22 long rifle precision shooting

[perryhd]

Any body out there shoot 22 LR precision or long range matches? If so what rifle do you shoot and why. The club where I shoot has started a match where they shoot up to a 100 yrds at fairly small targets. I read where some matches are shooting 22s out to 250-300 yrds . I think I want to try this but I don't have a rifle. Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
Dan

 

[chief38]

I shoot a CZ 453 American with a single set trigger that wears a Leupold 3-9 x 33 Ultra-light Scope with adjustable parallax feature and mounted with Burris Signature Scope Rings. I routinely shoot it at 100 yards (+ or - a couple of yards) when up at our hunting cabin when not actually out hunting. Years ago we got bored shooting paper targets and so we now shoot coins, Cigar Butts, Golf Balls, and pencils that are too small to be useful for writing any longer. We challenge each other (all 6 of my hunting buddies have either the same rifle as I do or Cooper's or Anshutz models. There is also an Apple Tree out at about that distance (maybe a few yards closer) that we shoot the Apples off by cutting them stem (not shooting the Apple itself). That is sort of a challenge as it's just about impossible to really see the stem and a bit of guess work is also required - BUT FUN! If one hits the Apple itself - they are disqualified.

I personally use CCI high velocity 40 grain ammo but some of the others use their favorite ammo which is usually Federal blue box 40 gr.

While this is not a "real sanctioned match" and we are not shooting at bullseye targets - it's a WHOLE LOT more fun!!

PS: IMHO the CZ 453 with the scope mentioned above is as accurate and consistent as any Anshutz I've tried - at least to me and that may well be because I am so use to it. Not bad mouthing Anshutz at all and it's a fine Rifle - but in my opinion over priced and the extra money gives little to nothing extra over the CZ 453 American (single set trigger feature) which has been sadly discontinued.

NOTE: Photo was of target shot at 75 feet (25yds) NOT 100yds but that is what I had on my iPhone.

 

[venomballistics]

I think the last round of 22 LR I fired was in 2001. The principles remain the same for rimfire as they do centerfire in terms of rifle construction. The part that differs is the choice of ammo.
Our supersonic offerings really don't exceed the speed of sound by much. As a result, it really doesn't get all that far before the shockwave catches up with it.
After the transonic point things get a little sketchy. This issue can be avoided with subsonic ammo that avoids this entirely, but then you have a trajectory that makes the 45-70 look like a flat shooting varmint cartridge.
Not to say this isn't fun to play with, it kinda is to be honest. But after a few past ammo crunches where 22lr was hit so brutally hard, I now avoid it. I'd rather finesse cast 30 cal. out to the same effect for it's reloadability. Ammo choice gets important as range increases

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I don't know about "precision" shooting 22 LR, but I do know about fun shooting. The best I've been able to do at 25 yds recently was 13 shots that a dime would cover, with my old Marlin model 80 DL bolt action. I bought it used about 50 years ago. My wife shoots one of the Ruger 10/22's very well and we have fun competitions at the range with our daughter. The Ruger is the cheapest model they make and she shoots it like a pro. Both rifles like the Federal rounds that Walmart sells.

It's all about fun.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[stu1ritter]

I have a CZ 452 American with a Weaver 6-24 mounted. I'm trying to learn rimfire bench rest technique as a local club has ARA matches and I want to enter but trying to come up to speed first indoors before going out to start doping the wind. The bench rest target is really tough. The 10 ring is just the size of the bullet. An X must be a clean 10.

Stu

 

[5-Shot]

I used to plink at absurdly long range with a 22. I have an extremely accurate Marlin 880 SQ (killed a fly at 50 yards when it landed on my target) with a Unertal 12x scope. The scope has precise external micrometer adjustments. That combination along with a range finder and a range card that showed scope settings in 5 yard increments out to 400 yards was enormous fun in the desert...where you could easily spot bullet strikes.

Ed

 

[H Richard]

I shot in NRA smallbore competition for several years, Prone matches at 100 yards. I used an Anschutz 1407 match rifle (because I had it from years back) and mounted a Unertle 20X 1 1/2" target scope. For ammo, yo need to search out what ammo groups best from your particular gun. 22RF are finicky that way. I had a batch of Fiocchi 320SM Super Match that grouped wonderfully from my gun and I had squirreled away a quantity dedicated to just that rifle. The rifle/ammo was capable of 1/4" (5 shot) groups at 100 yards from a bench rest (with no wind). If I recall correctly my best match was 396 of a possible 400 point match. It is very demanding and you need to be able to dope the wind.

We shot the NRA 3 bull targets, top for a shghter and two bottom bulls for score. Here's a few of my prone targets.


Have fun.

 

[LittleCooner]

22LR can be a lot of fun for plinking, buddy challenge, etc at the longer ranges. We shoot a lot of steel, just for fun at 50-200 yards. mostly 50-125 yards and have gongs at 200. Stay with the Standard velocity for better accuracy and the CCI standard velocity is a great economy brand for consistent accuracy. Wolf and SK match are great accuracy for the price and we are having great luck with Eley Club. I would recommend a 425 or 455 CZ for the accuracy level for the cost of acquisition.

Looking for a fun challenge for eliminate boredom? buy a pack of the kids multicolored balloons and pin on sticks or cheap target frames with string and cloth pins at various ranges, out as far as you desire and challenge buddies to "pop the balloon". I have competed in the registered RF matches years ago, but have way more fun now, shooting the RF at longer ranges at odd ball targets. Want to impress friends, lean the hold over for 200 yards and bust balloons at 200 yards with your guns. You will get funny looks when you start doing this with some consistence with a hand gun. I find ringing steel with a 22RF a very highly addictive activity and it gets worse if you have a suppressor when all you hear is the ding of the steel.

 

[Imissedagain]

Winchester 52D, fixed 20X scope and Remington 22 shorts match grade .... our USAF teams favorite ...... brought home the Pewter Mug in the two man prone 50/100 yard fun day at El Monte in the late ‘60s.
Lofting lead is appropriate.
A good glove helps.
Shooting with a partner that runs a 22-250 everyday to keep some critters from digging holes and breaking the cattle/horses legs..... also helps if a beer mug is the prize.

 

[mauser9]

Try that new Ruger Precision someone just posted pics of. Does look awesome.

 

[RGPM1A]

I use a pre A Winchester Model 52 (1933 vintage) with a 20X Leupold scope in 50 yard IBS matches and 100 yard beach rest matches at my club. For serious matches use weight and rim thickness sorted Lapua Center X ammo. The sorting makes a huge difference in the IBS scores and 100 yard group size.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Some good rifles mentioned...... we shot Winchester 52s when I was on the High School rifle Team (Decades ago) and Anshutzs in College.

Today (since 2011) I've been very pleased with my CZs.... best bang for the buck in both rimfire and centerfire rifles IMHO.

If you could find a CZ 453 heavy barrel varmint (single set Trigger) in .22lr IMO it would be the best of the CZ models..... for what you want to do........ a good 16 X or better scope will be needed.

My 452 FS/mannlicher in .22 magnum will shoot under the heavy cross hairs of it's 1-4x20 Leupold scope at 100yds (off the bench)..... the best groups have been in the .8-.9 range..... it's my walking in Penn's Woods rifle.

 

[Krogen]

It's a lot of fun and quite challenging to shoot 22LR at distance. My club runs long-range silhouette matches. We shoot metallic animal silhouettes at 50 m, 100 m, 150 m and 200 m. Typically the 50 m chickens are shot standing, but the longer distances are prone. With that said, this is a non-sanctioned "fun" match so some folks will shoot from the bench or use other schemes. The great thing is that it gets some of the older folks out to shoot. Some of them have trouble getting into prone position or aren't all that steady in standing anymore. No matter, they come out and shoot how they want and have fun doing so. Awards are not given, just bragging rights. And we only compete against ourselves. If I do better than last time, great! If not, I had a great time trying.

I use a CZ 452 Varmint with a Harris bipod up front and a monopod in the rear. The trigger in the 452 wasn't very good so I installed a Timney. I considered the kits to tweak the 452's trigger, but didn't mess with them. Scope is a 6.5 x 20 Leupold. The variable is nice since I can go 20x prone and dial down to 8x or so for standing. There was inadequate elevation adjustment for a 22 at 200 m so I mounted it on a 20 MOA base. The 22 slug is dropping rapidly at 200 m. For example, it drops about 18" between 200 yds and 200 m! Some of the 30 mm tube scopes have enough adjustment built in. YMMV.

Ammo is critical. I'm currently using Eley Target. It's not so much about being sub- or super-sonic, but muzzle velocity variation. I have proved with a chronograph that small velocity variations result in large vertical stringing at 200 m.

And then there's the wind. A slight puff will blow your 22 around, so you learn to keep on eye on the flags, the grass and the mirage. I'm beginning to believe that spin-drift is getting into the picture too. I have to click in windage at increasing distances - even in a dead calm. I thought my scope might have been canted, but I sure can't confirm it. So my sight settings include both windage and elevation.

I don't think you'll go wrong with a CZ. They're not hugely expensive and are very accurate. Sure, there are lots of alternatives. We had one guy come out with his 10-22 and a cheap 4x scope. He hit a few targets and got hooked. Then he said he was going rifle shopping. So my suggestion is get a bolt-action 22 that you can use a lot of different purposes. I'd advise against a plinker although some are astoundingly accurate. Get a good variable scope with repeatable adjustments.

I think you'll enjoy yourself!

 

[tndrfttom]

One of the clubs I shot at held 100 yard .22 matches (scopes or iron sights) for a few years but its hard for us older guys to shoot a lot of prone so most of the shooters lost interest after a while. I brought out my Winchester 52B and used it with iron sights with pretty good results.

Recently I bought a Savage MkII FVT. It seems to be a real good entry level rifle. I've only shot it indoors at 30 yards with iron sights but its capable of good groups with standard velocity .22s.

 

[CptCurl]

Shooting a high-quality .22 rifle for accuracy is one of life's great pleasures. My favorite is the Winchester Model 52-C. To me it has all the bells and whistles. It has the micro-motion trigger, and it is the last 52 iteration made as a repeater. They are hellish accurate.

Here's a snapshot of mine at the range.

And here's one of the tiny 5 shot bughole groups I fired at 50 yards that day.

Curl

 

[CptCurl]

My Mod. 52 doesn't very often wear glasses, but when it does, here's how it looks:

Curl

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In reality, any time a round goes bang, IT IS FUN! If you want to beat other people? That cost more money and is usually less fun!

I sold my best target rifles. One is the "affordable" Kimber Government Model in the $700 and up class. The other was a late 60's early 70's Anschutz 1903 prone rifle (Nothing like a 1903 Springfield!) off of a rest, it would hit shotgun shells in the primer 80%+ on the first shot at 200 yards using a 30 Leupold M8 target scope and Eley ammo it liked.

If you are going to compete; 1) you need to know the rules and classes. Not that you would cheat, but others will! 2) money flows like water away from your wallet! 3) There is always someone better than you are. If not this week, then Next week! 4) If you got beat, there is always next week, or year! 5) YOU CANNOT BUY ENOUGH GOOD EQUIPMENT TO WIN! YOU MUST PRACTICE AND THEN PRACTICE MORE!!!!!

Ivan

 

[Valmet]

While I cannot day that I compete in .22 matches, I do shoot and try to “best my last group” at 50 and 100 yards fairly regularly. Savage makes a version of their Mark II with a heavier barrel and a great set of target sights (model designation escapes me at the moment). Shoots very well and doesn’t bust the bank account.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

If you are not careful, you learn something everyday. At 100 yards any more, I need a scope - I see some pictures with iron sights. Sounds like fun. Thank you for posting.

 

[perryhd]

Does anyone here have range time with the Ruger precision rimfire? I have several Rugers but have not been very happy with their stock triggers. I think I'm suffering from information overload there are so many CZs and Savages to chose from. The Anschutz and Winchesters seem to get out of my price range. My head hurts.