EAA Biathlon .22lr rifle...

[bhart89]

Has anyone fired or handled the EAA Biathlon .22 rifle?
It’s got a straight pull bolt that is very quick to operate. A recent episode of “Tactical to Practical†(History Channel) showed how fast the straight pull bolt actions were to fire. I’m wondering if Short/Long/and Long Rifle ammo will cycle with these guns. Can anyone comment?
Thanks.

 

[DnPRK]

I haven't fired mine yet but it seems to be a well executed rifle. Action cycling is super fast. It has a weaver rail on the receiver and hammer-forged barrel. Trigger isn't bad for a Russian rifle (comparing to AK and SKS). Stock appears to be birch or a similar wood. Spare magazines can be found at CDNN.

 

[bhart89]

Thanks for the reply. Any comment on it's ability to fire shorts or longs?

How much did you pay? Where can I get one?

Thanks,

 

[Harry Tuttle]

i found mine on Davidson's Gallery of guns
and had it shipped to a local FFL

http://www.galleryofguns.com/gunloc...ype+like+'%Rifle%'+ORDER+BY+manuf,+unk2,+unk3

heres a good thread
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40802

 

[bhart89]

Thanks for the links!

 

[Don Buckbee]

Izhmash Basic Biathlon Rifle

I bought a Biathlon Basic a year ago. They are a very accurate rifle. But, I've only shot Long Rifle ammo through it, so can't cmt on shorts or longs. The action is the Fortner straight pull design. It takes some getting used to, but I like it. It is very fast in the reloading department. I've found that Wolf Match Target, sorted by weight and rim thickness, shoots best in my rifle. I can get 1/4" groups at 50 yards which isn't bad. The barrel is superb. Inside it is as smooth as glass. I did a trigger job on mine and got the pull down to 12 oz. My Basic has the non-adjustable trigger on it as it is an early model. I understand that the new configuration Basics have an adjustable trigger and a better looking stock. The stock on mine would be well served with the addition of a Realtree camoufalge pattern coat of paint. It's ugly!! But, the mechanics are superb. And, the bedding system is equally great. There are grooves cut into the bottom of the round receiver, up front. This section is glass bedded into the stock so the grouves nest in the fiberglass that they mate to. Very sanitary idea!!! It works..
Don

 

[bhart89]

What capacity magazines come with this rifle? How many came with the gun? I can't seem to find this info anywhere...

I'm debating between this and a CZ Deluxe or American .22

Any comment on choosing between the two?

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend of mine has a Biathalon Basic with pretty much the same results as Don. He says the straight pull action is technically interesting and fast in operation but the fine trigger pull and excellent accuracy are what makes it a keeper for him.
He DID paint his ugly birch stock.

I don't understand the recent interest in .22 short and long, though. They are so low production these days as to cost more than long rifle, unlike when I was a kid. And nowhere near as accurate.

If you want the various CB and similar primer only loads in short or long brass, I guess you are just in single shot mode.

 

[bhart89]

What capacity magazines come with this rifle? How many came with the gun? I can't seem to find this info anywhere...

I'm debating between this and a CZ Deluxe or American .22

Any comment on choosing between the two?

 

[Harry Tuttle]

it comes with a cleaning rod, brushes, 2, 5 round magazines and a tool kit

all you need is a scope, ammo and an old t-shirt

 

[Master Blaster]

I have one I bought two years ago, It shoots amazingly small groups with inexpensive federal high velocity ammo. Lower velocity target ammo is not as accurate in mine. I have fired 5 shot groups at 50 yards with it that measured .25" using federall bulk high velocity, and federal lightning ammo. Match ammo like eley tennex, PMC scoremaster, and federal gold medal target produce larger groups.

The trigger on mine is 15 oz and I have never tried to make any adjustment.

A couple of drawbacks are that the built in weaver mounts don't allow for enough eye relief so you have to crane your neck back towards the but end of the stock to get your eye far enough away to get a good cheek weld on the stock. This could be solved by using weaver style extended eye relief rings. I just use a good red dot on mine for now since I use it to shoot at sillouhettes. I did have a simmons proair 4-12x adjustible Objective scope on it, thats now on my custom 10/22.

The gun is easy to take down to clean by removing the bolt retaining pin, the probelm is that the scope will block you from removing the pin. Also if you take the bolt out be sure not to release the trigger cause its a bitch to recock the hammer using a wooden dowell (dont ask how I know) since you cant do it any other way due to the hammer being inside the receiver.

I have found that after a couple of thousand rounds, the bolt and other parts stayed very clean. I have never taken mine out of the stock but someday I guess I will. CDNN has spare magazines, for the best price but you can also get them from EAA.

 

[WhiteKnight]

the built in weaver mounts don't allow for enough eye relief so you have to crane your neck back towards the but end of the stock to get your eye far enough away to get a good cheek weld on the stock. This could be solved by using weaver style extended eye relief rings.

Where do you buy these rings?

 

[Harry Tuttle]

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/538245