New here, I have recently fallen into the "Accurate 22" bottomless pit, own several pretty decent 22's, from Vudoo to CZMatch, I don't shoot competion, but shoot with buddies who shoot PRS a good bit, and I like to outshoot them (try anyway) for lunch and bragging rights. I have my own benchrest range out to 300 yards, Sinclair and Protektor level kit, and just love to pull the trigger and stack so many bullets on each other that they start falling out of the target like Pez. I am always hunting for the next, best, most accurate 22, and just bought a new Rim-X action, my first Zernmatt. I am having a top smith build me a M24 x 23" prefit, so I've got that coming, and I know it's going to be heavy as lead, but hopefully stupid accurate, and I am looking for a second barrel, a sporter/match profile that I can take out during hunting season and not blow a hemorrhoid while humping it through the woods, and almost (or more) accurate. So, I am looking for a lighter than M24 profile that would be the next best thing to "benchrest style" accurate but would fit in my Rim-X. What profile, length and make would you folks recommend?
Benchrest Accurate Barrel for Rim-X
- Thread starter Yellowhammer
- Start date
10XSHOOTER
Gold $$ Contributor
Build a CZ with a sporter barrel for hunting. You don't want to be changing barrels
Ranger188
Silver $$ Contributor
I was thinking the same thing but he said he wanted something to fit his Rim-X
Thanks, I appreciate the responses, and sorry of the long reply, but I figured if you know where I am coming from, it might help to understand what I want.
I have a CZ457 Manners MTR, that I was going to use as a "light" rifle, but I'm sour on it. The more I shoot it, the less I like it, to the point there really isn't anything I like about it anymore, except maybe the stock, but even that doesn't impress me and I'm not going to spend any more money on it. I'll probably sell it, let's just say it was a learning experience, I'm disappointed it didn't work out, but I'm done with CZ's after supposedly buying their best.
However, I am extremely impressed with my Vudoo, it was a Bartlein barreled action supposedly tweaked by Paul at Vudoo that I put in an MPA Pro2, Diamond trigger, and ATACR scope, and well, all I can say is, they put some magic in it, because it shoots groups that even surprises me sometimes (and I am pretty hard to please, I sold a Weatherby Mark V Apex 300 Win Mag last year because I wasn't happy. It only shot to it's 1 MOA guarantee, and I couldn't tighten it up, and I prefer 1/2" MOA for even my hunting centerfires). The VuDoo shoots well up into the "stupid tight" groups after I spent an enjoyable amount of time figuring out the barrel and stock harmonics, playing with ammo, and now, yeah, I'm actually pretty doubtful I won't find a repeating rifle to beat it, but I will try. The reason I don't go VuDoo again for a second winning lottery ticket is they don't exist anymore, at not least the way they were. However, I am more than impressed with it.
So I'm now I want a "VuDoo killer", and have a brand new RimX action, and nothing else. I have talked to Mike Manzella, a very well respected smith, and he is building me a barrel with the only guidance from me of "I don't care what barrel or weight you want to put on it, build me the best, most accurate barrel you can." So I'm not sure exactly what he will do, and I will leave it up to him, but I believe he is leaning toward the M24 with Eachus chamber, 22" or 23" and 16 twist. He mentioned I could also do a lightweight Kukrie profile as a second "lighter" barrel, but that's VuDoo-ish and I wasn't really wanting that.
My buddy who owns a local gun shop, chambers 22's and shoots PRS says I need a Proof Sendero with Nevious chamber that he wants to sell me, but I'm not sure I'm impressed with what I have read about Proof barrels.
So the problem is I don't personally know anyone who shoots rimfire benchrest, and in the back of my mind I keep thinking there is a benchrest barrel profile that is considered the gold standard. Although not a true sporter barrel, it would be in the .9 inch range, would need to fit the RimX action, and if the Manzella barrel doesn't outshoot my Vudoo, this second benchrest barrel at least would have a chance. Plus, maybe, it would be in a hunting weight, or at least weigh less than a truck axle. So I want a plan A and a plan B and I don't have a plan B except surf the web, and since the name of the Forum is "Accurate Shooter" that's why I came here.
So any and all help is appreciated to build my "Vudoo killer".
I have a CZ457 Manners MTR, that I was going to use as a "light" rifle, but I'm sour on it. The more I shoot it, the less I like it, to the point there really isn't anything I like about it anymore, except maybe the stock, but even that doesn't impress me and I'm not going to spend any more money on it. I'll probably sell it, let's just say it was a learning experience, I'm disappointed it didn't work out, but I'm done with CZ's after supposedly buying their best.
However, I am extremely impressed with my Vudoo, it was a Bartlein barreled action supposedly tweaked by Paul at Vudoo that I put in an MPA Pro2, Diamond trigger, and ATACR scope, and well, all I can say is, they put some magic in it, because it shoots groups that even surprises me sometimes (and I am pretty hard to please, I sold a Weatherby Mark V Apex 300 Win Mag last year because I wasn't happy. It only shot to it's 1 MOA guarantee, and I couldn't tighten it up, and I prefer 1/2" MOA for even my hunting centerfires). The VuDoo shoots well up into the "stupid tight" groups after I spent an enjoyable amount of time figuring out the barrel and stock harmonics, playing with ammo, and now, yeah, I'm actually pretty doubtful I won't find a repeating rifle to beat it, but I will try. The reason I don't go VuDoo again for a second winning lottery ticket is they don't exist anymore, at not least the way they were. However, I am more than impressed with it.
So I'm now I want a "VuDoo killer", and have a brand new RimX action, and nothing else. I have talked to Mike Manzella, a very well respected smith, and he is building me a barrel with the only guidance from me of "I don't care what barrel or weight you want to put on it, build me the best, most accurate barrel you can." So I'm not sure exactly what he will do, and I will leave it up to him, but I believe he is leaning toward the M24 with Eachus chamber, 22" or 23" and 16 twist. He mentioned I could also do a lightweight Kukrie profile as a second "lighter" barrel, but that's VuDoo-ish and I wasn't really wanting that.
My buddy who owns a local gun shop, chambers 22's and shoots PRS says I need a Proof Sendero with Nevious chamber that he wants to sell me, but I'm not sure I'm impressed with what I have read about Proof barrels.
So the problem is I don't personally know anyone who shoots rimfire benchrest, and in the back of my mind I keep thinking there is a benchrest barrel profile that is considered the gold standard. Although not a true sporter barrel, it would be in the .9 inch range, would need to fit the RimX action, and if the Manzella barrel doesn't outshoot my Vudoo, this second benchrest barrel at least would have a chance. Plus, maybe, it would be in a hunting weight, or at least weigh less than a truck axle. So I want a plan A and a plan B and I don't have a plan B except surf the web, and since the name of the Forum is "Accurate Shooter" that's why I came here.
So any and all help is appreciated to build my "Vudoo killer".
Here’s my two cents
You didn’t mention a tuner. M24 profile at 25”/26” will let you use a clamp on tuner
As for a chassis/stock I find the Foundation stock better off the bench than the skeleton chassis
That being said I have both VUDOO and RimX
Muller,Krieger,,Benchmark and CRB barrels with various twist rates. In my opinion it 100%barrel and 100%ammo One must have the right combination of both to get a killer setup
The Rabbits will keep you up at night
You didn’t mention a tuner. M24 profile at 25”/26” will let you use a clamp on tuner
As for a chassis/stock I find the Foundation stock better off the bench than the skeleton chassis
That being said I have both VUDOO and RimX
Muller,Krieger,,Benchmark and CRB barrels with various twist rates. In my opinion it 100%barrel and 100%ammo One must have the right combination of both to get a killer setup
The Rabbits will keep you up at night
In my experience, getting one rifle to do everything never works. Guns are like golf clubs, you need to pick the right one for the job at hand.
IF you get a second barrel for the rim-x, you'll likely shave a few #'s off the rifle. However, much of your weight is going to be in your scope and stock/chassis if it's set up for Benchrest. The rifle will also likely have a sub 8 oz trigger for such use. That's unsafe for field use. So by my thinking, to go from a well fit BR rifle to a woods gun, your going to want to swap out the stock and trigger at minimum. Then you'll either have to rezero the scope with each barrel/ammo change or swap it out ( something less than 2# and 40X) completely. Of course the oposite actions are true when you want to go back as well. Basicaly, you's swapping out everything but the reciever. That's ALLOT of work and expense to get to a field/rifle. Note that there will also be "risk" of it not maintaining origonal accuracy with each swap.
My advice would be to get yourself a CZ 457 (Varmint, American, At-one....) and scope/rig it appropriatly for woods work.. The 457 will be up to the task right out of the box for about $600. From there , it's an easy gun to customize as it's design more easily supports trigger work, barrel swaps, etc. If your insistant on a R700 footprint .22, then the Bergara B14R is worth a look but you'll be adding allot of that carry weight back into the equation.
IF you get a second barrel for the rim-x, you'll likely shave a few #'s off the rifle. However, much of your weight is going to be in your scope and stock/chassis if it's set up for Benchrest. The rifle will also likely have a sub 8 oz trigger for such use. That's unsafe for field use. So by my thinking, to go from a well fit BR rifle to a woods gun, your going to want to swap out the stock and trigger at minimum. Then you'll either have to rezero the scope with each barrel/ammo change or swap it out ( something less than 2# and 40X) completely. Of course the oposite actions are true when you want to go back as well. Basicaly, you's swapping out everything but the reciever. That's ALLOT of work and expense to get to a field/rifle. Note that there will also be "risk" of it not maintaining origonal accuracy with each swap.
My advice would be to get yourself a CZ 457 (Varmint, American, At-one....) and scope/rig it appropriatly for woods work.. The 457 will be up to the task right out of the box for about $600. From there , it's an easy gun to customize as it's design more easily supports trigger work, barrel swaps, etc. If your insistant on a R700 footprint .22, then the Bergara B14R is worth a look but you'll be adding allot of that carry weight back into the equation.
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So you guys are all telling me the same thing, build a dedicated "sporter" rifle and not try to do both with one. Message received.
So from that standpoint, is there a "most accurate" sporter profile for a RimX, would it be a #3 at say 16"? Or take an M24 or varmint taper and cut it to 16"?
I can get a Kreiger at 16 twist or a Benchmark at 15 twist, both profiles slightly heavier than a sporter, does anyone have a preference, especially in the twist rate?
I have thought about tuners, I've not used one on a rimfire, but keep hearing mixed results with them. I may just get one and play with it. Any recommended brands?
So from that standpoint, is there a "most accurate" sporter profile for a RimX, would it be a #3 at say 16"? Or take an M24 or varmint taper and cut it to 16"?
I can get a Kreiger at 16 twist or a Benchmark at 15 twist, both profiles slightly heavier than a sporter, does anyone have a preference, especially in the twist rate?
I have thought about tuners, I've not used one on a rimfire, but keep hearing mixed results with them. I may just get one and play with it. Any recommended brands?
In my opinion stay with a 1/16 twist
Harrell and PQP both make quality tuners that will clamp onto a barrel. They will bore it to fit the muzzle diameter as long as it is not over1”(actually it can be a little more but I don’t remember the size)
Just remember it won’t make a substandard barrel or ammo shoot better
prone.life
Silver $$ Contributor
I love the Ace barrel with Eachus chamber Manzella spun up for me; I'd ask Mike what barrel/contour he recommends, Mike knows his stuff. With 22s it's all about lot testing.
I had some horses, I going to try to be smarter than they are! Even our cows thought they were dumb!
padom
Gold $$ Contributor
I have not found a "barrel profile" to be more accurate than another on a RimX and Ive tested a lot of them. Barrel length, twist, chamber, yes, but not contour...
Now thinner barrels I have found tune better than truck axles, but thats about it...
@padom
I have read every page of your RimX ammo post, several times, and was interested in why you chose the M24, length and twist you did, I assume it is because you believe that is your most accurate configuration, all things being equal? That's also why I had confidence when Mike suggested the Eachus chamber. So thank you for the in depth information.
@prone.life I am glad to hear the ACE barrel shoots well, I basically gave Mike a blank slate, we discussed my shooting experience and capability, I sent some photos, he sent some photos, and I simply asked that he build me the mostly accurate barrel of whatever he wanted, his choice, I would trust him.
I am big on lot testing every type of ammo of everything I can buy, from every manufacturer out there, and I will accuracy test multiple days, to see what is repeatedly the best, based on how both me and the rifle are shooting that day. The right ammo will help me shoot better on an "off" day, the wrong ammo will make me shoot worse.
I have read every page of your RimX ammo post, several times, and was interested in why you chose the M24, length and twist you did, I assume it is because you believe that is your most accurate configuration, all things being equal? That's also why I had confidence when Mike suggested the Eachus chamber. So thank you for the in depth information.
@prone.life I am glad to hear the ACE barrel shoots well, I basically gave Mike a blank slate, we discussed my shooting experience and capability, I sent some photos, he sent some photos, and I simply asked that he build me the mostly accurate barrel of whatever he wanted, his choice, I would trust him.
I am big on lot testing every type of ammo of everything I can buy, from every manufacturer out there, and I will accuracy test multiple days, to see what is repeatedly the best, based on how both me and the rifle are shooting that day. The right ammo will help me shoot better on an "off" day, the wrong ammo will make me shoot worse.
wkdickinson
Gold $$ Contributor
JMO but I think barrel profile has a lot more to do with the rifle's "purpose" than what effect it has on accuracy. I have a RimX with a 26", .900", 16" twist, Shilen "ratchet", in a KRG "Bravo" chassis, with a Jewell trigger set at 2 oz., with a Sightron 45x45 ED Slll scope set up for local 100 yd BR matches. It shoots and functions amazingly well. But the idea of just changing the barrel to make it a "field gun" is ludicrous. First, i would never take chance of screwing it up and second as others have pointed, a lighter barrel isn't all you would need to do. I thought the "golf club" analogy was perfect!
padom
Gold $$ Contributor
You have a 0.900" straight Shilen on your RimX?
wkdickinson
Gold $$ Contributor
It has 1.25" "breech" section. It is their "R0" contour.
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