Best Tackdriving .22?

[Olympus]

I went to the range yesterday for some stress relief and brought my Ruger 10/22. I hadn't shot that thing in a long time and forgot how much fun it was to shoot. I called my dad afterwards and told him about shooting it and how good it shot. He told me I needed to buy a tackdriver .22 and I'd really have fun. He says he has a Ruger bolt action that had been customized and he says he can put 5 shots in a dime at 50 yards with it. He's a pretty good shot so I think he probably could.

So here's my question, are there any bolt action .22s that are tackdrivers? If so, what are they and what price range are they in? I wouldn't mind spending a little more money on a really accurate .22 because I would save that much on ammo with a larger bore rifle.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I am looking as well. What I have come up with so far is the CZ452 as a likely best candidate at a reasonable price.

 

[Olympus]

Yeah those are pretty reasonably priced. Haven't heard much about how they shoot though.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

What's the budget?

Anschutz is the gold standard, among new rifles. Also Walther, Pardini, RWS, and some others.

Among used, Winchester 52 and some other ones are renowned for accuracy.

On a budget, yep, CZ452 is a good way to go.

 

[johnson_n]

Look at last month's rimfire shoot. Targets were at 50 yard and I believe someone had a 452 American with a scope that had great grouping.

 

[Olympus]

Well I'd say around $600 or $650 I'd give for the absolute most accurate I could get with that money. What's your suggestions for those criteria?

 

[22-rimfire]

Current Guns:
Thompson Center R-55 (semi-auto)
CZ452 or 453 American (bolt action)
Savage Mark II (bolt action)-great reputation
Weatherby Mark XXII (bolt action)-exceeds budget; price around $800
Remington Model 547 (bolt action) -exceeds budget at $1000
Ruger 77/22 (bolt action)-No experience with these; hit or miss in accuracy dept from what I read. Some great!
Marlin 39A (lever action) -probably will shoot 0.5" at 50 yds.

Other rifles-generally used :
Remington Model 541-S or 541-T; at limits of budget $ Excellent Rifles with the 541-S tending to shoot better (and cost more).
Anything Anschutz-generally >$1000 and budget $. Can be bought new of course.
Mossberg 144
Kimber Model 82-generally >$1000
Winchester Model 52-generally exceeds budget

Other Rifles:
Remington 504-hit or miss; many don't shoot good in 22LR without changing the barrel.
Remington Model Five-not sure how they shoot. Probably will do 0.5" at 50yds.
Winchester Wildcat-very new, made by TOZ (Russian)
Coopers-all exceed budget, however really fine rifles.
Suhl-Russian made and run around $1000; generally tack drivers and are classic target rifles

The best bang for the buck are the CZ's and the Savage.

 

[retgarr]

Just so you know, the Remington Model 5 is the old Zatava that was imported by Charles Daly

 

[Old Grump]

Most decent bolt action rifles will give you more accuracy than you can stand and Savage and CZ are on the top of my list for something that won't break the budget. I'm still putting them in there with a single shot savage I bought in 1964 for $28. Just keep in mind that your best results will come with the proper bullet. I spent nearly $1,000 trying to find the perfect bullet for my 10/22 with its 20" bull barrel and the 2 I found that worked best weren't anywhere near the cost of the more expensive bullets, go figure.

 

[22-rimfire]

Dime sized groups are not extremely difficult to shoot at 25 yds. It becomes more difficult at 50 yds and extremely difficult at 100 yds. Most of the good sporter rifles will often shoot 0.5" or better at 50 yds out of the box. You will probably need the help of a good scope. IF you can't see it, you can't shoot it. The high magnification scopes really help you have the exact same aiming point shot after shot which is what you need for good groups. Ammo comes into play also and generally standard velocity ammunition will be more consistant and give better groups. However, 22 rifles have this habit of preferring certain ammunition and it varies from rifle to rifle; sometimes even the same manufacturer.

 

[Tarvis]

A bolt action with hand loads and a good scope using either a good rest or perfect technique.

 

[ambidextrous1]

Hand loads? Hand loads? Hand loads?

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Hand loads?

I have some brass, just can't figure out how to de-prime it?

Anyway, my best shooting .22 is a Remington 40-x that I got from CMP a couple of years ago. Routine 10's & X's with the iron sight at 100yds (from a bench). Not something I'd want to carry all day, though.

 

[rswartsell]

I have a great deal of experience with a Ruger 77/22 (Leupold Rimfire 4X), and accuracy was great. Can't speak for all examples of the breed but this one was a legit tack driver. Especially with CCI Green Tag. Some frustration and replacement around those rotary mags though.

 

[LopezEL]

cz 452 lux if you want to shoot iron sights... the best iron sights on a 22 period.

cz 452 american if you want to scope it.

My 452 lux will usually give me .5" groups at 50 yards with American Eagle ammo. It has a cheap Simmons 22 mag 3-9x32mm on it. Its so accurate it gets boring... when I want a challenge I usually take the scope off and shoot iron sights at 100 yards. I just move the front sight to the 100 yard line and If I do my part, I can usually get about 1-1.5" group.

 

[WC145]

Any of the Savage MK II's with the Accutrigger are reasonably priced and wicked accurate. I recently purchased a MKII BV and have shot it with a Nikon 3-9 and a Mueller 4.5-14 and have no trouble with dime sized groups at 50yds with pretty much any ammo though the target and subsonic stuff shoots best.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Just drop a nice barrel and a nice stock like a Fajen on that 10/22 and it will literally drive tacks at 25 yards.

 

[CRITGIT]

You can build a tack driver like one of mine for under your figures





All roll-yur-own 1022's...........All kill flies @ 50 yds!

CRITGIT

 

[highlander 5]

New barrel and a trigger assembly kit will make your Ruger shoot much better cost about $150.

 

[elmerfudd]

Since you already have the 10/22, why not build it up? This is one case where you really can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

 

[cinteal]

I have several tack drivers and have been using them quite a bit as of late (cheap shootin'). In short, I agree with everyone who has recommended the CZs and Savages. They both offer good selections, especially Savage, and so far, I have not run across one that would not shoot half inch groups at 50 yards. I do not have an Anshutz or a Cooper. I want one (or more) of each but they are just out of my price range.

Savage MkII BTV ($420 MSRP) with Weaver Classic V 4-16 target dot
Off of a bag, using cheap ole Federal Champions, 5-shot group
25 yards . . . one less ragged hole
50 yards . . . one ragged hole
100 yards . . . 1.2 inch (probably more to do with operator failure)

I got the same groups with Aguila Super Maximum Solids but I ran them through Paco Kelly's Acu-Rzr (more precise bullet diameter).

The AccuTrigger looks weird and takes a very little to get used to, but it is great and adjustable.

CZ 452 Lux ($360) with Leupold Vari-X II 4x
First off, this thing will eat anything 40 grains and less, loves champions.
25 yards . . . one less ragged hole
50 yards . . . one ragged hole

Trigger is not that great, but better than Ruger's. However it is adjustable for poundage. Mine, with the factory spring, pulls at about 2.5-2.75 - as light as it will go. Eric Brooks has a trigger package for these guns (~$15) that can be ordered from his website. Fuzzy Limey (another available website) has instructions on adjusting the trigger with just a little effort. I adjusted mine for creep and overtravel. Pretty easy and makes a world of difference.

This gun no longer has an optic on it as the elevation adjustable rear tangent is just too fun open sight . . . and it's accurate for high velocity cheap stuff. Guys at the range with their ARs shoot at a 200 yard target, or try to. I can't drive tacks at that distance, but I can hit the paper plate, open sight, EVERY TIME. Be aware that this thing has a 3/8ths dovetail for mounting optics. Easy enough to find rings, just don't plan on using a Weaver mount without some adapters.

Back on the 40 grains and less. Hates 60s. I think it has to do with the 1:16 twist. You need a little quicker turn for the heavier stuff. I see that in my WMRs as well. Haven't tested them in other rifles but expect the same.

CZ 453 American ($550) with the Leupold off the Lux (Vari-X II 4x)
This thing has a wonderful set trigger and was my squirrel gun until I let my Dad shoot it. Now it's his squirrel gun.
25 yards . . . I didn't group it at 100 but it shoots just like the Lux only with a better trigger. Sorry, I've only started playing with 100 yards recently.
I did float the barrel to get the groups. It was pretty good to start, if I remember. I just wanted to float a barrel and it did improve.

Browning Buckmark Target Rifle ($550) with Weaver Classic V 4-16 (great scope!)
This of course is an auto . . . a nice one. It has a good trigger and I like the feel of the short rifle. It has also seen a great deal of action with squirrels and field rats.
25 yards . . . 0.4" group
50 yards . . . just under an inch
This rifle still sees rat action, but mostly I use it and the Lux for shooting steel targets at those two yardages. It's not a tack driver, but pretty decent for out of the box. Loves CCI Minimags and cheap Federal Copper Coated bulk. Hates Aguila and Winchester. I shot Remington Subsonics for quite some time. I only left them for something a little flatter shooting. Ironically, it soesn't like Green Tags. My Dad did buy one that wouldn't shoot well.

My buddies have different CZs and Savages - some cheap, some not. They all shoot the same. I have to highly recommend the Remington 541, as well. My buddy's is called "ticklicker". We put up a white sheet of paper just off the ground . . . ticks come running . . . then we shoot the ticks . . . really. I don't know offhand what the optic is, but it's big and clear. I think my new Savage will do the same . . . no ticks to try it at the range.

I also have a Kimber. It was given to me. Shoots great, fine trigger, really nice to look at. Scratched it at the range and cried. The Buckmark and the American . . . the scratches and dings are just part of their character. IF you can afford it, the Kimber IS nice.

10/22s can be very accurate. The Kimber and the Buckmark entered my life at the same time I was fed up with the Ruger trigger so it got put aside. However, I did take the trigger apart and just buffed off the rough with microfinishing film. Still safe and improved the trigger considerably. One guy with a Volquartsen unit outshoots me all the time at the range.

Last note to this epic . . . you don't see Lapua or Eley anywhere in my post. If I wanted to pay that kind of money for rounds down range, I can almsot load my .257 Roberts for that. Plus, there's the Acu'Rzr. I've gotten Remington Golden Bullets that were shooting at 1.5 at 25 yards to pull in to 0.5 inch. An inch better group! I still have flyers and even popcorn bursts, but for the most part, I'm getting target accuracy from bulk ammo, but giving up the true consistency of the higher priced stuff.

 

[JTW Jr.]

I purchased a Savage GVXP from Dick's Sporting goods , tossed the package scope after a few weeks ( Simmons 8 point ) , replaced it with a Mueller APV , for under $350 for rifle and scope , it will shoot dime sized groups at 50 yards with Federal 510 ( or Aquila ) when I do my part.
Havent had the chance to shoot it much past 50 yards yet as I keep the targets to a max of 50 when I have my 8 year old son with me.
Even with him behind the trigger , from the bench the 1 1/2" steel spinners are not even a challenge for him anymore.

 

[ldp4570]

CMP has Kimber 82's and Mossberg 44's for sale. Kimber will run you 600 and the Mossberg 175. The Mossbergs have issues, but the Kimbers are clean!!!! Well worth the 600.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Cinteal knows how to make an entrance! Welcome.

 

[kludge]

Savage Mark II BV $235 + BSA Target scope on sale < $300 package.

Shoots <0.5" @ 50yd all day. I have shot a 0.32" group.