What kind of accuracy is expected from a 9422

[Sonny.Frechette]

I recently acquired a 9422 off of the equipment exchange, it’s not in perfect condition by any means, but still in fair shape with a nice looking bore. I had it out at the range last weekend for the first time, and I was alittle disapointed in what I was getting for accuracy. I seemed to be only able to make 1.5” grounds at best at 50 yards. I was using cheap 36 grain Winchester hollowpoints but I am able to get much better accuracy with them in my other rifles. I’m hoping quite possibly I was just having an off day. What’s everyone else getting for accuracy and what ammo are you shooting?

 

[savagelh]

As with any 22 or really any firearm, you need to feed it what it likes. Try a few different brands and weights of ammo. I always try cci offerings first for bulk.

 

[johnl]

With a decent scope and SK ammo I get .5" to 1" 5 shot groups often.

 

[sillymike]

If you're trying to shoot benchrest with a lever gun, I think you bought the wrong rifle. 1.5" @ 50 with cheap ammo sounds reasonable

 

[hoytcanon]

I can confidently head shoot grouse with every shot out to 30 meters... so I guess you can call that "minute of grouse head."

 

[Mike112288]

I got an almost mint one from 1973 or 1974. I never tried groups on paper or even a scope on it but I would guess it’s shooting about as accurate as a cheap 10/22 with iron sights. Maybe a hair or two better. One of my most fun rimfires

 

[Can-down]

Golf balls out to 50 yards all day long with cheap ammo sounds pretty good.

 

[emerson]

1 1/2” groups at 50 yds with the first cheap 22 ammo you tried is good results.

 

[Potashminer]

Part of it might be asking what groups you are capable of? The rifle is part of it. So is the ammunition. So is the shooter...

 

[.22LRGUY]

About the prettiest 22 I ever owned was a 9422, it was in new condition when I got it...and basically in the same condition when I sold it a couple of years later. While I do wish I'd kept it, I always questioned the pros/cons of scoping a lever gun to begin with...as the stock geometry isn't well-suited to scope use even when riding very low. Mine also wasn't stellar in the accuracy dept., in spite of how remarkably good the factory trigger was. Anyhow, at the time, my only real spot to shoot a 22 was off a bench...and if there is a shooting discipline REALLY not meant for lever guns..it has to be bench shooting. lol In my opinion, they're the ultimate off-hand gun...going for a walk in the woods kind of thing, etc.

All that said, with my growing appreciation of match-grade ammo...what I now consider to be "cheap" ammo is different than what it once was. Certainly during the time I owned my 9422 I can't even remember bringing more than 1 or 2 ammo types with me when shooting it. These days, with any new 22 I'm trying out, there are no fewer than 10 types of ammo that come for the ride...sometimes more. The OP didn't mention whether or not he scoped his, but if so...I still think that at least one or two range sessions testing various ammo types is still a worthwhile exercise. If not, open-sight groups using super-cheap ammo...sounds like about the results one could expect. Especially with the kind of sights on those guns.

I recently picked-up a Marlin 1895 in 45/70, and am seriously fighting the urge to scope it for all the same reasons. In fact, I started a thread recently asking about aftermarket sight options for those guns. Offhand/standing (with or w/o an improvised rest) is sort of how I feel lever guns are meant to be used. Just my opinion.

 

[sillymike]

I think the Skinner sights are the nicest option

And while I usually don't like a scope on a lever, I cannot help but find this kind of cute

 

[LarryG]

That's not unusual accuracy even from a bolt gun with the wrong ammo. Try CCI AS tactical in it. if it can't shoot that stuff into an inch max, then you should be concerned.

 

[Sonny.Frechette]

About the prettiest 22 I ever owned was a 9422, it was in new condition when I got it...and basically in the same condition when I sold it a couple of years later. While I do wish I'd kept it, I always questioned the pros/cons of scoping a lever gun to begin with.......

This is great input I’m getting from everyone. I did forget to mention a few key things about my set up that I’ve been using. I had installed a marble tang sight on it and have been shooting on a bench with heaped up sand bags to get a really solid rest. It sounds like I shouldn’t be complaining about the groups I’ve been getting, especially with only trying one type of cheap ammo. I have a cz 455fs with a skinner receiver sight and I have no problem fitting all my rounds in a quarter size target at 40 yards with the same type of ammo. That was the only reason I was curious about what everybody else’s 9422 gets for accuracy, but as guys have been mentioning every gun likes something different.

 

[Potashminer]

A discussion I read was more about a Ruger#1, but apparently applies to most two piece stock lever actions - instead of resting the forearm on sandbags, support only the front bottom of the receiver on sandbags. Have a bag out front, rest the back of your off hand against it, and hold the fore stock with that hand.

 

[Scrumbag]

Had one and found the sights difficult to shoot with. I had to be very careful to get a consistent sight picture.