Intro Rimfire precision rifle 22lr query
- Thread starter springfield armoury
- Start date
Not familiar with the Savage but know Tikka and CZ have a lot of aftermarket support. Both T1x and 457 are good platforms and for $460 for a synthetic CZ457 from Tenda that is a smoking deal especially if one plans to dump the tupperware stock and go full metal or a composite stock.
I knew what I wanted to do with my base CZ 457 MTR and I went with it. No regrets.
Just curious, if you knew the cz would look like that why not buy a cheaper model. Was it for the match chamber while you wait? I personally like the mtr stock so it will not change and have had such good luck with barrels I can’t see me doing much to it other than the bolt handle and extended mag release that happens immediatelyNot familiar with the Savage but know Tikka and CZ have a lot of aftermarket support. Both T1x and 457 are good platforms and for $460 for a synthetic CZ457 from Tenda that is a smoking deal especially if one plans to dump the tupperware stock and go full metal or a composite stock.
I knew what I wanted to do with my base CZ 457 MTR and I went with it. No regrets.
Tenda had a 30% off sale back then... The MTR with match chamber was a no brainer over the other models they had in stock. Could have went with a 455 for cheaper but the trigger system on the 457 was also a deciding factor. I ended up upgrading faster than I had expected. If I could do it again with the same upgrades and this $460 Synthetic model was available at the time I would have gone that route with out a doubt.
Stay in production class to start. If you want to go open don’t buy the pieces one by one and end up with a home customFrankenstein gun. Most CZ/Tikka/Ruger open shooters say the biggest boost is an aftermarket barrel. That will cost close to what the rifle does. So, if I’m not happy with my MkII and Diamondback Tactical in production, I will probably buy an Anschutz in a chassis.
Email Rick and see if you can volunteer at one of the matches, they ALWAYS need help spotting, timing, and keeping score! 90% or more of the guys will let you check out there gear in the down time, look through scopes etc.
I shoot an older Savage Mark 2 FV-SR with a Viper PST. It loves Lapua Center-X out to 330...
If you have facebook click on these albums I made, I volunteer and shot photography for Rick at the EESA events the last few years, and the last one at 'battle hill'.
https://www.facebook.com/tyler.deer.7/media_set?set=a.10157572513857947&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/tyler.deer.7/media_set?set=a.10156768058377947&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/tyler.deer.7/media_set?set=a.10156307821937947&type=3
I shoot an older Savage Mark 2 FV-SR with a Viper PST. It loves Lapua Center-X out to 330...
If you have facebook click on these albums I made, I volunteer and shot photography for Rick at the EESA events the last few years, and the last one at 'battle hill'.
https://www.facebook.com/tyler.deer.7/media_set?set=a.10157572513857947&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/tyler.deer.7/media_set?set=a.10156768058377947&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/tyler.deer.7/media_set?set=a.10156307821937947&type=3
One advantage of the CZ platform is how easy it is to change the barrel as it's held in with two 3mm Allen screws, allowing you to change it yourself if you're reasonably handy and have access to a torque wrench. The Tikka on the other hand has its barrel glued in which makes it very hard to change. Check out 8541 Tactical's channel on YouTube for more on the Tikka barrel change.
This alone has me waiting for the CZ Synthetic in a 16" barrel as it's a great way to get in that action and have a decent upgrade path as you get better.
Personal preference. In states that allow suppressors going 16" is the choice to keep the OAL down. Not much difference in velocity, some test show peak velocity is between 16" and 18". If it's a 1 in 16 twist barrel than the bullet get one full rotation before leaving the barrel, hence the 16.x" actual barrel length. Its been said that a longer barrel helps with bullet sablization.
In the end... personal preference.
The problem with the short barrel criteria is they totally miss the boat on balance.
PRS shooting is all about how the rifle balances on the obstacle. Put a short barrel on it and the center of gravity is in the butt and now you are steering the rifle with your unstable body.
What moves more... You or the obstacle?
You dont need max velocity anyway. You can always select a bullet that goes the speed you want it to go given the barrel length you have.
Bottom line is a longer heavier barrel has more static inertia, steers better, wobbles less and provides a better balance point.
And then there's the center fire training aspect of the argument.... Why use a 22 that does not weigh and handle like our center fire especially in the case of Voodoo who has gone to great lengths to provide a product that replicates center fire?
I run a CZ452 in an Aeron stock with two slabs of cold rolled steel screwed to the fore end to get the balance right, (because the barrel is not long and heavy enough) but I would much prefer a longer heavier barrel like this old BRNO target rifle. A buddy of mine happens to have one and I would trade him in a second.
PRS shooting is all about how the rifle balances on the obstacle. Put a short barrel on it and the center of gravity is in the butt and now you are steering the rifle with your unstable body.
What moves more... You or the obstacle?
You dont need max velocity anyway. You can always select a bullet that goes the speed you want it to go given the barrel length you have.
Bottom line is a longer heavier barrel has more static inertia, steers better, wobbles less and provides a better balance point.
And then there's the center fire training aspect of the argument.... Why use a 22 that does not weigh and handle like our center fire especially in the case of Voodoo who has gone to great lengths to provide a product that replicates center fire?
I run a CZ452 in an Aeron stock with two slabs of cold rolled steel screwed to the fore end to get the balance right, (because the barrel is not long and heavy enough) but I would much prefer a longer heavier barrel like this old BRNO target rifle. A buddy of mine happens to have one and I would trade him in a second.
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I disagree, a shorter barrel is easier to move around, shoot off-hand, more rigid and therefore usually as or more accurate than longer barrels. Of course this is a 22 so if its a heavy barrel it's already rigid enough. Then there's the ELR guys running 30 something inch barrels but they are really trying to take advantage of a speed gain that doesn't really exist with 22LR.
All of the velocity and length data I have read and my own experience leads me to believe that using standard velocity ammo you don't see any appreciable decrease in velocity until you go below 12". Have several 12.5" barrels and they shoot around 1065 fps (using Labradar) with CCI Standard (published 1070 fps)
Of course there is the issue of balance and that may depend on the stock/chassis, scope, butt stock etc. You can always add weight but its a lot harder to remove it.
My 2c anyways
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If any of you own a Vudoo you will know what im talking about. MTU contour barrel in a vudoo puts more than enough weight out front and the gun balances perfectly where it should. In my JAE with optics mine weighed over 17.5lbs no bipod. In a McMillan A5 same set up weighed 15.5 and with my new MDT hybrid its tipping the scale at 14.15. My personnel opinion is not with long barrels in a rimfire PRS gun unless thats all you have. Dont see many top tier rimfire rifle builders making long barrel prs guns.
