22LR bolt guns - "best" bang for the buck

[T-DOGG]

I understand the long drive issue. I'm an hour out, on a good traffic day.

Just suggesting that it might be worth a trip or two to even watch one of these matches. They are very well run and have a variety of shooters from complete newbies, to literally world class/world record shooters, to 4H little girls that you wish you could shoot as good as.

To be very clear, I cannot run with the big dogs at this sport. Strangely, they still let me come shoot with them. I hope to get back to it next year.

I run a cheap Savage and have yet to be able to outshoot it. I do my best to make CCI SV work, but I'm not sure it really will. Consistency is what you get when you move from $.05 a round to double/triple, etc. per round.

IMHO CCI SV is consistent for 8-9 shots before a flyer bites you. Past a hundred yards, that really starts to make a lot of difference. Especially when judging wind and or calculating your hold from where your last miss was spotted.

Yes, the flyers kill me. The CCI is noticeably better about them than the Aguila. When I had the RPR, I tried sorting the ammo by weight and it didn't show any improvement for me. Not sure if measuring rim thickness would have helped either (I've done that in the past). I may just have to accept that the ammo I have is going to hold me back and scrap the whole idea. I really don't want to buy .22LR match ammo at current pricing. And I know everyone is shaking their head at me because I want a higher dollar "precision" rifle just so I can shoot non-match ammo, and I get that, not my first day at the rodeo. I'm just an inherent cheap ass and it's a constant struggle. This hobby isn't cheap anymore.

 

[rosejm]

Yes, the flyers kill me. I may just have to accept that the ammo I have is going to hold me back and scrap the whole idea. I really don't want to buy .22LR match ammo at current pricing. And I know everyone is shaking their head at me because I want a higher dollar "precision" rifle just so I can shoot non-match ammo, and I get that, not my first day at the rodeo. I'm just an inherent cheap ass and it's a constant struggle. This hobby isn't cheap anymore.

Don't let others get you down. While you'll see some flyers, (and if it's really bulk stuff a better than average shooter could mix results with an expert) you should still be able to consistently make single ragged holes with a cartridge your rifle likes and skilled execution of the 4 fundamentals of marksmanship @ 50yds.

It does take willful practice and dedication to: Every. Single. One. Of those steps. For every. Single. Shot.

1. Steady shooting position / natural point of aim / relaxation - If you're holding the rifle/sights on-target there's movement. This is less of a struggle from a bench or bag rest, but certainly a requirement (though I'm firmly in the camp of sling usage for riflemen.)
2. Aiming / Sight alignment / Sight picture - critical, though less important than some believe when using optics. Think overall consistency vs. cross-hair directly in the center of the X (see #4).
3. Breath control - If you're moving, so is the PoA/PoI. 2 camps here: breathe out partially, or fully. Either way, once this is second nature you'll start looking for heartbeat pauses (see #2 & #4).
4. Trigger control - squeeeeeeeeeeeeeze the trigger and be surprised when the shot breaks. Every one of us might try to time it just right, but those "4H little girls" are smoking us because they aren't. They're patient enough to follow all three previous steps & wait for the shot to happen. (Would you prefer 100% of your shots be 75% on-target, or 50% of your shots be 50% off-target? Often it only takes ONE miss...)

Now, I don't want to dismiss the capabilities that exist within quality tools and components, but every tool requires training and practice to master. It's only after the mastery that those extraordinary components will begin to show their worth. And they will. When you hit that trifecta of cartridge, rifle & marksmanship, groups shrink from MOA+ to sub-MOA. That might seem like a small improvement, but when viewed on a target, that's individual shot outlines vs. some that didn't touch any paper.

 

[T-DOGG]

Appreciate all the advice and suggestions. I traded for a CZ 457 Pro Varmint these evening.

 

[bwframe]

Congratulations!

Maybe if oportunity presents you can post up some pics of groups of the 457 shooting CCI SV at various yardages?

 

[mcapo]

Congratulations!

Maybe if oportunity presents you can post up some pics of groups of the 457 shooting CCI SV at various yardages?

Careful what you ask for.

I know the OP IRW.

 

[T-DOGG]

Congratulations!

Maybe if oportunity presents you can post up some pics of groups of the 457 shooting CCI SV at various yardages?

You can count on it.

 

[bwframe]

 

[indyartisan]

I had the CZ 452 out at the range and a fellow shooter had me try some kind of .22 ammo made for bolt actions.
I had to adjust my POA but it was very accurate in my rifle.
The problem is I don’t remember the brand.

 

[bwframe]

Prolly doesn't apply to this thread directly. Couldn't readily find another more appropriate thread. Lemme know if I need to move to another.

This just came out yesterday from Micheal Bane on long range .22LR...

[video=youtube;Dw_rJIgocCk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw_rJIgocCk&feature=emb_logo[/video]

 

[hANNAbONE]

Only 2 I'd consider are the CZ rifle and the Tikka.

Both are outstanding and I've owned both.

 

[bwframe]

 

[Twangbanger]

Appreciate all the advice and suggestions. I traded for a CZ 457 Pro Varmint these evening.

I think you reached the right conclusion for your money. CZs are stupid accurate for what they cost, and at least on the 452s and 455s, I know getting the trigger down to a pound is a cinch. (I don't have a 457).

Don't be married to the Aguila ammo just because you have a bunch of it. Let the rifle tell you what it likes.

I would recommend using target brands with a good type of lube on the bullet, and resist the temptation to run cheap ammo in the gun occasionally. Good lube will stay in the barrel if you use it consistently, and lengthen the needed time between cleanings. Cheap ammo will set you back to zero, to some extent.

Eley Yellow and Orange box are a good starting point, if you want accuracy.

 

[Ggreen]

Ruger american target will check all your boxes

 

[johntheplinker]

I think you reached the right conclusion for your money. CZs are stupid accurate for what they cost, and at least on the 452s and 455s, I know getting the trigger down to a pound is a cinch. (I don't have a 457).

Don't be married to the Aguila ammo just because you have a bunch of it. Let the rifle tell you what it likes.

I would recommend using target brands with a good type of lube on the bullet, and resist the temptation to run cheap ammo in the gun occasionally. Good lube will stay in the barrel if you use it consistently, and lengthen the needed time between cleanings. Cheap ammo will set you back to zero, to some extent.

Eley Yellow and Orange box are a good starting point, if you want accuracy.

Good points on ammo. Problem with the cheaper stuff like CCI and Aguila is consistency. Even the lower priced offerings from Eley, SK, and Lapua are better than about anything this side of the Atlantic. And really, they're not really that much more expensive than CCI.

 

[Twangbanger]

Good points on ammo. Problem with the cheaper stuff like CCI and Aguila is consistency. Even the lower priced offerings from Eley, SK, and Lapua are better than about anything this side of the Atlantic. And really, they're not really that much more expensive than CCI.

Silver lining of the ammo shortage cloud...you don't have to feel guilty shooting Eley anymore, because the crappy stuff costs just as much!

 

[Angrysauce]

I got a CZ457 Scout to teach my daughter on. It's the 16 threaded barrel version with the youth stock. Super fun with a suppressor and dumb accurate. I highly recommend the 457, 455, or 452.

 

[IN50]

I know it is over budget, but I would look at Anschutz. Maybe you can find a used one. I have not tried CCI SV. Mine will shoot less than 1/2” at 50 with Wolf ammo.

 

[Whip_McCord]

I just noticed your thread. Our club near Knox runs a long-range rimfire match, kind of like Riley does. Back in the days of IHMSA silhouette shooting, I shot down there with Hawkeye7br and he shot at our range. We are newer to this game than Riley, but we are having fun. The guy running it has gotten some tips from Hawkeye7br. We added some shootoffs at 200 meters, just to add to the fun. Looks like CZ 457 placed 1st thru 3rd every one of our matches last year. Seems like you made a good pick for a rifle.

As a side note, I also shoot CCI SV out of my Anschutz Exemplar pistol. It shoots pretty well, but not quite as accurate as some of the others past 150 meters. But, I have a lot of the CCI. Aguila shoots best out of my Pardini for Bullseye matches, but after 50 yards, CCI SV is better out of my rifles. Hope it shoots well out of your rifle.

Since Riley is pretty far from you, I thought we may be closer. If so, maybe check us out when spring shooting starts. We are shooting at a mix of IHMSA and NRA steel silhouette targets at 50, 75, 100, 164, and 219 yards. Below is a link to our results page. You can check out the rifles used by our shooters.

SAM Silhouette Club

 

[T-DOGG]

Ruger american target will check all your boxes

I know it is over budget, but I would look at Anschutz. Maybe you can find a used one. I have not tried CCI SV. Mine will shoot less than 1/2” at 50 with Wolf ammo.

I appreciate the recommendations, but if you look upthread, I already acquired a CZ 457 Pro Varmint.

Which I did some pillar bedding on yesterday.
https://www.indianagunowners.com/threads/cz-457-pillar-bedding.500714/

 

[T-DOGG]

I've been looking at match .22LR ammo a little bit here and there. Haven't really seen anything that I'm willing to spend money on yet. Spending $10 - $20 for 50 rounds of 22LR is a hard pill to swallow for me still. What I've been seeing is one brand here and there, so when I add in shipping costs from multiple vendors, that makes the cost go up quite a bit. And I don't want to spend $80 on a brick to find out my rifle hates it. This isn't the good old days anymore and ammo costs are making me want to find a different hobby anyways, so for now, I'll have to suffer through using the ammo I have on hand already. That will at least keep me interested in shooting on a somewhat regular basis.