High-end .22LR rifles

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bhk said:
Really, really enjoying this thread. I posted my pride and joy custom-stocked Anschutz 1710 in post #79. I have been playing with better-than-average bolt guns for decades, but for economic reasons have usually one possessed only one to three at a time. During the past few decades I have worked my way through a Dakota .22, three Kimbers (all lemons, but I keep trying!), a Winchester 52B, two Sakos Finnfires (still have one), an early Cooper, a Remington 541S, a Springfield 1922 M2 (still have), a CZ 452 (new to me), and maybe a couple others I don't recall right now. Won't ever get rid of the Anschutz!

I am fortunate to have my own backyard 50-yard range with a solid bench, so all these guns have been shot a lot by me. I shoot the heavier sporters for groups from the bench and the light ones off-hand at my metal swingers. I also hunt on my property with them. I have purposely limited these guns to those that have sporter configurations and avoided those stocked solely for bench or formal target shooting, mostly because I know the sky can be the limit when playing with these specialty target guns and I just have a strong bias for 'sporters.' BTW, my "go to" ammos are SK Rifle Match and Lapua Center-X.

My most accurate rifle right now is this Sako Finnfire with a Lilja heavy stainless barrel and a 2-ounce Jewell trigger. It is not pretty, but it easily outshoots the Anschutz 1710:

View attachment 773771

I also greatly enjoy this Springfield. It has an NRA stock that someone (probably 60 or 70 years ago) gently and tastefully did some reshaping of the buttstock. The comb has been fluted, the grip has probably been reworked a little, and a Neider-style buttplate installed. The work is all subtle and creates the lines of a well-done classic sporter. The value, I am sure, has been hurt, but is sure is pretty. Using both front and rear apertures, along with a properly sized target, it shoots amazing 50-yard groups.

View attachment 773772

After giving up on Kimbers for my 'light' sporter, I just purchased a CZ 452 "One of a Thousand." It is a significantly upgraded final edition of the now discontinued 452. The stock has wrap around checkering, oil finished wood, a real ebony forend and an ebony grip cap. The metal portions have a very highly polished blue finish. It has some engraving on the receiver (similar to my old Remington 541S} that I don't really care for, but overall is is fairly good looking. I am going to do some trigger work on it today, and see how she shoots when we get some warmer weather this weekend. This rifle wouldn't really quality as a high-grade classic, but it might be fun for a while. Who knows, it could be a keeper.

View attachment 773773
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Nice rifles all the way around! Like you, I'll never get rid of my Anschutz rifles!
 
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Good Ol' Boy said:
Some really nice rifles guys. I don't have anything to add to compete, but was wondering what's up with all these higher powered scopes? How far are you guys shooting with 22? Seems unnecessary.
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High magnification helps, too, when making shots like this. Here is a cheap, readily available target and a near perfect hit. A .22LR case shot from 50 yards away.
SANY1294.JPG
 
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Not a high-end rifle either, just my first and last attempt at fitting and finishing a "90% complete" stock. From now on, I'll leave that job to people who know what they're doing.
SANY1130.JPG
 
bhk said:
CZ 455? How does it shoot?
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Norinco JW-15. A cheap Chinese copy of the Brno #1 and #2. Inexpensive enough that I could live with myself if I screwed up restocking it. I got a nice, 90% complete walnut stock for it from Silver Hill Gunstocks, fitted the stock, then finished it with multiple coats of Tru-Oil. It shoots quite well for such a cheap little gun, but I learned all about my limits as a DIY gun plumber. I'll let the folks that know how do my stock work from now on.
 
ColtPythonElite said:
Nice 37....It looks like it has barrel tuners like a 40x?
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Yes, you are right and I am impressed you seen that. The rifle even had the tuner box with it, "National Shooter's Supply" and no date but it has to be old as there is no zip code with the address. Plus I don't think much shooting equipment is made in Washington, DC any more! :)
 
johnnydollar said:
Saleen322, that's a nice collection of .22s. What, though, is a "Benny"?
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Kind of a long story, sorry, but I will keep it as short as I can. Maybe 15 years ago I was visiting a local gun shop that always had interesting stuff. The shop got 3 target rifles from an estate sale, 2 Walther target rifles and what I thought from a distance was a 37 Remington. I looked the rifle over and it had the words "Benny Action" on the receiver. It also had an Eric Johnson 5-star barrel. I bought all 3 and put them in the gun safe and it was some years later that I took it apart to clean and it had the name "EB Sunderhaus" engraved into it along with a date 3/3/48. Some very knowledgeable and helpful folks provided the following information; First of all, congrats on having a Benny! Those are neat pieces of history that should still shoot well. At least one, possibly two were used to win championships at Camp Perry. I am not certain how many actions he made, but Benny Sunderhaus made a neat action. I am thinking in the 50 to 80ish range, tried to research an old post somewhere and could not find it. Later another person provided, “Benny” Sunderhaus was a respected gunsmith from the Akron, Ohio area circa 1930-1958. He produced an action which bears a remarkable resemblance to the Remington Model 37, although his first actions predate the introduction of the Remington by several years. I have (an) era document in which Roy Dunlap states, “His action was considered to have been the model for the Remington Model 37.” He also produced triggers and stock furniture. Many of his rifles were fitted with Johnston barrels, Eric’s records indicate at least 50. The highest serial number I have seen is 79. I have attached a few photos that we (were) sent to me of a Benny Action.

The best thing about it is how it shoots. It is still super accurate but I don't shoot it very often because I am afraid of breaking something and not being able to replace it. I mounted a scope on the target blocks, shot a couple of rounds to get it solidly on paper, it then put the next 5 shots into a 0.106" group @ 50 yards!! :)
38674776595_cfcfed166b_o.jpg
 
Saleen322, thanks for the info. I've heard one other reference to a "Benny", maybe on RFC, but didn't know anything about them. It is a good looking and good shooting rifle.
 
johnnydollar said:
... I've heard one other reference to a "Benny", maybe on RFC, but didn't know anything about them. It is a good looking and good shooting rifle.
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Thank you. It could have been one of my old posts when I was looking for information. I know I posted on RFC and a number of smallbore shooters sites. It was a great guy who knew a lot of history about Camp Perry who responded and got me on track to find information about Benny Sunderhaus and his rifles. The guys who follow the history of Eric Johnson and his barrels were also so helpful. The shooting community has terrific people.
 
Offfhand said:
The cute little Chipmunk .22 doesn't qualify as a High End rifle but it deserves honorable mention as the Barbie Doll of .22's with it's matching accessories like this dedicated case.View attachment 774046
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Offfhand said:
It is a factory stock, but has much more color and contrast that any other Chipmunk I've seen. Which is reason I bought it, as I can't resist pretty wood.
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That is gorgeous wood, the piece must have been too small for the $3,000 rifle they were going to put it on.
 
I bought a chipmunk rifle new for my 6 year old son 25 years ago. My father had been chief engineer for 40 years of gun design, he pounded on table tops and yelled at 150 engineers and draftsmen. My father yelled at me for buying a gun designed by amateurs with a firing pin galling in the bolt body. My wife, a software engineering manager and no stranger to bossing people around, grabbed the Chipmunk and took it back to the store.
My son, now a software engineer at Google, owns no guns, but one of his sons may legally inherit my guns .. if I can live another 17 years, like this 1934 Winchester 52 with G.Titherington barrel, Wright-Allen trigger, and Weitek Vaver rear sight. winchester model 52 12-8-2015.jpg
 
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