Biathlon Basic .22 - Range test + Pictures

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makarov

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I finally got some time to put a scope on my Biathlon Basic rifle today. The only extra one I had was an old Weaver K4. The scope has seen better days, but has clear glass.

After getting it mounted I went out to the back yard and started plinking and adjusting the scope. I set up an old table as a bench and then started to try for some groups. The table was kind of wobbly and I didn't have bags, but the groups are pretty good nonetheless. Range was 40 yards. Ammo was Wolf Match Target.

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The toggle action is very quick for follow up shots and you don't lose your sight picture. Very cool. Gun is accurate, fun and cheap. What could be better. The trigger is also very good right out of the box, better than my CZ-452 (though I have not installed the Brookie spring kit in my CZ).

Barrel is fully floated with no rub spots. The muzzle of the barrel is counterbored very deeply with a cone shaped recess. This seems like a very good idea, it would take a lot to damage the crown. Finish on the stock and the metal is nothing to write home about, but the action is solid and seems very well made (gun ships with 1 - 5 round and 1 -10 round mag and a cleaning rod and cleaning kit!). The magazines are pretty cheap plastic things, but again they function well. Russians take the form follows function rule to heart and never seem to get around to the aesthetics much. This gun is a great, accurate plinker. Get one if you can.
 

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Here is a closer shot of the action and test target. I'm sure if I bagged this gun from a solid bench they would be 1 ragged hole. I only had the front of the rifle supported today.

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Thanks for the report Makarov.
Looks like a fun gun.
I can say nothing bad bout the Weaver K-4s.
T'aint fancy but they sho have worked well for many years.

Sam
 
Nice report.

Did you do anything to the stock? I ask because all the pictures I've seen of this little rifle have it wearing what looks like a beech wood stock; very light in color. I like the darker wood on yours much better.

Hard to tell from the pictures, but is the reciever grooved for rings or is there a specific mount required?

I'm always in the market for another .22 rifle and the Russians make nice ones. I have a Izhmash SM-2 that is the cats pajamas.

sm2_comb.jpg
 
Hey, QBG -

Where can one find one of those nifty Russky target rifles for purchase? A quick internet search didn't turn up a source.

Thanks!
 
Makarov: Thanks for the report. My question to you: which do you like better, your CZ or IZH biathlon????? BTW, great looking rifle :D

QBG: Where do you find an SM2? Never seen that catalogued in any internet gunstore (sportingarms, davidsons, etc). How's it shoot?
 
Makarov:

Interesting furniture. All the ones I've seen have been blond, like mine. I took fifteen minutes with some #0000 steel wool and boiled linseed oil and the results are night and day. I took it back to the shop where I bought it and they couldn't believe the difference. Definitely worth the small amount of time involved. See the attached picture (I'll see if I can find a better one). It should give you an idea of what's possible. The picture also shows the recessed crown nicely. That's my CZ 452 Ultra Lux next to it.

As for performance, my Biathlon is neck and neck with my CZ -- and that's saying something. Really a toss-up as to which one I prefer. Using an inexpensive BSA 4x32 airgun scope and basic American Eagle ammo, I'm getting consistent groups at 75 yards comparable to yours. Hard to ask for more.

Take care. Marko
 

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Marko..

..that's a nice gloss for BLO. Did you use a finish coat of some kind, or did the steel wool leave enough of the old finish as a base?
 
For those interested: CDNN Investments Inc., www.cdnninvestments.com, has the Biathlon Basic rifles. The most recent price was $239 with one five-round magazine.

I talked to a guy who owns one last weekend at a .22 benchrest match. He said his "didn't shoot" until he had about 400 rounds through it. His accuracy requirements are quite high, however.
 
For those interested: CDNN Investments Inc., www.cdnninvestments.com, has the Biathlon Basic rifles. The most recent price was $239 with one five-round magazine.

I talked to a guy who owns one last weekend at a .22 benchrest match. He said his "didn't shoot" until he had about 400 rounds through it. His accuracy requirements are quite high, however.
 
Just straight BLO. The Biathlon rifles come with furniture so lightly oiled they almost appear to be unfinished. There's no laquer or shellac to deal with at all. Basically, I take the #0000 steel wool and a liberal amount of BLO and rub the stock briskly until smooth, removing any friction points or rough areas.

Then I take a rag and wipe off the excess BLO, running my hands across the stock while searching for any rough spots. If I find any, I apply more BLO to that area and hit it with the steel wool until smooth.

Once the stock is smooth, I take a small amount of BLO and rub it into the wood, one area at a time. The trick is rubbing briskly enough to generate a good deal of heat without using so much BLO that there's not enough friction. It's the final heat-generating hand rubbing that gives the nice gloss.

Once the stock is completely covered and I'm satisfied with the results, I let it sit for 24 hours, allowing the wood to soak up the BLO, then I rub in another coat.

The really great thing about a hand rubbed finish is that it's very easy to repair light scratches and nicks. Simply apply a small amount of BLO to the area and rub it until it blends in. Try doing that with a polymer finish.

Like I said, the whole process took me about fifteen minutes to get a great looking finish.

Take care. Marko
 
ACP230:

Good price. I got mine at Firearms Unlimited in Bridgeville, PA (near Pittsburgh) for $239, but it came with two mags. They had several left, last time I checked. Most other places in the area were selling them for $30 or $40 more.

Take care. Marko
 
Thanks from me too, Marko. My previous BLO finishes were lame.

Now I want to try one with your technique. I think it would take me longer than 15 minutes, though. :D
 
STILL waiting for reply from EAA as to whether these nifty little rifles will ever be available with LH action as an option.

I'd buy one in a NY minute (am Certifiable .22 RF Junkie) if I could get it.

Can anyone else fill me in about LH availability? I've wanted to get my hands on one of these actions since I first saw them being used in Olympic biathlon TV coverage back in the '80s.
 
It's a nitche gun. Chances are very slim they will bother making a LH version. For a LH target 22 you're looking at the big bucks I'm afraid.

To answer whoever asked about the scope base it has a weaver rail built in.
 
QBG
What do you think of the sights that come with the CM-2 ?
Decent repeatability ?
Stay put when left alone ?

Also....is it single shot or repeater....can't find mention in the specs.

Sam
 
C.R.Sam-

The sights are very similiar to the basic Anschutz sight set #6834; the rear comes with three or four differing size aperture discs and the front comes with about eight different inserts. Positive clicks on the rear and locks solidly onto the integral receiver rail. Havn't had them move on me unexpectedly yet.

And yes it is a single shot. Trigger is adjustable for weight and overtravel. I removed the action from the stock to inspect the trigger mechanism and it's typical Russian design; relatively crude machining but it works just fine. The barrel is a thing of beauty though. Spiral hammer forged with a deeply crowned muzzle very similiar to the pictures of the biathlon basics above. The receiver is secured to the stock by two screws and is a solid chunk of steel with a blind flat bottom. Oddly the bottom of the receiver is machined like a rasp file; I'm assuming to 'grab' onto the wood of the stock. Stock is heavy beech I think. Accessory rail on the bottom front and adjustable for LOP/cant and cheek piece.

Only real complaint is the bolt handle knob; it's plastic and a little small. I intend to replace it with a machined aluminum one from my company's machine shop.
 
Black Snowman: I know that the factory has made a LH version of this action, as I've seen them being used by competitors in the Olympics, Pan Am Games, etc. Very few compared to RH, true, but they HAVE made them.

I know that it's a "niche" item, but .22 RF sporting rifles are a fair sized niche and there are a bunch of folks (like myself) who love to try all of the different action types and variants that they can afford to get their hands on.

The only straight-pull rimfire that I have right now is a Brno ZOM 451. I've been trying to find an old Browning T-bolt LH in G/VG condition that I could afford for several years now. I kind've accumulate "novel" .22 rifles, and have had a lot of fun with all of the weird assortment that I've cabbaged onto so far. Especially those surplus .22 "trainers" that've been coming in from Europe in the C&R market in the last few years.

IMHO, EAA is missing a better opportunity than they seem to think here. There are more than enough of us southpaws that'd jump on a slick, accurate .22 BA in the under $300 retail price range to make it worth their while.
 
To answer some questions:

Stock color - the earlier ones that my local shop got in were a lighter color. All the ones I'm seeing now are dark. Mine does have a pretty heavy poly finish on it of some sort. I probably will sand and oil it.

Marko - you have good taste in guns. That looks like the Super Brno 2500 - I have one of those too. Sits right next to my Biathlon. 28" barrel. It is a tossup which I like better. I shoot the CZ with its excellent iron sights.

I paid $239 for my Biathlon Basic at a local shop, so see what they can do before going to CDNN.

The sight base is a Weaver type attached to the action with two screws. It is not machined into the top. Nice solid mount, but it is short (lengthwise) so you may have trouble mounting some scopes.

I also want to know more about the full target CM-2. Can you give us an idea what price range we are looking at?
 
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