22 lr Bench rest gun suggestions.

Lager

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Back a few years ago, I was heavily involved in the crazy sport of bench rested 22lr @ 50 yards using hunting rifles. I had to quit due to work requirements, but now my situation has changed and I might be able to get back into competing again. I started out with the Savage FV-SR, then transferred to the CZ 455 Varmint. Both were fine rifles and I do realize that ammo selection is critical for accuracy and with both, the Eley Black suited the both of them well. Now we seem to have Ruger in the mix with the Ruger American Rimfire target and the Ruger Precision rimfire available. Was wondering if anyone did side by side test using the new Rugers comparing to the Savage or CZ ? If you had to do it all over again, which would you buy?
 
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They all have great examples and less great examples. The 455s are reliably good and sometimes great. The others I haven't seen enough of but plenty swear by them. To get a really great 455 usually means an aftermarket barrel of some sort (Lilja barrels cost about what the rifles do :-(, but there are some other choices). Nearly all the RPR information I've seen indicates they are probably comparable to the 455s, although the trigger may be harder to tune than a simple Yodave trigger kit in the 455. I think the RPR is the clear winner for those that want a chassis style rifle at a reasonable price, although there is a Savage (I think) that is similar now - haven't seen one yet.

You can see this question debated for as long as you want to read about it at rimfirecentral.com.
 
I have 2 CZ 455s and time and effort to make groups smaller for me is easiest on a CZ. The Savage out of the box is damn good but after working on them my CZs to me are more pleasing. As to the new Ruger Precision Rimfire ... it is so unattractive and I don’t care for how it feels but for what you get in chassis and accuracy I’ve heard the RPR is hard to beat at that price point. All being said I do love my 455s and would not trade them for anything ... except maybe an Anschütz.
 
They all have great examples and less great examples. The 455s are reliably good and sometimes great. The others I haven't seen enough of but plenty swear by them. To get a really great 455 usually means an aftermarket barrel of some sort (Lilja barrels cost about what the rifles do :-(, but there are some other choices). Nearly all the RPR information I've seen indicates they are probably comparable to the 455s, although the trigger may be harder to tune than a simple Yodave trigger kit in the 455. I think the RPR is the clear winner for those that want a chassis style rifle at a reasonable price, although there is a Savage (I think) that is similar now - haven't seen one yet.

You can see this question debated for as long as you want to read about it at rimfirecentral.com.
Hey Jim,, Thanks for the reply.. Like you suggested, I did a bit of research on the rimfire central site and you are right. There are a lot of reviews and folks comments about the RPR and I read all I could. I think Ive come up with a conclusion ? Ruger designed this rifle to appeal to someone that likes the look of a futuristic sniper rifle , buts its accuracy does not seem quite up to the standards of the tried and true Savage or CZ. The rounded sheet metal stock will not sit well on bags like a flat stock will and I know you can add a bipod, but Ive found they not quite as consistent or stable as bag. When you need a quarter of an inch @ 50 yards to make the difference, everything helps like Im sure you know. Concerning the addition of aftermarket barrels for the 455, I agree they do help. But class rules at my local club forbids their use to help reduce cost in what's supposed to be a hunter class. Gun is supposed to be original as can be, but you can change the stock. Again, thanks for your help..
 
I have 2 CZ 455s and time and effort to make groups smaller for me is easiest on a CZ. The Savage out of the box is damn good but after working on them my CZs to me are more pleasing. As to the new Ruger Precision Rimfire ... it is so unattractive and I don’t care for how it feels but for what you get in chassis and accuracy I’ve heard the RPR is hard to beat at that price point. All being said I do love my 455s and would not trade them for anything ... except maybe an Anschütz.
Good thoughts, you know what I noticed thru my time competing? I started with the Savage, shot and shot. Trigger mods thinking they were going to help, they didn't. Went thru all kinds of ammo till I found what it liked best. I was still getting 2nd place from a guy shooting a CZ 452. I read that the varmint stock from Boyds a big difference, so I bought one.. My scores didn't change and I was still 5-10 points behind this Southern Baptist preacher that was shooting squirrel eye at 50 yards. So I researched and talked a lot of folks, everyone told me go CZ. Couldn't find a 452 so I bought the 455 tactical, was twice the price of the original Savage and didn't shoot any better. I had to sell one cause Im not a rich guy and figured that the Cz had to be a better gun and its just me, so I sold the Savage. Year later, Im still getting second place behind my preacher, no matter what I did. My scored didn't change a bit using the CZ as compared to my Savage.. Then I changed jobs and didn't have the chance to compete anymore, this was 4 years ago so I sold my CZ to a co worker that has a son that competes in high school comps that include 22lr at 30 yards and archery and using that gun he is one of the best shooters in the state. Now, I have some time and can compete again in shooting sport that's the most difficult of all,just because I seem to like the pain. You have to be a sick person to want to compete in a sport where its not just the gun, your technique, but more importantly your ammo selection and their consistency that determines if you are going to win or lose.
 
Are there rules that you have to follow?


CHRIS
Rules are pretty simple in the hunter class.. The gun has to be stock, just like the manufacture provided it. You are allowed to change the stock as long as its commercially available. You can alter the trigger as long as you have to pull it with your finger. It cant weight more then 10 lbs. Any scope is allowed, any bags are allowed as long as the front and rear do not connect. You are shooting at 100 targets, one shot per target. The X is the size of this period point at 50 yards . The 10 ring measures 3/8 of an inch, the nine ring about the size of a quarter. Hope this helps??
 
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