.22LR Rifle Range Fun

[johntheplinker]

Has anyone tried their new purchase Eley Action SV ammo? I shot about 400 rounds in 3 sessions and have decided that my Ruger RPR doesn't shoot it well.
I considered that it could be me or the windy conditions but after 3 sessions I just couldn't get it dialed in. I shoot 5 rounds at each target, 50 yds. I was getting an inch spread and occasionally get 2-3 to touch.
I switched back to the Eley Action Plus HV ammo and all is well again.
Its odd that the gun reacts so differently with the two rounds that are pretty closely related.

Thanks for the report. Haven't had a chance to try it in mine yet. Just goes to show how ammo sensitive some 22s can be.

Thanks! Good for me to know so my expectations won't be unrealistic.
I haven't used any "good" ammo yet & only the basic decent brands: CCI SV & Mini-Mags, Armscor, Super Aguila Super Extra & a few others.

I guy at the range did give me 5 rounds of "better" ammo to put through one of my rifles a couple of weeks ago & it did tighten up the groups a bit.

If the ammo you're shooting now does what you need it to do, there is really no need to go to the expensive stuff unless you just want to try it. Also I'm not sure I'd call Action and Action Plus "good" ammo, it's Eley's bottom of the barrel stuff. When you get to Team and Club levels, then you're starting to get into the good stuff.

 

[profjeremy]

Just got this little gun for some range fun this weekend... it's a Beretta Olimpia .22LR from the 1950s. These were used as training rifles by the Italian military in the 1950s and I picked one up from Classic Firearms. IMO, the coolest feature is that they function as both bolt-action and semi-auto! Hadn't seen that before, although I've since learned that there are a few rifles out there that do that. Anyway, got it all cleaned up and put a little dot of orange paint on the front sight (very tough to see it against a dark background otherwise) and think it's ready to go! I'll report back once I've had a chance to play around with it.

 

[doddg]

Disappointing day at the range.
Especially after someone sent me a pic of a nice 5 round/1 hole in a target this week with a new rifle.
I used practice targets with the CZ 457 Trainer & RPR to get everything sighted in.

I was eager to use my new rifle targets shown below with the CZ 457.
Inconsistency was exasperating!
Shot placement was all over the place with me trying to adjusting scope to correct it, but it was shooting fine on the practice target.\
Wind is my only theory, but at only 50 yards, that's seems a stretch.
I can't believe that it's the CCI SV ammo that is not letting the 457 shoot better.
The RPR did shoot better with the Aguila SE in the past, than the CCI SV, but that could have just been me..
I'll know more as I do a target with the different ammos testing it out.


I know my CZ 512 semi-auto & Savage FV-SR bull barrel shoot better than the 457 did today & probably the Ruger 10/22, as well, but I never got around to the RPR today.
This was bolt-action-only day.
Sometimes the rounds weren't even on the small square of an individual target I was shooting at.
After nearly 5 hours I just left.

50 yards on rest.
CCI SV ammo.

 

[johntheplinker]

View attachment 92143

Just got this little gun for some range fun this weekend... it's a Beretta Olimpia .22LR from the 1950s. These were used as training rifles by the Italian military in the 1950s and I picked one up from Classic Firearms. IMO, the coolest feature is that they function as both bolt-action and semi-auto! Hadn't seen that before, although I've since learned that there are a few rifles out there that do that. Anyway, got it all cleaned up and put a little dot of orange paint on the front sight (very tough to see it against a dark background otherwise) and think it's ready to go! I'll report back once I've had a chance to play around with it.

That's cool as all get out! One you get a little trigger time on it you need to see if there is any accuracy difference between semi and bolt mode.

Disappointing day at the range.
Especially after someone sent me a pic of a nice 5 round/1 hole in a target this week with a new rifle.
I used practice targets with the CZ 457 Trainer & RPR to get everything sighted in.

I was eager to use my new rifle targets shown below with the CZ 457.
Inconsistency was exasperating!
Shot placement was all over the place with me trying to adjusting scope to correct it, but it was shooting fine on the practice target.\
Wind is my only theory, but at only 50 yards, that's seems a stretch.

I know my CZ 512 semi-auto & Savage FV-SR bull barrel shoot better than the 457 did today & probably the Ruger 10/22, as well, but I never got around to the RPR today.
This was bolt-action-only day.
Sometimes the rounds weren't even on the small square of an individual target I was shooting at.
After nearly 5 hours I just left.

50 yards on rest.
CCI SV ammo.

You really need to use a different target for sighting in. I like using a diamond shape because it makes consistent reticle placement easy as pie. Then once you get a good zero you an switch to a little harder target for practice. The pic below shows the type I like the best, just don't laugh at my groups, this was shot at 100 yards with a low powered scope on a cheap AR.

 

[700 LTR 223]

My CZ 452 American has been in hiatus mode for long while now - now has a Clearidge Optics 3-9X AO and hope to try out this weekend. I like the diamond target too , shot a lot of good groups using that target.

 

[doddg]

You really need to use a different target for sighting in.
I like using a diamond shape because it makes consistent reticle placement easy as pie.
Then once you get a good zero you an switch to a little harder target for practice.
The pic below shows the type I like the best, just don't laugh at my groups, this was shot at 100 yards with a low powered scope on a cheap AR.

Thanks for the tip!
I have used this target before & now I see why.
Rala here on INGO was helping me figure out what kind of stock I needed to cope with my arthritis & he used a target like this to give me some pointers.
I think I was using my RPR or 10/22 at 50 yards for this during some training.

 

[doddg]

Semi-autos:
Ruger 10/22 & CZ 512
50 yds.
CCI SV
Very Windy.
The 512 has proven to beat the 10/22 consistently & is a joy to shoot.
How can a semi-auto beat the bolt-actions??? It is not supposed to happen.

RPR & CZ 457
50 yds.
CCI SV
RPR shames the 457 & I am so surprised.
It was windy (excuse).
I couldn't get the scope adjusted for the too high and/or too low rounds.
Makes me wonder about the new scope or the CCI SV ammo not being what the CZ likes (works fine in the CZ 512 semi-auto).

Not much fun trying to shoot 50 yds with a red dot since I can't see much of where I'm shooting.
But, it is fun to shoot at steel at 100 yds.
Discovered I had to aim a few inches high for 100 yd steel since the Henry was set up for 50 yds.
I have a notion to put a scope back on and just use it for a 25 yd gun, but maybe the red dot will be OK at 25 yds (don't think I can see where I'm hitting even at 25 yds.).

 

[profjeremy]

That's cool as all get out! One you get a little trigger time on it you need to see if there is any accuracy difference between semi and bolt mode.

First trip to the range today! Only took me 25 rounds to figure out that my sights were set to 100 yards when I was shooting at 25 yards (indoors). Lessons learned... need to shoot outdoors and/or on white targets with the iron sights!

Once I got semi-used to the 50 yard sights and how they affected my shots at 25 yards, I was able to do this with 10 rounds on semi-auto and 5 rounds on bolt action. The one round that went right was 100% me, not the rifle!

Not terrible for my first time shooting it and with just an elbow down (at least for me). I do love the rifle and the trigger is much better than expected!

 

[johntheplinker]

First trip to the range today! Only took me 25 rounds to figure out that my sights were set to 100 yards when I was shooting at 25 yards (indoors). Lessons learned... need to shoot outdoors and/or on white targets with the iron sights!

Once I got semi-used to the 50 yard sights and how they affected my shots at 25 yards, I was able to do this with 10 rounds on semi-auto and 5 rounds on bolt action. The one round that went right was 100% me, not the rifle!

Not terrible for my first time shooting it and with just an elbow down (at least for me). I do love the rifle and the trigger is much better than expected!

View attachment 92273

Not bad at all! Did your POI shift changing from bolt to semi or just chance that your target almost looks like 2 separate, side by side groups?

 

[johntheplinker]

Semi-autos:
Ruger 10/22 & CZ 512
50 yds.
CCI SV
Very Windy.
The 512 has proven to beat the 10/22 consistently & is a joy to shoot.
How can a semi-auto beat the bolt-actions??? It is not supposed to happen.

RPR & CZ 457
50 yds.
CCI SV
RPR shames the 457 & I am so surprised.
It was windy (excuse).
I couldn't get the scope adjusted for the too high and/or too low rounds.
Makes me wonder about the new scope or the CCI SV ammo not being what the CZ likes (works fine in the CZ 512 semi-auto).

Not much fun trying to shoot 50 yds with a red dot since I can't see much of where I'm shooting.
But, it is fun to shoot at steel at 100 yds.
Discovered I had to aim a few inches high for 100 yd steel since the Henry was set up for 50 yds.
I have a notion to put a scope back on and just use it for a 25 yd gun, but maybe the red dot will be OK at 25 yds (don't think I can see where I'm hitting even at 25 yds.).

Those 512 groups look mighty good! The 10/22 shows promise, might do right well with ammo it likes. So you're getting there! With the bolt actions I wonder if your position is changing after working the bolt. Being consistent is the key. I've at times worked the bolt with my off hand by reaching over the rifle, that way there is minimal disruption in position. I also lean into the table and just make contact with my body, keep the forearm in the same place each shot, hand placement the same on the rifle each shot, etc. Do you have by chance a bipod on the bolt guns? I don't use them but if you put a little forward pressure on the legs they tend to shot better, IIRC.

 

[profjeremy]

Not bad at all! Did your POI shift changing from bolt to semi or just chance that your target almost looks like 2 separate, side by side groups?

I think it was more the fact that I had a 10 round mag and a 5 round mag, so when I set back up, I ended up shooting on the other side of the bullseye. It was honestly really tough to see at the dark end of the range with a black background and the sights on this rifle are very subtle. I was just doing my best trying to hit the bullseye despite not being able to see it very well, didn’t really do two separate groups on purpose.

 

[KMaC]

Better day today with Eley Action Plus. Several good groups but this was the best, measuring .2875".
Ruger Precision Rimfire, 50 yds, 5 shots.

Can someone tell me how to reduce the size of the photo?

[/IMG]

 

[KMaC]

Here's a second group that is slightly larger at .289".
Same Ruger, 50 yds, 5 shots.

[/IMG]

 

[doddg]

Those 512 groups look mighty good!

Thanks for your encouragement, I need it since I'm so frustrated.
I do love shooting this CZ 512 rifle: I feel like I'm in the "zone" when shooting it.
Doesn't hurt that it's drop-dead gorgeous.

The 10/22 shows promise, might do right well with ammo it likes.

That is my hope, as well as ammo improving the CZ 457 bolt.
The 512 was my favorite rifle for a long time & I bought it from a friend & a member, so I am reluctant to let it go & coupled with the fact that it is a "classic" rifle, therefore I must look honestly that I'm the X factor.

So you're getting there! With the bolt actions I wonder if your position is changing after working the bolt.
Being consistent is the key.
I've at times worked the bolt with my off hand by reaching over the rifle, that way there is minimal disruption in position.
I also lean into the table and just make contact with my body, keep the forearm in the same place each shot, hand placement the same on the rifle each shot, etc.

I'm sure I am screwing my position up with incorrect technique since working the bolt is almost as disruptive to me as using a lever action which I found was not "accuracy-friendly" with my inexperience.
It could be that is why I do better with the semi-auto.
I'm not sure I shoot the 10/22 any better than the RPR, which I will analyze with my new rifle targets eventually.

Do you have by chance a bipod on the bolt guns?
I don't use them but if you put a little forward pressure on the legs they tend to shot better, IIRC.

I never went the way of the bipod (I had an RPR with one once) for my rifles since I use a gun rest (on top of two 2x14s for elevation for my neck).

 

[snuffy33]

I never went the way of the bipod (I had an RPR with one once) for my rifles since I use a gun rest (on top of two 2x14s for elevation for my neck).

2x14s ??

 

[MindfulMan]

2x14s ??

I guess that he's got a really big neck !

 

[Kelvin995]

Just got a HK416 22, so much fun to shoot with, and, save me a lot of money for buying those 90 cents 556.

 

[johntheplinker]

I never went the way of the bipod (I had an RPR with one once) for my rifles since I use a gun rest (on top of two 2x14s for elevation for my neck).

You're obviously doing something right looking at the 512 groups. If there is any movement in your rest that combined with being a little inconsistent in your shooting position could very easily explain your problems with the bolt guns. As long as the lumber isn't rocking I don't see a problem there. I've got a few pieces of plywood I use if I need to raise up the front rest.
If you work on doing everything the same way every time I think your groups will close up quite a bit. Eye position behind the scope and forearm position on the rest are two biggies. If you can do those consistently the rest will more or less follow. I've been known to put a small (about dime sized) piece of tape on the stock so when it touches the same spot on my cheek I know I'm there, and also depending on the rifle I'll either push it forward until the front of the mag touches the rear of the rest or line up the back edge of the forearm checkering with the back edge of the rest.
One last tip. If you find yourself getting frustrated, stop and take a break. Walk around and stretch, grab a drink and a snack. Refresh yourself and mellow out then have another go at it. If its just one of those days that nothing seems to be going right, maybe instead of worrying about groups just shoot for fun. Clay targets, steel, all kinds of fun stuff.

 

[doddg]

You're obviously doing something right looking at the 512 groups. If there is any movement in your rest that combined with being a little inconsistent in your shooting position could very easily explain your problems with the bolt guns. As long as the lumber isn't rocking I don't see a problem there. I've got a few pieces of plywood I use if I need to raise up the front rest.
If you work on doing everything the same way every time I think your groups will close up quite a bit. Eye position behind the scope and forearm position on the rest are two biggies. If you can do those consistently the rest will more or less follow. I've been known to put a small (about dime sized) piece of tape on the stock so when it touches the same spot on my cheek I know I'm there, and also depending on the rifle I'll either push it forward until the front of the mag touches the rear of the rest or line up the back edge of the forearm checkering with the back edge of the rest.
One last tip. If you find yourself getting frustrated, stop and take a break. Walk around and stretch, grab a drink and a snack. Refresh yourself and mellow out then have another go at it. If its just one of those days that nothing seems to be going right, maybe instead of worrying about groups just shoot for fun. Clay targets, steel, all kinds of fun stuff.

You mean your not supposed to hold your breath, grit your teeth & white-knuckle it & keep shooting when the "fliers" are everywhere?!
I have spent 2 days this week at the outdoor range with rifles: 1 day with semi-autos & another day with bolt-actions.
I then took a break from rifles & spent 2 later days this week at the indoor range with pistols, which was a pleasant time & a nice break from the rifles.
I do love the variety of guns I have to shoot, which is just plain fun!

 

[gmcttr]

You mean your not supposed to hold your breath, grit your teeth & white-knuckle it...

I use my weak hand to squeeze the rear bag for slight adjustments and often just "pinch" the trigger and stock between my trigger finger and thumb. A light touch inputs less of your body movements to the rifle.