What set-up for cheap 100yd accuracy?

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I want to get an accurate scoped rifle set-up for paper punching, and the longest ranges within a couple of hours of me are only 100 yds. I am thinking a Savage in 17hmr is what I need, but I am open to suggestions. I have no idea what scope to get.

Since I am limited to 100 yds., I don’t see any reason to get a .308, 6.5 x ?? or even a .223. On the flip side 100 yds is a little much for a .22. I plan on going to the range and shooting about 50 slow well aimed shots with this rifle – not dumping mags, so the price difference compared to .22 is not significant, but it is for centerfire. Savage seems to have the best reputation for cheap accuracy.

As for scopes, I have no idea. I love iron sights, and have not used a scoped rifle in 10 years since I pulled the scope of my bb gun and tossed it in the trash in disgust. My goal for this rifle is to acquaint myself with using a scope, and maintaining its zero. I was thinking of getting a Bushnell 3200 or Vortex with the heaviest rings I can find. However, I am not sure if this is overkill for a 100 yd. rifle.

What say you THR brain trust? Does anyone have a similar set-up?

 

[Rail Driver]

I chase golf balls up and down the berm all day long at 100 yds with my marlin bolt action .22 with iron sights. It cost me $250 with the Simmons 3-9x32 scope, but I don't use the scope as much as I do the irons. I don't have a range any longer than 100 yds nearby either. FWIW the Simmons scope is really nice for the price.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Don't under estimate .22lr at 100 yards. I shoot an informal bench match each month with my Savage .22 BTVLSS @ 100 ids. Typical groups are less than 1" w/decent ammo.

Here's my set up. Weaver T-36 scope and a recent target, the flyers in the 6 and 9 rings were from getting the scope dialed in. I'm into this setup for ~$750, with over 1/2 of that being the scope.

 

[benzy2]

I honestly think you will gain more shooting a .22lr at 100 yards rather than anything else. Sure, you probably won't go out and shoot 1/2MOA like a decent .223 could do but you will quickly see what wind does to a bullet. On a calm day, 1MOA or better isn't unheard of, but toss even a tiny bit of wind in, and things get a lot more fun. Personally, I find it gets a little boring shooting a fairly short distance with something that bucks the wind (at least at that distance) fairly well. That, and, you can get 50 rounds for $1.50 that will shoot 1-2MOA in most current made rifles. And you can say you are going to just shoot 50 rounds, but even with a 5 round mag, 10 mags go fairly quick. Even a bulk pack goes fairly quick. If I had to have one cheap rifle, to shoot cheaply out to 100 yards, for nothing more than practice, it would be .22lr every time. Just too cheap to shoot.

 

[Abel]

I agree. The 22 is a fun gun at 100 yards. Get a nice 22LR and fire away.

 

[desidog]

I have coffee cans out to 150 in my field, and the .22lr can hit them no problem. I use the thick vertical posts on my duplex reticle as BDC, with the top point, where the crosshair begins as 45yds, the actual X as 100, and the top of the lower post as 135 - as long as you know the trajectory of the ammo there's no problem. Just hold a little higher or lower. You could also get a 20MOA base or a mil-dot scope, since the dots help with drop compensation.

Since a 38gr bullet is more affected by the wind, i like to think it is like simulating a 1000yd shot with a big ole expensive centerfire. Course, around here there's no 1000yd opportunities, and the neighbors don't like excessive noise on the weekends.

 

[Sky]

I agree with all the above. Good thing about a scope once mounted you can also take it off and mount on another rifle.

I personally would get a scope where I can make out the shots on target thereby doing away with a spotting scope and excess walking to check target. It depends on type of target used but it seems to work for me.

 

[huntershooter]

My buddy got a NEF "handi rifle" for his daughter in .243.
It is a break open single shot. I wasn't too impressed with the rifle when handling it.
When we shot it from the bench I was shocked at the accuracy; it would shoot 1/2" groups with factory Winchester 120 gr. (Ballistc Tips).

Hard to argue with that.

 

[CraigC]

The .22LR is a lot of fun to play with at 100yds. You won't be shooting any quarter to half inch groups but everything is relative. Consider yourself doing very well to shoot MOA or better. Forget the cheap bulk ammo. It's good for blasting but too inconsistent for accuracy at that range. Wolf MT is typically very good but still affordable.

 

[WNC Seabee]

The .22LR is a lot of fun to play with at 100yds. You won't be shooting any quarter to half inch groups but everything is relative. Consider yourself doing very well to shoot MOA or better. Forget the cheap bulk ammo. It's good for blasting but too inconsistent for accuracy at that range. Wolf MT is typically very good but still affordable.

See my target in Post #3, that group is ~0.5" at 100 yards. You can get Sub-MOA groups @ 100 yards with a .22LR. It takes patience, practice and good ammo but it can be done. And that target isn't a fluke.

It WAS a calm day, and wind does play havoc on a 40gr bullet at that range. But like another poster mentioned, the wind drift at 100 yards with a .22 is like wind drift at very long range with a center fire. Except at 100 yards you don't have the benefit of a decent mirage to judge the wind.

 

[quietman]

I was shooting 4 inch metal square at 100 yards with a 22. Crosswind was high enough the windsock was sticking straight out. Once I had my windage figured, hit 12 out of 14 from prone position even with the wind- using peep sights on a stock Marlin 60 and Federal bulk.

So yeah, you can shoot 100 yds with a 22, even w/o a scope. Use a scope and higher quality ammo (like craigc recommended) and 100 yds is a more than doable with a 22.

Plus commercial reactive targets for 22's are easy to find. And home grown ones are even easier to obtain (soda cans, golf balls, etc)

 

[Jim Watson]

The .17 HMR has a good reputation for accuracy and will be fine for the solitary vice described in the OP.

HOWEVER, if you got interested in organized target shooting as done by NRA and CMP, all of that is built around the .22 lr. Just going out alone and bashing targets does not hold my interest, I like the competition and camaraderie of a match.

 

[CraigC]

See my target in Post #3

I didn't say it was impossible. My point is that you have to adjust your expectations. MOA is considered "good" for your average sporting rifle with a hunting scope but is stellar for a .22LR and usually requires a match grade barrel, match ammo and excellent optics.

And I just about guarantee that your rifle won't shoot a half inch very consistently. Five consecutive five shot groups into ¾" or better would be exemplary.

 

[Turn Key]

I'm going to have to vote 10/22 on the rifle for you bro. The Ruger platform is the most user friendly and extremely accurate for the $$.

There are tons of aftermarket parts available for the 10/22, thus you can modify them until your heart is content. I have seen out of the box 10/22's that shoot just fine for everyday plinking. But you can really dial them in with a few modifications.

I have 4 various versions of the 10/22 from a Magnum Research 17/22 to a few stock receivers that I've dolled up really nice. The most accurate .22LR that I own is a stock 10/22 receiver with a 20" fluted Green Mountain barrel. On this one I use a Center Point scope that I found searching on amazon.com and several aftermarket "Power Custom" receiver parts. Also I went with a Clark Custom trigger that breaks like glass.

Using standard China-Mart Federal 550 Bulk Pack ammo, I can spend hours at the range busting really tiny bits of orange clay pigeons at 100 yards with no trouble.

A lot of fun to run at a minimal price.

Good Shooting bro!

TK

 

[mbogo]

While I shoot .22LR and .17 HMR at 100yds. often, I would select a Savage 10FP in .223 for paper-punching.

For about $500, you will have a platform that is more accurate and shoots flatter than any rimfire (short of a full-blown Anschutz target rifle), hits harder (coyotes are DRT when hit with a 55gr. expanding bullet, even out to 300yds.), with ammunition that is widely available (and inexpensive).

I have a 10FLP (left-hand version) and have taken over 1000 prairie dogs with it, as well as a coyote at 300yds. (see above). My Remington 700VS never sees the field anymore.

mbogo

 

[Al Thompson]

One of my buddies has the Savage with a Bushnell 3200 scope. Wolf ammo gives him repeatable 1 inch groups at 100y.