.22 benchrest

[Topwater]

Went to my first .22 bench rest competition yesterday. I was feeling pretty good about my prospects after having practiced a few times over the last couple weeks. Well, I came home with my tail between my legs. Attempting to shoot my squirrel rifle in the sporter class proved much more difficult than I had imagined. At 100 yds. with the mirage and wind, I was stymied. My gunsmith was there shooting, he tried cheering me up. “ You can only improve “ was his reply, with a smile. I have a better respect for those that dealt with those conditions and shot well....... Dang, more trigger time and a set of flags, I guess. Good shooting to all of you.

 

[dedogs]

Went to my first .22 bench rest competition yesterday.

Congratulations! You just fell down THE RABBIT HOLE. You are going to meet a lot of great people who are going to help you spend a LOT of money! Welcome aboard. dedogs

 

[marchboom]

Matches are a great way to learn by shooting and talking to the other shooters. Get a good set of flags and learn what they are telling you. Also spend the money to get a SOLID front rest. Good ones are expensive but after buying one and seeing how well it holds your rifle you will thank yourself for spending the money.

 

[garandman]

What rifle? Ammo?

 

[Topwater]

The rifle is a very old Anschutz 164 with a Bushnell 6X18 Rimfire scope. The Ammo was equally as old Winchester T22. The rifles that others used looked more like my benchrest rifle. The general consensus from other shooters was to experiment with different brands of ammunition. Checking online surprised me, some boxes of .22s cost more than I paid for those bricks of the T22s. I can see how this could become another expensive endeavor.

 

[garandman]

The rifle is a very old Anschutz 164 with a Bushnell 6X18 Rimfire scope. The Ammo was equally as old Winchester T22. The rifles that others used looked more like my benchrest rifle. The general consensus from other shooters was to experiment with different brands of ammunition. Checking online surprised me, some boxes of .22s cost more than I paid for those bricks of the T22s. I can see how this could become another expensive endeavor.

I have tested dozens of different brands and lot numbers of 22 rim fire amminition and I can say this… the right ammo in your gun will make all the difference. Night and day.

That and a higher magnification scope would help alot.

 

[Topwater]

I had the opportunity to shoot some Lapua Center X today at 100yds. It did make a marked improvement in group size. It’s a shame that it’s so expensive. Is there somewhere one can buy in bulk and save substantially?

 

[Larryh128]

I had the opportunity to shoot some Lapua Center X today at 100yds. It did make a marked improvement in group size. It’s a shame that it’s so expensive. Is there somewhere one can buy in bulk and save substantially?

Every now and then, Natchez will run some deals.

 

[Tim s]

The rifle is a very old Anschutz 164 with a Bushnell 6X18 Rimfire scope. The Ammo was equally as old Winchester T22. The rifles that others used looked more like my benchrest rifle. The general consensus from other shooters was to experiment with different brands of ammunition. Checking online surprised me, some boxes of .22s cost more than I paid for those bricks of the T22s. I can see how this could become another expensive endeavor.

For what it’s worth, don’t entirely give up on the gun yet, mostly because you already own it.
Have one of these guys advise you how to completely, properly clean it, right down to clean metal, including what I’d guess is a badly loaded up throat.
If possible have it checked with a borescope, lots of serious shooters will have one.
After this invest in a few boxes of Lapua or ELEY. you don’t need to try 50 brands, little is equal to those two and you will rarely, if ever see anything else at any serious BR match.
If nothing gets materially better......you have a decision, sell it, scope and all and look for a good, fairly priced used rig. You will be well ahead with this approach.

 

[Topwater]

I guess that I really don’t know what to reasonably expect @ 100 yds. from my current setup. Yesterday, under pretty good conditions with light wind,
I shot twenty, five shot groups. My best (T22) measured 1.203” c-c. The worst was 2.912”(T22). I had a really good group going with the Center X. It measured 0.569”. My forth shot spread those five shots to 1.32”. Should I consider this as good as it will shoot?

 

[Larry70]

I went from using cci out of my Savage bolt 22 , to Wolf .22 long rifle Match Extra it was like night and day the difference
I bought a case of 5000 rounds before the California law went into affect
About buying ammo on line,with shipping they ended costing me about .12 a round
Ammo does make a difference with 22’s

 

[Tim s]

I guess that I really don’t know what to reasonably expect @ 100 yds. from my current setup. Yesterday, under pretty good conditions with light wind,
I shot twenty, five shot groups. My best (T22) measured 1.203” c-c. The worst was 2.912”(T22). I had a really good group going with the Center X. It measured 0.569”. My forth shot spread those five shots to 1.32”. Should I consider this as good as it will shoot?

Not really possible to tell given what you’ve posted.
Did you get it completely clean. Are you shooting over flags ?
Do you have a decent rest setup ?
What kind/power scope.
You refer to benchrest.......most formal shooting is 50 yards/meters.
I mean, there are a lot of ways, here, to help or hurt yourself and it all compounds.

Again if you are seeking max for your equipment....#1 best advice you are going to get is stop screwing with mediocre ammo if you are looking for your best with virtually any rifle.

 

[NorCalMikie]

At first sight, I thought you would be talking about a 22BR, you know Lapua 6 BR brass necked down to 22? Boy oh boy was I wrong. Had to read it a couple of times to get the details.
Shooting a Ruger 10-22 for years and needed something to build SO, ordered up a bench rest style thumb hole stock from Richard's Micro-Fit and built myself a 22 Bench rest gun. Likes the finished product so much that I built another one.
Straight pipe barrel, under lever mag release, 3" forearm and long range scopes. Got two built but havn't shot them yet. DO enjoy building.

Had one that belonged to a friend that died but sold it off for the funds for his wife but sure would love to get myself another BSA Martini 22 long rifle bench gun. That thing must have weighed 50 pounds.This one came in a wooden custom case. When the friend died, I went up to his house and scooped up all his guns before they sprouted legs.
Found his BSA under his wood working bench with the lid open and the gun covered in dirt and saw dust. Rust on the barrel and action. Not too bad that a little steel wool wouldn't clean it off. Bore was spotless. BIG Unertl scope. Air hose got the case cleaned out.WE use to shoot rats from under his goose house with it. Old Guy at the range scooped it up in nothing flat. Found out much later that it changed hands but I never found out who got it.
If I had the chance, I'd have to get two ea. One to keep in 22 long rifle and one to convert to center fire for my 20 TCM Wildcat. I sure miss that gun.

 

[Topwater]

Today I purchased a CZ MTR. They’re apparently a scarce item. I can hardly wait to try it out!