Although, I know a little about Annies, CZ's, and Win 52's. The ones that started me down the path of precision rimfire in 2010 are the ones that REALLY have the knowledge base.
I haven't had time to reply to this thread in detail until now.
I believe Tom may be referring to the Conover Crew here. I am one of the dark horses in that crowd, but I logged many hours and much personal fortune, in that veritable accuracy lab.
Heavy barrels:
It's hard to closely recreate the feel of your center-fire rifle, without a heavy barrel on your trainer. Its just a fact. I watched a preteen put the fear of God into grown men with a CZ452 Scout many many matches, but it didn't recreate the feel and function of a trainer. It was effective though
CZ makes a great rifle, I've owned several. My 452 Varmint with tacticool stock had a "real feel" but was a bit light. The manners stocked version really puts the icing on that cake. They are accurate a plenty for most games and competitions. They are ammo dependent.
The 64MPR is the Cadillac of accuracy. They are very ammo specific, but all rimfires are ammo specific. The Anscutz well fed will consistently outshoot almost anything else. That is not insinuating you can buy a good score. You can buy accuracy, nothing more. Buying accuracy does not guarantee a good score, only the shooter can determine that. If you are a good shooter, you should buy the best equipment you can afford.
There is nothing quite as sad as watching a good shooter, trying to make cheap equipment, do something beyond it's ability. If I have offered to let you use my rifle in a competition, it is a compliment, it is not a slam against your equipment. You should never take such gestures as a personal affront to your financial station.
As far as I know right now, my Anscutz as it currently exists, has one sister. Those two are the only ones that exist in that configuration and amount of workup. I think there are two more in the works, or we're about a year ago.
What do I have in it? A lot
Was it worth it? To me yes.
Did I need to do that work? No
Did it improve an already excellent platform? Absolutely
How do I know? Where is my empirical evidence? Ask the guys that shoot with me. They may tell you something like this: "If Joe said it shoots better, then you can believe it shoots better."
What it "is" is more consistent. I know the secrets of the winningest guns at Conover. If you are on the edge of your seat waiting for the reveal, I'm sorry, it isn't my information to blab. I did just scare at least two people though
I have given you the piece that solves the puzzle.
If you want the most out of your rimfire, you are gonna have to buy pricey ammo. I'm not even gonna tell you where to look and what to buy, every time I do I find shortly I can't buy any ammo to shoot a dang match. I know that isn't terribly helpful, but I have wrote it all over the internet for numerous years, just not gonna do it anymore. I don't like making Hitler videos as much as you guys think.
You need to buy what is right for you, and buy ammo worthy of your time. Looking for racing parts and fuel in the bargain bin is a losing proposition. You always fall victim to false economy and wasted time and money.
Maybe you don't need to win a match. In that case, work within the ability of your rifle, and judge your results against those limitations. Lead downrange with discipline and purpose is your goal. Trigger time is what makes you a better shooter, not your equipment. When you are a better shooter, equipment and good ammo can make you a dang sight more precise.
Don't scrimp on glass for a trainer. If you are going to use it as a trainer, your glass needs to hold up. If you can't trust your turrets to go up 1.2mil, up to 7.5mil, up to 12.6mil, up to, 18.3mil, and then back to zero and put a bullet hole in the same spot you started, and do that 50 times a year, it really isn't much good as a trainer.
What about holding over? If that is how you want to do it sure, I do that some too. If your scope won't pass a simple box test in April, and again in October, it is junk.
If you put $800 in a rifle, and $200 in a scope you are not approaching the problem correctly. I'd rather rig my big rifle and my trainer, with the same rails, and swap one good scope, than run a cheap scope on my trainer. I've done it. Keep a dope book on the scope and if it's worth a hoot, it'll take 3 minutes and no more than 2 shots to swap back.
There is a match at Conover on June 10th as far as I know. Come out and shoot, and see how it's done. Don't know if I'm gonna make it or not the way my pinched nerve has been but I'm gonna try.
