Planning on getting into precision rimfire next year. Gun and optics recommendations?

Killbillc68

Killbillc68

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Hello like the title says this is my plan as of now. I’m leaning towards the production class I was thinking about purchasing a T1X 20’’ I already owned several tikka rifles and have a MDT ACC If I wanted to switch to the open class later. As far as optics go for the production class I was thinking vortex venom Although I’m not sure about their quality control in the last few years? Possibly a Arkin sh4? Was also toying around with the idea of competing with a semi does anyone compete in the production class with a savage A22 FV-SR or the A22 Overwatch? Or do either of these guns even meet the criteria? Or is there other semi’s that would be better? As far as the semi in the open class I’m pretty sure I know what I would run there. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated thanks.
 
Personally, if I had the ACC, there's no way I would shoot a stocked rifle. Almost everyone shoots Open because they would rather use the equipment that fits into that category.
 
I don't know how it compares to the Vortex Venom but I recently picked up a Bushnell Match Pro and I find it is a step up on Vortex's Diamondback Tactical offerings.
 
adamg said:
Personally, if I had the ACC, there's no way I would shoot a stocked rifle. Almost everyone shoots Open because they would rather use the equipment that fits into that category.
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I kind a like the idea of shooting the production class for a couple different reasons firstly I’m thinking it’s more real world less equipment hunting style of shooting. Secondly there is a guy that I would like to compete against locally that is in that class. And I guess as a bonus I’ve always been a sucker for the underdog. Competing in the open class would make it a lot harder to blame my gear as well. Haha
 
Voshay said:
I don't know how it compares to the Vortex Venom but I recently picked up a Bushnell Match Pro and I find it is a step up on Vortex's Diamondback Tactical offerings.
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I actually ordered a bushnell match pro on sale from cabela’s after a week or two they said they could not fill my order. I don’t really have any real world experience with the Bushnell reticle but I’m thinking I wouldn’t like it as much as the EBR 7 style of which I have some experience. How do you find the eye box on it compared to the vortex diamondback tactical?
 
Killbillc68 said:
I actually ordered a bushnell match pro on sale from cabela’s after a week or two they said they could not fill my order. I don’t really have any real world experience with the Bushnell reticle but I’m thinking I wouldn’t like it as much as the EBR 7 style of which I have some experience. How do you find the eye box on it compared to the vortex diamondback tactical?
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I find the eye box to be similar. I havent had it too long so dont have a ton of time behind it but I think the glass is a bit nicer, the reticle is similar enough that I dont have any problems using it, I find the turrets are better (dont stop halfway between 2 markers) and the magnification ring rotates smoothly (Ive used multiple DBTs and they all felt sort of gritty). You also get locking turrets though I consider this a bonus and not a must have. The one thing that takes some getting used to is the parallax dial rotates clockwise to get a farther distance where the DBT is the opposite. Need some time using it to get accustomed to this, dont want to dial the wrong way during a stage by accident.
 
Killbillc68 said:
I actually ordered a bushnell match pro on sale from cabela’s after a week or two they said they could not fill my order. I don’t really have any real world experience with the Bushnell reticle but I’m thinking I wouldn’t like it as much as the EBR 7 style of which I have some experience. How do you find the eye box on it compared to the vortex diamondback tactical?
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The match pro is designed SPECIFICALLY for NRL/precision rimfire, although it can also do centerfire as well

I'm not sure why they cleared it out, maybe a new model coming?

It was a great scope for the sale price though $580 yeesh
 
I set myself up with a cz 457 synthetic and Athlon Argos BTR gen 2 for production. I’m happy with the set up but a vortex venom is on the list because of the bigger tube and increased adjustment. I am moving into open with my 10/22 target because I’m left eye dominant and find that racking the bolt with my support hand causes me to lose sight picture of the target and I spend more time actually looking for the targets than shooting them. The semi will fix this while I learn the game and then get a dedicated left handed bolt gun in the future. I was considering the T1x as well but went with the 457 primarily because of the aftermarket support. If you already have an ACC for the tikka I don’t think you will be disappointed.
 
Cabelas has their Covenant series on 'Sale' right now. I use the C-4 6-24x50 FFP-SF because it has 'numbered' (every 4th bar) MOA which makes holds easy to figure. Depends on your budget, these are $200 Off reg price.
 
I shoot both classes, using a Ruger 10/22 sport with a Riton 6-24x50mm and the bare minimum changes allowed (auto bolt mod, upgraded extractor & extended mag release) to stay in production. I also shoot open with a Bergara B14R with a 25 MOA rail and Vortex Razor Gen II 4.5-27x56mm optic. Both guns perform extremely well for their category with little to no real "performance" mods.

I find that it really boils down to ammo choices (Eley Tenex or Match, maybe Lapua Centre X or Midas +) and practicing your positions ahead of the match so that you can transition and make time while staying accurate and cool under the clock. Most modern guns are more accurate than you, so if you do your part you'll place well regardless.

For now, shoot what you have and get some experience; go out and enjoy competing and make friends with your local rimfire scene. Then, pick the rifle that you like, the one that fits you and that makes you feel comfortable and invest your time into dryfire practice using an IDTS system or similar at home. Build the course of fire in your basement or backyard before the match and get dialed in so that muscle memory takes over and you don't have to think. Build your DOPE at the range well in advance so that you have it squared away and know your holdovers, especially if the wind picks up and you need to make that 250m shot.

That's what makes the real difference and separates the shooters from the weekend warriors....

My $0.02....YMMV

~ Teller
 
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Buck1950 said:
Cabelas has their Covenant series on 'Sale' right now. I use the C-4 6-24x50 FFP-SF because it has 'numbered' (every 4th bar) MOA which makes holds easy to figure. Depends on your budget, these are $200 Off reg price.
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4 6-24x50 FFP-SF

It could be at the scope might work but I’m trying to keep to mrad I probably wouldn’t buy something like this without trying it out first. In my experience it just seems like you have to pay more to get a decent scope.
 
teller said:
I shoot both classes, using a Ruger 10/22 sport with a Riton 6-24x50mm and the bare minimum changes allowed (auto bolt mod, upgraded extractor & extended mag release) to stay in production. I also shoot open with a Bergara B14R with a 25 MOA rail and Vortex Razor Gen II 4.5-27x56mm optic. Both guns perform extremely well for their category with little to no real "performance" mods.

I find that it really boils down to ammo choices (Eley Tenex or Match, maybe Lapua Centre X or Midas +) and practicing your positions ahead of the match so that you can transition and make time while staying accurate and cool under the clock. Most modern guns are more accurate than you, so if you do your part you'll place well regardless.

For now, shoot what you have and get some experience; go out and enjoy competing and make friends with your local rimfire scene. Then, pick the rifle that you like, the one that fits you and that makes you feel comfortable and invest your time into dryfire practice using an IDTS system or similar at home. Build the course of fire in your basement or backyard before the match and get dialed in so that muscle memory takes over and you don't have to think. Build your DOPE at the range well in advance so that you have it squared away and know your holdovers, especially if the wind picks up and you need to make that 250m shot.

That's what makes the real difference and separates the shooters from the weekend warriors....

My $0.02....YMMV

~ Teller
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Thanks seems like well thought out advice. I would be curious to know what kind of accuracy you’re getting at 50/100ect off the bench from your stock 10/22? Would it be permitted to put a BX trigger in a 10/22 and stay in base class?
 
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I see alot of new shooters ask about starting in production BUT rarely do we see shooters in production at the matches. There is absolutely nothing scary or fearful about Open. It is far easier to get set up so that the game is easier to play. You do not need to spend zillions of dollars as some do... arguably, it isn't going to determine your outcome.

The biggest reason why production is 'hard'... the rifle is not helping you on props and as a new shooter, that increases the work load making hits that much harder.

Optics tend to be lacking in features and function... so now you are fighting that, in some instances. Really bad if the optic proves to be unreliable as that not only causes alot of misses but hurts confidence and learning.

Start in Open... set up the rifle to help you on props... use a scope that has reliable tracking AND the feature set to help you with the dialing and hold offs you need to be successful... then practise and practise and practise.

I have shown and discussed at length how you do not need to spend a fortune to do well in Open...

Jerry
 
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