Building an NRL22 Base class rig

[Memberberries]

I snagged a CZ 457 Varmint MTR to build for NRL22 Base class and PRS rimfire production class. I've been shooting Open with a T1X and having a ton of fun but a second rifle and the option to shoot base class sometimes drew me in. I'm going to build it out similar to the Area 419 fully loaded setup but I don't really like the idea of putting t-nuts in the stock since I plan to hang some weights on the rail and would prefer to inset a metal bar in the bottom of the barrel channel to mount the rail to but I noticed the base class rules say no internal weights.

Anyone know if this would count as a weight or would it be able to be called mounting hardware?

 

[Masojoh]

I have that rifle for my base/production rig. I installed 4 t-nuts and a dst precision da rail. If your concern is security of the attachment points, I don’t think that should be a concern.

I would assume that a bar or something similar would require a lot of wood to be hogged out from the channel, and appearance wise, I would call that against the intent of the rule.

 

[Memberberries]

I do a lot of woodworking and find t-nuts to be ugly and unattractive but I guess it's on the inside so I should just get over it. You're right with the intent of the rule

 

[Masojoh]

You could always set the t nuts, then fill them back in with a plug stained to match. I seem to recall I set mine about 1/4” below the original channel height. Assuming they are 3/4”, you could fit a couple of plugs to “hide” the t nuts.

There is not much room on either side of the barrel to really notice, though.

 

[Memberberries]

Did you get the steel or the aluminum rail?

 

[Masojoh]

Did you get the steel or the aluminum rail?

Steel. That is not my base class scope. But everything else is.

 

[Memberberries]

That is so wide, how much does it affect offhand shooting?

 

[Masojoh]

NRL22 doesn’t typically have offhand stages. So I can’t really speak to that. The rail weighs close to 5 pounds, so it would affect offhand. But the benefit of it sitting on a bag without having to be held outweighs the impact to offhand shooting by 10 to 1 at least.

 

[Memberberries]

My local MD gets ornery every once in a while and throws them in as bonus stages. It's not worth changing a build for but I was curious.

I'll have the rifle and tail this week so I'll get it all put together this weekend. I think the steel rail would have been a better choice but I can always shuffle it on later.

 

[Defender32]

Weighted Area419 rail works well for this. Use the t nuts and don't worry about it. Set them below the finished layer and epoxy over them.