Rimfire accuracy...bolt vs. semi

[joe4702]

I just resurrected a 25 year old Remington 582 tube-fed .22 bolt action. Not much to look at, but it shoots great. The trigger is slightly heavy, but has zero creep or overtravel and breaks like a glass rod.

With bulk pack ammo, it shoots 100 yard groups about 1/3 the size of my 10/22 w/ heavy target barrel.

The orange circle is 2" diameter. Range was 100 yards. The two shots outside the targdot were called fliers. Pretty good for an essentially "free" rifle with a $60 scope and cheapo ammo.

With the rising price of ammo, I'm quickly getting (re)interested in .22 shooting.

 

[YodaVader]

The two shots outside the targdot were called fliers.

Yep, that is what I would have called them too. Nice rifle.

 

[birdbustr]

I have a Ruger 10/22T (factory stainless target Barrel) that I am pleased with. Given, I have put probably $200 in internal parts to get rid of the cycling issues when it was new, I have kept the factory bull barrel because it gives me about 1" groups at 100 yards with American Eagle HP rounds. At 50yards I can usually keep all rounds touching. I don't know if the accuracy is a fluke or not. Although all is well now, I think if I had to do it over I would have gone a different route than the 10/22.

I have an old Marlin that was my first .22, and inside of 50 yards I was always happy with my groups with it and it cycled great until it got about 7000-8000 rounds though it. I'm thinking of getting some new internal parts to resurrect it from my parents closet. It's been at least 10 years since I shot it, but I have wiped it down with oil every couple of years.

 

[Slamfire]

My question is this...can I get a 10/22 with aftermarket barrel to shoot as accurate (or more accurately) than a bull barrel bolt action Savage? Those are the two guns I'm considering right now

Yes. In fact one shooting bud, who has won the Wimbleton at Perry, bought the Ruger Target 10/22. he claims it shoots as well as an Anschutz. And he should know.

I have a Volquartsen barrel on a 10/22. Top notch accuracy.

Basically the stock 10/22 has a sloppy chamber and a rotten trigger pull. You can buy very expensive aftermarket trigger assemblies that improve the trigger to a match trigger. You can install a match barrel with a tight chamber. A tight chamber makes one heck of a difference.

And then there is ammo. If you want the ultimate in accuracy you are going to have to shoot match grade ammo. That also makes a huge difference, but only after you get a match barrel with a match chamber.

I have commerical cheap stuff at 50 yards through a match barrel, got 1" to 1.25" ten shot groups, then shot a dime sized group with Eley Tennex.

Yes, ammo makes a big difference too.

 

[KHawk]

I own 3 rimfire bolt guns: Remington 514, Charles Daly supreme 22lr and a Savage MarkII BV 22lr with accutrigger. My grandson and I have shot all in local club competition over the last 5 years. We have both done the best with the Savage. It is a stock gun with only minor tinkering with the standard trigger adjustments. We both shoot .350 to .550 groups with Federal Gold Medal ammo.

 

[Jaenak]

Bolt actions are more accurate than most semi-autos because it comes down to the tight fit. If there's any wiggle room what so ever for the case to move around in the chamber when the powder is burning, the accuracy of the bullet will suffer. A bolt action clamps down nice and tight and DOES NOT move. That's the whole design concept and the entire reason for a bolt action these days. The parts of a semi-auto aren't fitted as tight as a bolt action and move around more than a bolt action. Therefore a case in a semi-auto has more wiggle room and will throw off the flight of the bullet because the case will shift when hit by chamber pressure.

 

[GunTech]

After building many highly customized 10/22 I have completely switched over to other guns. If it must be a bolt, I like the CZ-452s, but they do need some trigger work. Fortunately, the trigger can be radically improved with a $16 kit. The CZs generally have decent wood, and they have machines steel receivers and pretty good barrels.

One rimfire that rarely gets mentions in the RAA Biathlon Basic. This rifle is obscenely accurate, has one of the best triggers ever put on a rim fire, and the toggle action is almost as fast as a semi-auto - well, not really. But it is darn fast.

 

[Pilot]

Several years ago I modified a Ruger 10/22 spending about $200 in aftermarket parts. Basically all that was left of the original rifle was the bolt, and receiver. I used Volquartsen and Power Custom parts, bull barrel, new stock, trigger group, etc. I did a few more that way for friends of mine. They are a blast to shoot and I get dime groups at 50 yards.

 

[YodaVader]

I like the CZ-452s, but they do need some trigger work. Fortunately, the trigger can be radically improved with a $16 kit. The CZs generally have decent wood, and they have machines steel receivers and pretty good barrels.

For a "budget" bolt action I would choose a CZ bolt over the Savage - in fact I just picked up a 452 American yesterday. The third CZ I have owned. I have shot CZs with the Brooks trigger kit and you are correct , the trigger improvement is dramatic.

 

[JohnBT]

I must be getting older faster than I thought. I had to look up the diameter of a dime - again.

Diameter: 17.91 mm (0.705 in)

I've never owned a 10/22, but they've been popular from the looks of the afermarket parts I see for sale.

"Volquartsen guarantees their barrels of 3/8" 50 yd accuracy with match ammo and proper bedding."

The first time I took my Sako Finnfire Hunter out it shot 5-shot groups at 50 yards that measured .375". It still likes that old lot of Wolf Match Target.

 

[jmr40]

I agree with most of the above posts, but some of you guys must have had some pretty rotten luck with 10-22's. Just got back from the range where my CZ 452 turned in a 5 shot group of 3/8" at 50 yards with CCI mini mags. My 10-22 shot 3/4" with the same ammo. The CZ has a 2-7X scope and the Ruger has a 1.5-4X scope and other than a Hogue stock is as it came from the factory. I am convinced that with a simple trigger job and a more powerful scope my 10-22 could shrink it's groups to 1/2". Will never be as good as the CZ, but not bad in my book.