Thinking about building a rimfire

[Ksmirk]

Like the title says some reason I've got a wild idea that I'd like to put together a rimfire for local NRL22 and just playing, I've build several centerfire rifles with good luck so far but the rimfire has me a touch worried as I've heard there is chicken sacrifice's and chanting involved to get one to function and shoot well lol

I also know when it's time to talk with the folks who know what they are doing as I would be going into this sort of blind other than what I've read, looking at using a RimX action since I wouldn't have to cut extractor groves but I guess the question to you folks is this a project I should try and tackle or would it be better and save me the cash to speak with someone who knows how to put an accurate reliable rimfire together? I'm no gunsmith just a hobby for me.

Kirk

 

[426nut]

It might be worth reading this book by Mr Calfee. https://www.amazon.com/dp/145679776X?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[LuvDog]

Some reports from recent Rim X users is that the bolt lugs aren’t holding up. Supposedly a change in the material used and they are doing a lot of bolt swaps with not great initial results. Supposedly the latest set of replacements are showing promise.

This is just what I’m seeing on the forums… no first hand experience

 

[Judd]

What research I’ve done…there’s some chickens, bones and sacrifices made to God’s involved.

From everything I’ve seen NRL you’re either starting with a RimX, Bergara or CZ. I’ve seen single shot 22lr benchrest rifles chambered with a cone to alleviate the need for the extractor cuts. What I don’t know is whether they would feed cut like that.

Good luck, I’ve been toying with the idea to build a br rig.

 

[426nut]

Exciting times for rimfire.
Mike Bush has a new action on the drawing board. DPG has his own action in the works.

 

[Tad_Earhart]

No sacrifice needed to build a good rimfire. Just attention to detail. In some aspects it is easier than a centerfire but others a tick more difficult. The main thing is just getting the barrel cut where it needs to be and everything being straight as possible. Dealing with that low pressure lead bullet is not as forgiving.

Cutting the extractor slots is not that big a deal with proper prep work. Just a keyway cutter or slitting saw procedure with a little timing/clocking. There are a bunch of cone breech barrels out there but they are not the route I prefer to go unless I just needed to. With the removal of material there, it is just a weaker setup more prone to being dinged or distorted.

A RimX can definitely be made to shoot and function well but I would say there are better choices out there.

 

[Ksmirk]

I've a Bergara B14R at this time and I'm pretty sure 40% is rifle and the other 60% is ammo, I've got several lot's of Eley headed my way to see if I can get a little more out of it but in the long run I'm going to need more weight in the rifle. Only reason I don't want to put a new tube on that action is I don't want to change the lathe over to cut metric threads lol

 

[Ksmirk]

Exciting times for rimfire.
Mike Bush has a new action on the drawing board. DPG has his own action in the works.

With Voodoo doing what they did word on the street is they are done so I could see where Kenny would have a good opportunity to get into the game! hell he's been messing with those 22lr's for a minute and some of his video's might be the reason I want a more accurate rimfire.

 

[Ksmirk]

No sacrifice needed to build a good rimfire. Just attention to detail. In some aspects it is easier than a centerfire but others a tick more difficult. The main thing is just getting the barrel cut where it needs to be and everything being straight as possible. Dealing with that low pressure lead bullet is not as forgiving.

Cutting the extractor slots is not that big a deal with proper prep work. Just a keyway cutter or slitting saw procedure with a little timing/clocking. There are a bunch of cone breech barrels out there but they are not the route I prefer to go unless I just needed to. With the removal of material there, it is just a weaker setup more prone to being dinged or distorted.

A RimX can definitely be made to shoot and function well but I would say there are better choices out there.

Thank you, with my OCD I've spent some time getting that needle to not move on the indicator when a little movement wouldn't have hurt a thing BUT like you said that slow lead round has me a little worried! for the extractor grooves there's not a mill in my garage but I guess I could get things lined up mark a witness and see if I couldn't borrow some mill time.

The cone which I looked at pretty hard from what I'm seeing for an NRL type rifle and volume of rounds the extractors tend to dink up the cone.

Would you mind offering up what you feel is a better choice of action? I'd like to stick with the 700 footprint over starting completely over if that makes sense.

 

[msalm]

I’ve done a few just tinkering around, and they have always shot very well…the chambering is one thing that was different for me as it’s not cutting a whole lot and higher rpm’s and a more secure hold/stabilizing of the back of the reamer felt better. I believe I pushed it w/ the live center to keep things running straight. Likely this resulted in a touch of coned effect in the chambers but the front was true and centered. Everything else was just machining to your measurements. I’m not an expert rimfire builder by any means, so take that for what it’s worth.

 

[Tad_Earhart]

Would you mind offering up what you feel is a better choice of action? I'd like to stick with the 700 footprint over starting completely over if that makes sense.

There are other people here that are up on the NRL scene better than I am and likely would give you better advice there. The CZ route is probably as easy as anything for a repeater and need for good magazine feeding but leaves some to be desired. My background is in RFBR and single shots. I have seen some pictures/video of a Proto type Turbo action with CZ magazine parts and feeding as a repeater but I am not sure that it ever actually came about as a purchasable action. Also there were stiller 2500XR actions being made at one time that were more geared to the repeater market that are probably fine actions to build from. Availability of either of those may be and likely the same as hens teeth now.

 

[pokadex_]

Exciting times for rimfire.
Mike Bush has a new action on the drawing board. DPG has his own action in the works.

Videos of bolts cycling without triggers is always funny to me (especially when the bolt still needs to be tapped into battery). Great showcase of machining tolerances, but not a great indication of actual cycling smoothness/effort under use. I wonder what the cocking geometry will be like and how smooth it will be in practice. Sucks that Vudoo is going through the motions right now but it does open up the possibility for others to get into aftermarket support. Seems like R700 footprint is the way to go now, though I'm not sure anyone has figured out the reliability issues yet. There is definitely room for improvement in the precision rimfire market segment.

 

[pupsdad]

I sold my rimfire br rifle. It was a 40x shilen rachet Stith stock put together buy Graham it had the cone. I found the chase for ammo a pita. Some people I believe had abilities to buy larger quantities of ammo corner the market sort of block others from better lots. The shooting was fun but frustrating ammo issues

 

[Ksmirk]

Well after talking with a mess of folks ended up ordering out a RimX action after chatting with Ray I don't have any worries, spoke with Frank about what I needed to do for a barrel and got with Ray over at Manson to grind me a recommended reamer..... good buddy at work has chickens I can buy just in case I need to make a sacrifice LOL so going to figure this out one way or the other. Probably a little stressful from all the rimfire voodoo I've been reading but at the end of the day it's a rifle and chamber just have to get the numbers right and probably a prayer or two.

pupsdad your telling me! I've found a lot that shoots well so going to pick up enough to get me thru this build with the B14R then get to start all over, beginning to think a cocaine habit might have been cheaper I'm in the wrong tax bracket!

Thanks fella's for the info, I rather appreciate the direction and opinions!

Kirk

 

[Sniperhandle]

Took me a minute, But I got the sacrifice thing.

 

[pupsdad]

I hope you have fun building and then I hope it does shoot. I hope even more your successful in obtaining ammo make connections have even more fun shooting a gun you put together. I've been wanting to build a new squirrel rifle just haven't been able to find a doner rifle or action to build on.

 

[msalm]

I still have a new ultralight arms single shot rimfire action sitting in a box on the shelf with several excellent barrels…need to put that together, likely for a precision squirrel rifle I imagine.

 

[Ksmirk]

I hope you have fun building and then I hope it does shoot. I hope even more your successful in obtaining ammo make connections have even more fun shooting a gun you put together. I've been wanting to build a new squirrel rifle just haven't been able to find a doner rifle or action to build on.

Thank you sir, I appreciate the kind words!

 

[Tad_Earhart]

I still have a new ultralight arms single shot rimfire action sitting in a box on the shelf with several excellent barrels…need to put that together, likely for a precision squirrel rifle I imagine.

I have a ULA on the bench to work with right now. It was the action of the first RFBR rifle we ever purchased and started with. It has a ton of miles on it now and needs some love to get back going. Rifle has shot a certified ARA 2500 before and a real shame it has sit back and not been shot more in recent years.