Advantage for Single Round Loading?

[rckendall]

I am new to rimfire and want to try my hand at ARA Factory Benchrest. I have a couple CZ 457s and they feed from the magazine into the bolt extractors and the round feeds straight into the chamber. It seems that this is a good way to feed the round into the chamber without touching the nose of the bullet.

But, I may be missing something. Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks,
Richard

 

[StuNY]

The idea with hand feeding (which I do with all my benchrest guns) is to not damage in any way the bullet. By pushing it in with light finger pressure you can feel that it is seating perfectly smoothly. A mechanical system removes that feedback loop and even though it "feels right" in the bolt handle it can still scuff the bullet. For my CZ457 I got a single shot adapter on Ebay- machined from aluminum. Works great!

 

[Appalachian]

I used to always single load my CZ’s until I started ARA. I don’t anymore. It eats up too much time that I could be waiting for wind to do what I want it to do. I also have more time for sighters when the wind won’t do what I want it to do. I shoot with the top Five scorers. None of them do it. I haven’t noticed any accuracy decline so I’ll keep shooting from a mag.

 

[rckendall]

Thanks for the replies you two. I also talked with a fellow at our local range who shoots a lot of 22s and he said that the bullet never comes out of the magazine the same way.(?) I noticed on my first CZ that the last round out of the magazine would sometimes not seat itself all the way into the extractors, and then the bullet wouldn't chamber. I just slowed down working the bolt and all is well again.

I did order a single round sled (Bobsled) and will try it, but initially for the match I know that I will just try to keep things simple and use the magazines. I plan to use 3 round extenders on 10 round magazines once I start shooting for score. I want to be able to shoot 10 shots without changing the mags, even if I shoot a sighter or two during the string.

I'm looking forward to this competition and thanks again for the help,
Richard

 

[1Merlin]

The idea with hand feeding (which I do with all my benchrest guns) is to not damage in any way the bullet. By pushing it in with light finger pressure you can feel that it is seating perfectly smoothly. A mechanical system removes that feedback loop and even though it "feels right" in the bolt handle it can still scuff the bullet. For my CZ457 I got a single shot adapter on Ebay- machined from aluminum. Works great!

Consistency is a big deal when trying to shoot accurately. Single loading, IMO, allows you to set and maintain a routine and helps with focus. I use single shot adapters, specifically a D3 - Pete Deal aluminum adapter for my 457, IMO it centers the bullet better than loading a magazine and seems to eliminate any scuffing or collisions with the side of the chamber as the bullet enters. I also mostly shoot small-bore silhouette with an adapter in my rifle to slow me down which allows me to think a little more and not be as anxious to pull the trigger. Again it's the getting into a routine thing. I have to add that I'm not that good of a shooter so all of this is - just my .02....

 

[rckendall]

I certainly agree that consistency in important, but at this very early stage of this game, I think I need to focus on my wind flag/sighter shots. Some day I may be ready to single load but not right away. BTW I have shot quite a bit of F Class where singe round loading is required, so I have done it before only with larger cartridges.

Richard

 

[boltman13]

I use a CZ factory single shot magazine and have never had a problem. I agree single shot loading is more precise and consistent.

 

[CharlieNC]

I have large fingers, and single loading resulted in excessive damage to the thin walled extractor grooves necessitating a new barrel. When bolting the round into the chamber, the leading edge of the brass neck hitting the thin wall caused this. Wouldn't happen if you could insert the round deep enough before bolting, but I cannot. The thin extractor wall became damaged to the extent that a round could not be loaded. CZ replaced the barrel and loading with the mag is flawless.

 

[rebs]

does anyone make a bobsled for a Savage MK II

 

[Gizmo60]

Advantage for Single Round Loading?

Lots of target rifles are normally single shot loading as standard. Once you get used to single round loading it becomes normal.

It makes you concentrate better on what you’re doing and what you’re looking to achieve, accuracy.

Rounds cannot be damaged by being fed from a magazine, it becomes a routine and it gives you time to think, check your flags, etc…..

It doesn’t slow your down in normal BR comps, 50 rds plus sighters in 20 mins single round loading is no problem; practice is the name of the game.

Personally I find I shoot better when I load rounds by hand, YMMV.