I’m new to the rimfire world and purchased a savage mk2. I have it in a Boyd’s at one stock and atlas cal bipod, has egw 20 moa rail, arken sh4 6-24x50 on it and I really enjoy shooting it, it does well with tac 22 at 50 yards. It opens up at 100 and beyond tho. I just got some eley club, don’t have many other options around me. I’m curious if there’s anything I should do to help performance of this or should I not put anymore money in it and just enjoy it and get something like a cz457 or bergara b14r. Thanks in advance
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New to rimfire
- Thread starter Brawley86
- Start date
I wish I could find it, I have found eley match and eley tenex and lapua pistol match
Is that the Walmart rifle? I would buy a couple bricks of CCI SV and shoot it heavy, my CZ and my buddies Ruger American both shoot SV pretty good. I shot a couple boxes of tac 22 and it seemed like the CCI shot 5 shots into a tight little group and then the other 5 were flyers round the group, the Tac 22 was the same size group but without the cluster, more even spread, both groups about the same size.
Ammo makes a huge difference. I shot a cluster with CCI SV at 50 yards twice, usually keep the entire group half inch or so. Then at 100 its anywhere from an inch to 3 inches.
Switch to Eley match and shoot a group thats WAY smaller.
Ammoseek.com is great. You can find most anything. Lapua seems hard to come by though.
Ammo makes a huge difference. I shot a cluster with CCI SV at 50 yards twice, usually keep the entire group half inch or so. Then at 100 its anywhere from an inch to 3 inches.
Switch to Eley match and shoot a group thats WAY smaller.
Ammoseek.com is great. You can find most anything. Lapua seems hard to come by though.
Ya I got the rifle from Walmart, I had good success with the cci sv also but was having issues with them not wanting to eject, it was only that ammo but the gun ended up being alittle dirtier then I thought so I cleaned really good, haven’t tried it since then
Ammo is HUGE part of accurate shooting with a rimfire. Try to get your hands on as many different brands and types as you can. I know its difficult to find ammo now, but do what you can and enjoy shooting the rifle. It's super addictive shooting 22's at long range.
Mike
I like your setup.
Mike
I like your setup.
Buy every kind of ammo you can get your hands on to try. I'm not familiar with the accuracy of those Savage but I know the CZ is very well regarded in that respect. You may or may not find an ammo this gun really likes
Also, make sure of your torque settings for the action screws. I learned the hard way.
I probably shoot 20-30 rimfire matches per year in multiple states. I’m not trying to put down your setup in any way, but I would keep the bipod and scope and look into a CZ/Tikka for a lower cost setup, a Bergara for mid range cost, or Vudoo/Rim-X for a higher end setup. Of the 100’s of people that I shoot with each year, very few shoot Savage. Doesn’t mean that you can’t win a match with one, I just haven’t met anyone who could afford one of the higher priced options keep the Savage or RPR because they were lights out shooters and winning every match with them. There is a reason most of us shoot the above mentioned brands. Once you decide on a rifle, send it in to Lapua to have it lot tested. That will make a huge difference. No more chasing ammo and you will learn what your gun does with that specific lot. Consistency leads to better scores which leads to wins.
Good information I appreciate that, not really sure I will do much competition if any I just enjoy it and like shooting, I reload 6.5 for long range target and just picked this up for cheaper practice, I have been looking at a bergara b14r with carbon barrel, and I like the cz457 varmint mtr, will prolly wait till after the holidays tho, is there anyone who lot test eley? I can find it around me can’t find the lapua
I'd get the B14R in steel. I've been very happy with mine. You can also just get the barreled action and drop it in the chassis/stock of your choice. I put mine in a Xylo (though the HMR stock is pretty nice) and have a NX8 4-32x on it. It shoots really good with ammo being the limiting factor. It shoots about a 1/2 inch @ 50 with CCI SV with occasional flyers. I have a brick of RWS Rifle Match and SK Standard Plus to try. I'll also buy some higher end stuff when I get some time. I'll probably get a Vudoo eventually, but for now I am happy.
Ya I have a hmr wilderness in 6.5 creedmoor and really like it a lot
This is worth repeating. The good stuff is hard to find in stock, but look for RWS, Eley, SK, and Lapua ammo, preferably the match stuff, and you should be able to put up some tighter groups.
Looks like a decent setup to get your foot in the door.
Get you a Dead Air Mask HD suppressor, and some CCI Standard Velocity ammo, and enjoy making quiet pews. 
If you want a really nice shooter without having to step up to Voodoo or CZ money, the Christensen Arms Ranger 22 is a solid unit. Mine is damn-accurate. I have a thread about it in this section...Give it a look.
Christensen Arms Ranger 22
Well… Got off work early, and drove to the local outdoor store… That’s always a mistake. Like going to the grocery store hungry. 🤣 All the guns, all these years, I’ve never personally owned a bolt-action .22LR… Dad has a few, but I’ve never had one. Well, I figured now that I have my Dead...
www.snipershide.com
Savage mk2 is a 230 buck rifle. Sometimes gems can be found, but if mine, I wouldn't throw money at expensive ammo and hope it works.
I have 5 22LR's I believe are extremely accurate, (my beliefs), lol. And 1 Ruger Race Rifle, 2007 version, one would assume a limited edition of 10/22 would be above average accuracy wise, it stays in its lane on range days, and it is scoped accordingly.
I have 5 22LR's I believe are extremely accurate, (my beliefs), lol. And 1 Ruger Race Rifle, 2007 version, one would assume a limited edition of 10/22 would be above average accuracy wise, it stays in its lane on range days, and it is scoped accordingly.
A mK2 barely has minute of squirrel accuracy. That action is not one you want to start throwing money at. Enjoy it for what it is and what it was intended to be. Any guns accuracy can be improved with quality ammo but you can't make silk out of a sow's ear. Buy some bulk ammo and find some beer cans and go shoot. If you want accuracy, you have to pay for it!
All depends on what level of accuracy you're looking for. From where you're at, the next level would be CZ/ Bergara.class. Then Vudoo/RemX..Then you have custom builds with 2500x or Turbo custom actions. Of course the cost goes up as the level of accuracy go up.
What distances are you shooting?
My savage, Marlin, and both Rugers are absolutely LOVING the walmart 325 round box of this year's federal automatch in the gray'ish box. NOT THE BLUE BOX - those are hollowpoints and I think they start spinning around 150 yards. As a few have said, you can throw a lot of money in ammo in an inexpensive gun, but, why bother. I'm like you - I like to shoot - if I have a flyer out of a 10 round magazine, I blame it on the ammo
That's what drew me into the RF stuff as it's soo much more fun to pull the trigger at 7C to 10C a round versus hand reloaded 22-250, 308, 30-06, etc.
The blue stuff is great in the Mark IV pistol but the rifles just don't like it. At least mine don't.
I honestly can't comment about subsonic, I've only ever shot stuff in the 1200FPS range including cases of the eley match from CMP.
My savage, Marlin, and both Rugers are absolutely LOVING the walmart 325 round box of this year's federal automatch in the gray'ish box. NOT THE BLUE BOX - those are hollowpoints and I think they start spinning around 150 yards. As a few have said, you can throw a lot of money in ammo in an inexpensive gun, but, why bother. I'm like you - I like to shoot - if I have a flyer out of a 10 round magazine, I blame it on the ammo
That's what drew me into the RF stuff as it's soo much more fun to pull the trigger at 7C to 10C a round versus hand reloaded 22-250, 308, 30-06, etc. The blue stuff is great in the Mark IV pistol but the rifles just don't like it. At least mine don't.
I honestly can't comment about subsonic, I've only ever shot stuff in the 1200FPS range including cases of the eley match from CMP.
I have found a lot of rimfire people lately seem to be getting rather elitist in that if you are not shooting some 4000 dollar rifle with a 2 thousand dollar scope you are some sort of degenerate or just wasting your time and effort.
I do not agree.
sometimes cheap rifles shoot well, but that is mostly lucky rifle ammo combination
I am pretty happy with my humble savage, and if I do my job can clean a nrl22 stage, and have shot multiple 40/40 scores at my clubs silhouette match with that cheap rifle.
when it comes to accuracy what I have found is in level of repeatable precision bad to best:
cheap rifle / cheap ammo
moderate price rifle /cheap ammo
cheap rifle/ good quality ammo
moderate rifle/ good ammo
expensive rifle /cheap ammo
expensive rifle / good ammo
we all have a upper limit of cost and a lower limit of acceptable accuracy for the task at hand, and all that matters is that you are happy with both. For some people the sky is the limit on cost and they chase every last hair of accuracy, some of us can be satisfied with less? There is room for all of us
I do not agree.
sometimes cheap rifles shoot well, but that is mostly lucky rifle ammo combination
I am pretty happy with my humble savage, and if I do my job can clean a nrl22 stage, and have shot multiple 40/40 scores at my clubs silhouette match with that cheap rifle.
when it comes to accuracy what I have found is in level of repeatable precision bad to best:
cheap rifle / cheap ammo
moderate price rifle /cheap ammo
cheap rifle/ good quality ammo
moderate rifle/ good ammo
expensive rifle /cheap ammo
expensive rifle / good ammo
we all have a upper limit of cost and a lower limit of acceptable accuracy for the task at hand, and all that matters is that you are happy with both. For some people the sky is the limit on cost and they chase every last hair of accuracy, some of us can be satisfied with less? There is room for all of us
LOL, Sunday you shot a NRL 22 match with a Kidd, so you know the validity of a rifle built for accuracy.
I say run what you brought and have fun. On the other hand, I'm not pumping 96 octane gas in a 1979 chevy 350 and expecting it to set records.
I keep buying stock 10/22's, always target models, and every time I am about to checkout with Ely Tenex, Match, or a flavor of Lapua for one, I remind myself to stay in the lane. If I would have rebarreled one with an aftermarket, I would spend the coin.
If I am one of the snobs, well, I cannot bypass a rabbit hole, and I learn as I go, losing my ass on rifle stocks, scopes, custom barreled actions, you name it, I know how to lose money.
But I am also a generous snob, if I was at a match with the OP, and we had time to test the ammo I bought in his rifle and it worked, I would gladly supply him with enough of it to shoot the match and take some home to test further.
Therefore, I think the advice of shooting the rifle within the realm it was designed for is the best advice, it is still a fun gun.
I have two of those Savages as well as a 40X with a Lilja barrel and a Vudoo. One Savage was my first .22 trainer, the other purchased for the kids. The Savages don't shoot as well as the other two, but they punch WAY above their weight class. I've won several local matches with the Savages. They might all not be as good as my two, but I say it's worth trying some better ammo. Both mine like CCI Standard and Eley yellow box. In fact, I shot a 598 at the Olympic Training Center (600 is perfect) with one of them and Eley yellow.
Is the eley yellow the eley target? Mine shot that very well and it does the tac 22 also at 50, 100 it opens up, the eley match wasn’t real good at 50 but a lot better at 100 I am goin to try a box of tenex and lapua pistol king and try the target again
Ya I really like the savage and have no problem trying different ammo. What distance was u shooting with urs at ur local matches
I’d say that for the most part, you’ve gotten most of the right information. I have a Mk2 in the stable that used to get regular NRL22 match action and never was wanting, until that day. It was a very windy day for Florida, we measured up to 37 mph wind gusts and cold rain the whole time. On stage 9 of 10, the trigger froze up from grit.
I borrowed someone’s CZ457 MTR for stage ten upon his insistence and promptly bought one for myself. It’s a nice step up from the MKII.
Anyway, for what you are doing, try another lot of CCI SV ( the SV is actually sub-sonic) and if it feeds and ejects okay, you will probably like it. If you want, remove the bolt and use a fine stone on the flat surfaces, especially where they mark it and it will smooth out your bolt.
I agree that the Mk2 punches well above its price (often).
Once you truly feel that you must have something better, then move on. Until then enjoy your rifle and the time you are having.
I borrowed someone’s CZ457 MTR for stage ten upon his insistence and promptly bought one for myself. It’s a nice step up from the MKII.
Anyway, for what you are doing, try another lot of CCI SV ( the SV is actually sub-sonic) and if it feeds and ejects okay, you will probably like it. If you want, remove the bolt and use a fine stone on the flat surfaces, especially where they mark it and it will smooth out your bolt.
I agree that the Mk2 punches well above its price (often).
Once you truly feel that you must have something better, then move on. Until then enjoy your rifle and the time you are having.
I have been playing drums for thirty years. I see a lot of drummers that have GAS. Gear acquisition syndrome. They think a new book or different sticks or a better set of drums will make them better, it won’t.
I started precision rifle back when .308 was king. I got a 6.5 Creedmoor when the first came out and shot that till the barrel was worn out. Now I have a customized action and a Krieger barrel. I shoot it pretty good. I don’t think the action or barrel made me better. Shooting until I wore out a barrel made me better.
I say shoot what you have. Find ammo it likes and shoot. When you get good enough that the rifle is holding you back, you will know it. Buying more gear will not make you a better shooter.
Now for full disclosure I have a Bergara B14R I shoot in NRL22 matches and a Vudoo I shoot in PRSRIMFIRE matches. The B14R is lighter and helps in the offhand stages.
If you can’t outshoot the rifle you have, a new rifle will not make you better. If you do move to a Bergara, I recommend the steel barrel. From what I have seen they shoot better than the carbon but your mileage may vary.
If your going to spend your hard earned money my first recommendation is take a class. Good instruction will do more for your shooting than an expensive rifle.
Next spend money on ammo. Getting those fundamentals down is the first step.
Then build a practice barricade and learn to build a solid position quickly. There is a cap that fits on your scope called a DFAT. It allows you to practice with your scope in ten or twelve feet. You look through the scope at target photos and dry fire. Practice until you can keep the reticle from wandering of target.
I started precision rifle back when .308 was king. I got a 6.5 Creedmoor when the first came out and shot that till the barrel was worn out. Now I have a customized action and a Krieger barrel. I shoot it pretty good. I don’t think the action or barrel made me better. Shooting until I wore out a barrel made me better.
I say shoot what you have. Find ammo it likes and shoot. When you get good enough that the rifle is holding you back, you will know it. Buying more gear will not make you a better shooter.
Now for full disclosure I have a Bergara B14R I shoot in NRL22 matches and a Vudoo I shoot in PRSRIMFIRE matches. The B14R is lighter and helps in the offhand stages.
If you can’t outshoot the rifle you have, a new rifle will not make you better. If you do move to a Bergara, I recommend the steel barrel. From what I have seen they shoot better than the carbon but your mileage may vary.
If your going to spend your hard earned money my first recommendation is take a class. Good instruction will do more for your shooting than an expensive rifle.
Next spend money on ammo. Getting those fundamentals down is the first step.
Then build a practice barricade and learn to build a solid position quickly. There is a cap that fits on your scope called a DFAT. It allows you to practice with your scope in ten or twelve feet. You look through the scope at target photos and dry fire. Practice until you can keep the reticle from wandering of target.
Good information, what is best way to find a good class near me? I’d be interested in doing that, ya I have a bergara b14 hmr wilderness in 6.5 creedmoor and reload my own ammo, it’s definitely addictive, I don’t compete as of now just really enjoy shooting but have been considering taking a class
I really like my savage. It's cheap but I wanted a project to learn basic gunsmithing and practice for long range. It's great for that. It will eventually have extraction issues and the mags will break. Personally I prefer the 5 rd mags as they fit completely inboard on my stock and I don't have to worry about them getting bumped on bags or barricades while shooting. Id rather deal with a mag change instead of FTF or the rifle not balancing because of the longer magazine. CCI SV shoots great but around 90-100 rounds will start getting FTEs in mine. Just have fun and shoot a bunch. Grab some 2-3" targets and have a blast with it.
As far as a good class, it depends on where you are. Some of the best teachers move around. A class by Frank the master of the hide is worth its weight in gold. Caylen Wojcik is another excellent instructor. Of course if you are near Texas, Rifles Only is great. I am sure there are some great instructors that I don’t know about but the people here will let you know.
Do some research and ask around here on the hide. For a new shooter, the classes that start by making sure your rifle is properly set up and teach you how to do that are best.
Video is good but nothing beats hands on instruction where your slight mistakes can be observed and corrected. Even Olympic athletes have coaches.
Do some research and ask around here on the hide. For a new shooter, the classes that start by making sure your rifle is properly set up and teach you how to do that are best.
Video is good but nothing beats hands on instruction where your slight mistakes can be observed and corrected. Even Olympic athletes have coaches.
Yep
this. You have to practice. Guys that are winning matches are just good at moving and acquiring the target fast. If the gun is dialed they can shoot lights out with anyone of them. Vudoo, CZ or B14. I have the B14 and I need to practice more. I do get better with each comp but it’s not enough. I need to run the stages more often than just going to comps. My misses are mostly wind for further targets and for closer targets it’s me not getting a solid hold. But it’s darn hard to be fast and accurate and practice is the only way to improve.I would shoot that gun a lot more before thinking about upgrading. By that time, you'll better know if you want to upgrade and which features you'll care about. In the meantime, Killough Sports Shooting will allow you to buy different lots of Eley Match and Eley Tenex to let you try out high end ammo and to see how lots matter. My guns also tend to like Tac 22 over CCI SV so T22 is my baseline plinker. For target shooting I basically rely on SK, Lapua, or Eley. RWS in some guns.
I have a similar build. For what it is, I love it.
