This update is concerning a range report after the modifications up to this point.
I finally had the oppurtunity to get to the range, the conditions were close to the original "virgin" range report. As I got to the range, the wind which was again sustained @ 12 mph while I was shooting at 50 yards. By the time I got to 100 yards, the wind started to get variable between 8 and 16 mph, and changing direction. I can adjust for sustained, but not to the amount of that variable wind at 100 with a .22, and the groups were all over. I had gone today, 4 degrees, no wind, which is a bit different than the original "virgin" range report, but continued anyway.
I also shot 10 round groups rather than the 5 round groups I had originally shot as the trigger finger started to get numb from the cold, and started to throw some shots. But the good thing is the pulls were able to be called, and was a malfunction of the shooter and not the equipment. I figured the 10 shot groups would give me a better feel for an average.
50 yard - Most of the groups were decent, with the high velocity federal bulk pack ammo with the most open group, which was to be expected. The circled hits were ones that I new I pulled as I lost the feeling of the trigger in the cold.
Either before or after the modifications, the rifle seems to be quite a shooter at 50 yards. The lower poundage trigger with less creep allowed be to call my pulls more accurately and gave me a sense of being in control of the shot. The work done on the grip and trigger gaurd in combination with the cheek piece allowed for a heck of alot more comfort and a feeling of "being one with the stock". Once satisfied at 50, I moved to 100 yards.
OK, it's not a tack driver, nor did I ever expect it to be. However, there was a bit of improvement over the original range report. Again the comfort level was increase substantially, and possibly the lack of wind made the groups less "stringy" with the match type ammo. I didn't have much faith in the remington subsonics, as they always opened up for me past 50 yards, no matter what rifle I used. The Federal bulk was all over also, and I stopped shooting them after 5 rounds.
I have to admit, the results was a bit of a let down as I was expecting more, but then again it is a $127.00 rifle, and the groups were about .25" smaller than the original range report. They were averaging 1.75" to 2", now 1.5" to 1.75" at 100 yards with the match ammos, and the Remington subsonics performed better along with the Federal bulk stuff, swo there was some improvement. I shot another target, with about the same results.
I then figured that's about as good as it's going to get, then thought I'd do something that I have done to other rimfires with decent results, and that's to trim up the crown a little. This isn't for the weak at heart and any gunsmith reading this would probably be cringing about now, but I took a chamfer tool used for reloading, and tried as evenly as I could to uniformly trim the end of the muzzle.
Muzzle before...
...during...
...after. It's hard to notice in the photo, but there is a silver ring around the end of the lands and grooves where the metal was removed.
Sounds insane, but it did seem to work, 100 yards after the "crown job".
Interestingly, the POI also changed to the right.
After getting home and measuring all the targets, it seemed that the groups were shrunk slightly more with the Wolf Match Extra ending at just under 1.25", and the Aguila Match at 1.5".
At this point I'm NOT very confident that the rifle will be better than a 1.25" to 1.5" rifle, but considering it is based on a $127.00 rifle with a $69.00 scope on it (bare bones), not too shabby either. Either sized grouping would be "usable" for smallbore silhoutte, as long as I do my part on a solid hold
I went to the 200 yard range, and realized quickly that the scope is going to run out of adjustment, and will probably put a 20 moa base on it if i plan on using it there. I was able to get 63 "up" 1/4" clicks out of it from my 50 yard zero before I couldn't get any more adjustment.
At this point i was running low on ammo, and did not post a target to get a group size. But I was able (to within reason) see the dirt hits on a small area of the snowy bank using my maxed out adjustment and:
1) 2 mildot holdover on 10X using the Fed. Bulk Pack, 4 mils on 14X
2) more consistant was the Wolf, using 7 mildot holdover on 10X, 5 mildot holdover on 14X
3) decent impacts with Aguila, 6 mildot holdover on 10 X, 4 mildot holdover on 14X
Even without having the advantage of a paper target to measure, the impacts where consistant enough to reason that 200 yard shooting can be obtainable. Once finished, I returned to 50 yards, with the 50 yard adjustment back to "0", and shot similar groups. So return to zero with this scope is good.
I also had a chance to do some squirrel hunting with it, and although I couldn't find one to save my life, some feedback:
1) the improved grip is not only comfortable at the bench, but in the field also.
2) the 10 round magazine has to go, it's too cumbersome and tends to get in the way both at the range and in the field.
3) the side carry option is nice, leaving your hands open to use binocs, take a drink, or whatever, while having the rifle easily at the ready.
So that's the results so far. I believe I may bed the action to see what that may produce, and hopefully be able to shoot on a day that the tempurature is less extreme not only with the beddied action, but results at 200 yards.
But if around 1.5" at 100 yards would suit your needs, this little project so far would fit the bill as a Low Budget .22 that serves as a "tactical" trainer, smallbore silhoutte hunter class rifle, and a heck of a small game shooter. The "bare bones" costing less than the originally planned $300.00, with the extras driving it up some. Mix and match to your needs.
RIFLE...............$127.00
BIPOD.................39.97
B. GROUND CHECK........5.00
SCOPE.................69.97
RINGS................. 9.47
ULTRA BLACK KRYLON.... 4.44
STUDS (2 packs)....... 9.98
CHEEKPIECE+RAIL.......42.00
SLING.................16.97
BASES(USED AS RAILS)...6.49
"CHEAP ACCESSORIES
MATERIALS"............15.00
FEELER GUAGE "SHIMS"...3.00
TAX...................20.06
= $369.35
OVERALL TIME = 34.5 HOURS
I finally had the oppurtunity to get to the range, the conditions were close to the original "virgin" range report. As I got to the range, the wind which was again sustained @ 12 mph while I was shooting at 50 yards. By the time I got to 100 yards, the wind started to get variable between 8 and 16 mph, and changing direction. I can adjust for sustained, but not to the amount of that variable wind at 100 with a .22, and the groups were all over. I had gone today, 4 degrees, no wind, which is a bit different than the original "virgin" range report, but continued anyway.
I also shot 10 round groups rather than the 5 round groups I had originally shot as the trigger finger started to get numb from the cold, and started to throw some shots. But the good thing is the pulls were able to be called, and was a malfunction of the shooter and not the equipment. I figured the 10 shot groups would give me a better feel for an average.
50 yard - Most of the groups were decent, with the high velocity federal bulk pack ammo with the most open group, which was to be expected. The circled hits were ones that I new I pulled as I lost the feeling of the trigger in the cold.
Either before or after the modifications, the rifle seems to be quite a shooter at 50 yards. The lower poundage trigger with less creep allowed be to call my pulls more accurately and gave me a sense of being in control of the shot. The work done on the grip and trigger gaurd in combination with the cheek piece allowed for a heck of alot more comfort and a feeling of "being one with the stock". Once satisfied at 50, I moved to 100 yards.
OK, it's not a tack driver, nor did I ever expect it to be. However, there was a bit of improvement over the original range report. Again the comfort level was increase substantially, and possibly the lack of wind made the groups less "stringy" with the match type ammo. I didn't have much faith in the remington subsonics, as they always opened up for me past 50 yards, no matter what rifle I used. The Federal bulk was all over also, and I stopped shooting them after 5 rounds.
I have to admit, the results was a bit of a let down as I was expecting more, but then again it is a $127.00 rifle, and the groups were about .25" smaller than the original range report. They were averaging 1.75" to 2", now 1.5" to 1.75" at 100 yards with the match ammos, and the Remington subsonics performed better along with the Federal bulk stuff, swo there was some improvement. I shot another target, with about the same results.
I then figured that's about as good as it's going to get, then thought I'd do something that I have done to other rimfires with decent results, and that's to trim up the crown a little. This isn't for the weak at heart and any gunsmith reading this would probably be cringing about now, but I took a chamfer tool used for reloading, and tried as evenly as I could to uniformly trim the end of the muzzle.
Muzzle before...
...during...
...after. It's hard to notice in the photo, but there is a silver ring around the end of the lands and grooves where the metal was removed.
Sounds insane, but it did seem to work, 100 yards after the "crown job".
Interestingly, the POI also changed to the right.
After getting home and measuring all the targets, it seemed that the groups were shrunk slightly more with the Wolf Match Extra ending at just under 1.25", and the Aguila Match at 1.5".
At this point I'm NOT very confident that the rifle will be better than a 1.25" to 1.5" rifle, but considering it is based on a $127.00 rifle with a $69.00 scope on it (bare bones), not too shabby either. Either sized grouping would be "usable" for smallbore silhoutte, as long as I do my part on a solid hold
I went to the 200 yard range, and realized quickly that the scope is going to run out of adjustment, and will probably put a 20 moa base on it if i plan on using it there. I was able to get 63 "up" 1/4" clicks out of it from my 50 yard zero before I couldn't get any more adjustment.
At this point i was running low on ammo, and did not post a target to get a group size. But I was able (to within reason) see the dirt hits on a small area of the snowy bank using my maxed out adjustment and:
1) 2 mildot holdover on 10X using the Fed. Bulk Pack, 4 mils on 14X
2) more consistant was the Wolf, using 7 mildot holdover on 10X, 5 mildot holdover on 14X
3) decent impacts with Aguila, 6 mildot holdover on 10 X, 4 mildot holdover on 14X
Even without having the advantage of a paper target to measure, the impacts where consistant enough to reason that 200 yard shooting can be obtainable. Once finished, I returned to 50 yards, with the 50 yard adjustment back to "0", and shot similar groups. So return to zero with this scope is good.
I also had a chance to do some squirrel hunting with it, and although I couldn't find one to save my life, some feedback:
1) the improved grip is not only comfortable at the bench, but in the field also.
2) the 10 round magazine has to go, it's too cumbersome and tends to get in the way both at the range and in the field.
3) the side carry option is nice, leaving your hands open to use binocs, take a drink, or whatever, while having the rifle easily at the ready.
So that's the results so far. I believe I may bed the action to see what that may produce, and hopefully be able to shoot on a day that the tempurature is less extreme not only with the beddied action, but results at 200 yards.
But if around 1.5" at 100 yards would suit your needs, this little project so far would fit the bill as a Low Budget .22 that serves as a "tactical" trainer, smallbore silhoutte hunter class rifle, and a heck of a small game shooter. The "bare bones" costing less than the originally planned $300.00, with the extras driving it up some. Mix and match to your needs.
RIFLE...............$127.00
BIPOD.................39.97
B. GROUND CHECK........5.00
SCOPE.................69.97
RINGS................. 9.47
ULTRA BLACK KRYLON.... 4.44
STUDS (2 packs)....... 9.98
CHEEKPIECE+RAIL.......42.00
SLING.................16.97
BASES(USED AS RAILS)...6.49
"CHEAP ACCESSORIES
MATERIALS"............15.00
FEELER GUAGE "SHIMS"...3.00
TAX...................20.06
= $369.35
OVERALL TIME = 34.5 HOURS
