.22 LR @ 100 Yds. - - One Hole Obsession

[LRaccuracy]

If you can tell me how you shoot tighter groups that what I am shooting, I would certainly be happy to listen to your advice.

I sure would like to see more posted on .22 LR at 100 Yds. When I am not busy getting ready for a high power match, I am obsessed with trying to shoot a single hole group at a hundred yards with my favorite .22 LR. I have read some grandiose claims of accuracy with a 22 LR at 200 and even 250 yards. It’s not that I don’t believe the claims, It’s just I have never witnessed it in almost 48 years.

I am posting my two targets that I fired this morning (7/15/09) for your viewing. The half-inch group (3X) is not typical of what I normally shoot, but the 1” group (2X) is a bit larger than what I normally shoot. I know there are some shooters out there that can consistently shoot a half inch and smaller groups, but I am not one of them. I sure could use some pointers. BTW, this is bench rest shooting with only a front rest.

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I add this below the dotted line so that you (the reader) will not have to read all of my posts below to understand what type of rifle and ammo I used. Thanks for you patients.


Sorry! I did not originally post what type of rifle I was shooting. It is a simple custom rifle if you want to call it that. The receiver is a Ruger 77/22, with a 21” . 920 dia Lilja barrel, and an after-market 2# trigger. The Stock is a Volqurtsen.

The groups shown in the .pdf files were shot with Lapua X-Act, however I do get good groups with the Lapua Master L. I have tried about 40 types of ammo in this rifle and the Lapua does the best. The best group I have been able to print with inexpensive ammo, is the Agula (spelling??) Super Extra.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You don't say what rifle or ammo you are using.

Good bench shooting is a combination of the rifle, the ammo, and the shooter's skill and technique. Using a rear bag, and controlling elevation may shrink groups a bit. Similarly, better wind doping, or shooting only in dead calms may help. Finally, experiement with different brands of ammo.

Good luck.

 

[22-rimfire]

It is a good obsession. I don't shoot 22's at 100 yds other than to plink a clay pigeon or two from time to time. And yes, I usually hit them first try, but a clay pigeon precision is not 0.5" groups. What ammo and rifle are you using?

 

[kludge]

I've never been able to shoot a <1" group at 100 yards with a .22 but I'm not willing to pay $7-$12 for a box of .22 ammo either.

The best I can usually do is 1.2-1.3". My best group at 50 yards was a 3 shot clover leaf while shooting my sighters for a match that was ~0.25". 0.35" to 0.50" is the norm on a good day (no breeze or mirage).

 

[LRaccuracy]

Sorry! I did not post what type of rifle I was shooting. It is a simple custom rifle if you want to call it that. The receiver is a Ruger 77/22, with a 21” . 920 dia Lilja barrel, and an after-market 2# trigger. The Stock is a Volqurtsen.

The groups shown in the .pdf files were shot with Lapua X-Act, however I do get good groups with the Lapua Master L. I have tried about 40 types of ammo in this rifle and the Lapua does the best. The best group I have been able to print with inexpensive ammo, is the Agula (spelling??) Super Extra.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My Kimber M82 came with a sample group that measured about .3" at 100 yards -- a true one-hole group. However, this was shot by a man who did nothing but shoot groups all day, using a pipe range.

 

[LRaccuracy]

Vern,

I can't say I shoot all day but maybe that is what I need to do to achieve a one hole groups. I have not been able to shoot this rifle as much as I would have liked to this year but I am going to try to shoot it at least twice a week. One hole groups under .5" are easy to shoot at 50 yards but are evasive at anything greater than 80 yards (for me.) Last year I'll bet I put 1500 round through this rifle experimenting with it and maybe it just won’t do any better….. Maybe I just can’t do any better.. Normally it’s the operator…

 

[Vern Humphrey]

It could well be the operator -- we all have a ceiling somewhere. But I begin to think having a pipe range has a lot do do with it.

 

[doc2rn]

At least yours is still a rifle some of the ones people use to make those groups dont even resemble a rifle. I love the 77/22 MKII also mine is .22wmr

 

[LRaccuracy]

Vern,

I'll keep trying. If I don't keep trying, I am not going to have any fun.

I am going to try a rear bag as you have suggested and I'll look for one of those calm days. Today when I shot the two targets that I posted with this thread, I did have a slight cross wind of a knot or two.

---------------------------------------------------------
C.F.S. = Can't fix stupid (Ron White)

 

[husbandofaromanian]

I am one of those people you speak of making grandiose claims about shooting 22lr @ long range. I am not an accurate shooter. I have a Contender G2 Pistol (10.5" barrel) with a silencer that I shoot off of a tripod.

At 100 yards my groups are about an inch and a half. However, I can ring my 11" gong at 300 yards 9 times out of 10 (in windless conditions) all day long.

 

[JMusic]

I'm having the same problem with a 10-22 Mach two I converted. Sand bag it up good Assure no movement and sart trying different ammo. Give Eley a try and stay standard velocity. You should allready know about bedding and so forth but try different torques on your stock screws. You may be surprised of the difference,


Jim

 

[mm1ut1]

Stock CZ American and CMP Aguilla ammo at 100 yards. A trigger job would shrink the group easily by half. Shot off sandbag under ideal conditions.

 

[LaserSpot]

LRaccuracy,
What type of scope do you have and how is it mounted?

Are most of your groups round, or do you see "stringing"?
I have a Volquartsen barrel that's free floated; the 4-14x50 Leupold LRT is on a Volquartsen cantilever mount. It's a very stable setup, I don't know if Lilja barrels are tapped for this type of mount.

I'm getting about the same accuracy, but it's a 10/22, not a 77/22

 

[KenWP]

I sighted in my 10-22 for a 100 yards just to say I could. Most I did to it was use a good 3-9x scope and I replaced the pin in the back of the frame with one of those plastic ones or what ever its made of. Seems to work for me and the gophers I shoot at. There has to be people out there that can shoot the dots of the eyes.

 

[kludge]

I have tried about 40 types of ammo in this rifle and the Lapua does the best.

At the last 50/50 benchrest match I shot in, a buddy of mine used Lapua to shoot a 240-8X out of a possible 250.

He used an Anshutz with a trigger measured in ounces.

I'm using Aguila Rifle Match right now (it was $30/brick) but I think the Federal Champion Target ($13/brick two summers ago, havn't seen ANY since then) was a little better.

I shoot a Savage Mark II BV with a 3# Accutrigger, and it's way too heavy a trigger for benchrest shooting.

 

[Bill B.]

I am posting my two targets that I fired this morning (7/15/09) for your viewing. The half-inch group (3X) is not typical of what I normally shoot

That's about as good as it gets for me regardless of the rifle & ammo combo. Maybe somewhere where they have no wind and heat waves.

 

[LRaccuracy]

LaserSpot,

I have a pretty cheap scope on the rig. It is a BSA Platinum 6-24X44 and It's mounted directly to the top of the receiver with high steel rings. I have ordered a Leupold 6-24X50which I should have next week. My groups are generally 3 or 4 in a tight group (kind of round) and I normally drop one or two low. Occasionally I will throw one out to the right or left and I always wonder what happened? When I miss the X ring it is normally low. Exactly like the first .pdf file I posted.

My breathing and trigger squeeze looks good and I have examined my technique in high speed video for evaluation. I have other .22 LR rifles built up for shooting at 100 yds. but with iron sights. I normally do the same scenario. Three or four in, one or two out.

I'll never be national match material, but I know I can put all five in the X ring on a consistent basis, I just don't know what I am doing wrong.

I am going to try rear sand bags for stability to analyze the problem further.

 

[LRaccuracy]

Kludge,

I have been thinking of lightening up my trigger a bit... Maybe 1.5 lbs or just a little less. Right now it seems okay but a little lighter couldn't hurt.

 

[LRaccuracy]

KenWP,

I have never tried a 10/22 for accuracy, but I know it can be done. I have read on the Internet in so many articles that you can achieve the same accuracy as a bolt gun with them. That may be my next summer challenge.

 

[LRaccuracy]

mm1ut1,

Great target.. One of my friends shoots a CZ American and shoots about the same groups. You have to admit the CZ shoots great. I have a CZ American in .221 Fireball and it will shoot sub MOA.

 

[LRaccuracy]

Husbandofaromanian...

The claims I am hearing are a bit wild. How about an inch group with a .22 LR at 250 yards... Hmmmmm! Do I believe it? A better question is, do you believe it?

Now you know what I mean by a grandiose claim. Later... T.

 

[LRaccuracy]

Believe me when I say I am going to try many of the things you ladies and gentlemen are suggesting. Even if I have already tried them. Maybe I will find the right combination.

I always keep in mind that the groups that I am getting is my personal best but I will not give up striving for consistent smaller groups. If I did I guess I would be giving up shooting, and I don't want to do that.

I will try some Eley again and maybe just maybe I need a pipe range to avoid the thermals and wind variations... Who knows? But I will keep you posted...

 

[kludge]

It is a BSA Platinum 6-24X44

That's the scope I use, with the 1/8 MOA target dot. The dot just fits inside the 10 ring of the 50/50 target. I shoot MOA or less with rig that cost me <$300. My best score so far is a 233-5X.

 

[crazy-mp]

using a pipe range

Unless you have a day where these is no wind at all, you will never know for sure if there was a little drift.

How fast are you taking your shots? You might try to wait between shots a little longer.

Did you fire the gun once as a "fouling" shot-assuming you cleaned the gun after your last shot? I have a 10/22 that will shoot about 2 inches high on the first shot at 50 yards then the scope is on.

Finally it could be the operator and choice of equipment (no offense) I built a custom 10/22 the same time my dad did. I can lay mine on top of each other at 25 yards, but his I cant cover with a half dollar the group from his gun, but he can make a 6 shot group look like a .45 hit it.