Rimfire Small Game Rifle

Status
Not open for further replies.
I added some hot melt to the back rib of my 10/22's walnut stock to take the slop out.
No more rocking.
Sporter so no bbl band, and forend pressure was extreme, plus some on side.
Fixed that, so got the rocking.
Old fingergroove might act like a rifle instead of a shotgun now LOL
If it shows improvement then I'll remove the glue and use bedding epoxy.

I have a new take off bbl to try if the orig tests bad.

So this pig has two more chances.
 
.308 Norma said:
https://ruger.com/products/americanRimfire/specSheets/8372.html
For the life of me, I don't know what purpose (other than looks) a muzzle brake would serve on a 22LR rifle.
Click to expand...

They are recommended (not by me, I don’t know enough to give advice on the subject) for training new shooters in prone and other near-ground shooting positions as a muzzle protector. If the muzzle touches the ground it’ll just be the flash hider that makes contact.

In my experience they are a bit easier to tighten and harder to lose than standard thread protectors, so if you want a threaded barrel and your choice is a little knurled ring or a flash hider, the flash hider makes sense. I put them on some of my .22s for that reason.
 
12Bravo20 said:
Did you completely tear down the rifle and clean all the cosmoline out from around the trigger and sear? I know after I stripped mine down completely and cleaned ALL the cosmoline out if the trigger area, the trigger was a lot smoother afterwards.

DB, Have you looked at any of the old single shot bolt actions? any of them from the 60's or earlier are usually good shooters no matter what brand they are.
Click to expand...
Yes. When I say slightly heavy. It means 4-5 pounds. I prefer close to 2.
 
I encourage anyone to look closely at the CZ, which can swap barrels without fitting, I have .22 Mag and .17HMR barrels. The used rifle had the .22 WMR barrel as I bought it used, but I bought the .17 HMR replacement from the company and it fit very nicely. If I had it to do over, I'd probably buy a new rifle with a .17HMR barrel on it, but at the time, I was impressed with the stock on the used rifle and used it, as-purchased for at least a year before ordering the .17 HMR barrel. I locktited that barrel in and though I still have several boxes of .22 WMR ammo, have no desire to use it. I haven't been tempted to buy a .22 LR barrel because I have several very accurate .22 LRs and I don't want to lose the .17 HMR capability for even a short time.

Swapping barrels may sound good, but if you're into shooting at small and/or distant targets, the rifle needs to be sighted-in after each barrel swap, or risk wounding game or missing targets.

JP
 
Picher said:
I encourage anyone to look closely at the CZ, which can swap barrels without fitting, I have .22 Mag and .17HMR barrels. The used rifle had the .22 WMR barrel as I bought it used, but I bought the .17 HMR replacement from the company and it fit very nicely. If I had it to do over, I'd probably buy a new rifle with a .17HMR barrel on it, but at the time, I was impressed with the stock on the used rifle and used it, as-purchased for at least a year before ordering the .17 HMR barrel. I locktited that barrel in and though I still have several boxes of .22 WMR ammo, have no desire to use it. I haven't been tempted to buy a .22 LR barrel because I have several very accurate .22 LRs and I don't want to lose the .17 HMR capability for even a short time.

Swapping barrels may sound good, but if you're into shooting at small and/or distant targets, the rifle needs to be sighted-in after each barrel swap, or risk wounding game or missing targets.

JP
Click to expand...

That's for 455 and 457 models since their predecessors have screw in barrels, right?
 
chicharrones said:
That's for 455 and 457 models since their predecessors have screw in barrels, right?
Click to expand...
Right. Mine is a 455. Does anyone here have experience with both and are there any other positives/negatives regarding accuracy/function with the 455?. I realize that the safeties operate opposite each other, but since I have other rifles with "American" safety directions, that may not be a problem for me.
JP
 
I REALLY like the CZs. However, every .22 cal CZ I’ve ever picked up felt like the stock was impregnated with lead. Always seemed to be about 1.5-2 pounds heavier than it should be for a comparable caliber rifle. Could just be me. I love their Mannlicher versions though. Beautiful lines.
 
Frulk said:
I REALLY like the CZs. However, every .22 cal CZ I’ve ever picked up felt like the stock was impregnated with lead. Always seemed to be about 1.5-2 pounds heavier than it should be for a comparable caliber rifle. Could just be me. I love their Mannlicher versions though. Beautiful lines.
Click to expand...

Yep, most CZ bolt action rimfire rifles I've come across are built like small bore centerfire rifles.

My CZ452 training rifle comes in about 4 ounces lighter than my Marlin 39AS, which means they're both near 7 lbs. with slings on them. Both guns have 24" barrels, but the CZ's balance point is closer to the receiver than the Marlin that has a bull barrel with full length magazine tube. Due to that, the CZ feels pretty dang light in comparison.
 
chicharrones said:
Yep, most CZ bolt action rimfire rifles I've come across are built like small bore centerfire rifles.

My CZ452 training rifle comes in about 4 ounces lighter than my Marlin 39AS, which means they're both near 7 lbs. with slings on them. Both guns have 24" barrels, but the CZ's balance point is closer to the receiver than the Marlin that has a bull barrel with full length magazine tube. Due to that, the CZ feels pretty dang light in comparison.
Click to expand...
That's easily cured by drilling the buttstock behind the buttplate with about a 3/4" wood-boring bit. You just have to be a bit careful to not have it come out through the side of the buttstock.

I'd never buy a rimfire with a tubular magazine because the tube can cause the rifle to change POI with barrel temperature, etc. They can also be a pain when sharing a club range because people need to go downrange to change targets and you have to drain the tube. It's easier to just remove a box magazine.
 
Picher said:
That's easily cured by drilling the buttstock behind the buttplate with about a 3/4" wood-boring bit. You just have to be a bit careful to not have it come out through the side of the buttstock.

I'd never buy a rimfire with a tubular magazine because the tube can cause the rifle to change POI with barrel temperature, etc. They can also be a pain when sharing a club range because people need to go downrange to change targets and you have to drain the tube. It's easier to just remove a box magazine.
Click to expand...

Back when I got my 39 in the early '90s, I never took it to a range. A tube magazine makes more sense away from range rules and it is just about perfect for walking around and pest shootin'. I never had to spend more money on extra mags, either. 19+1 of .22 LR in that Marlin, which is a fairly sufficient quantity of ammo in a lever gun.

Regarding boring holes in buttstocks, I've done that for storage reasons, but not for weight loss. Pretty sure I don't want to bore holes in rifles as long as the Marlin and CZ. That'd just make the Marlin even more nose heavy, kinda like an AR15 rifle. The CZ on the other hand, balances too nicely to want to do that sort of surgery.

For weight loss, I'd suggest starting with a different gun. Unless one wants to chop down an existing rifle, like the one in the middle.

View attachment 929279
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
I just received a CZ 457 Lux several weeks back. This is my second CZ .22 Long Rifle chambered rifle. I've heard/read that the bores at the muzzle on these CZ .22 rifles are tight. Found that to be true when I tried to insert the .22 caliber spud for my bore sighter into the muzzle. I actually had to turn that spud down a bit to get it into the bore so I could bore-sight the mounted scope.
I also have a CZ 455 FS, and that sucker shoots great also. Still testing various brands of .22 rimfire ammunition in these two guns. When both guns are this accurate, it's really fun testing ammunition in 'em.
Click to expand...
I have tried a bunch of different ammo through my 455. I tried Federal Gold Metal Match, Eley, CCI Green Tag, Federal HV Match, CCI Mini Mags, Lapua and Wolf Match gets the nod. There was some of the cheap stuff too. That said, I have never found a gun that liked Lapua.
 
My simple, accurate, and stupid strong .22's are both CZ 452's. I have a Scout and a Trainer. Even though I have a few 10/22's I find it relaxing to finish a day of shooting by sitting in a camp chair and shooting pinecones or spinners with the Trainer. It is scary accurate and the sights are pretty bullet proof. It helps that the Trainer is an adult sized rifle. While it is a bit heavy, I perfer that to a lighter/hollow plastic stock rifle. I have a single shot adaptor, but it is no problem to slip rounds into the chamber if you were to lose or break a magazine. I would give the 452 a hard look.
 
troy fairweather said:
Less then a minute with some 600 sand paper and it will fix any feed problems with 10/22 mags, I've never had a real factory mag not feed even before polishing. All the feed problems I've seen always end up being aftermarket mags.
Click to expand...
This include the Ruger BX-25 mags? Those things are a nightmare.
 
22250Rem said:
Love my CZ-455 but there are so many other nice candidates out there as well. Might just come down to something like how it fits you, or the looks of it . When the talk turns to simple, rugged, and reliable it usually centers around bolt guns. Single shots do away with magazine issues and still make for good small game hunting. As we age those 22's that can easily accept optics become more desirable and it's nice to be able to have a scope or irons option. When I got my CZ-455 I was told about those tight bores and they also sold me a .17 cal cleaning rod that works well. Must be something to do with accuracy (?) to have a .22 like that, as CZ's all seem to shoot very well. CZ also had a single shot adapter available for the 455 that fit right into the mag well in place of the magazine. The 455-457 family may share the same magazines but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...

Interesting thought. I'll need to try that to see, but I wouldn't doubt that you are correct.
 
troy fairweather said:
Less then a minute with some 600 sand paper and it will fix any feed problems with 10/22 mags, I've never had a real factory mag not feed even before polishing. All the feed problems I've seen always end up being aftermarket mags.
Click to expand...

Taking the time to "smooth" any and all .22 rimfire magazines is well worth the effort, especially on magazines that have been initially stamped out of sheet metal. 99.9% of the feed lips on stamped steel magazines have sharp enough edges that they'll draw blood. Ever wonder why you get brass dust accumulation in some receivers? Check those feed lips. Drag a cotton swab along those edges and if cotton fibers are pulled off, it's time for some #600 grit emery paper and bit of elbow grease.

.22 BX-25 magazines for the 10/22 and Challenger in some, cases do wobble in place. I've found that some black tape, around 0.010 thick judiciously placed on the BX's will quell the wobble and the magazines will feed just dandy. No need to complain when a simple fix is the smartest answer.
 
Boattale said:
This one will last me and three more lifetimes, probably more actually. So will the magazines. So will the scope. Which make the irons basically decorative. Regardless of worries to the contrary. The leather on the sling will give up long before anything else. :)
View attachment 929240
Click to expand...

I wish Ruger would bring back the Boat Paddle! Those 77's are indestructible!
 
I've posed the OP's question to myself many times. My first answer for someone else would be to check the used LGS market (at a time when panic buying isn't running things) and look for a classic .22 bolt action from one of the majors: Winchester, Remington, Marlin, Mossberg, Savage, etc. Take it out of the stock and gauge how simple and robust construction is like before buying, then use the money saved to pick up any likely spare parts (springs, firing pin, extractor and mags) from GPC. My own version of this sort of rifle is a stainless Henry Mini-Bolt single shot in their now-discontinued Accu-Bolt stock -- it weighs under 3 lbs., is very simple, rustproof, and compact enough to hide under a long coat if necessary:

Henry Mini-Bolt.jpg

FWIW, I've mentally paired this rimfire with a heavily modified ex-Israel military Mauser 98 in 7.62 NATO. I've got a box full of Mauser spares, including a complete bolt, several triggers, extractors and firing pins w/springs, so I know I can keep it running. It is easy gun to handload for, and can be used with a .32 S&W Long chamber insert; lots of potential uses -- not quite as cheap as a .22, but with more punch. I have several interchangable optics for the forward picrail, plus backup irons (front sight is a tritium shotgun bead hidden in scope base):

MauserScoutRifle02.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

sarduy
  • Locked
Lightweight AR Build for Small Game
2
Replies
27
Views
991
BLACKFIN
BLACKFIN
D.B. Cooper
  • Locked
Small game getter: shotgun v rimfire
2 3 4
Replies
98
Views
4K
d2wing
d2wing
T
  • Locked
.223 for small game
2
Replies
34
Views
9K
tranders
tranders
Ugly Sauce
  • Locked
Small Game Loads for the SMLE
2
Replies
25
Views
603
Ugly Sauce
Ugly Sauce
Ugly Sauce
  • Locked
Progress report, .22 Hornet Combination Wolf & Small Game.
2 3 4
Replies
90
Views
3K
BigBlue 94
BigBlue 94
Back
Top