Another try at eliminating the first round low shot in MTR

[Joe L]

How were the groups?

Nearly 3" when I started, shrunk down to 1.5" for 10 shots at the end, with 7 of the 10 in about 0.7".  I was very happy with those 10 shots.   

[M1A4ME]

Joe, some AR15 barrels (and maybe some pistol barrels) are nitrided to reduce wear and improve corrosion resistance.

Can you get a .22 barrel the nitride treatment?  Is the barrel easy to remove from the receiver?

Do you think it would make it easier to clean?  Take longer to build up crud in the barrel?  Allow it to stay dirty (not cleaning it) without having to risk pitting from not cleaning it regularly?

Just occurred to me last night that while it probably won't affect barrel life (not easy to do magazine dumps through a bolt action rifle, let alone .22 rimfire won't heat a barrel up like .223 or .308) it might help with other issues that might be affecting your barrel.

[Joe L]

M1A4ME--I don't want to change the barrel quite yet.  But that time may come!

Update--Finally got out on Thursday to shoot the MTR at 100 yards with the SK Rifle Match ammo, with no cleaning since last outing (when the last two groups were acceptable).  I shot 100 rounds and there was vertical spread of 2" or worse in all 10 ten shot groups.  No video.  No "good" groups this trip out.  My conclusion, leaving the barrel fouled was not helpful.

I am going to remove the tuner, deep clean the barrel, take the scope off and check the rail screws, remove the action and check, then reinstall and torque, then reset the level and parallax and eye relief on the scope.  In other words, start over.  Something is loose somewhere, maybe.  It is all vertical spread, not shotgun.

Will shoot it again next week, I hope. 

[M1A4ME]

Joe, I don't necessarily mean replacing the barrel.

Just sending it off to get the nitride treatment.  Never had a barrel done, just slides.  But I've bought AR15 barrels that were nitride treated (inside and outside) vs. just parkerized on the outside and bare steel inside.

[Joe L]

Oops, sorry, misunderstood.  I could do that, then.

[M1A4ME]

Do the research first.  I didn't.  I just "wondered" about it since so many people brag about the hardness it imparts to the metal and the rust/corrosion resistance as well. 

Just thought the increased rust/corrosion resistance might help if you found out not cleaning so often helped with the groups.  Or maybe made it easier to clean.