.22 LR Accuracy?

[Werewolf]

I'm not a rifle guy (though it is capturing my interest) so I don't have a clue about rifle accuracy and what's normal and what isn't (other than my Win M94 I use for CAS - and I don't think anyone would claim one of those is a tack driver).

I bought a Marlin 25N .22LR for my niece to get her interested in shooting. For the past month we've been shooting with iron sights. She can consistently hit inside an 8" circle with iron sights. I can usually make 3 or 4 inch groups. Both of us shoot the thing at 25 yards (this is shooting standing for me and kneeling for her).

Then one day she saw a rifle with a scope and declared she wanted one of those! So I said what the heck and put a $25, 4X BSA on the rifle.

Now comes the question. After I got the scope zeroed in I regularly now make .5 to .7 inch groups at 30 yards from a bench - which is I believe 1.5 to 2.1 MOA groups.

Is 1.5 to 2.1 MOA groups OK for a normal .22? Should the rifle be able to do better than that or did I just luck out and get a really good one?

I ask because when I bought the Marlin everyone said don't expect it to be accurate but being able to repeatedly put 3 bullets in an area that can be covered by a dime at 30 yards and 1.5 to 2" at 100 yards seems pretty accurate to me - but like I said I'm a pistol guy not a rifle guy so what do I know.

Comments?

 

[444]

"when I bought the Marlin everyone said don't expect it to be accurate "

Remember who told you that and don't go to them for gun advice in the future.

 

[Black Snowman]

That's not too bad for a .22 rifle but not fabulous. My 10/22 would make tattered holes in 10 shot groups at 50 yards. I've heard people claiming extremely good groups at 50 yards with guns like the CZs, accurized 10/22s and the Biathlon Basic. At 100 yards many guns are still very accurate but the limitations of the round start to show. Espeically if you've got a good cross-wind.

Marlin .22s have a somewhat spotty reputation although of the few I've seen they've been good. Rumor has it the QC isn't the best on their rifling but if you get a good one (most likely to) that they're just fine.

 

[spacemanspiff]

my marlin papoose 70 does alright at 50 yards. i have a 4x scope on it, i get sub 1 inch groups, but thats cause i'm still a newbie i'm sure.

i did get a chance to shoot a cz452 once, had an uber-nice scope on it, i was able to lay shots one over the other. makes me curious to see what i could do with the marlin if i had an uber-nice scope on it.

 

[RustyHammer]

FWIW ... my daughter has a Marlin .22 LR with the "free" Tasco 4x scope. She can put 14 rounds through a quarter sized dot at 35 yards, benched. (Have an old Savage that she can do about the same with.)

Seems to be pretty standard.

/Rusty

 

[Jim K]

A good match .22 with good match ammo will shoot into less than 2" at 100 yards and do it consistently. The down side is that neither rifle nor ammo is cheap.

Don't underestimate the lowly .22 LR.

Jim

 

[Al Thompson]

Funny, Marlins have a rep for good accuracy around here. Have to agree with 444 on this issue.

Play with some different brands of ammo - you may be able to really tighten up those groups. And a good ttrigger will certainly help. Probably won't show up till you hit 50 yards or so though...

 

[twoblink]

I was schooled in the classic "coke can" school of shooting..

Goes like this:

place a empty aluminum coke can about 25 yards away. (usually, upside down, with the open tab in something like a fence nail, prevents the can from flying off when shot) Until you can basically put all the rounds into the side of the coke can.

Then turn the can on it's side, and start to shoot it into the round bottom part. That reduced your shooting circle to about 2" groups.

Then (and this is when it gets good)

We play "shoot the tab". Put some dirt in the can, and pull the tab so it's standing straight up. We then try to shoot the tab off..

And when you get really good.. we play "Shoot through the tab".

We don't put any sand in the can, and so if you don't shoot through the tab, and hit the tab, the can flies. Trust me, after a lot of practic, shooting through the tab is not difficult.

Recommended for hours of fun!! And did I mention, it will cost you only about $2 in ammo??

 

[Kamicosmos]

My Marlin Mod 60 can probably do MOA at 100 yards. I don't work with it enough to know for sure...still haven't found ammo that it likes well enough yet. It's my Rodney Dangerfield rifle...Get's No Respect. It gets fed whatever my Ruger Mark II doesn't like...which is usually less-than-consistant bulk ammo...

 

[4v50 Gary]

Shooting from prone (on a mat of course)

I get a 1/2" tall by 1 1/4" long group at 100 w/my M-2 Springfield. Lyman 48 rear aperture sights.

 

[sm]

Then one day she saw a rifle with a scope and declared she wanted one of those! So I said what the heck...

Well since a certain uncle is wrapped around a neice's little finger...get to buying ammo and testing.

Marlins around here accurate also.

twoblink...I'm older, we didn't have pull tabs to shoot at...had to use bottle caps...when you use a "church key"...little pc of metal ain't there to shoot... Now you know why old farts are good shots...secret is shooting bottle caps , that aim small miss small thingy... LOL

 

[retiredsgt]

.22lr

There are a "boat load" of different .22lr bullets out there.
Go to your local gun shop and buy one of every brand they
have. Then, when you go to the range, shoot each one.
ideally, you should "bench rest" the gun. You are trying
to see how accurate the gun is, not the shooter.

 

[theCZ]

My CZ452 will make a 1.25" group at 100 yards frequently. I have a cheap simmons 3-9x 22 scope and my gun works best with federals. I tried federal gold match and they don't shoot any better than the federal ameican eagles, which is fine by me . On saturday I put 10 shots into under 1/2" at 50 yards sitting with my bipod. Scopes definately are nice however .

 

[emc]

I have a Thompson Center Contender with a carbine length .22 LR match barrel. At 50 yards, with good ammo and a high power scope, my best five shot group from a rest has been 0.20 inch, center to center. The scope cost more than the gun did. It's a hassle having to reseat the gun each time, but a little patience and technique can make a difference.

FWIW,

emc

 

[Dave R]

Werewolf, for an off-the-shelf rifle and ammo, your .5 to .7 groups at 30 yards is "pretty darn good".

Good enough to shoot bottle caps at 30 yards, eh?

 

[spacemanspiff]

golf balls are fun to hit at 50 yards. theres still one at the range thats been there for a while, hasnt been split open yet though. i just push it into the dirt of the backstop and its good for a couple hits. i like making it roll down and try to hit it while its still in motion.

i had this little figurine, from the movie 'dogma'...if you've seen the movie you probably remember the catholic church was marketing a 'buddy jesus' icon. i took that to the range last time to see what a .22lr would do to the messiah. i figured it would put a hole clean through it.
wrongo...exploded into 5 large pieces, arms, head, torso, legs.

right now i'm trying to come up with a way to suspend two golf balls from the target stand. duct tape might be the answer.

 

[Sunray]

Yep, but 1.5" to 2" at 100 is 1.5 to 2 MOA. Shooting off hand and kneeling isn't the best way for an FNG to start. Get on a bench and sight in at 50 or 100. .22's are very picky about what ammo they like and the only way to figure out which one is to bench shoot as many brands as you can find.

 

[P95Carry]

With right conditions, right gun etc . .22lr is amazing.

I used to shoot target smallbore rifle back in early 80's ... had a BSA MkII Martini action (falling block) ...... all tricked out with every damn attachment.

Used single point sling, pads, jacket ... the whole 9 yards..... oh and Parker Hale precision aperture sights with those clear plastic aperture inserts for foresight too.

Hell ... at 25 yds indoors this puppy could hit the ''10x'' regularly .. and I did once (just the once!!) score 101!!! At 50 yds too it was incredible ... tho that was outdoors and of course wind-reading was both a black art as well as a science!! Let's say .. the gun and ammo combination would always outshoot my capabilities.

Nowadays I am just using cheapo ammo in Marlin 60 or my Mauser Oberndorfe ... both are remarkable, particularly the Mauser .. as close as a sporting rifle can get I reckon to a match rifle.

 

[retiredsgt]

.22lr

werewolf: I had to cut my message short this morning. As I looked out of my window, above the computer I saw a 6 pt., walking by. I closed the computer, walked out of my side door, grabbing my Ruger No.1 in .270 Win., and shot the deer, about 35 yds. away.
But hopefully, you get the point. Most .22 lr's are accurate as sin. You just have to find the right round. Good Shooting!!

 

[Khornet]

My old Winchester 52B

was being zeroed for squirrels this fall. 50 yd. benched. I tried various hi-speed rounds, and settled on Win. Power Point when I got 5-rd groups of .19, .20, .19 inches measured center-to-center with a dial caliper. A good .22 can really shoot.

 

[Werewolf]

Great Replies - thanks guys.

My niece hasn't shot the Marlin with the scope yet (went and got grounded) but soon.

The 22LR rifle has caught my attention though - I may get one of my own. The CZ452 looks to be a good choice.

My pistols may get a bit lonely in the future cuz putting bullets in little tiny groups feels pretty good and with my Rugers and Glock - well - a .5" group at 25 yards is just a pink sky dream.

 

[10-Ring]

I've seen some very accurate 10/22's. You can get some pretty nice groups w/ a 22 when the accuracy gods are smiling on you!

 

[Swampy]

I don't own any Marlin or Ruger .22's....

I have one of the Jap made Winchester 52-B sporters. Very nice little rifle. It will shoot 10 shots of CCI Std. Vel into 1/2 at 50 yd's all day long. This one is fitted out with a big 6-24 variable. Too much scope..... but it works. I've never shot this one beyond 50 yds.

A very nice little rifle, but the buttstock is much too small for me to shoot comfortably. They only market one size stock for this rifle, but it almost makes me believe it's really made for juniors.

My faves in the .22 category are the old Mossbergs. I bought several of the US-44's that the CMP was selling for $75 a couple years back. These are truly unbelievable little rifles. Made as military trainers, they have adult sized stocks and are very comfortable to shoot "from position".

With factory Mossy aperture sights, slung up in prone position, I have no problems keeping 10 shots from any of them into 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inch at 100 yds (this is on a relatively calm day ). They all seem to like CCI Std. Vel and Eley Brown Box.

best to all,
Swampy

 

[Soap]

I have a Kimber .22 Hunter. It came with a 5-shot factory test target, 50 yards, .333". I have yet to match this in the field. I have come close but then again, I think they use some sort of rest. The .22 can be wonderfully accurate...except in a 20 MPH crosswind

 

[YodaVader]

Shot this with a modified 10/22 - has Shilen match barrel and Fajen stock. Factory trigger has been stoned but still needs work. Used a newly installed Weaver V16 and Federal Match. Was the best I have shot with the 10/22.