Rimfire accuracy at the range...new shooter.

[Sheprador1973]

Hi all. Very happy to receive my new Cz 455 varmint during the week and after a bit of basic prep got it to the range today. Ive just got a few queries over accuracy, technique and equipment please (PS not sure if this is the right sub forum but it can always be moved I guess).

Equipment:

CZ455 Varmint .22lr with 20" barrel.
Hawke Sidewinder 8.5-25x42 scope
Harris copy bipod
SM11 mod (not used for any groups in the pics)
Rear sock
Mixed ammo.

So I started at 50 yards just to try out various ammo brands and get a rough zero (though that obviously changed). Was very happy after a short while. The Winchester subs didn't work nor the CCI subs...shotgun pattern plate groups. Best groups were with the Eley subs HP and SK Standard Plus. Was happy with best groups and shooting felt comfortable.

SK

Eley


Not record breaking but for my first proper go with my own rifle I was quite pleased. The SK Standard + came out marginally top with far fewer flyers than the Eley and CCI. Squares on page are 1/2" and measurements in red pen in 0.000" btw.

Then I moved the target out to 100 yards. Found that getting the correct eye relief became an issue (now shooting at 25x mag). It was also surprisingly difficult keeping the reticle steady. A mix of vibration (from footfall and an ill placed generator) and wobble which I put down to heartbeat. Also, the image through the Hawke became far less clear...maybe I should have dropped the mag slightly? Shooting now far less 'comfortable'...

SK (with 10x Norma somewhere...)

SK


As you can see opened up badly. Please ignore the 2x targets that say Norma...someone gave me ten of these to try but I think I labelled the target incorrectly. Best groups i believe were the SK again. So... pleased with a couple of groups at less than 1". However the average was around 1.3".

Any ideas looking at the groups? Could be anything I guess. It is a brand new rifle now with only about 200 rounds down it. Bearing in mind the issues I had moving to 100 I'm slightly doubting the bipod (because of the movement) but also possibly the scope because of the less than crisp sight picture. ANY advice would be useful to me so please feel free to politely speak your mind. Like I say I have limited experience with rimfire & centrefires (way under 500 shots) and I understand that issues could be varied and unable to diagnose with the info given. Or maybe Im just being unrealistic with my expectations so early on?

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts

 

[Muir]

Shoot larger targets on less magnification. Fire at least 10 round of the new ammo before judging the grouping. Shoot more. Don't clean it.~Muir

 

[takbok]

Looks good to me.

 

[Cottis]

Most scopes, even the very expensive ones will become more eyebox fussy at the highest mags. The Hawke I doubt will be amazing at the highest mag. Wind it down to 20 for example and you will almost certainly see an improvement without losing the ability to see easily at 100yds.

Accuracy wise, what you achieved with the ammo that your rifle seems to like looks to be fine to me. Plenty good enough to achieve what most people want from a hunting rimfire. That is to kill rabbits out to about 70yds.

100yd groups. It is a CZ shooting hunting grade ammo. It aint gonna be great generally speaking unless you are fortunate enough to find a batch of cheap ammo that offers velocity consistency and QC more commonly seen in more expensive match grade ammo. My Anschutz for example will hold about an inch @ 100yds on a calm day with R50 ammo but you pay for that performance.

Overall, I would say if you want to shoot accurately at 100yds, you need to find top grade match ammo that your rifle likes. If you don't want to shoot targets at 100yds, then zero your rifle (mine is 54yds) at a range that offers you the best MPBR and enjoy it for what it is, which is a good hunting rifle.

Pic below is an example of what my rifle does at 54yds. RWS subs are what I tend to use for hunting but even they offer the odd flier. Velocities are inconsistent and quality just with the naked eye when comparing the two offerings from the same maker are easy to see.

 

[reloader54]

Don't get too disheartened if not every bullet goes through the same hole, try reducing the scope mag, x25 will give a real good view of the target but unless you're a seasoned br shooter with the rifle to match, it will also magnify every small error. try to at least half the magnification and maybe try a sandbag rather than your bipod which you suspect isn't up to scratch. good luck.

 

[bowji john]

You are not going to get groups much better than that with standard ammo

 

[VSS]

As has been said, wind down the magnification. About 8x is all you need. Anything more will just exacerbate the wobbles.

Also, take note of whatever Muir has to say on the subject. What he don't know about the 22 ain't worth knowing!
Reason I first joined this site was because, like you, I had just got my first rifle (22lr, brno #2), and couldn't shoot for toffee. Advice from Muir soon had me right on target.

 

[Sheprador1973]

Shoot larger targets on less magnification. Fire at least 10 round of the new ammo before judging the grouping. Shoot more. Don't clean it.~Muir

Received and understood thanks mate

 

[Sheprador1973]

Most scopes, even the very expensive ones will become more eyebox fussy at the highest mags. The Hawke I doubt will be amazing at the highest mag. Wind it down to 20 for example and you will almost certainly see an improvement without losing the ability to see easily at 100yds.

Accuracy wise, what you achieved with the ammo that your rifle seems to like looks to be fine to me. Plenty good enough to achieve what most people want from a hunting rimfire. That is to kill rabbits out to about 70yds.

100yd groups. It is a CZ shooting hunting grade ammo. It aint gonna be great generally speaking unless you are fortunate enough to find a batch of cheap ammo that offers velocity consistency and QC more commonly seen in more expensive match grade ammo. My Anschutz for example will hold about an inch @ 100yds on a calm day with R50 ammo but you pay for that performance.

Overall, I would say if you want to shoot accurately at 100yds, you need to find top grade match ammo that your rifle likes. If you don't want to shoot targets at 100yds, then zero your rifle (mine is 54yds) at a range that offers you the best MPBR and enjoy it for what it is, which is a good hunting rifle.

Pic below is an example of what my rifle does at 54yds. RWS subs are what I tend to use for hunting but even they offer the odd flier. Velocities are inconsistent and quality just with the naked eye when comparing the two offerings from the same maker are easy to see.

Very good points well made Cottis. As usual, I should have been clearer. Id like to be as accurate as possible with the 22 (as would most) and most of its use will be at the range with a few bunnies and squirrels in between. I might pick up a brick or two of the match grade stuff just to see if I feel its worth it (I can buy 50x SK Standard Pluf for £4.50...so its very cheap). I'm not into proper target shooting per se, but shooting accurately is more fun than not I reckon! Thank you

 

[Sheprador1973]

Don't get too disheartened if not every bullet goes through the same hole, try reducing the scope mag, x25 will give a real good view of the target but unless you're a seasoned br shooter with the rifle to match, it will also magnify every small error. try to at least half the magnification and maybe try a sandbag rather than your bipod which you suspect isn't up to scratch. good luck.

Annoyed with myself as i knew this but didn't try it...maybe next weekend. And I will try shooting of bags too to compare results. Thank you RL54

 

[Sheprador1973]

As has been said, wind down the magnification. About 8x is all you need. Anything more will just exacerbate the wobbles.

Also, take note of whatever Muir has to say on the subject. What he don't know about the 22 ain't worth knowing!
Reason I first joined this site was because, like you, I had just got my first rifle (22lr, brno #2), and couldn't shoot for toffee. Advice from Muir soon had me right on target.

He certainly knows his stuff from what Ive read already!

 

[Klenchblaize]

I'm assuming your high mag' scope has parralex adjustment?

All the best

K

 

[Woodlander]

I’d be happy with anything under 2 inches at 100 yds.

 

[Sheprador1973]

I'm assuming your high mag' scope has parralex adjustment?

All the best

K

it does mate...side focus

 

[Sheprador1973]

I’d be happy with anything under 2 inches at 100 yds.

Maybe im expecting too much of myself, a sporting 22 and standard ammo? Thanks mate

 

[shortshot]

22subsonics not going to group any sense beyond 60 metres. Better get .17 if you want accuracy at 100 plus...

 

[VSS]

22subsonics not going to group any sense beyond 60 metres. Better get .17 if you want accuracy at 100 plus...

 

[3.5mag]

Mmmm.... news to me. My 452 will hold sub inch at 100yds with eley subs and take bunnies out to 150 providing the wind is kind.
To reiterate Muir - DO not clean, if i do my CZ takes at LEAST 200/250 rounds to tighten up again, something you can see happening before your eyes as you go through each brick! I recommend you run more through yours to run in / lead up before worrying.
Mike

 

[bowji john]

I went out this morning and shot these

CZ 452
Winchester 42 grain
100m bench



Then shot these from same range same load but off sticks



There was no wind which of course helps no end

My groups are no better than those shown by the originator of this thread

As 3.5 mag indicates - there is no reason why you can't get accuracy out to 150 (though my personal limit for plugging a bunny is 130 m with this rifle)

BUT

You must range your target, you must know your come ups and you must be adept at adjusting for wind

 

[1066]

My 452 will hold sub inch at 100yds with eley subs and take bunnies out to 150 providing the wind is kind.

Mike

It didn't happen without photos - The original poster is very happy with his new rifle, and so he should be, he's achieving good groups with new and untested kit and working though a process of seeing what ammunition works best for him/his rifle.

Holding an inch at a hundred yards, with sub-sonic hollow point ammunition, implies that you can achieve this consecutively, say three 5 shot groups in a row on the same sheet of paper not discounting any fliers or pulled shots.

Serious shooters with £2-3k match rifles, batch selected Tenex ammunition at £23 per hundred and maybe a barrel tuner may achieve this in favourable conditions - on the other hand you may just be lucky and have a good 452.