Zermatt RimX 22LR Review - Bartlein, Benchmark, GM, Krieger, Lilja
- Thread starter padom
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I was in the other squad. Someone had told me your 5 round extensions were not working. Hopefully I'll have my Rim-X up and working by next Sunday, and I'll test mine.
Interesting. You are 100% sure the spring is installed properly in the +5 extension? There is no way to know this unless you very slowly/carefully remove the +5 extension to see where the bottom of the spring sits.
The first day I got my extensions, I had all kinds of problems and called Zermatt. I must have installed and removed the damn extensions 100x till I discovered what was happening which was not easy to see. Once I saw it I knew exactly how to fix it... Reinstalled all 3 extensions properly and Ive never had a spring tension or feeding issue again after 2000+ rounds. If the spring isnt installed correctly there WILL BE weak spring tension to push up on the rounds. Its very noticeable the weak vs proper spring tension when you have the spring installed incorrectly vs correctly because you arent getting the full tension of the spring straight up and down....
Not sure if thats your issue or not, but thats the issue I had on day 1 and its never been a thought, concern or issue again after discovering and fixing it. Thats why I made that video for everyone on how to install the mag extensions.
Yes 100%. Watched your video before I even got the extensions. I did confirm by slowly cracking open the extension and confirming.
My experience with mag extensions and springs is primarily related to pistols, But I would think that adding a five round extension would benefit from a longer/stronger spring. My action came in today, but I'm out of town, so I'l have to wait until Sunday to test my 15 rounders.
Still gathering information and making adjustments to rifle and the magazines. Will post my findings after I have an opportunity to put the rifle/mag through its paces.
You were running a stock and not a chassis if I remember correctly, I'm tossing mine in a n MPA, we'll see how that works. If it makes anybody feel better my brand new Vudoo aluminum 15 rounders don't work either . . . but at least they were half the price of the Rim-X mags ($90ish vs $180.
Long time lurker… had to chime in on the Keystone GM barrels. Just got back from the Lapua Rimfire Testcenter, and I have to give John at Keystone many props!
50m 20 shot average 13.42mm outside to outside! (The tech starts sorting ammo when they get a 19mm by the way)
100m 20 shot average 25.57mm outside to outside.
The barrel with the RimX is an absolute hammer.
Keystone Green Mountain 20” M24 with 11 degree Target Crown
Lapua Midas+ (Because that’s what it likes)
50m 20 shot average 13.42mm outside to outside! (The tech starts sorting ammo when they get a 19mm by the way)
100m 20 shot average 25.57mm outside to outside.
The barrel with the RimX is an absolute hammer.
Keystone Green Mountain 20” M24 with 11 degree Target Crown
Lapua Midas+ (Because that’s what it likes)
Attachments
Did they actually have ammo to test? I sent a Vudoo early this year but they were pretty much out of ammo to test. Been waiting for them to restock for the RimX.
And if anyone has an extra 20 MOA rail, I'll take it off your hands or trade you a 30 MOA.
And if anyone has an extra 20 MOA rail, I'll take it off your hands or trade you a 30 MOA.
Thank you for the extensive testing! I’d love to see Ibi blank in the runnings. This season in my northern rimfire series the ibi’s made up for a huge amount of the barrels on the line and many of the best shooters in my area have been shooting them.
Its a shame that the guy who runs keystone is a rude ahole because it looks like he does good work but I'd rather not deal with the errogant jerk.
What an awesome review and write up; Truly invaluable information and extremely helpful!
Someone correct me on any points that I’m wrong on (as I’m sure there will be some), but in summation:
- All setups were identical other than the maker of the barrel blank on each setup (contour M24, Padom’s proprietary reamer/chamber, length, threaded 1/2”x28, and even the same gunsmith)
- All the barrels shot very well/excellent.
- GM is an extremely attractive option when it comes to price vs performance especially if price point is of consideration.
- Each barrel shot just slightly better than the one tested before it, going in order of GM, Bartlein, Shilen, Krieger…
*** Last was Lilja which didn’t have a write up but had groups pictured… but I wasn’t smart enough to come to my own conclusion about where it fell amongst the others, sorry!
*** Also just now realizing I don’t recall for sure where the Benchmark fell in the order of accuracy… hopefully someone will chime in bellow regarding the Benchmark and the Lilja.
And if your OCD, like me, lol:
- The RimX was tested in a XLR Envy Pro chassis, not the MDT XRS chassis that was initially planned on/mentioned midway through the initial post (see post #166) as it was better suited to the testing/easier to clean, so, the list of the setup at the bottom of the initial post IS in-fact correct.
As much as I enjoyed reading all 217 prior posts (truly), and would suggest the read for those who are able, I know not everyone has enough time to do that, so thought this summery may be helpful to some. Anything I should add, subtract, or edit, to help summarize the high points better for future readers working with a time constraint?
Thanks again to @padom as well as to the many other contributors!
-Trent
Someone correct me on any points that I’m wrong on (as I’m sure there will be some), but in summation:
- All setups were identical other than the maker of the barrel blank on each setup (contour M24, Padom’s proprietary reamer/chamber, length, threaded 1/2”x28, and even the same gunsmith)
- All the barrels shot very well/excellent.
- GM is an extremely attractive option when it comes to price vs performance especially if price point is of consideration.
- Each barrel shot just slightly better than the one tested before it, going in order of GM, Bartlein, Shilen, Krieger…
*** Last was Lilja which didn’t have a write up but had groups pictured… but I wasn’t smart enough to come to my own conclusion about where it fell amongst the others, sorry!
*** Also just now realizing I don’t recall for sure where the Benchmark fell in the order of accuracy… hopefully someone will chime in bellow regarding the Benchmark and the Lilja.
And if your OCD, like me, lol:
- The RimX was tested in a XLR Envy Pro chassis, not the MDT XRS chassis that was initially planned on/mentioned midway through the initial post (see post #166) as it was better suited to the testing/easier to clean, so, the list of the setup at the bottom of the initial post IS in-fact correct.
As much as I enjoyed reading all 217 prior posts (truly), and would suggest the read for those who are able, I know not everyone has enough time to do that, so thought this summery may be helpful to some. Anything I should add, subtract, or edit, to help summarize the high points better for future readers working with a time constraint?
Thanks again to @padom as well as to the many other contributors!
-Trent
Your pretty spot on except for a few things. I never tested a Shilen in this round up review as you stated above. It was GM, Bartlein, Benchmark, Krieger and Lilja.
I would say they were in this order of how they shot:
Krieger/Bartlein
Benchmark/Green Mountain
Lilja
The Krieger and Bartlein shot about the same with the Krieger edging out the Bartlein on that day with that ammo slightly at 100yd...
The Benchmark and the Green Mountain shot about the same. Both very excellent barrels and accuracy. But the GM is much cheaper and is still the best VALUE I would say for a RimX.
The Lilja did not impress me and didnt shoot as consistent as all the others and was much more picky with what ammo shot good.
Now, since this review, I have tested multiple more Bartleins, Kriegers and GM's on my RimX and they shoot as good as they did in this review so thats confirmed. Some of the GM's have shot as good as the Bartleins and Kriegers but thats not every single one. For example, the last GM I tested a few months ago was a tack driver shooting just under 1.5" 10 shot groups @ 200yd in a pretty good rain storm. Impressive.
The Bartlein and Kriegers the biggest thing that stands out for me is they are the least picky with what ammo shoots well in them. They have shot a LOT of different ammo really damn good.
Three of my four Vudoo repeaters - three Gen 1, one Three-60 - have Kriegers that I've chambered with the same PTG EPS reamer. The exception is one that was purchased as a bbl'd action with a 22" Bartlein Kukri, and VGW's RAVAGE chamber. All four are very good shooters, though nearly all the ammo I've shot through them is various grades of SK or Lapua Center-X. I may have tried some old Federal Gold Medal Ultra Match through the 1st V22's Krieger soon after I finished it in 2017, but haven't done a lot of testing with other brands. I don't recall ever shooting anything but SK/Lapua through the Bartlein, so can't really comment on how picky it is. I've also got another Krieger on the last CMP 40XB that I sent to jelrod for the repeater conversion - it was set up and chambered the same as the V22s with the same EPS reamer. I originally had a 26" Lilja titebore on this rifle, and it has shot some really impressive groups - but I replaced it with the 22" Krieger simply because it's so long, and at the time, I didn't have a V22 yet, and was still shooting matches with the 40XB. Honestly, going mainly on memory and a few old targets I've saved, I think the 40XB/Krieger shoots as good as the V22s with their Kriegers. They make very consistent, excellent 22RF blanks, and I wouldn't hesitate to use one again (and since I've got three or four more Krieger blanks, I certainly will).
My one-and-only Rim-X was somewhat of a disappointment where accuracy was concerned, but after I had Mike Manzella do the 2nd of two GM bbls, with the Eachus chamber, it's really come into its own where accuracy & function are concerned. It feeds, extracts, & ejects with 100% reliability, and the accuracy is comparable to the Kriegers mentioned above - comparable, not quite the equal of the Kriegers. It's darned sure amazing that a barrel that cost me about 1/3 what a Krieger blank costs will shoot that good, but I can't deny it. To clear that statement up, I bought two 1.20" dia straight 27" CM blanks direct from GM for $221.90 several years ago, back when it took only a week or so to get an order from them filled. Then I spent about $120+ each to have John at Keystone profile both of them to his Palma Sport contour, and then whatever it was to have Mike chamber & crown the 2nd one of those GM blanks. And whatever Mike charged me, it was worth it.
My one-and-only Rim-X was somewhat of a disappointment where accuracy was concerned, but after I had Mike Manzella do the 2nd of two GM bbls, with the Eachus chamber, it's really come into its own where accuracy & function are concerned. It feeds, extracts, & ejects with 100% reliability, and the accuracy is comparable to the Kriegers mentioned above - comparable, not quite the equal of the Kriegers. It's darned sure amazing that a barrel that cost me about 1/3 what a Krieger blank costs will shoot that good, but I can't deny it. To clear that statement up, I bought two 1.20" dia straight 27" CM blanks direct from GM for $221.90 several years ago, back when it took only a week or so to get an order from them filled. Then I spent about $120+ each to have John at Keystone profile both of them to his Palma Sport contour, and then whatever it was to have Mike chamber & crown the 2nd one of those GM blanks. And whatever Mike charged me, it was worth it.
Maybeeeeeee... I swore I was done testing RimX barrels and I have a 12 twist Shilen 1.2" straight screwed on right now Im about to test and another GM waiting. I have another blank here Im really excited to test because this name never comes up in the RF circles but the guys at Wilson believe their 22RF will shoot with the best of them. So thats 3rd on my testing list. Then, maybe ill test a MW but thats going to be it. I need to move on to about 10 other tests/projects/reviews I have waiting.
I have 4 GM 416SS centerfire barrels here for review in 223 Rem Match, 6BR, 308win and 6.5cm I need to get testing on my TL3.
Im a Snipers Hide Staff Member and Snipers Hide is my website, channel, platform. Its where I have reported all my findings, testing, etc since I started testing actions, barrels, reloading gear, triggers, etc.
Lots of companies donate products for testing and I buy lots of products I want to test that arent donated. Donations help offset the cost but yea I spend a LOT of money doing it. I love to do it.
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Understood. Thanks, and I do enjoy reading your reports. Do you sell the various bits after testing? I don't pay much attention to the PX. Prefit compatibility is obviously a huge advantage to the RimX platform.
