined: Jun 4^th, 2014	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #3 - Apr 16^th, 2015 at 10:54am	Print Post
	Many things including light and mirage, temperature, and humidity will move a group. I shoot a b-78 in competition and use a O-ring between hanger and wood at each screw till a 1$ biil will pass between wood and barrel with forearm on a rest. Is the butt stock snug to the action and how heavy are you laying on the cheek rest?


	IP Logged

Bulseyetom Oldtimer Offline Posts: 960 Location: Santa Maria, Ca Joined: Oct 31^st, 2010	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #4 - Apr 16^th, 2015 at 12:21pm	Print Post
	My B-78 25-06 shoots lights out day after day so I would try the "o" ring trick and see what happens. Remove the swivels also so the rifle moves smooth in the bags. I assume this is the original B-78 and not the last version. Tom


	Twitter IP Logged

45saa1911 Ex Member	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #5 - Apr 18^th, 2015 at 1:25am	Print Post
	Thanks kkid66 for the O-Ring fix, that will save both time & money, did you buy O-Rings the same size as the threaded part of the screw? Thanks Bulseyetom I know he removes his sling before he shoots, he picked that up from me. As soon as I sit down in a deer blind I remove the sling. Imo slings in a deer blind are noise makers & they always get in the way when I try to shoot. On a B-78 if you remove the sling the only part of the swivels that stay on the rifle are the studs, don't the swivels stay on the sling? I don't have the rifle here to look at.


	IP Logged

kkid66 Full Member Offline Posts: 186 Location: central tx Joined: Jun 4^th, 2014	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #6 - Apr 18^th, 2015 at 8:49am	Print Post
	I lay the O-rings on the hanger and gently place the forend down on them. I only tighten the screws snug and if any wood needs removing I use a deep socket about the same size as the barrel and 100 grit paper. Also should be a little gap between wood and the action.


	IP Logged

QuestionableMaynard8130 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4144 Location: Benton Harbor MI Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #7 - Apr 18^th, 2015 at 9:23am	Print Post
	The odds are it is probably barrel-forend problems. Single shots and other rifles with 2 piece stocks are notorious for inaccuracy issues created by the forend mounting system. There are a number of different solutions--the O-rings being a common and inexpensive one that often works well. Mounting the wood solidly to the hanger and free floating the barrel is another. Modifying the hanger so it is more solid often helps---and on and on. BUT --- Just to be sure, double check that your sights are on really tight. It amazing how often even experienced match shooters have their previously tight groups and high scores go all to hell and after all sorts of angst, profanity and head scratching eventually a loose screw in a scope mount or base is found to be the culprit. You might also try shooting it off the bags with no forend at all; with just the bare barrel and hanger. You may discover that the barrel is sensitive to its location placement on the front bag. Once you are back to tight groups with a bare barrel you have a known reference point to start evaluating exactly what the forend is doing and what it will take to fix it.

	sacred cows make the best burger
	IP Logged

Bulseyetom Oldtimer Offline Posts: 960 Location: Santa Maria, Ca Joined: Oct 31^st, 2010	Re: Browning B-78 w/wandering point of aim Reply #8 - Apr 18^th, 2015 at 11:22am	Print Post
	the original B-78's and maybe the new ones (have not laid eyes on the last B-78's) have a Pachmyer Sling Swivel that once you remove the swivel by twisting it 90 degrees is flush with the forearm.


	Twitter IP Logged

Pages: 1

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Page completed in 0.8213 seconds.