First NRL22 Rifle

[Way_ky]

Ok so here is what I’m thinking for my for precision rim fire rifle for basic division.

CZ 457 pro varmint
Area 419 30 moa mount
419 bolt knob
419 arca rail
Atlas with arca mount
Vortex pmr rings
Victor company cheek rest
Vortex DB tactical 4x16 FFP
Or
Athlon Argos gen 2 6x24 ffp

experienced NRL shooter chime in please. Especially on optic choice. I just don’t know if the extra magnification is needed.

 

[littlepod]

If you're already going to open class (due to arca rail) then I'd just get better glass. No reason to skimp out on glass as it's the thing you're looking through hours and hours every time you shoot and it's easily transferrable to any new future rifle / other rifle.

For me, I'd consider Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27 if you can find one used/onsale for ~$525. or an Ares ETR for $900. The Arken EP4 is also a great $500 piece of glass, though I've heard a few QC concerns but they'll also take care of you if you happen to have any issues (same goes with Athlon).

 

[Travis224]

The matches I've shot all last year, I normally shoot in the 12x to 16x power. It's nice to have the higher magnification but I wouldn't advise using it during the match. The rest looks great and should be a killer setup.

 

[Travis224]

Didn't see the ARCA in there, nor since I shoot open, didn't know that was a bump to open.

 

[Wrencoforge]

I have the Athlon Argos 1-24, I can say I never go past around 18x magnification. For one, the optics start to get a bit mushy, for another, it just isn’t necessary..
Also the Vortex is available in 6-24, if it matters to you.
The Argos gen1 is being sold for a pretty reasonable price, the gen2 is also available now but is going to cost a bit more. Keep in mind that for nrl22 they use list price and not sale prices. Also discontinued models bump you into open class.
I’m not sure if an Argos, gen1 would be counted at the gen2 price, or if it pushes you to open. Something to keep in mind.

 

[Yoda_Flair]

The ARCA rail will bump it into open, and if I'm not mistaken the bolt knob will also.

 

[Way_ky]

If you're already going to open class (due to arca rail) then I'd just get better glass. No reason to skimp out on glass as it's the thing you're looking through hours and hours every time you shoot and it's easily transferrable to any new future rifle / other rifle.

For me, I'd consider Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27 if you can find one used/onsale for ~$525. or an Ares ETR for $900. The Arken EP4 is also a great $500 piece of glass, though I've heard a few QC concerns but they'll also take care of you if you happen to have any issues (same goes with Athlon).

Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. Was not aware the Arca rail would put me into open. Thanks

 

[Way_ky]

I have the Athlon Argos 1-24, I can say I never go past around 18x magnification. For one, the optics start to get a bit mushy, for another, it just isn’t necessary..
Also the Vortex is available in 6-24, if it matters to you.
The Argos gen1 is being sold for a pretty reasonable price, the gen2 is also available now but is going to cost a bit more. Keep in mind that for nrl22 they use list price and not sale prices. Also discontinued models bump you into open class.
I’m not sure if an Argos, gen1 would be counted at the gen2 price, or if it pushes you to open. Something to keep in mind.

yeah unfortunately the Vortex in 6x24 puts me over price for base class.

 

[Way_ky]

The ARCA rail will bump it into open, and if I'm not mistaken the bolt knob will also.

Thanks for the heads up. Guess I’ll be avoiding that stuff.

 

[Way_ky]

So you can add Pic rail but not Arca for attaching bipods?

 

[Wrencoforge]

Um, can’t add a pic rail to attach bipod.. counts as modifying stock..

 

[Wrencoforge]

Personally, if I had money to buy a $300 bipod, I’d just be going straight to open class and spending a bit more across the board..

 

[Way_ky]

Personally, if I had money to buy a $300 bipod, I’d just be going straight to open class and spending a bit more across the board..

Copy that. I’m really not trying to spend a fortune on rimfire. Just looking to have some fun. I just already have an Atlas with arca mount on my center fire figured I could use it for both instead of spending money on another bipod.

 

[SanginSpecial]

Um, can’t add a pic rail to attach bipod.. counts as modifying stock..

Yet it's okay to pillar and bed the action on a base class rifle... Or, add a cheek riser. Both examples are what I consider heavily modifying a stock and technically neither is a safety modification.

I don't think that disallowing a pic or arca rail are necessarily about modifying the stock, per se... I think it's more about what the spirit of base class is intended to be. A class that is about keeping things simple and avoiding gaming through an arms race. That's what open class is about.
The rules are in need of some serious work. June can't come soon enough. Hopefully all of the questions regarding what's allowed and what's not will be defined in precise detail so that there is no question as to what is legal and what's not.

BTW.. Way_ky... I'd go with the Athlon scope with it's higher magnification. You definitely won't need that much magnification in every match, but you'll have it when you need it. As an example... This most recent season, we had a paper stage that was shot at 100 yds. Shooting bulls with black centers is hard to see bullet holes in. With my eyesight, the printed numbers can look like bullet holes at that distance at 25X. When I shot that stage I had actually impacted in the black center of the bull with my first shot. I couldn't see it and thought a printed number was the impact. I then compensated for the perceived "miss" and then really missed with my followup shot.

It's better to have a tool and not need it than to need it and not have it, right?

 

[Trippm]

Where in KY are you? (Assuming that’s where you are)

 

[Way_ky]

Yet it's okay to pillar and bed the action on a base class rifle... Or, add a cheek riser. Both examples are what I consider heavily modifying a stock and technically neither is a safety modification.

I don't think that disallowing a pic or arca rail are necessarily about modifying the stock, per se... I think it's more about what the spirit of base class is intended to be. A class that is about keeping things simple and avoiding gaming through an arms race. That's what open class is about.
The rules are in need of some serious work. June can't come soon enough. Hopefully all of the questions regarding what's allowed and what's not will be defined in precise detail so that there is no question as to what is legal and what's not.

BTW.. Way_ky... I'd go with the Athlon scope with it's higher magnification. You definitely won't need that much magnification in every match, but you'll have it when you need it. As an example... This most recent season, we had a paper stage that was shot at 100 yds. Shooting bulls with black centers is hard to see bullet holes in. With my eyesight, the printed numbers can look like bullet holes at that distance at 25X. When I shot that stage I had actually impacted in the black center of the bull with my first shot. I couldn't see it and thought a printed number was the impact. I then compensated for the perceived "miss" and then really missed with my followup shot.

It's better to have a tool and not need it than to need it and not have it, right?

Thanks for the reply. I definitely see what you are saying with the magnificatio. I also see a lot of different setups online for base class and it makes it a little confusing for new shooters

Where in KY are you? (Assuming that’s where you are)

Just south of Lexington in Berea

 

[Trippm]

If you were in Western KY I would offer you a chance to shoot my DB TAC when the ‘rona pisses off.

No zero stop, seems to be a deal breaker for some

 

[Yoda_Flair]

I have a DB Tac on my tikka, you're more than welcome to look at/shoot at Kentucky Precision in Somerset whenever we get off of lockdown.

 

[Way_ky]

If you were in Western KY I would offer you a chance to shoot my DB TAC when the ‘rona pisses off.

No zero stop, seems to be a deal breaker for some

Appreciate it man. I had one before. I think they are great for the money. No zero stop sucks but just have to remember to return to zero when you are done.

 

[Way_ky]

I have a DB Tac on my tikka, you're more than welcome to look at/shoot at Kentucky Precision in Somerset whenever we get off of lockdown.

Hoping to start shooting with you guys when things fire back up. I had a DB tactical for a while on a centerfire rifle while I saved for a Razor. Was my first choice when I decided to get into NRL22 but with the CZ457 it’s puts me out of the $1050 mark to go with a 6x24.

 

[Messer]

I too am building a new rifle with the thoughts of NRL Base Class.

I just ordered the Athlon Argo BTR Gen2 6-24 from MKMachining - with their Easter code of "Easteroptics", it was $351.99.

Have fun putting your new rifle together!

Bob S.