Maybe this is a gunsmiths problem and it maybe something simple. See I bought this old 39A in a second hand gun dealers store and and although it's 50 years old it's in good condition. the problem is it shoots erratically. It shoots 2 inches from the point of aim e.g. it shoots 2 inches around the center bull. the only thing I can find wrong with it is when I close the bolt i.e. bring the lever up I can still push the bolt forward with my thumb. I can move it about at least 1mm. further forward with or without a round in the breech. I think this is the problem i.e. headspace problem but how to fix it. Has anyone encountered and what did they do about it? All comments and ideas wel;come. It's a real nice rifle Quokka

Have you cleaned it? And I mean really, really, really scrubbed it with good brushes?

The Micro-groove rifling is pretty shallow and once in a while you'll have one fill up with lead.

Other thing to check is the crown. Inspect that carefully for any marks or dings.

Headspace could have some impact on accuracy, but I would check the other things first. If neither of the above helps, then take it to a gunsmith and see if the chamber is in spec.

Also, a weak mainspring could be the culprit too, either age or someone doing a cut-rate trigger job.

Assume you've made sure the sights are tight and not moving around.....

Good luck.

First thing I agree with MikeG, clean it good, check the crown. Most 39s have ample bbl in front of the mag for recrowning. Check and see if it has not been cleaned to death by cleaning from the muzzle. If so a simple .22 recrown in involves chucking the bbl in a lathe and drilling part of the muzzle back a half inch or so thus not affecting bbl length.

IF the cleaning doesn't help (and the previous posters are correct...a good cleaning is always the first step) then would dissassemble and look at the pivot points..... the parts are usually harder than the screws/pins, so the screws wear over time....which is lucky, as new screws/pins aren't too hard to find.

My guess would be the crown. You can never do damage to a gun by having it recrowned. It will never shoot worse. When in doubt, recrown. If it were the bolt and a headspace issue, your shots would not be that erratic. Thats why I am guessing the crown.

quok, you didn't tell us much. What is your "normal" group ability with similar rifles? Are you shooting factory iron sights or a known good scope and off a good, solid bench over a proper rest? IF you are capiable of 1" at 50 with factory (poor) irons and the rifle/ammo combo is also capable of 1", your groups would be 2" at best.

Your post reads as if you are getting a dough-nut shaped group. ? Is that true or are your shots scattered randomly within the 2" diameter?

Rimfires are about as picky about ammo as centerfires. Have you tried other brands/types or just one?

Rimfires are notorious for damaged bores at the muzzle from poor cleaning practice. Poke a loose wad of white tissue paper into the muzzle and push it down about 3/4", then it will reflect enough light back to help you eyeball the muzzle and rifling easily. Check it all the way around for wear or burrs.

well as a former 39a mounty owner i will say i never experianced the bolt having any play what so ever after bringing the lever all the way home. also you say about 50 years old, check your serial # on your rifle as it may be ballard riflling oposed to microw grooved, i think it changed over around '55 plus or minus 1 year. the combination of a real dirty barrel, bad crown and sloppy/varying headspaceing will deffinatly mess with your groups. my .02 on rimfires is that a loose/sloppy headspace situation will cause all kinds of grouping problems. it is one of the reasons some m77/22 rugers don't shoot as good as others because the two piece bolt design sometimes is too loose causeing headspace problems. it is one of the first things m77/22 owners do to their rifle to get it to group consistant. i would take it to a competant smith and have him give it a good looking over.

Occasionally my break down screw will work it's way a tad loose. When this happens the gun will open groups up considerable. Not so much on paper as it;s my plinking gun but when I start missing the shotgun shells we ping with much regularity I have tired eyes or that screw is a bit loose. I would strongly suspect what's already been said though.