Not too bad... but not good enough!

N

neilselden

Regular
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Location
Ottawa
Hi,

Shooting CCI SV @ 50 yards on a bench, supported with a shooting bag. The rifle is a Marlin 989 M2 with a 4x Bushnell rimfire scope.

The rifle, right side in the photo

3 shot group

5 shot group

10 shot group


I'm pretty happy with the groups, even though I think I can improve. I'm wondering if I can do the 50 yard challenge if I were to use better ammo. I may pick up some SK Rifle Match to see what kind of a difference it can make.

Cheers,
Neil
 
Hi,
I expect to keep using CCI SV for the vast majority of shooting. It's accurate enough for my general needs and I can get it for about $0.10/round - meaning I can can shoot for a couple of hours and not worry about my budget.

SK Rifle match though, is about double the cost. But after reading here about 22lr ammunition (by the way, thanks to Grauhanen for providing a lot of information), I want to see how some different match grade ammunition would improve (or not) my shooting. And just because of local availability, I'm checking out SK first.


Cheers,
Neil
 
Some very decent 50 yard groups for a semi with a 4X scope-good shooting! Not sure if you shoot bolt guns, but if you can pull that off with a Marlin semi=it might be time! :) I like CCI SV and always have, but even through my best rifle there are fliers I can only explain-away as inconsistency with the ammo itself. That's what I tell myself anyway. SK Rifle Match would be the only ammo I use if it were a little less expensive, but I don't think it's considered "match-grade" ammo. There are others here who would know more than me on that, but I have some experience with Lapua Center X, RWS R50-a couple others too, but it's been a long time. (ammo in the $30/50 price range)

Anyhow, always a good idea to try a variety of ammo types but SK Rifle Match really is great stuff. About $12-12.99/50 now. Right or wrong, I can't help but think it's shot-to-shot consistency you gamble a with on ammo $5-$6/50 range. It's what I probably shoot most, but I'm more interested in reactive targets in recent years.

How's the trigger on the gun? I've had 3 Marlin semis over the years (795s) and the triggers were heavy/gritty. I put MCARBO spring kits in the last 2, not expensive and huge improvement.

neilselden said:
Hi,
I expect to keep using CCI SV for the vast majority of shooting. It's accurate enough for my general needs and I can get it for about $0.10/round - meaning I can can shoot for a couple of hours and not worry about my budget.

SK Rifle match though, is about double the cost. But after reading here about 22lr ammunition (by the way, thanks to Grauhanen for providing a lot of information), I want to see how some different match grade ammunition would improve (or not) my shooting. And just because of local availability, I'm checking out SK first.



Cheers,
Neil
Click to expand...
 
22LRGuy,
Thanks.

I had a Marlin XT-22 for a while, which I sold 2 years ago on EE. It was pretty accurate in my view - I would shoot 1" @ 50 yards, with CCI SV, though I never brought it to the range after the first few times - it was a great little rifle, and I learned I am too lazy for a bolt action at the range ;-)

If I ever decide to hunt something larger than rabbits though, I'll for sure want a bolt action.

I have this bug in my head to get as consistent as I can with the gear I already have. As of now, that's a pair of 989 M2s. One scoped, one with aperture sights.

The trigger is good in my opinion - based on my very limited experience. It's the DIP assembly which has a crisper feel with a lot less uptake before breaking. I haven't measured how heavy it is, and while it feels better than stock. it sure as heck is not light.

Cheers,
Neil

.22LRGUY said:
Some very decent 50 yard groups for a semi with a 4X scope-good shooting! Not sure if you shoot bolt guns, but if you can pull that off with a Marlin semi=it might be time! :) I like CCI SV and always have, but even through my best rifle there are fliers I can only explain-away as inconsistency with the ammo itself. That's what I tell myself anyway. SK Rifle Match would be the only ammo I use if it were a little less expensive, but I don't think it's considered "match-grade" ammo. There are others here who would know more than me on that, but I have some experience with Lapua Center X, RWS R50-a couple others too, but it's been a long time. (ammo in the $30/50 price range)

Anyhow, always a good idea to try a variety of ammo types but SK Rifle Match really is great stuff. About $12-12.99/50 now. Right or wrong, I can't help but think it's shot-to-shot consistency you gamble a with on ammo $5-$6/50 range. It's what I probably shoot most, but I'm more interested in reactive targets in recent years.

How's the trigger on the gun? I've had 3 Marlin semis over the years (795s) and the triggers were heavy/gritty. I put MCARBO spring kits in the last 2, not expensive and huge improvement.
Click to expand...
 
neilselden said:
Stuckon,

Thanks, but it's the M2. At the risk of being alienated from a segment of CGN, I'll have to ask what kind of maniac devised tubular magazines?

Possibly the same lunatic that devised lever rifles? ;-P

Cheers,
Neil
Click to expand...

^lol

Yeah, took me at least 4-5 tube-fed 22s to realize they just weren't for me. Rules-out some classics like the 9422 (which I once owned) but such is life.
 
Very nice shooting.
I had a marlin 795 that would shoot under 1” @ 50. Sold it to the owner of the ranch I hunt on.
It’s a beat to hell ranchers gopher gun now. But still shoots amazing.

I’ve had great results in a semi with S&B Canadian match. It’s only a hair more then the CCI SV
 
22LRGuy,
I always loved the look and feel of a lever gun when I'm not shooting it. So a long time ago, I bought a BL-22 - it was a sharp looking little rifle. Then I realized that I don't actually like shooting lever guns! I wish I had some logical reason, but it just came down to a personal preference. If I was a collector, I'd for sure have a couple lever guns in the mix.

And tube mags. I once bought a Marlin 60, cause I thought I would like having 19 rounds ready to go. Once I reloaded at the range, I learned to dislike tube mags. Having a few small box mags in my pocket was much simpler for me. And hell, it's still tempting to call them clips, like in the old Marlin catalogue.

Cheers,
Neil
 
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Regulate34,
Yep, the Marlins really do have a deserved reputation for accuracy. I'm excited to try, and fail many times I am sure, the 50 yard challenge.

Had you used the S&B in your 795? It caught my attention once I saw the price, and I'm curious to hear what kind of accuracy you had with them.

Cheers,
Neil
 
Those are some pretty 795s ... you could also pick up those promag 25 round mags to complete the M1 carbine with banana mag look :D
 
Smiley119 said:
Those are some pretty 795s ... you could also pick up those promag 25 round mags to complete the M1 carbine with banana mag look :D
Click to expand...

Smiley,
To my eyes, the 25 round mags are way too long. Marlin used to make a 15 round mag that I thought looked pretty good, but I've been unable to source one in Canada, and I'm also unable to get one shipped here from the States.

And yeah, I really like the look of the two rifles - thanks for noticing them - although they're 989 M2s, which is a much older variation than the 795. But they are variations on the same gun. I got lucky on the scoped one: I ordered a used handguard for it, as the one that came with the rifle had a small (and fairly rough) cutout for a folding Lyman rear sight. I removed that sight and replaced it with a HiViz rear dovetail sight. I had to cut a channel in the "new" handguard to accommodate it, but the channel is pretty clean looking and symmetrical. Anyway, the one I ordered is a very close match to the rest of the stock - I got pretty lucky.

Cheers,
Neil
 
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I have a Henry golden boy lever action 22lr, shooting cci mini-mag 40 grain on bench rest, 50 yard. Pretty much same result.
I found those plastic box with 100 rounds cci either mini-mag or sv are pretty good value for the price.
 
neilselden said:
Stuckon,

Thanks, but it's the M2. At the risk of being alienated from a segment of CGN, I'll have to ask what kind of maniac devised tubular magazines?

Possibly the same lunatic that devised lever rifles? ;-P

Cheers,
Neil
Click to expand...

So it is. My first gun was a BL22. I have no issues with tube fed.I actually prefer my tube fed Henry 357 mag over a side fed Marlin. But if I was in a fight back in the day I would likely change my tune.
 
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