Today I started the process on purchasing a Savage B22 .22lr to use in NRL22. It's pretty affordable which is kind of why I decided to go with it. The wait time right now is 3 days in Colorado (due to panic buying) and wanted to get out this weekend to shoot it. They had a Ruger Precision Rimfire and a Tikka T1x which were $160 and $210 more, respectively. Would I be better off cancelling my 4473 and switch to one of these more expensive rifles?
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Rifle for base class NRL22
- Thread starter kjeff91
- Start date
The lower cost of the Savage gives you more budget to spend on a scope and still stay in base class. That said I haven’t seen many Savages at the matches I’ve attended. Most Of the ones I’ve seen in base class are CZ457.
I like my tikka T1x. It's very accurate and can keep up with more expensive rifles. The nice part is that when you switch to open class, you can just throw it in a KRG Bravo and you are pretty much good to go
Pretty big 457 fan here. Can run the ProVarmint in Base, then like Swaim13 said of the Tikka, change the stock up to a KRG or Manners when you're ready to go Open.
WM
WM
I have seen the Tikka and the ruger at matches, I have also shot both and the tikka were better shooting rifles imo. No experience with the B22 so I can't help there. Are you planning on staying in base, or moving to open at some point? Doing some research on what you would add and remove from each to move up could help your decision.
I will also add that I had and sold my rpr to fund the tikka. The tikka shoots better imo. I dont have experience with the savage
Would you say that it's worth it to skip the Savage and move up?
What didn't you like about the Savage?
I didnt have the savage so cant comment on it other than the trigger. I like light triggers and on a savage 10 I tried, I just couldn't get it low enough and didnt like the feel.
I couldn't get my Rpr to group well with ten different types of ammo. I didnt feel like messing w it anymore so I sold it. I also didn't like the flex in the stock. That said, i do see a few rpr s at my matches and ppl do like them
I couldn't get my Rpr to group well with ten different types of ammo. I didnt feel like messing w it anymore so I sold it. I also didn't like the flex in the stock. That said, i do see a few rpr s at my matches and ppl do like them
Haha sorry I just woke up, meant to ask why you didn't like the Ruger but you answered my question.
I see a few Savages at matches but only one is really in the fight (accurate). With CZ and Tikka many are in base and many have been modded and are running good in open. Long term, Tikka would probably be better but right now it wouldn't leave much room for the optic.
We have 3 guys that shoot savage at our nrl matches. All 3 are accurate but are plauged with extractraction and magazine issues. I would buy the tikka. I had one in a bravo chassis and it is a good gun. The only reason I quit shooting it is cause I got a vudoo and all I want to shoot is my vudoo now.
I would suggest not getting the Savage. I see a lot of guys compete with them and most of them have or eventually have reliability issues with them. They also tend to be pretty picky about ammo and are hit or miss with accuracy. This is coming from someone who started with a Savage and finally got so frustrated with itI sold it and bought a Tikka. My Savage was always very accurate I just had constant reliability issues. I have a T1x and a CZ457. If you plan to leave the rifle stock the CZ457 Pro Varmint is great. Mine will only really shoot Lapua/SK ammo. My T1x when it still had the factory barrel would shoot about anything. One of the biggest pointers I can give a new competitor is get something that is reliable. Constantly battening you’re rifle can make for a very frustrating match.
I started NRL22 with a B22. My gun likes CCI standard velocity and had acceptable accuracy to get started in the sport. It would be even better now without paper stages.
The thing that pushed me away from it was the bolt lift and trigger. It is a very unrefined action. Thousands of rounds I’m sure would smooth it out but 2000 into it and the bolt leaves a lot to be desired.
I adjusted the accu trigger to its limits and it just isn’t for me.
From the matches I have been in, the tikkas and CZ are hammering
The thing that pushed me away from it was the bolt lift and trigger. It is a very unrefined action. Thousands of rounds I’m sure would smooth it out but 2000 into it and the bolt leaves a lot to be desired.
I adjusted the accu trigger to its limits and it just isn’t for me.
From the matches I have been in, the tikkas and CZ are hammering
I think the CZ and the Tikka are the better choices, out of the box and down the road. The options for aftermarket barrels might be better for the CZ , LIlja and Bartlien both have options but I think Walther has them for the Tikka. The chassis world is getting better all the time so that might be a dead heat. I realize that this is not relevant to base class but I like to have options to take stuff apart and tinker with it.
Killough started advertising CZ457 Varmint models with a lower level Athlon scope to shoot NRL base class recently. They test each one with several different lots of lower-priced Eley ammo, so you can buy the stuff it shoots decent with from the start. Pretty logical way to go IMHO - I've got triggers on all three of the 457s I own adjusted down to right at or just over a 1lb break, and my 457s have all been very reliable both in both feeding & extraction/ejection.
You should move up to the Tikka T1x. I have had the Savage and it is not acceptable in any way for anything in the accuracy department. I sold it. The Ruger Precision Rimfire is a handycap. Why do that to yourself? The Tikka T1x is far better for a few dollars more.
In Colorado it is not necessary for you to cancel your 4473. All you have to do is have the dealer change the firearm data from the Savage to the Tikka T1x. This must happen before you pick up the firearm. My understanding is that you draw a "single line" through the Savage information. Then initial the Savage information. In the next line down put in the Tikka information.
I borrowed a factory stock Tikka from a Great Buddy who let me shot it for a few matches. I also borrowed my dads CZ 457 Varmit, shot it in a few matches. The Tikka shot a little better for me, no knocks on the CZ, but the Tikka was a little more accurate, and liked all ammo I fed it. So my goal was to buy a Tikka.
I saw a fair number of Ruger RPR being run at the matches, I paid a great deal of attention to them because it was on my checkout, and possible buy list also. I noticed a couple of things, 1) if they were shooting a factory gun the accuracy was just not the same accuracy level of the Tikka and CZ, it wasn't bad, just a hair larger groupings.
2) if the RPR had been modified to shot Open Class it was very finicky, on extracting and ejecting, plus 3) if a 25 round magazine was used, if the magazine touched anything during the feeding or working of the bolt it jammed up big time. 4) RPR were also magazine sensitive with a few 10 rounders too.
I ending up getting a used Sako Quad, I could not find a Tikka at the time, all of the LGS were out. But I am very happy with my Sako Quad, I shoot in Open division now.
I saw a fair number of Ruger RPR being run at the matches, I paid a great deal of attention to them because it was on my checkout, and possible buy list also. I noticed a couple of things, 1) if they were shooting a factory gun the accuracy was just not the same accuracy level of the Tikka and CZ, it wasn't bad, just a hair larger groupings.
2) if the RPR had been modified to shot Open Class it was very finicky, on extracting and ejecting, plus 3) if a 25 round magazine was used, if the magazine touched anything during the feeding or working of the bolt it jammed up big time. 4) RPR were also magazine sensitive with a few 10 rounders too.
I ending up getting a used Sako Quad, I could not find a Tikka at the time, all of the LGS were out. But I am very happy with my Sako Quad, I shoot in Open division now.
I went with the Tikka! Hopefully the background check will clear tomorrow. Now I am just deciding between a few chassis's, the Oryx, MDT XRS and KRG Bravo.
If you plan on shooting base, you cannot swap out the stock. However if you changed your mind and plan on shooting open then ignore me!
Either way, good luck in your future competitions. I started shooting NRL22 earlier this year in base class with a CZ457 and a Athlon Argos BTR gen1 scope and it's definitely a lot of fun however I'm still chasing that first win! My buddy did win a 50% off Tbac cert last month from his base class win.
Oh nice! Would you say that winning in base class is easier than open? I was planning on running open class, but maybe not? All the comps I've ever been to didn't have prizes or anything.
There's no right answer to that question, it all depends on the people that show up to your local match. "Theoretically" speaking, base class was setup for new shooters to get started in NRL22 and over time they could advance into open however we all know that's never the case and there's no way for them to measure someone's experience level in order to regulate who gets to shoot in what class. In open class, you may go up against people shooting Vudoo's and TacSol's and Anschutz or whatever they want to spend their money on however we know that it's more about the shooter than the rifle but still. Base class is very regulated as far as how much you're allowed to spend on your rifle/glass ($1050 combined IIRC) and you're limited as to what you're allowed to modify on said rifle so as to "even" the playing field between base class shooters.
Tikka is a solid choice. Their factory barrel profile is about perfect for weight / accuracy in my opinion. I've loaned mine out as a backup at matches for ppl with broken rifles so they get to shoot instead of driving home, everybody likes the Tikka when they shoot it. Wait for beretta to have a sale on their website and pick up 3-4 extra mags. They have a sale every other week it seems, sign up for their email list and you will get the info spammed out you almost.
Hoser has a great 22 tac style match down at pueblo and the Appleseed Project has 2 day clinics out at Pikes Peak Izack Walton just east of Shriver Air force base on I94. There is also a fantastic looking match setting up out west by woodland park/divide sept 12/13 as well (cant make that one, pre-committed to another match that weekend). Details are here on the hide. I f you really want to get dedicated, the Olympic training center is there and ELEY will test your rifle for their best lot numbers if you commit to purchasing a case or more.
Don't worry about base class vs open, just and go shoot and enjoy it at a match. You'll figure out what direction you want to go after a couple times and seeing others' set ups. The factory stock is not as bad as everybody makes it out to be, but it does improve ergonomics if you get the CTR rubber buttplate and a cheek riser, I also put the vertical grip on it and that has been sufficient thus far. Feed it CCI SV or better for best results.
Hoser has a great 22 tac style match down at pueblo and the Appleseed Project has 2 day clinics out at Pikes Peak Izack Walton just east of Shriver Air force base on I94. There is also a fantastic looking match setting up out west by woodland park/divide sept 12/13 as well (cant make that one, pre-committed to another match that weekend). Details are here on the hide. I f you really want to get dedicated, the Olympic training center is there and ELEY will test your rifle for their best lot numbers if you commit to purchasing a case or more.
Don't worry about base class vs open, just and go shoot and enjoy it at a match. You'll figure out what direction you want to go after a couple times and seeing others' set ups. The factory stock is not as bad as everybody makes it out to be, but it does improve ergonomics if you get the CTR rubber buttplate and a cheek riser, I also put the vertical grip on it and that has been sufficient thus far. Feed it CCI SV or better for best results.
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