.22 rimfire bags

[Benjerman08]

Is there any real difference in bag hardness, size or type from shooting a rimfire benchrest/fclass style as compared to centerfire? Would a 3" wide stock or track plate benefit a rimfire shooting from bags? Would like to hear from a few serious .22 benchrest guys about their equipment. Thanks.

 

[Cort]

.22 LR benchrest allows 1-piece rests. Consequently, the "real" benchrest shooters use a Hall or a Pappas rest. I would holler at Dan Killough at Killough Shooting Sports for advice and availability on rests for .22 LR.

Cort

 

[Shynloco]

Is there any real difference in bag hardness, size or type from shooting a rimfire benchrest/fclass style as compared to centerfire? Would a 3" wide stock or track plate benefit a rimfire shooting from bags? Would like to hear from a few serious .22 benchrest guys about their equipment. Thanks.

Benjamin,
Don't know how SERIOUS a Benchrest Shooter you are talking about. But Cort is right about the equipment the truly SERIOUS guys use and getting hold of Dan Killough (www.killoughshootingsports.com) who sells the Hall and Pappas rests ($700+). As for the 3" stocks or track plates....I have a 3" "track plate" made for and attached to my 64MPR Anschutz that's sits not on a bag per se, but a front custom made rest. I've used that set-up in various local competitions which I shot for fun and against some serious custom built Rimfire rigs with serious glass atop of them. Won some lost some. Kinda all depends on what you are after. Chances are though if I had an extra $700 dollars, and another $3000+ for an Anschutz 54 Match Rifle, I'd be calling Dan K to get me the rifle and a Hall or Pappas ASAP. I've shot off one before (for testing) and they are hard to beat if your rifle is up to it. But don't waste your money if you don't have a SERIOUS rifle to shoot. Just my thoughts.

 

[Joe D]

Actually the "serious" BR shooters ignore Anschutz and go with a custom build - Stiller, Turbo etc. One of those can be built for about $2,000. Don't get me wrong I love Anschutz rifles. Think I have 5 of them currently. One 64MPR, three 54s and a 2007. My two most accurate are the 2007/Lilja and 1808/Shilen.

 

[Shynloco]

Actually the "serious" BR shooters ignore Anschutz and go with a custom build - Stiller, Turbo etc. One of those can be built for about $2,000. Don't get me wrong I love Anschutz rifles. Think I have 5 of them currently. One 64MPR, three 54s and a 2007. My two most accurate are the 2007/Lilja and 1808/Shilen.

JoeD,
You omitted the Hall, Myers and 40x custom rigs as well. But I call those guys the SUPER SERIOUS guys. And not to brag, but the actions alone won't necessarily get you a 1st place as I've outshot all those actions in local competitions along with a few others with my "cheapy" Anschutz. But I'm not sure where you can get a custom rig built for $2,000 as the guys I know (and whom I've spoke to) who have them have at least $3500 in them (without the glass) and a few others (I haven't shot against any who have over $5,000 in them (without the glass). Guess its all in how much you have to invest and just how one defines "SERIOUS." I BTW do not consider myself a SERIOUS shooter by any means though I do enjoy the quality and accuracy for what I put in any of my rifles.

Alex

 

[DanConzo]

I think IR 50/50 rimfire benchrest use sandbags. I noticed ARA rimfire benchrest use the one-piece rests mostly.

 

[Joe D]

Shy, I was just too lazy to mention all of the actions. I priced out a bench rifle just for fun a few months ago. The 10XIII is a $795 action that works well enough according to a conversation I had with Bill Calfee. I can get a Shilen Ratchet installed for $600. Someone had posted on another forum about custom built rifle costs that were way high. Don Stith agreed with me that one can be built for under $2,000 if you are a careful buyer.
The Stiller and Turbo actions are the best IMO. I just did not want to pay their price. A really nice rifle (Shilen, Jewel, Don Stith stock) can be built with one of those actions for about $2,500 max.
Of course these costs don't include a scope as I already have several.