Difference between a good rifle and a great one...

[berettaprofessor]

Is a spread about 9mm across, I guess.

Some may remember the thread I did looking at shooting a CZ452, 10/22, and a Savage Mark II head to head (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=673535)

Well, that got me to thinking, we always talk about our Marlin 60's etc, how would a stock Marlin 795 stack up against those?

So I shot the CZ452 (which has had some trigger work done) against my $99 Marlin 795 yesterday at 30 yards, prone, no sandbags. The CZ452 had the same 3-9 scope as before, the Marlin a cheapo TruGlo 4X. Ammo; Federal target load and Remington subsonic.

Results: (average of five, 5 shot groups) CZ= 9.1 mm, Marlin 795= 18.7 mm

That CZ is getting pretty nice, as you can see from the pic below. But the Marlin 795, if you take into account that it had a worse scope, and more wind yesterday, and it was shooting at 30 yards instead of 50 yards as I did before, probably could beat my Savage Mark II any day of the week.

 

[aka108]

I shoot a CZ 453 at 50 yds with Clearidge 9X glass. Targets are those target pasters that are about 1/2 diameter. The CZ is generally capable of keeping 3 shot groups inside the confines of the paster but using Eley Sport ammo there are also a fair amount of fliers.I know it would be more consistent with 20 dollar a box ammo but I'm not about to spend that sort of money for informal shooting. Also have a Anschutz that does not like inexpensive ammo so it will be going down the road pretty soon since I'm not going to gourmet feed it.

 

[MrBorland]

It's not surprising the CZ outshot the Marlin, but I am surprised the Savage didn't shoot better in your linked head-to-head comparison.

Also have a Anschutz that does not like inexpensive ammo so it will be going down the road pretty soon since I'm not going to gourmet feed it.

ok, my curiosity's up. What model?

 

[Sav .250]

Bottom line. All things being equal......the size of the spread of the grouping.

 

[Picher]

There's probably something seriously awry with the Savage. It could be as simple as a loose stock screw, or barrel bouncing off the forend, but it could also be the scope or mounts. Savages normally shoot much better than that.

The other thing is that rimfire rifles may or may not shoot certain types of ammo well, but your results are not typical of an ammo problem.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Screws aren't loose, nor is the scope. And I tried 5 different 22LR offerings, in all three rifles. The Savage sucked, sorry for all the Savage fanboys out there but that's an off the shelf rifle with the Accutrigger adjusted light. Someone else want to try their other 22LR's head to head against their own Savages? Real data instead of opinion?

I'm sorry if that comes across a little bit snarky, but I shot the rifles head-to-head originally because I get real tired of "CZ's are the best".
"no, Savages are the best," "no, my model 39 Winchester is the best" threads. Heck, if I was biased, it was because I thought the CZ would not stand up to the hype, not the Savage. Nobody ever seems to compare them head to head.

Notice that I also took care to note the conditions and the yardage of the tests. I'm also tired of posts where somebody's rifle shot a "one-hole" group but they don't bother to mention the yardage. Groups are meanlingless without the yardage, hold, and sighting info.

 

[pseudonymity]

I do not have any targets to post, but I do own a 10/22, 795 and Mk2 BV. All are stock except for lightened triggers and the Savage is the most accurate with just about any ammo. That being said, the 795 is probably the most accurate firearms I own dollar for dollar. For about $100 out the door on sale, outfitted with a flimsy plastic stock and a table top trigger job the rifle is surprisingly accurate.

I have a half dozen rimfire rifles, but that Marlin gets used more than any other. Light, cheap, the stock does not get slippery in hot or cold weather, accuracy is good enough that you know when you miss it is not the rifle. The best part is that if I drop it or bump it against the trunk lid of the car I do not have to worry so much - I can always go find another one.

 

[mberoose]

Yep, I used to have both a 795 and a 10/22. I was always able to get better groups with the Marlin. I also preferred its' synthetic stock to the 10/22's. That said, it was more finicky with ammo, and the 10 round capacity drove me nuts, which led me to the 10/22. But I'm definitely going to get a Marlin 60 eventually.