Have My 457 (22WMR) Ready For a Fair Test

[Slowshot]

I have the 6.5-20X44 Vortex Viper mounted to the 457. I tested that scope by spending a day with it mounted to my Anschutz 1761. It passed with flying colors. It is now my best varmint scope. I also have a box of the Hornady 30 gr. V-Max that so many RFC members have urged me to try. So. I believe I can be sure any accuracy issues will either be me or the rifle.

Now I just need to wait out the current rainy spell and head to the range. I have been getting one or two dry days a week, so it should not be long and I will be posting results.

 

[snert]

For the $$ I really like my Vortex too. I have it on my daughters 700 VS 308. Today I tested a Strike Eagle and liked it too. I will be looking forward to your report.

 

[diyj98]

Test it at 100 yards. A lot of folks brag about how great their WMR shoot, but only post groups at 50 yards. To me the 22 WMR is a 100 yard gun.

 

[Slowshot]

Test it at 100 yards. A lot of folks brag about how great their WMR shoot, but only post groups at 50 yards. To me the 22 WMR is a 100 yard gun.

I could not be more disappointed. With the rifle and scope you see in my picture, along with my best front rest and rear bag and a couple of boxes of the Hornady 30 gr. V-Max that everyone said is the best ammunition for my CZ, I spent a day at my club shooting at 100 yards.
I was immediately on paper. It took only a few rounds to get somewhere near my point of aim. Then came a series of some of the worse 5-shot groups I have ever made with any rifle.
I pilled out my torque wrench. I checked my scope, my rest, everything I could think of. Nothing helped. When I was finally done shooting one box, I took my target down and measured my groups. The average was well over 4"
When I got home and set up for a serious cleaning I found excessive fouling in the chamber, with the bolt face covered in a thick black layer of carbon. In decades of shooting with dozens of rifles, I have never seen such a thing. I have owned cheap rifles that shot far better than that.

I will be heading back to the range this Friday with a variety of different ammunition options. At this point, I am completely stumped.

 

[BCR1]

You should have stayed with .22LR one arm, magnum is too much recoil for you.

Bill

 

[Slowshot]

You should have stayed with .22LR one arm, magnum is too much recoil for you.

Bill

I don't know about that, If 222 Rem and 220 Swift were not too much and 243 Win. was not too much, I cannot see how 22 WMR could be a problem. Then there was the time I got to shoot 50 BMG. Now that was recoil.

This was my Ruger No. 1V in 220 Swift. I really miss that rifle, even though it was a powder hog.

 

[jepp2]

I hope you don't have the issue I had with a CZ 455 Varmint barrel in 17 HMR.

I purchased a CZ 455 Varmint with all 3 barrels. Intended use was as a truck gun during my annual prairie dog hunt each year. I had an Annie 1717D HB in 17 HMR that shot extremely well, but just couldn't bring myself to abusing it like I expected.

Took it to the range and shot a target at 100m with it. Here was the result.

Took it home, checked everything out, especially the grub screw torque since this was my first CZ. Same result at the range. I followed up with CZ and they eventually replaced the barrel for me. But before that happened I had bought a Lilja barrel for it so I sold the new CZ barrel. I am sure my barrel accuracy isn't representative of what CZ normally provides. I also have an American and I shot it before converting the rifle to 17 Mach2. That barrel shot very well for the first 10 shots before I removed it and sold it. This is the target I shot at 50 yards with it.

 

[doclu60]

Slowshot,
Forget what "so many RFC have members urged me to try". Before you give up on the rifle, get several different lots and bullet weights and test them. I only have one .22WMR and it only likes 40gr bullets. I have shot all kinds of different rounds through it and it has not liked any of the lighter bullets. Didn't matter brand, or different lot numbers in the same brand/type. Shooting Rem 40gr HP's or FMJ can give 1" @ 100yds if it's a good lot.

Personally, I do not think the .22WMR is all that inherently accurate of a round, especially comparing it to .22lr or .17hmr. BUT, I do expect it to do a lot better than what you experienced.

Scott

 

[diyj98]

Personally, I do not think the .22WMR is all that inherently accurate of a round, especially comparing it to .22lr or .17hmr. BUT, I do expect it to do a lot better than what you experienced.

Scott

I agree. I love the WMR as a small varmint round, but despite all the "one hole groups all day long" that I read about on some forums, it's just not a target round.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Very nice looking rifle!

I just bought myself a couple of new toys at an estate auction last week. Both are unfired, as new. One is a cz 452-2e American in 22LR. Really nice wood on that one. The other, an Anschutz 1516 22 Mag. Thought about leaving them unfired but I can't stand it...gotta shoot em. Lol! Haven't owned a 22 Mag in several years and the new ammo selection is nice, compared to back then. Always liked the punch vs the 17 HMR stuff, especially for coyote sized critters. Anxious to try them out soon. Both are lighter bbl hunting style rifles but that's what I wanted these to be. The man had an outstanding collection of mostly really good rimfire rifles. He had the Annie set, a 17hmr, 22 mag and 22LR. I bid all of them up pretty good but somebody else liked them more than I did, I guess. Same on the cz. He had several. I just ran out of money before the bidding stopped, unfortunately.

Excited to try the newer 22 wmr ammo choices in it. I have been reading up on what others like in theirs and the 30 gr v max and the 30 gr remington stuff seems to both get good reviews.

I had a very good but older Weaver K10 steel tube that I mounted on the cz already. I may or may not scope the Annie. Haven't decided yet but I'll probably not be able to stand not knowing how well it'll shoot scoped. Will likely put something on it, at least to try it out. Kinda like good open sights on a plinking rifle but my eyes aren't what they used to be either.

I've got a 4.5-14x32 Burris that's a decent scope and a Tuckered Leupold 36x that I could put on either to test em out with. Trying to resist the urge to buy another scope! Lol!