Do I really need a fancy rimfire rifle?

[Fast14riot]

I'm a dedicated long range F/class shooter and have a handful of basic consumer rimfires. Rem582, Savage 4c, Glenfield 60, 10/22, etm. I have often admired the proper target rimfire guns in the same stocks as long range and BR centerfire guns. I think my next build for '26 should be a nice rimfire. There aren't any major rimfire matches I'm aware of nearby, so it would likely be 200 yard practice for me.

So, with that kind of qualification, what would be my options? I'm not interested in chasing ammo lots for absolute precision, but would like a gun that can compete. Do I go Bergara? CZ? Something else?

Basically, I just want to dip my toes into accurate rimfire.

 

[patriot54]

A good used Anschutz, Remington 40X, or Winchester 52C-E will get your toes wet for rimfire F/class at 200 with proper sight elevation range.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Bergara barreled action, in the stock/chassis that best fits your needs......

Regards
Rick

 

[Jeff Porter]

Bergara barreled action, in the stock/chassis that best fits your needs......

Regards
Rick

If you can get the same stock as your F rifle the ergonomics of practice translate real well. I am a sling shooter but am having a tube stock made for my Kimber 82 that will match up to my Eliseo rifle.

 

[CharlieNC]

Be careful just dipping your toes in, because the water is deep! Around five years ago I started in your exact same situation and bought the new CZ457MTR for practice, and now own a couple nice customs. As a competitor you will find it difficult to accept and rifle that is not capable of similar performance.

Short answer is watch the ads for a used rifle which has a stock that is suitable to practice like you compete, the tapered butt factory stocks are not. I bought a used CZ in a MDT stock, rebarreled, and it's a nice shooting repeater. Check out the growing long gong 300yd matches as an interest.

 

[Mark M.]

Anschutz

 

[ggshoots]

To be able to just buy and not have to modify I like Anschutz. You have to do and spend a lot to have a better rifle.

 

[Krogen]

Everybody needs a fancy 22 rifle! As a pup I learned to shoot with a 22, then "grew up" and figured 22's were kids' stuff. Truly growing up, I found 22's all over again. It's a hoot to use a "fancy 22" to shoot at long distances. At our club we shoot metallic silhouettes out to 200 meters. We've talked about shooting out to 400+ yards but haven't gotten our ducks in a row yet. Shooting a 22 in the wind beyond 100 meters can teach you a lot. Since you often see the flying bullet in your scope, it's enlightening to make a wind call and see the bullet fly somewhere else.

Yeah, IMNHO, you do need a fancy 22!

 

[Paul Beel]

Need has nothing to do with it

 

[blades]

anschutz-14xx series to keep price down or even pre 14xx series. 54 action , all have great triggers. These would all be single shots. I have 40x custom , 52C custom , 52D, 2-54 action anz with set triggers , 18xx series anz running boar , Hall action custom and a BSA/Martini. Each has their preferred ammo. It boils down to the operator on any given day. The 40x and the Hall are built for Bench-rest specifically. The 52C was built for Silhouette. the Hall is a newer acquisition so not a lot of time behind it , at this point between the Hall and 40x I can't tell. The Martini is just a tad behind all the others off a rest, but in all fairness it is not rest friendly, tuff to beat offhand though. ( plus it gets a lot of looks and has humbled more than a few over the years)

 

[doclu60]

I have often admired the proper target rimfire guns in the same stocks as long range and BR centerfire guns. I think my next build for '26 should be a nice rimfire. There aren't any major rimfire matches I'm aware of nearby, so it would likely be 200 yard practice for me.

So, with that kind of qualification, what would be my options? I'm not interested in chasing ammo lots for absolute precision, but would like a gun that can compete.

Basically, I just want to dip my toes into accurate rimfire.

To be able to just buy and not have to modify I like Anschutz. You have to do and spend a lot to have a better rifle.

From your description above, sounds like you want a bench rifle. You have 2 clubs within 1hr drive from Stockton. Diablo Rod and Gun Club and Sacramento Shooting Center. Both have sanctioned Unlimited IR50/50 matches once a month on different weekends so you could shoot them both if you wanted to. From the looks of the 2025 schedule, both clubs shoot 11-12 months a year and both clubs are shooting 2 matches on the same day.

As far as a stock Annie running with a true custom, probably not going to happen. At least it has never happened at the matches I have attended, and I shoot a lot of sanctioned RFBR matches. A stock Anschutz BR-50 is around $4,100. You can build or buy a custom for that price and have a more competitive rifle.

Scott

 

[swd]

I'm a dedicated long range F/class shooter and have a handful of basic consumer rimfires. Rem582, Savage 4c, Glenfield 60, 10/22, etm. I have often admired the proper target rimfire guns in the same stocks as long range and BR centerfire guns. I think my next build for '26 should be a nice rimfire. There aren't any major rimfire matches I'm aware of nearby, so it would likely be 200 yard practice for me.

So, with that kind of qualification, what would be my options? I'm not interested in chasing ammo lots for absolute precision, but would like a gun that can compete. Do I go Bergara? CZ? Something else?

Basically, I just want to dip my toes into accurate rimfire.

Next time you're over you can play with my 40X. Be warned it's like crack..

The SR guys over at range 11 have pretty regular RF matches.

 

[Hoser]

Be warned it's like crack..

Crack is cheaper.

 

[Fast14riot]

Next time you're over you can play with my 40X. Be warned it's like crack..

The SR guys over at range 11 have pretty regular RF matches.

Yeah, I'm not really interested in BR, more f/class style shooting since the local range has only 200y it would be nice to get some practice in. I really don't want to go down the ammo buying/testing rabbit hole that BR requires to be competitive, but for long range rimfire ammo that shoots 1/2moa would suffice for wind practice.

 

[1813benny]

…I really don't want to go down the ammo buying/testing rabbit hole that BR requires to be competitive, but for long range rimfire ammo that shoots 1/2moa would suffice for wind practice.

…I think you need to reevaluate. Your statement is self contradicting for level of effort vs expected level of performance.

 

[MarkS]

I'm a dedicated long range F/class shooter and have a handful of basic consumer rimfires. Rem582, Savage 4c, Glenfield 60, 10/22, etm. I have often admired the proper target rimfire guns in the same stocks as long range and BR centerfire guns. I think my next build for '26 should be a nice rimfire. There aren't any major rimfire matches I'm aware of nearby, so it would likely be 200 yard practice for me.

So, with that kind of qualification, what would be my options? I'm not interested in chasing ammo lots for absolute precision, but would like a gun that can compete. Do I go Bergara? CZ? Something else?

Basically, I just want to dip my toes into accurate rimfire.

I'm a long range steel shooter. I have 2 Bergara B14R with Triggertech Diamond trigger and EC V2 tuners. They do very well and will run with custom guns. 2 of my friends just built CZ's. Got a used 457 added a Lilja 24" 0.90" barrel, put it in a MDT chassis, and a Timmey trigger, they are shooting great, for about what, I have in my B14R's These are in the $1600.00 range. A custom guns will run 2 to 3 times that. It's all about how much you want to spend. I like the 700 footprint of the B14R over the CZ.
Good Luck

 

[TRSR8]

Yeah, I'm not really interested in BR, more f/class style shooting since the local range has only 200y it would be nice to get some practice in. I really don't want to go down the ammo buying/testing rabbit hole that BR requires to be competitive, but for long range rimfire ammo that shoots 1/2moa would suffice for wind practice.

Be advised wind practice with RF @200 yards will have zero to do with CF.
Entirely different animal.

 

[swd]

Yeah, I'm not really interested in BR, more f/class style shooting since the local range has only 200y it would be nice to get some practice in. I really don't want to go down the ammo buying/testing rabbit hole that BR requires to be competitive, but for long range rimfire ammo that shoots 1/2moa would suffice for wind practice.

Pete did a RF F match a few years ago. Might be able to get John to do one. I'd shoot it.

 

[alf]

Bergara barreled action, in the stock/chassis that best fits your needs......

That's what I did, as I didn't care for the stocks available on complete rifles from Bergara.

 

[Knotwild]

Take a look regularly at thr rimfire central classifieds for entertainment. I have an Anschutz, Tikka, and CZ that are capable of more than I am.

Theres nothing as much fun (for me) shooting plastic spoons at 200 with a rimfire.