Using 22LR to Practice for Center Fire F-Class TR

[Papa Charlie]

I just ordered my first custom barrel for my F-TR rifle. I tend to shoot a lot for practice and would not want to burn out the barrel practicing. I have a Ruger 10/22 that I am thinking about converting to a bull barrel and a precision stock and scope so I can get trigger time to work on my mechanics.
Do you think it would be worth it.

 

[chkunz]

Many XTC, mid range and long range competitors have used smallbore prone at 100 yards to hone their skills. You will probably need something more that the 10/22 for this training.

 

[JBT47]

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-455-va...-camo-22-lr-5-rd-mag-manners-composite-stock/

 

[Tempest]

We shoot .22 at 200 and 300 yards often for the same reason. Its very similar to shooting .308 at 1,000 yards. As posted above we use an accurate .22 and 20 MOA base.

 

[XTR]

I have a 22LR 40x mounted in a PR&T stock with a Nightforce BR and a jewel trigger. Identical setup to my F-TR rifles. It is fun to shoot, but I haven't found that it is particularly helpful for my F class shooting.

F class is different from position shooting in that you really don't have as much mechanical to work out that shooting a smallbore will help with, and the wind reading is just not the same.

The one thing it can help with is trigger pull consistency, but as in my setup above, I think you need to have it set up like your competition rig.

I'm in the process of refinishing an old 40X stock to put the action back into. I don't plan to shoot it much in its current configuration, it just doesn't gain you much.

 

[Papa Charlie]

Well you all are confirming what I was thinking. You really need to have a specialized 22LR to accomplish anything. Will keep my eyes open for something used to build something from. What would you recommend as a platform?

 

[T-shooter]

The .22LR would probably work fine. You should try to get the triggers as similar as possible, use a similar reticle in the scope, and use premium ammo. I've chronographed a few Remington Golden bullets and have seen 150 fps difference from one shot to the next. That's a lot on a round that only fires at 1,200 fps. The trigger is probably the most important. If you shoot 500 rounds with a 3-5+ lb trigger and then get behind a 1 lb trigger, it will take some time to get used to it again.

 

[Tempest]

Best ammo possible is a must. Find what it likes. Mine likes Eley Yellow and Lapua Center X.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I have a 22LR 40x mounted in a PR&T stock with a Nightforce BR and a jewel trigger. Identical setup to my F-TR rifles. It is fun to shoot, but I haven't found that it is particularly helpful for my F class shooting.

F class is different from position shooting in that you really don't have as much mechanical to work out that shooting a smallbore will help with, and the wind reading is just not the same.

The one thing it can help with is trigger pull consistency, but as in my setup above, I think you need to have it set up like your competition rig.

I'm in the process of refinishing an old 40X stock to put the action back into. I don't plan to shoot it much in its current configuration, it just doesn't gain you much.

Thank you!

 

[dstoenner]

On a slightly different train of thought. For 100 yards you don't need full power loads that do wear the barrel. Use a light for caliber bullet with either a powder like 5744 or IMR SR4759 or a second powder alternative is a light load of H4895. I shot a light load for my M1 Garand that is in 308. I use SMK 125 HPFB and 36 gn H4895. It just barely cycles the action and is a joy to shot. With low power loads like that you will probably not put much wear on the barrel.

I shoot F-Open and use a 260 Remington based 700 in Eliseo stock. For my 100 yard practice I use 23.5 gn SR4759 and a 100 gn ELD-M. I need to add .5 MOA for zero on this load compared to my 140 Berger Hybrid load I shot in competition.

This way I am using my rig and scope/trigger for practice. the beauty of this is that it doesn't beat you up, the rifle doesn't jump around so you are not getting fatigued allowing you to concentrate on technique.

My 2 cents

David

 

[thedrifter]

Just my thoughts but it is very difficult to beat the factory Anschutz, and Feinwerkbau offerings, the two I own just shoot amazingly well, on the same level as most of the bench guns. I think Anschutz even offers some with their F-Class stock

 

[Papa Charlie]

I hadn't thought about developing a short range load to protect the barrel. I generally don't bother with 100 yards, but do all my practice at 200 yards. My club's rifle range has a 50,100 & 200 yard range. I like the 200 as it makes me work a little harder on the scope work and the body muscle control.

I will talk to Benchmark when I get my barrel done.

 

[Zero333]

[Tempest, post: 37052281, member: 1287262"]Best ammo possible is a must. Find what it likes. Mine likes Eley Yellow and Lapua Center X.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely !
I really like RWS-50, Eley Match & Eley Team. In that order.
Also in winter those expensive 22lr ammo doesn't preform any better than say RWS orange box and that's what the Lapua Biathalon stuff is good for.

 

[Shynloco]

Papa Charlie,
As others have suggested, IF you are going to go the Rimfire Rifle route for practicing purposes, then know that each credible BOLT ACTIONED RIMFIRE rifle will need to have various Rimfire Ammo's tested to find what your specific rifle likes the best. Rimifre Rifles, moreso than Centerifre rifles, are VERY sensitive to the ammo they shoot. Others will recommend a specific Rimfire ammo simply because it shoots in their particular rifle. But when taking that recommended ammo and firing it another Rimfire, it could turn in horrible results. For instance, when I shot rimfire in competition (using an Anschutz with a Harrel Tuner) my rifle loved Federal Ultra Match UM1 & UM22 and hated Eley Red. Yet some of the guys I competed with had custom built rifle that loved the Eley and hated the Federal. And I settled on the Federal Ultra Match ONLY after testing the top 10 Rimfire ammos shot in competition at the time.

Another issue is how much are you willing to spend in a Rimfire Rifle just for practice in anticipation of shooting F/TR centerfire? Bottom line, this sport isn't cheap! But learning to maximize your expenditures helps keep things in perspective, A common error I've seen throughout the years in both Rimfire and Centerfire, is that people expect a $400 Rimfire rifle to perform like $2500 rifle or with centerfire, people expect that a $500 rifle will shoot like a $4000 rifle. Ain't happenin! So choose wisely and study before buying. Helps keep money in your wallets and lessens the frustration from misreading the capability of a rifle.

Good luck and have fun in any case.

Alex

 

[Ned Ludd]

You can use the same scope and bipod/rear bag as you use with your F-TR rifle. You can also certainly make the stock the same, and you can most likely make the trigger the same. But you can't make the recoil, much different windage, slow velocity, and resultant much longer barrel dwell time the same. Some people may not find this to be an issue when practicing for F-TR with a rimfire rifle. I am not one of those people. Although I believe time behind any other type of rifle won't necessarily hurt your F-TR shooting, it also may not be the best practice aid for everyone. I have a CZ Varmint Precision Trainer I purchased specifically as a practice aid for F-TR. It came in a Manners T4 stock, very similar to the A5s I prefer for my F-TR rifles. I have topped it with a NF 12-42x56 BR scope and improved the trigger. I had the barrel replaced with a Benchmark 3-groove and the barreled action properly bedded. The rifle now shoots with very good precision and I love shooting it. However, for me shooting it is nothing at all like any of my .223 or .308 F-TR rifles...not even close. I continue to shoot it based on its own merit, primarily because it is a lot of fun. However, I personally gave up the idea of it being an effective training aid for F-TR. I also have a .223 Rem "trainer" that is a much better aid for that purpose, IMO. Like everything else, YMMV.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I have to say that after reading every ones post, I don't see this as being a viable solution. Buy the time I purchase and outfit a rimfire that matches my 308, I will have spent much more than the replacement value of a barrel and what I gain would be questionable. Instead, I would be better off shooting my rifle loaded with full rounds to train my body and mind to work with the rifle as it would be during competition. That way what way I build muscle memory and skill to what I will experience at competition.

 

[MislMan]

I figure using a 22LR rifle for practice would be a worthwhile endeavour as an aid for F-Class. If you really spend your shooting practice reading the wind at 100-150 yards for the 22LR, it should pay dividends for your centerfire effort. I know I need help with reading the wind and mirage to understand what they can tell me. The more you shoot med/long range having to deal with reading the environmentals the easier reading those environmentals should become. Should help your confidence and scores on match day.

 

[perry42]

I am thinking of using my BSA Martini International for practice at 200yds. This rifle using Fiochi or Lapua Biathalon 22 ammo shoots repeatable ( less than 1 1/4" groups at 200yds). My Anschutz sillhoutte rifle with RWS 50 does not shoot as well.

perry42

 

[people]

Yup barrels are cheap.

 

[NickB1075]

I have to say that after reading every ones post, I don't see this as being a viable solution. Buy the time I purchase and outfit a rimfire that matches my 308, I will have spent much more than the replacement value of a barrel and what I gain would be questionable. Instead, I would be better off shooting my rifle loaded with full rounds to train my body and mind to work with the rifle as it would be during competition. That way what way I build muscle memory and skill to what I will experience at competition.

One thing that you may want to think about is not so much for a "trainer" or "practice" rifle but another rifle to compete with. Which by inturn will help you shoot better. In my area it is much easier to find some form of smallbore comp then an fclass. Or any other long range type matches. At least that's how justified my smallbore set up.

If you are set on just FCLASS practice just shoot your rifle and loads. Barrels are expendable and cheap, compared to the components to burn it out. I could have about 6 barrels chambered for the cost of my smallbore rifle. Then you need a small fortune in ammo to find what it will shoot. Then you need another small fortune for enpugh of that particular lot to last you for a while. Just my opinions

Nick