Just picked up a Ruger American Rimfire to get introduced to bolt actions, mahalo to drck for helping me acquire it  Now I just need to find some time to go to the range...

Very nice!  Glad I could offer help.  You were dealing with good people, so even though they may be going through stuff, they'll come through. 

Please share how things go.   

Awesome!  Wish I had more frequent access to range that one could set up targets like that and shoot a variety of targets and distances.  Lots of YTbers who have what appears to be awesome ranges in their back yard for .22 lr shooting. 

Looking forward to seeing how the Lilja does for you.  My CZ457 is still quite new, but exciting how much aftermarket opportunities there are.

Finally got to test the lilja barrel on the CZ 457....Hmmm, the stock 16.5" MTR barrel shot well and wasn't too picky on ammo (SK Rifle, Lapua Center X, Eley Match, and even CCI SV).  The Lilja on the other hand is picky, definitely hates CCI SV.  It shot Eley Match ok but way better with Center X.  Of course it could be the different lots or the head spacing.  I set the headspace at .042.  I'll try again with a different headspace.  I like the look of the stainless 21" barrel but its seems like there's much more variables when you play with the shims and head spacing.  OH Well, i guess you gotta pay to play....I hope there's other ammo it likes aside from Center X.

Finally got to test the lilja barrel on the CZ 457....Hmmm, the stock 16.5" MTR barrel shot well and wasn't too picky on ammo (SK Rifle, Lapua Center X, Eley Match, and even CCI SV).  The Lilja on the other hand is picky, definitely hates CCI SV.  It shot Eley Match ok but way better with Center X.  Of course it could be the different lots or the head spacing.  I set the headspace at .042.  I'll try again with a different headspace.  I like the look of the stainless 21" barrel but its seems like there's much more variables when you play with the shims and head spacing.  OH Well, i guess you gotta pay to play....I hope there's other ammo it likes aside from Center X.

Akubone,

I'm assuming you got it directly from Lilja at riflebarrels.com.

If so, you should email them to ask what chamber reamer they used for your barrel, and what ammo it would be the suited for.


I ordered my Lilja barrel from them, and they told me it was chambered with the Eley EPS Match Rimfire Reamer for the flat-nose bullet, so natch, Eley EPS bullets would be ideal.

Turns out that Eley Tenex EPS shoots better than the others (slightly), as compared to Lapua Midas+ or RWS R50.

I just got 2 boxes of Eley Match EPS, so I want to test if the Match (black) ammo shoots as well as Tenex EPS (red).
I'm guessing that it would shoot the same.

An email to Lilja would put you on a logical path to see which ammo your rifle likes.

Akubone,

I'm assuming you got it directly from Lilja at riflebarrels.com.

If so, you should email them to ask what chamber reamer they used for your barrel, and what ammo it would be the suited for.


I ordered my Lilja barrel from them, and they told me it was chambered for the Eley Match EPS flat-nose bullet, so natch, Eley EPS bullets would be ideal.

Turns out that Eley Tenex EPS shoots better than the others (slightly), as compared to Lapua Midas+ or RWS R50.

I just got 2 boxes of Eley Match EPS, so I want to test if the Match (black) ammo shoots as well as Tenex EPS (red).
I'm guessing that it would shoot the same.

An email to Lilja would put you on a logical path to see which ammo your rifle likes.

Thanks esk808…good suggestion.  I’ll email Lilja regarding the chamber reamer they used.  Pretty interesting to see the differences in ammo especially from one barrel to another.  Seems like the ammo was shooting hotter off the longer barrel.

Thanks esk808…good suggestion.  I’ll email Lilja regarding the chamber reamer they used.  Pretty interesting to see the differences in ammo especially from one barrel to another.  Seems like the ammo was shooting hotter off the longer barrel.

From the Lilja website on the CZ 457 drop-in barrel section:                  https://riflebarrels.com/shop/drop-in-barrels/cz-455/22-rf/cz-455-precision-barrel/

"Two profiles available: .900″ diameter straight cylinder with no taper. Made from 3-groove blanks and chambered with our ‘Lilja 2’ match reamer. The weight is 3 pounds 6 ounces (54 ounces) in .22 LR caliber and 21″ length. Varmint taper. It is .900″ diameter for 3″ and then a straight taper down to .630″ diameter at 21″. This taper is also listed as RF 122 on our special rimfire contour listing. These barrels are made with a new ‘Lilja 2’ chamber made by PTG."

                   PTG: Pacific Tool & Gauge Co.

It also says: "All CZ 455’s 22 LR will have the new shim kit design, and 'Lilja 3’ chamber. Please see instructions below for installation.

I can't find the Lilja 2' or 3' match chamber reamer on this list, so you gotta ask:    https://pacifictoolandgauge.com/1542-22-cal-239-cal-chamber-reamer-nopix-

Finally got to test the lilja barrel on the CZ 457....Hmmm, the stock 16.5" MTR barrel shot well and wasn't too picky on ammo (SK Rifle, Lapua Center X, Eley Match, and even CCI SV).  The Lilja on the other hand is picky, definitely hates CCI SV.  It shot Eley Match ok but way better with Center X.  Of course it could be the different lots or the head spacing.  I set the headspace at .042.  I'll try again with a different headspace.  I like the look of the stainless 21" barrel but its seems like there's much more variables when you play with the shims and head spacing.  OH Well, i guess you gotta pay to play....I hope there's other ammo it likes aside from Center X.

Did you clean the barrel between
 ammo tests?

Did you clean the barrel between
 ammo tests?

No didn't clean between ammo tests.  Day 1 -- shot 50 rounds ea and finished the box before switching ammo type.  Started with Lapua Center X, Eley Match, Eley Club, CCI SV.  Lapua Center X & Eley Match were pretty accurate with under MOA groups at 50yds.  Accuracy OK with Eley club, but really inconsistent with CCI.  Headspace was .042.  Went home and changed the headspace to .043...cleaned the barrel for Day 2.  2nd day at the range and started with CCI SV.  Same result...very inconsistent.  It will shoot a couple of good groups then open up.  Changed to Eley match and shot 5 groups under MOA.  I'll try RWS and SK on my next trip.

No didn't clean between ammo tests. 

Like Ocean19 asks, try to run a patch or two (or 2 VGF pellets) through the barrel when changing ammo brands.

The lube is different and bullet type is different in brands.

The higher-priced ammo will probably shoot better and more consistent. 

CCI SV is my semi-auto 22 pistol ammo only, as it is difficult to chamber and to close the bolt over this round.

Dry patch or wet patch?  I was doing that on the CZ MTR barrel and it didn’t seem to matter as much.  Normally the first 10 shots I discounted as fouling shot.  However CCI SV that I shot on the 2nd day was off a clean barrel.  It still shot inconsistent.  I’ll go back to running patches through before the new lots.

Finally got to test the lilja barrel on the CZ 457....Hmmm, the stock 16.5" MTR barrel shot well and wasn't too picky on ammo (SK Rifle, Lapua Center X, Eley Match, and even CCI SV).  The Lilja on the other hand is picky, definitely hates CCI SV.  It shot Eley Match ok but way better with Center X.  Of course it could be the different lots or the head spacing.  I set the headspace at .042.  I'll try again with a different headspace.  I like the look of the stainless 21" barrel but its seems like there's much more variables when you play with the shims and head spacing.  OH Well, i guess you gotta pay to play....I hope there's other ammo it likes aside from Center X.

Awesome!  Thank you for sharing your experiences.  I am very much one who wants to try and see for myself.  While current short term plans are to shoot my CZ457 with the stock barrel alot with a variety of ammo, I am very much interested in the Lilja barrels.  Particularly since them seem quite user friendly to install and tweak without a gunsmith.  I have a variety of ammo to test, with more ammo on the way and trading with other very helpful members of this board.  Looking forward to seeing how your testing progresses. 

Does running say 2-3 patches make that much of a difference?  Over say shooting 5-10 foulers?  I will eventually get into testing multiple ammo brands/types in a given range session.  Seems like many folks, including Pursuit of Accuracy, shoot about 10 foulers before shooting for groups.  That said, Pursuit of Accuracy focuses on PRS and NRL22 matches, and he notes that he's not a BR shooter or one that seems to focus better on shooting steel, including KYL targets, over target cards. 

For me, I'm down to try and test a variety of methods.  Just keeping context in mind.  I'm not after ultimate accuracy, at least not right now.  Or maybe that's me in denial as I try to stay near the top/entrance of the rabbit hole.   

Does running say 2-3 patches make that much of a difference?  Over say shooting 5-10 foulers?  I will eventually get into testing multiple ammo brands/types in a given range session.  Seems like many folks, including Pursuit of Accuracy, shoot about 10 foulers before shooting for groups.  That said, Pursuit of Accuracy focuses on PRS and NRL22 matches, and he notes that he's not a BR shooter or one that seems to focus better on shooting steel, including KYL targets, over target cards. 

For me, I'm down to try and test a variety of methods.  Just keeping context in mind.  I'm not after ultimate accuracy, at least not right now.  Or maybe that's me in denial as I try to stay near the top/entrance of the rabbit hole.   

I had to shoot 20 foulers. But stopped cause i got a $300 rifle, so not worth the extra waste of ammo, IMO for a cheap rifle.

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I had to shoot 20 foulers. But stopped cause i got a $300 rifle, so not worth the extra waste of ammo, IMO for a cheap rifle.

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20 “foulers” for? Until you saw groups settle down after changing ammo?

I will likely just shoot groups and see how things go. Keeping on mind potential differences when switching ammo. I don’t really want to take cleaning stuff to the range. At least not at my low/starter level.

20 “foulers” for? Until you saw groups settle down after changing ammo?

I will likely just shoot groups and see how things go. Keeping on mind potential differences when switching ammo. I don’t really want to take cleaning stuff to the range. At least not at my low/starter level.

That and after cleaning the barrel to get my groups back to where they should be.

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That and after cleaning the barrel to get my groups back to where they should be.

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Ahh…

Did you get Mrs. CMO’s rifle sorted out? You should do a challenge 

Ahh…

Did you get Mrs. CMO’s rifle sorted out? You should do a challenge 

Not ready yet...

I didnt understand why my 22 shot so bad after cleaning. Im the clean after every range day guy. Till a friend explained it.

Like tangerine size grouping at 50yrds with CCI-SV.

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Not ready yet...

I didnt understand why my 22 shot so bad after cleaning. Im the clean after every range day guy. Till a friend explained it.

Like tangerine size grouping at 50yrds with CCI-SV.

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Was super windy that day, right? 

Not ready yet...

I didnt understand why my 22 shot so bad after cleaning. Im the clean after every range day guy. Till a friend explained it.

Like tangerine size grouping at 50yrds with CCI-SV.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Did they tell you why a fouled barrel shoots better?

Finally got to test the lilja barrel on the CZ 457....Hmmm, the stock 16.5" MTR barrel shot well and wasn't too picky on ammo (SK Rifle, Lapua Center X, Eley Match, and even CCI SV).  The Lilja on the other hand is picky, definitely hates CCI SV.  It shot Eley Match ok but way better with Center X.  Of course it could be the different lots or the head spacing.  I set the headspace at .042.  I'll try again with a different headspace.  I like the look of the stainless 21" barrel but its seems like there's much more variables when you play with the shims and head spacing.  OH Well, i guess you gotta pay to play....I hope there's other ammo it likes aside from Center X.

Change the way you do your testing. One headspace doesn't apply to all the different ammo.

The deep rabbit whole takes a lot of testing, hopefully you get there quick.

Good Luck.

Did they tell you why a fouled barrel shoots better?

In your experience, why do you (or anyone else here) think/believe/know why a fouled barrel shoots better?  I recall many folks mentioning lube, wax, etc.  Not saying it doesn't, but interesting discussion and helpful when folk share their experiences.  Like testing regimen.