long range rimfire

[colt.45]

Recently on other gun forums a few people have tested their accurate rimfire rifles as far out as 500 yards with suprising success. The idea has sparked my interest quite a bit. I'm half way saved up to a 7.62 LTR rig that i'd planned to try my hand at long range shooting with but it's going slow and the money is burning a hole in my pocket. Rather than opt for subatandard equipment, i think a .22 trainer rifle might be the ticket to curb my enthusiasm. As well; If i can get to ranging, reading wind, and hitting well out to something like 300 with a .22 then i'd be more than ready when i finally do get that LTR. Anyway, the idea of stretching commonly percieved capabilities of the lowly .22 is intriguing none the less and is worth a good discussion. so, whatever you have to show, tell, or ask about long range rimfire- lets hear it.

 

[benzy2]

I shoot mine to 200 yards, not as long as the other guys but certainly far enough to have the wind play a big role. Its a ton of fun and really cheap. Not the noise or recoil of the bigger boys but I can play all day long. I shoot at bowling pins(both full and just the tops) as well as shotgun hulls and clay pigeons. Like I said its a ton of fun and dirt cheap.

 

[Howard Roark]

Look into Mini Palma matches. High power rifle shooters use these matches for wind reading and postion practice.

 

[Squeaky Duck]

A friend of mine has a really old Henry .22 single shot with a 34" barrel. Guess we'll have to see how far we can shoot with it now that you guys brought this up.

 

[JohnBT]

"Recently on other gun forums a few people have tested their accurate rimfire rifles as far out as 500 yards"

Link please.

A really good .22 LR might shoot pie plate groups at 200 yards, but 500?

www.lassensharpshooters.com/LongDistanceShootingFactors.htm

"I later learned that with a 50-yard zero, a .22 LR slug dropped 128 inches at 300 yards. At 500 yards, the drop was more than 40 feet!"


I have some accurate rimfires, but 500 yards? I'm willing to try it if someone will tell me the secret, but I don't think there is one. No, I don't have any $3000 benchrest guns, but I don't think having one would help.

As a kid 40 years ago I shot large tin cans, the gallon size, at 150 or so yards, but 500 yards is a long, long way to lob a little bullet. Heck, 150 is a long way.

John

 

[colt.45]

i had a hard time believing it too, but you have to keep in mind that these are very accurate rifles using good ammunition in front of great shooters. check it out-

150 yards-
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1136501#Post1136501

just some talk-
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1123034#Post1123034

all the way out to 400-
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1107854#Post1107854

some interesting data-
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1107939#Post1107939

more-
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1066212#Post1066212

some more-
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=924528#Post924528

There's more but you can find it. I tried to find an interesting post where a guy shot at a turkey carcass wrapped in a 10 layers of denim(i think) out to 300 yards in some blazing 30+ mph arizona winds and actually made hits. and they fully penetrated! crazy stuff.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Just a question

Wouldn't you need to have a muzzle velocity under the speed of sound to obtain long range accuracy with a 22?

Most of the time when supersonic bullets dip below the speed of sound they get destabilized

 

[PurdueRifleman2008]

A really good .22 LR might shoot pie plate groups at 200 yards

My unmodified CZ-452 LUX will do about 4" (much smaller than your average 8-12" pie plate) at 200yds using a sling with no wind. From a 50yd Zero, it was 82 clicks up (1/4" clicks @ 100yds) to a 200yd zero. I was using some Federal Gold Medal to achieve this. I think they clock in around 1024fps.

Still, 500 is one hell of a stretch for .22LR. Heck, I had trouble getting my AR zeroed at 500 the first time I tried it. If I still had my Anschutz, I might try it out!

 

[benzy2]

Most decent .22lr ammo is subsonic. Match ammo is all below the sound barrier. Its only the cheap stuff that breaks it.

 

[JohnBT]

Those groups are about what I'd expect - 3, 4, 5, 6 inches or so and not centered on the bull most of the time. IOW, minute of pie plate or so. I am surprised anyone was lucky enough to get American Eagle ammo to shoot that accurately, but rimfire guns are strange beasts when it comes to ammo, they like what they like.

As far as inexpensive ammo goes, I've had the best luck with the original Wolf Match Target and Extra; back before they changed the powder and upped the price above $1.50 to $2 a box. I don't know what it is about it, luck maybe, but it shoots well in my Cooper, old Remingtons and Finnfire.

Unfortunately, I'm down to exactly one unopened box of the good old Federal match ammo. I don't know why I'm saving it, but I am. Just call me sentimental.

John

 

[lvcat2004]

I shoot my 17HMR at 200 yards and hit those spinning metal target all day. I don't even bother at 100 yards because it's so easy and it makes a big dent on those metal targets desinged for 22LR. I believe 300 is not that hard either.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I consider 100 yards to be good