I am looking at trying out some precision rimfire events this season and am wondering about peoples opinions on the ruger precision 22 bolt action rifles.Is this a decent rifle to get started or is there something else you would recommend. I dont want to spend an excessive amount as i have bought too many handguns already this year.The scope i have to use is a bushnell elite tactical 3-12x44. Thanks in advance for any help.
Precision rimfire rifle choice
- Thread starter Erkel1
- Start date
The Ruger Precision 22 is pretty darn accurate. CCI Standard Velocity will shoot .5 MOA with 10 shot groups. Have some targets with 10 shot dime sized holes at 100 yards.
There are other guns that will do it. But the RPR is a pretty good choice if you like it. Shoots better than I thought it would.
There are other guns that will do it. But the RPR is a pretty good choice if you like it. Shoots better than I thought it would.
No doubt. That sounds optimistic at best for even the best rimfire guns.
OP a budget would help. I'll probably get a savage mark II heavy barrel if I get into rimfire PRS this year.
I am thinking at most 7-800. I already own a savage markii heavy barrel, would the ruger be little to no upgrade from that?
For your budget how a used Annie? I just checked out Rimfire Central regarding the Ruger, and while there is a lot of positive talk about it, it seems that you need to do some "tweaking" to get the most out of it. An Anschutz is born a target rifle, if that makes sense. Whichever way you decide to go, you will of course have to test a bunch of ammo brands and types to find the best ammo for your gun. I had a Savage Mk 2 BSEV and after testing 16 types of ammo, I sold it. Couldn't hold 1 inch at 50 yds no matter what. Now have a BSA International MK 2 that shoots like a dream.
Im not here to brag or impress anyone. And I don't work for Ruger. The gun is capable of that accuracy. Not sure why you would doubt a rimfire can accomplish that either.
Tried many rounds through it. Hot rounds are not so good. 1070 FPS CCI Standard Velocity is dime sized in no wind.
I dunno if it would be better, but it would be too expensive for the production division or whatever its called with a $500 price limit I think? I'm not super knowledgeable about the rules I haven't really looked into this too much yet.
Because most 22lr ammo isn't capable of that kind of accuracy, regardless of how accurate the gun is.
I think alot of people get poor accuracy at 100 from using super sonic ammo. And obviously bulk 22 options suck. Anything over 1100 FPS or so goes through the trans sonic barrier before 100 yards. Light 40 grain 22 lr projectiles get smacked in the ass from their own sonic wake and sends them all over the place by the time they get to 100. CCI Standard @ 1070 fps are stupid accurate out of the RPR. I have some Green Tag CCI to try as well. But I don't see how it will out shoot the standards.
Velocitor are ok and good for hunting. Stingers are terrible accuracy at distance for the reasons mentioned above.
Velocitor are ok and good for hunting. Stingers are terrible accuracy at distance for the reasons mentioned above.
I don't mean to beat up on you, but are you sure you mean 0.5 MOA ten shot groups? That means very close to 0.25" at 50 yards and 0.5" at 100. In fact since groups at 100 yards would be more than twice the size of groups at 50, those 50 yard results must be truly extraordinary, significantly smaller than 0.25". Those kinds of results with a Ruger Precision Rimfire are quete literally incredible. Five shot 0.5 inch groups at 100 yards is very challenging, ten shot 0.5" inch groups very much harder still. If your rifle is producing those results with CCI SV or any ammo for that matter you have something very unique.
PS: What kind of scope are you using?
Yeah I know what you mean man. I never expected it when I bought it either. If some one a few months ago said what I said today I would feel the same as you. I can't blame your skepticism. I watched YouTube videos of accuracy tests and it was ok at best. So it kind of blew me away when I hit the right load.
I do stress you need NO WIND to do it. It just keeps plinking the same damn spot. The gun can do it if the day is right.
I just looked at some groups at 100 from a windy day and it holds right about 1.5 MOA. Worst group is 2 MOA. And that's an honest representation of its accuracy. I don't shoot 3 or 5 shot occasional perfect groups on any gun and say that's it's accuracy. I want to see 10. Over and over and over no matter the gun.
The scope on it is a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16. Going to try it out in a PRS rimfire match next weekend...
I do stress you need NO WIND to do it. It just keeps plinking the same damn spot. The gun can do it if the day is right.
I just looked at some groups at 100 from a windy day and it holds right about 1.5 MOA. Worst group is 2 MOA. And that's an honest representation of its accuracy. I don't shoot 3 or 5 shot occasional perfect groups on any gun and say that's it's accuracy. I want to see 10. Over and over and over no matter the gun.
The scope on it is a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16. Going to try it out in a PRS rimfire match next weekend...
The rifles may be capable, but between MV variation and wind, it's pretty tough to keep groups under 1/2" at 100 yards. It can be done, but it's definitely not an "all day" proposition. CCI isn't exactly known for match grade ammo, but I suppose sometimes they happen to produce a good lot. I've seen it said that CCI designed SV to shoot average 2 inch groups at 100 yards.
This "trans-sonic barrier" throwing bullets wild theory gets parroted so much, absent any data to back it up. Most HV ammo goes wild because it sucks. Inconsistent primer and powder charges, cartridge defects like uneven seating depths, canted bullets, varying brass dimensions, etc, are what send those bullets astray.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
One things I've noticed over the years, is group size is dependent one the number of people present on the firing line and whether or not they are shot at a sanctioned event.
As in, when testing ammo a certain rifle will easily shoot 1/2" groups @ 100M... but that same rifle at a benchrest match, with flags and all, would then be MOA accurate...
Had a 52E, and with a Weaver T36 shooting RWS R50. "The" best 5 shot groups I was able to get at 100y was 0.75''... then again, I'm not much of a benchrest shooter.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Take both rifles and a good selection of subsonic match ammo. I lean towards SK and Lapua... others prefer Eley, RWS, GM, etc.
Shoot it and you will have your answer very quickly. Count EVERY shot... do 3X5rds with each ammo and see what happens.
ammo varies a lot from brand, type and lot#. If it doesn't consistently group, move on. My initial test would be 5rds into 1" AVERAGE with a max group of 1.5". I don't want to use ammo that will open up to 2" or larger... especially if that group is mostly vertical.
When I find any type that will group 1" or better CONSISTENTLY, I will do a base to ogive sort and see if that will stabilise even further.
NOTE: ammo that shoots in someone elses rifle may suck in yours and vice versa... wish we had a better idea of why there is such wild differences. there is so don't worry about it... whatever your barrel shoots, that is what you use... and it might be dirt cheap... or ubber expensive.
I am assuming you want to shoot rimfire matches like CRPS where distances get reach out a very long ways???? Be brutal with your screening of both ammo AND rifle.... and optics.
1" or better at 100yds.... 3" or better at 200yds... 8" or better at 300yds. If you, rifle and ammo can get into that level of consistent accuracy, just learn how to dope the wind, learn positional shooting and you are going to do very well.
BTW, I am running a Savage MkII in Open and do not feel handicapped in anyway. I have bedded the rifle properly in a Boyds stock but otherwise, factory stock and started life as a FV for under $300.
If the barrel on your RPR doesn't quite work and you want to stay with the platform, replacement match barrels are possible.
Good luck...
Jerry
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I did it 3 times in a row about 9am with absolutely no wind. Maybe it was luck who knows. Suprised me as well.
All I'm really trying to say is the RPR is pretty darn good and not a bad choice. Savage mark II above is obviously amazing as well. Only heard and seen great things. Definitely other options like I said on my 1st post.
All I'm really trying to say is the RPR is pretty darn good and not a bad choice. Savage mark II above is obviously amazing as well. Only heard and seen great things. Definitely other options like I said on my 1st post.
