Accuracy of .22 LR
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rangerruck
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Except for ruger 10.22's, most rifles are capable of 2moa or better at 50, and 4moa or better at 100, with idea conditions of course. This is what I believe, others may not, but I shoot almost every weekend, for years, and shoot mostly rimfires; 17's and 22's. This has been my experience with 99% or the rimfire rifles out there. Rimfires are not as forgiving as centerfires; any wrong move, twitch, breath, fingerbang(southpark), cheekmove, etc., is going to throw a shot, bad. any wind over 5 mph, that suddenly moves, is going to move your shot in the direction of the move, 1 inch or more, at 100 yds.
No comparable standard except online and it is MOA also.
Most 22lr rifles, even Ruger, should easily shoot 1 inch at 50 yards, at 100 yards things change. The better the rifle the better the groups. Savage and CZ are leading the pack in the budget rifles. 1/2 @ 50 yards seems to be getting common with non bulk ammo.
Most 22lr rifles, even Ruger, should easily shoot 1 inch at 50 yards, at 100 yards things change. The better the rifle the better the groups. Savage and CZ are leading the pack in the budget rifles. 1/2 @ 50 yards seems to be getting common with non bulk ammo.
It depends on the rifle & the ammo. Remington thunderbolt is the worst I have shoot. I have a Chipmunk that with Federal cheap eagles it will break holes at 100 yards but my Remington 597 does 4" groups at the same distance (I hope to change this with a new stock. Most of the .22's I have shoot seem to shoot within 1/4" at 100 yards.
I've three .22's that are really tight groupers within 100yds. with good ammo. Mod.61, Rem. 582, Rem. 550-1. My 10-22 is good to 50 and the Savage 187 is pretty good also. The first three could do amazing groups with some good young eyes behind them.
Five-O
Member
I shot my old Marlin semi-auto using scope today. Lower groups were made first, then sighted for 100 yards. I had just shot at 25 yards. No wind. Used bench rest.
I love shooting my .22. But since I've been shooting .22 rifles since 1953 I guess I can say I'm pretty good at it. I also shot my .22 target Ruger MKIII
Hunter with great groupings too. I still have about 3000 rounds of .22 that I bought when prices were cheap. Paid around 10 bucks for 525 rounds. Don't know how much they run now but I hear they're not cheap.
So as you can see, a .22 can be accurate depending on a lot of factors. Today was ideal weather conditions, used a rest, a scope, and lots and lots of previous practice.
That's all you need.
Click on photo to enlarge. You'll notice I put down wrong date. I'm always a day ahead. And sometimes a day behind, lol.
I love shooting my .22. But since I've been shooting .22 rifles since 1953 I guess I can say I'm pretty good at it. I also shot my .22 target Ruger MKIII
Hunter with great groupings too. I still have about 3000 rounds of .22 that I bought when prices were cheap. Paid around 10 bucks for 525 rounds. Don't know how much they run now but I hear they're not cheap.
So as you can see, a .22 can be accurate depending on a lot of factors. Today was ideal weather conditions, used a rest, a scope, and lots and lots of previous practice.
That's all you need.
Click on photo to enlarge. You'll notice I put down wrong date. I'm always a day ahead. And sometimes a day behind, lol.
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Uncle Mike
Member
You should be able to neuter a gnat at 50y.....
scythefwd
Member
I have seen sub 2 inch groups at 100y from the prone through peep sights. It sure as all getout wasn't me behind the trigger. I keep it on the target. That was done with an Anschutz, not a beginner gun. The same shooter also used a winchester 52. Had similar results with it. At 50y, he would keep them in a quarter. His mossberg 44 wasn't quite that good, getting about 3-4 inch groups at 100y consistently in his hands. Shooters like that are getting harder to find. I would have loved to see what he could do with a scope and a rest.
Factory test targets from target rifles are commonly .3" at 100 yards. Of course, that's a target rifle, with match grade ammo, a high powered scope, a bench rest, an indoor or tube range to eliminate wind, and a shooter with a lot of trigger time.
Sleeping Dog
Member
1" groups at 100 yds
I shoot those or better pretty consistenly with two old .22's I got from CMP. One is a Winchester 52 single-shot, the other is a Remington 40-x single-shot. Both have Olympic front sights, Redfield Palma rear.
That's shooting off sandbags. Other positions, not so good
Regards.
I shoot those or better pretty consistenly with two old .22's I got from CMP. One is a Winchester 52 single-shot, the other is a Remington 40-x single-shot. Both have Olympic front sights, Redfield Palma rear.
That's shooting off sandbags. Other positions, not so good
Regards.
rangerruck
Member
...as you can see from the dudes above, alot of rifles are quite capable; I have a pawnshop mod 60 that is world class accurate it is totally sick.
However, more than anything, it is the nut behind the trigger... and then the trigger assy., itself!
However, more than anything, it is the nut behind the trigger... and then the trigger assy., itself!
GrandmasterB
Member
Here's a 50 yard group from a souped-up Ruger 10/22:
Sirree Bob! The real issue isn't as much the inherent accuracy of a .22lr at those distances, but more the lack of reloading/load tuning, and the low b.c. and low velocity. These make it hard to find that "perfect" load and you see lots of lot testing to find the best lot for the rifle. Add in how a 2mph switch in winds will push a .22lr about an inch and things open up quite a bit. A shooter who can read wind changes with in a mph would be needed to shoot in anything outdoors while still holding close to what an average to decent centerfire rifle will do at 100 yards. I think the better rifles with a load the rifle likes, will be able to shoot close to what most good centerfires can do, its just that the conditions have to be perfect to accomplish that.
Uncle Mike
Member
That's some pretty fancy shootin' Geno!
ozhuntsman
Member
i have a .22lr stirling m14, it gets about 1.5" at 50m (54.5 yards) consistantly.
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