.22 lr benchrest rifle

Cass

Hello all,

I'm new to the site so please be patient. I currently shoot with an Anschutz .22 lr match 64 model (20" barrel). It is a great target rifle and 197-198 on 6 ring targets are fully achievable (still chasing that elusive 200). I am looking for any help anyone out there can provide. While i'm happy with the rifle i find that in any conditions less than a slight breeze i am suffering a loss of accuracy which everyone does however it is the inconsistency that is bothering me the most. I notice the other guys shooting with longer barrels (32" - 34") suffer less inconsistency. I'm thinking of an Anschutz 1907 with 2213 stock but i'm expecting it to be big money. While i don't neccessarily mind going the extra money i do wonder if there are any other models/makes available that would be as good or close to the accuracy of the Anschutz.

It wasn't me!

ezridax wrote: »

Hello all,

I'm new to the site so please be patient. I currently shoot with an Anschutz .22 lr match 64 model (20" barrel). It is a great target rifle and 197-198 on 6 ring targets are fully achievable (still chasing that elusive 200). I am looking for any help anyone out there can provide. While i'm happy with the rifle i find that in any conditions less than a slight breeze i am suffering a loss of accuracy which everyone does however it is the inconsistency that is bothering me the most. I notice the other guys shooting with longer barrels (32" - 34") suffer less inconsistency. I'm thinking of an Anschutz 1907 with 2213 stock but i'm expecting it to be big money. While i don't neccessarily mind going the extra money i do wonder if there are any other models/makes available that would be as good or close to the accuracy of the Anschutz.

Jim Griffin has a few Anschutz Match 54's for sale down in the Midlands if you're interested. Run a few rounds through them and see how you get on. It should be noticeably more accurate that the 64 action you're used to in any case, and he's got them going for good money. If you want to upgrade, that's what I'd do initially. If you want a new Anschutz, you're going to pay big money, same for comparably accurate brands, like Walther, Feinwerkbau and Bleiker.

Cass

Thanks for the quick response. I know Jim Griffin and i'm a member of M.N.S.C.I. I've only recently bought a Sako TRG22 .308 with nightforce 12-42x56 (from stakelums in Urlingford now Thurles) so the funds are a little low hence the reason for a cheaper but not lesser make/model. Is there a huge difference in barrel length between the 54 and 64. Am i dwelling too much on barrel length or is it an important factor. Obviously it matters but i feel as though i'm concentrating too much on barrel length and ignoring other factors that may be as or more important. I've only had two makes of .22lr over the last 13 years CZ Bruno and Anschutz so i'm fairly unaware of other makes/models. Sad isn't it.

It wasn't me!

ezridax wrote: »

Thanks for the quick response. I know Jim Griffin and i'm a member of M.N.S.C.I. I've only recently bought a Sako TRG22 .308 with nightforce 12-42x56 (from stakelums in Urlingford now Thurles) so the funds are a little low hence the reason for a cheaper but not lesser make/model. Is there a huge difference in barrel length between the 54 and 64. Am i dwelling too much on barrel length or is it an important factor. Obviously it matters but i feel as though i'm concentrating too much on barrel length and ignoring other factors that may be as or more important. I've only had two makes of .22lr over the last 13 years CZ Bruno and Anschutz so i'm fairly unaware of other makes/models. Sad isn't it.

In a .22, barrel length is pretty irrelevant, wouldn't let it worry you. Think the Match 54's have a 26" or 27" barrel in any case, but some of the more recent Anschutz target rifles have a 20" barrel and a sight extension tube, without any loss of accuracy. Solidity of the action is the biggest difference between the two in my experience.

If you want a fantastically accurate rifle, get a selected barrel from Anschutz, Walther or Feinwerkbau, or have a Bleiker made. The latter will be several thousand, probably north of 3k for anything really, with the first three probably going over a grand for the barrel and action alone. For probably totally serviceable accuracy, get a decent Match 54 from Jim Griffin, as new and unused as you can find, give it a spanking clean, try it on the range, see which one shoots best and then take that. You can go the whole hog, and I would myself if I had cash, I'd probably go ahead and get the Bleiker, but you'll get stunning accuracy without it.

Another option is the old BSA Martini action. Astonishingly accurate guns, magnificent pieces of work, and well worth a look. There'll almost certainly be one in Midlands next weekend, so have a look and see what you think. Excellent trigger and unbelievably accurate, so you won't regret any of the choices available really.

Cass

Very helpful really appreciate it. Have been concentrating on the .308 and handgun since christmas but over the last 3 weeks have been bitten by the .22 bug. The info you gave will be great as a guide in the right direction. Thanks again.

sfakiaman

IWM's advice about getting a match 54 or BSA Martini is good, both rifles are excellent.

The thing about barrel length is more to do with sight radius, the further between the sights the easier to see deviations in point of aim.

The problem you are experiencing is probably due to not reading the wind correctly. Also the point of impact will change with changes in light conditions, for instance if the wind is blowing clouds past the sun. Have you shot on MNSCI when wind flags are out for a match, you'll find they are sometimes pointing in all directions!

It wasn't me!

sfakiaman wrote: »

IWM's advice about getting a match 54 or BSA Martini is good, both rifles are excellent.

The thing about barrel length is more to do with sight radius, the further between the sights the easier to see deviations in point of aim.

The problem you are experiencing is probably due to not reading the wind correctly. Also the point of impact will change with changes in light conditions, for instance if the wind is blowing clouds past the sun. Have you shot on MNSCI when wind flags are out for a match, you'll find they are sometimes pointing in all directions!

For benchrest he'll have been using a scope, so sight radius and light issues are non-existent. I do agree though that it's almost certainly failure to read wind conditions. MNSCI can be tricky for that.

rrpc

Have you looked at the ammo you are using?

As a rule of thumb with .22 ammo, the faster the round the more it's affected by the wind.

Cass

Evening all,

Just been reading through the recent posts. Appreciate all the imput. I'm using eley match with my Anschutz along with a 6-24x56 scope. Tried shooting with wind flags in a practise round but as sfakiaman said a wind flag 10 metres from the shooting position can be blowing left to right then at 20 metres it can be blowing right to left. Would never criticise the M.N.S.C.I. grounds as i've been a proud member for some years now and think that what the lads there have done in relation to building work, improvemnets, help, advice, friendly atmosphere and the sacrifice the core bunch of lads make in relation to their own time is outstanding but best intentions aside even they cannot control the wind.

I've narrowed it down to three issues:

A) Flyer; I switched to Eley match shortly after getting the Anschutz on the advice of some of the best shooters at the club. I noticed an improvemnet straight away with better grouping and better consistancy. I bulk bought a new batch of Eley match about a month ago and it shortly after i noticed that the amount of stray shots increased from 1 in 50 to 5-8 in 50. So its either my shooting or just a poor batch.

B)Windage; This one is easy. I would not be so vain as to think that any misses are either rifle or bullets. I sometimes get caught in a zone and just keep firing simply for the fun of the shoot paying little to no attention to wind conditions. I'm also guilty of not monitoring the wind conditions during a competition and have no-one but myself to blame for that.

C)Rifle; Again a relatively easy one. Everyone i know that shoots an Anschutz my freinds and family included say that if you miss with an Anschutz its usually the shooter and not the gun. The 64 has performed as well as i would expect from an anschutz and barring any unseen fault with the rifle i cannot say with certainty that it is at fault. My only concern was about barrel lenght but IWM's advice has put my mind at ease about that issue.

So there you have it, i seem to have expalined away everything myself but i still like to hear from lads that have more experience than myself like RRPC who said that the faster the round the more it is affected by the wind which until 5 minutes ago i was unaware of. I always say if someone refuses help or advice thinking they know everything they are either silly and probably don't shhot much or quite simply just ignorant.

So on that note keep the hints, help and advice rolling. Thanks.

sfakiaman

ezridax wrote: »

Evening all,

Just been reading through the recent posts. Appreciate all the imput. I'm using eley match with my Anschutz along with a 6-24x56 scope. Tried shooting with wind flags in a practise round but as sfakiaman said a wind flag 10 metres from the shooting position can be blowing left to right then at 20 metres it can be blowing right to left. Would never criticise the M.N.S.C.I. grounds as i've been a proud member for some years now.

Absolutely no criticism of MNSCI intended, I'm a member there myself and more than pleased with the range. On a couple of other points. Changes in light will affect POI as light bends through air just as it does through water but to a much lesser extent. Wind drift is related to the loss of velocity of a bullet rather than the actual velocity.

Could be a poor batch of ammo, maybe you could try it through a match 54 as a control.

Cass

Hey sfakiaman,

Just got your post. Please don't pick me up wrong i was not trying to scauld or reprimand anyone for speaking their mind nor was i brown nosing in relation to the club. I just didn't want to come off as trying to blame the club in any way for my poor shooting so i made my position on the matter clear before speaking about it. So apologies if it seemed as though i was trying to pull you up, no insult intended.

In relation to the shooting i am more convinced than ever that i got a bad batch. Will take your advice and ask one of the lads to fire 50 rounds through a match 54 to see the results.

One quick and silly question you may be able to help with. With my .308 i get off 4 - 5 rounds before heat from the barrel causes blurring. I have a mirage band en route but my question is would a 22 experience even a slight degree of this effect if fired either for long enough or quick enough.