Tortillaretreat wrote to Weatherman <=-
What other guns would you recommend for someone that is interested in precision shooting? I'm set in something like a 22LR caliber,
considering that the areas I'll be able to access consistently don't
have that much distance to them, and I'd also like not to spend much
money on a hobby I don't know if I'll be able to stick with for long
with the dynamic nature of gun laws. Is that Remington 540X the only
old rifle you'd recommend, or do you have a list of other reliable machines?
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That's a very interesting question. The .22 LR platform probably offers more diversity and variety than any other caliber out there. I've seen perfectly serviceable plinker rifles go for as little as $50 at a gun store (used of course) to benchrest rigs that were custom built for over $3,000.
As far as Remingtons, the best out there is a 40X, in my opinion. I've seen them shoot 250-25x benchrest targets multiple times. It's impossible to do better. That means that gun holds a 1/8" group at 25 yards. Prices seem to have sky-rocketed on this on the secondary market, they're selling for well over $1,000. Second after that would be the 540X and 541X. The basic difference is that the 540X is a single shot, the 541X is magazine fed. Other than that, they're identical and will shoot better than anyone holding them. Might not hold a 1/8" group on the bench, but you can pretty well count on 3/8" on the bench at 25 yards. I bought mine several years back for $225, in today's market maybe add $100 for one in good condition.
Anschutz is the go-to for precision shooters. You'll pay for them, too. The 54 is better than the 64, but that doesn't mean that the 64 is a slouch. As long as you don't pay 54 prices for it, the 64 is a good shooter. Expect to spend $500 and up for a model 64, the 54 will run you a couple of grand easy.
CZ is a brand not to be ignored. Great shooters, their current offering in precision shooting is the model 457. The nice thing here is that unlike the above, you can get into a current model for about a grand. On the used market, certainly quite a bit below that.
Of course, you can build a custom shooter by choosing a high end action, barrel, trigger group and stock, but such a rig is going to run into the $2K to $3K range easily.
So, what about the current retail market? The news ain't bad at all.. If we keep the price at about $500, there's quite a bit to choose from....
Savage has a good shooter at about $250. It's the Mark II FV. Capable of MOA accuracy all day long, it's got the Accutrigger so you can adjust it down to a pretty damned light trigger - like about 2 pounds. This might not be in benchrest territory (my 540X comes in about about 4 oz), but it sure as hell ain't a "lawyer's trigger." People tend to pish-posh Savages, but I've got one, a model 54, and for $50 it's a pretty decent little shooter. Just for the hell of it, I took it to a benchrest match and shot high 230's and mid 240's (out of a possible 250) with it. Holds about a 1/2" group at 25 yards off the bench.
Another good choice is the Henry. For $400 not only do you get a decent shooter (a bit more for the Silver or Golden Boy models), but you get something that looks and feels like an authentic cowboy gun. Lever action, octagon barrel, beautiful wood stocks. Yeah, the Henry holds a place in my heart. With a front bag as the only type of rest, I was able to put a tube's worth (15 rounds) into a singe, ragged hole that size of my middle finger fingernail. Do you find yourself giving yourself the bird while looking at that nail? They've also got a pump action. I bought one in .22 WMR, but haven't had a decent enough day to go out in the back yard and shoot it. It's a Henry though, so I expect it to meet that standard and then some. Online reviews indicate I won't be disappointed.
And now to my favorite. For not a lot of money, and a decent build, you can't go wrong with the Ruger. My personal favorite is the Ruger 10/22. You can get a $250 plain Jane that will shoot better than you can every day. You can spend a bit more, and get a match trigger, custom stock and bull barrel, but still be under a grand. I wish I still had my first 10/22, but my second one is a USST (United States Shooting Team) special edition. I paid $750 for it (WAY above list, but I WANTED it), match trigger, bull barrel and Talo Barracuda stock. Took this one into a benchrest night and was shooting in the 245 range all night long. This is also the ONLY semi-auto I would consider to be truly worth "precision" shooting in .22 LR. And of course, the afore-mentioned Precision Rimfire. Truly a match grade rifle out of the box, refinements and improvements are available for it, it eats ammou out of 10/22 magazines. and you can walk out the door with one for about $450.
Quite honestly, in the .22 LR realm, there is a LOT to choose from. You can go with a $225 fly swatter like my 540X (yes, I once hit a housefly at 50 yards with mine. Not once, but twice), or you can go all out and spend a couple of grand on a Killough or UltraLight action and a Weaver barrel and a custom stock.
Me? I'd go with the 540X, and spend the difference on ammo. ;)
Cheers!
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