Which bolt action .22 LR rifle would you recommend for accuracy from a bench or in the field?

[Pat Riot]

I have a question about the Savage Mk 2 BTV for those of you that have one or are familiar with them.
See Pic:


I can’t find a photo that shows the top of the receiver. They sure look like Picatinny rail sections but I would like confirmation.

Thank you

 

[ms6852]

Only real accurate rifles I have are not listed. They are the Remington 513T and the 52C Winchester. I have a CZ but it is a 22 magnum.

 

[LoonWulf]

I would recommend the 457V or similar.

Ive had a 93r17 and suffered the ejection issues savages are known for, as well as striker drag. It also wasnt fantastically accurate tho it was a solid good.

My 457 American shot fantastic in .17, but only so-so in .22.
This prompted swapping for a lothar Walter barrel which brought it on par with the factory .17 barrel.

What makes me recommend the 457 is besides accuracy everything else was just plain NICE. Ive heard better reports from other folks so im willing to chalk my experience up as a fluke, or simply not finding the right ammo.


I also have a Ruger Precision Rimfire in .17 that shoots fantastically. Its not really my cup of tea, but if you like Chassis style guns, i think they are worth a look.

 

[CraigC]

I have a question about the Savage Mk 2 BTV for those of you that have one or are familiar with them.
See Pic:
View attachment 1206678

I can’t find a photo that shows the top of the receiver. They sure look like Picatinny rail sections but I would like confirmation.

Thank you

They're Weaver style bases. You can get a one piece picatinny rail, with or without 20MOA of cant. Think mine are EGW.

 

[12Bravo20]

The Savage rifles come with Weaver style bases. You have two choices when it comes to a one piece picatinny rail; EGW or DIP.

EGW offers 0 MOA or 20 MOA bases: https://egwguns.com/scope-mounts-rings/standard-rifle-scope-mounts/savage/?model=637

DIP Inc offers 0 MOA or 25 MOA bases: https://www.diproductsinc.com/Products.aspx?CAT=9431

I have the DIP 0 MOA and 25 MOA bases on my Savage MkII rifles. I went with DIP because they had the left hand version in stock at the time. DIP and EGW bases are both good to go.

 

[Hookeye]

Im not going past 100 yds w mine so got a 0 moa EGW base and Keystone rings.

 

[Pat Riot]

They're Weaver style bases. You can get a one piece picatinny rail, with or without 20MOA of cant. Think mine are EGW.

The Savage rifles come with Weaver style bases. You have two choices when it comes to a one piece picatinny rail; EGW or DIP.

EGW offers 0 MOA or 20 MOA bases: https://egwguns.com/scope-mounts-rings/standard-rifle-scope-mounts/savage/?model=637

DIP Inc offers 0 MOA or 25 MOA bases: https://www.diproductsinc.com/Products.aspx?CAT=9431

I have the DIP 0 MOA and 25 MOA bases on my Savage MkII rifles. I went with DIP because they had the left hand version in stock at the time. DIP and EGW bases are both good to go.

Thank you both.
I am not familiar with the use of 20 or 25 MOA rails and actually wondered why one would need one. Then I remembered the gent that got me hooked on this idea in the first place and how he was shooting 200 & 300 yard plates with his CZ.

After doing a quick search I found a trajectory calculator that was already loaded with CCI Std Velocity data and saw the “rainbow” trajectory graph.

ShootersCalculator.com | Ballistic Trajectory Calculator

Calculates the ballistic trajectory of a bullet fired from a rifle, handgun or other firearm. Produces a ballistic trajectory chart and table that shows the drop, velocity, kinetic energy, windage, and trajectory of a bullet.

shooterscalculator.com

Using a 20MOA rail do you Zero at 100yds? This graph shows a 50 yard Zero.

General Question to CZ 457 users:
And, even more importantly, How does one get a 20 or 25 MOA rail on a CZ 457, doesn’t the CZ have an 11mm dovetail for mounting a scope?
Is there any inclination on the CZ dovetail?

 

[Walkalong]

Everyone I know zeros at 50 yards.

EGW 20 MOA 457 rail

I might have bought the 20 MOA EGW, but there's a wait for the left handed one, so I got the ambidextrous15 MOA Warne.

 

[jmorris]

I am not familiar with the use of 20 or 25 MOA rails and actually wondered why one would need one.

If you have rainbow trajectories it allows you to dial in elevation vs holding over as ranges extend, like this.

458 socom 300yd sub

www.youtube.com

That .22 in #37 is zeroed at 100 because thats where I was playing last. .22's drop like that subsonic 458 load above at 300 yards, ~13 feet of drop. The rail aims the scope "up" so the crosshairs can be usable as the aim point again.

 

[Danw791]

This gun surprised me… going to recommend a Ruger 10/22 LVT

RUG 10/22 LVT 22LR RFL B WD TL

Ruger RUG 10/22 LVT 22LR RFL B WD TL for sale from United Patriot Supply.

www.unitedpatriotsupply.com

I bought one and it shoots just as good as my CZ 452. Not sure if I just got a good one but it shoots inch groups at 100 yards with Standard velocity CCI. So does my CZ 452. I did break your rules and dropped a volquartsen hammer in, but I worked on the 452’s trigger as well.

 

[CraigC]

Using a 20MOA rail do you Zero at 100yds? This graph shows a 50 yard Zero.

The canted rails allow enough adjustment for you to get the crosshairs on target at extended ranges but aren't so much that you can't get a zero under 100yds. Back in the old days, we just had to hold over and that gets to be difficult at 300yds with plain ole duplex reticles.

 

[chicharrones]

I truly appreciate all the information I am getting here. Since I really don’t know a lot about accurate Rimfires this is all good info.
I have shot military grade rifles, shot tactical handgun matches, Bullseye matches, Cowboy Action Shooting, hunting, general target shooting and plinking. This is my first foray into rimfire accuracy, besides some plinking rifles and some revolvers.

I just received my Viridian Serac 6-24x50 scope from FedEx.
HOLY COW what a surprise! That thing is a big scope.
Makes my 3-9x33 Leupold Compact look tiny.
Well, now I have my scope.
View attachment 1206596
I took it outside and had a look around with it. Really clear and crisp, visually at 6x. I dialed it up to max and was looking at nail heads on a fence 120 yards away. And I really like that reticle.
I will buy rings once a buy a gun. I am planning to go with Warne rings.

My first thought was the CZ American leaning towards field use over range use. But with that huge 30mm tube scope it makes me think range use more than field use and swings my vote to the CZ Varmint.

 

[Pat Riot]

My first thought was the CZ American leaning towards field use over range use. But with that huge 30mm tube scope it makes me think range use more than field use and swings my vote to the CZ Varmint.

Truly, I am thinking the same thing. I saw a Marlin 25N for sale yesterday. I was thinking how that would look with that Viridian scope on it. It just wouldn’t look right. Especially with a Magpul Bipod on it too.

 

[I6turbo]

Pat Riot, what is your mix of field vs. range use? And what will field use entail?

I ask because the heavy varmint rifles are generally more accurate, easier to shoot accurately from a decent rest, and more satisfying to shoot when going for accuracy and tight groups. I say this based upon my mix of about 8 varmint/target rifles and a bunch of sporter/lighter rifles.

But the more seriously sized-and-weighted varmint/target rifles aren't too much fun to carry a lot in the field, or to shoot off hand, so you have to factor that in if you are going to be carrying it.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Define "accuracy".

People who shoot competition have a different standard than people who shoot varmints/small game.

For me, any .22 LR capable of putting a bullet through the head of a squirrel at any reasonable hunting distance (call it 50 feet for argument's sake) is plenty accurate enough for me. Call that a quarter sized target.

In my opinion, any bolt action .22 rifle OUGHT to be able of doing this.

Now, whether the SHOOTER can do this may be another matter!



I have two Marlin bolt action .22 rifles, on in .22 WMR, the other in .22 LR. My wife has a Savage Mark II bolt action. All are quite capable of doing this.

I rather suspect all the ones you listed are fully capable of doing this, at least.

 

[jmorris]

Define "accuracy".

People who shoot competition have a different standard than people who shoot varmints/small game.

For me, any .22 LR capable of putting a bullet through the head of a squirrel at any reasonable hunting distance (call it 50 feet for argument's sake) is plenty accurate enough for me. Call that a quarter sized target.

In my opinion, any bolt action .22 rifle OUGHT to be able of doing this.

I agree, if it can't do better than an inch at 16 yards, it's not much of a rifle. I don't set out to make very long shots especially on game animals but have made a few on stuff that just needed to be gone.

The sweet spot for a .22, on a pig, is small enough, I have only made 1 attempt at any distance but a standard velocity 40 grain solid worked on this one.




DRT

 

[Hookeye]

IMHO....
Five shots at .5-.75" at 50 yards is a tolerable hunting rig
Sub .5 I'd call good.

My Savage and CZ will do sub .5
I'm content with that performance.

The Savage is still an ugly rifle LOL (am looking at it right now).
The long action with the fwd pic rail....ugh.
Did put a DIP trigger guard on it to dump the angled tacticool factory one.
I should paint the stock next week.
Can't hurt it

 

[Pat Riot]

Pat Riot, what is your mix of field vs. range use? And what will field use entail?

I ask because the heavy varmint rifles are generally more accurate, easier to shoot accurately from a decent rest, and more satisfying to shoot when going for accuracy and tight groups. I say this based upon my mix of about 8 varmint/target rifles and a bunch of sporter/lighter rifles.

But the more seriously sized-and-weighted varmint/target rifles aren't too much fun to carry a lot in the field, or to shoot off hand, so you have to factor that in if you are going to be carrying it.

I have decided that it will be a range gun. I have other guns for the field.

Define "accuracy".

For what I am looking for, <.5” at 50 yards I am guessing wouldn’t be too much to as for in an accurate .22 Long Rifle. Preferably less would be better.

 

[Pat Riot]

I went to my FGS (favorite gun store) today and had a look around at what they had in stock. I also checked some other stores online. No one around here seems to have any CZ 457s in stock. Sportsman’s can get them but if I bought today it wouldn’t arrive until May 7th. I don’t like buying guns I cannot put my hands on.
Anyway, here’s what they have from the list in the poll and one odd one.

Savage MK 2 BSEV 22lr $599

Savage Mk 2 22lr Minimalist $349

This is the odd one.
Hammerli Force B1 22lr $559 all black. M-Lok forend, picatinny rail after reading about it I have zero interest in it.

https://www.savagearms.com/DAM/assets/web/800/SA_25740_MarkII_BSEV_22LR_BoltActionRifle_Profile_R.png

https://www.savagearms.com/DAM/assets/web/800/MARK%20II%20BNS-SR%20BROWN%20RIGHT%20PROFILE%200556.png

I like the looks of the Mk 2 Minimalist, but I like the claimed accuracy the BSEV on many different websites.

Anyone own a Mk 2 BSEV? How’s the accuracy?

 

[Pat Riot]

After an excellent experience I had with Henry’s Customer Service I decided to use reports of warranty and customer service interaction to weigh my options. The poll is heavily tilted toward the CZ Varmint. 18 votes. The CZ American and the Savage Mk 2 are both in second place with 8 votes each.
So, I went online looking for reviews of CZ and Savage customer service. Everything I found was very good reviews and experiences with both companies. I guess using customer service reviews to weigh options on CZ and Savage is moot.

 

[Howland937]

Depending on how far into WV you are, there's a shop in South Central OH that typically has a handful of CZ's in stock. I entertained the idea of picking up a 457 Varmint they had a few months back, but didn't. At the time they were about $75 cheaper than any I found online. Zip code is 43160 if you wanna see how far it actually is.

 

[Pat Riot]

Depending on how far into WV you are, there's a shop in South Central OH that typically has a handful of CZ's in stock. I entertained the idea of picking up a 457 Varmint they had a few months back, but didn't. At the time they were about $75 cheaper than any I found online. Zip code is 43160 if you wanna see how far it actually is.

Thank you.
That town is 240 miles away from here.
I am thinking about going over to Sportsman’s Warehouse and talk to them about the CZ 457 Varmint. They say they can have one in stock on May 7th but I don’t trust their website. It’s never very accurate regarding reality.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I've have a CZ 455 American. I bought it about the time they discontinued it. I routinely shoot it at 220 yds. with a 4x scope. At that range a lot depends on wind conditions and your scope. As my scope doesn't have the magnification nor a mil dot reticle to shoot at that range, it's just a guess on elevation and windage adjustment. But the fact is 220 is doable with the right scope and rifle. At 50 yds. where you need to fine tune your ammo, it's fantastic. I honestly can't see any rifle on the market, for the price, that will match a 455. I'm not current on the 457 but if they shoot as well as a 455 you don't need to look at anything else. It's a slam dunk.

 

[d2wing]

Anschutz!

May as well start out with something really good.

DM

Not on the list but an excellent point.

 

[2ndtimer]

“Anschutz!
May as well start out with something really good.”

And just a bit over the $700 OP’s budget…