What can you do to improve Accuracy?

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#1gohunt

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I have a Winchester Model 52 C that I have been using to shoot in a IR 50/50 Match. This rifle came with Redfield Olympic sights which I have replaced with a Vortex Viper 5x25 FFP Tactical Scope. The scope is mounted on a reverse Picatenny rail with EGW Rings. The only other improvement I have made to this rifle is to lower the trigger pull to about 1 1/4 lb. Anyone have any suggestions with the same or similar rifle? I am currently using Lapua Center X ammo.
 
A good front rest is necessary. I do not use a rear rest because I could never get use to them. Use one though if you are comfortable with it. They do help a lot. I have my trigger set at 6oz. and a Weaver T-36 scope which are not made anymore. It takes a lot of practice. Find out which ammo shoots best out of your rifle. Then always do batch tests. Buy the best ammo that works in your gun and you can afford and do lot tests. When you get a good lot buy as much as you can of that lot. Learn how to breath when shooting.

Should add I shoot an Anschutz 64 sbr
 
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#1gohunt said:
I have a Winchester Model 52 C that I have been using to shoot in a IR 50/50 Match. This rifle came with Redfield Olympic sights which I have replaced with a Vortex Viper 5x25 FFP Tactical Scope. The scope is mounted on a reverse Picatenny rail with EGW Rings. The only other improvement I have made to this rifle is to lower the trigger pull to about 1 1/4 lb. Anyone have any suggestions with the same or similar rifle? I am currently using Lapua Center X ammo.
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Like ECNC said you need to test several, at least 5-10, different ammo lots from the mid-price to the higher price. Your trigger is a little heavy for bench type shooting. If you plan on doing this seriously, you may want to look into a bench type stock. Your front and rear rests are going to help you take the human factor out of holding the rifle the same each shot.
 
ECNC said:
A good front rest is necessary. I do not use a rear rest because I could never get use to them. Use one though if you are comfortable with it. They do help a lot. I have my trigger set at 6oz. and a Weaver T-36 scope which are not made anymore. It takes a lot of practice. Find out which ammo shoots best out of your rifle. Then always do batch te
REELDOC said:
Like ECNC said you need to test several, at least 5-10, different ammo lots from the mid-price to the higher price. Your trigger is a little heavy for bench type shooting. If you plan on doing this seriously, you may want to look into a bench type stock. Your front and rear rests are going to help you take the human factor out of holding the rifle the same each shot.
Click to expand...

sts. Buy the best ammo that works in your gun and you can afford and do lot tests. When you get a good lot buy as much as you can of that lot. Learn how to breath when shooting.

Should add I shoot an Anschutz 64 sbr
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Thanks for the information. I am currently using front and rear bags, and since I am so poor I can't Even Pay Attention, the ammo I am using is already to much. The IR 50/50 only allows up to a 25 power scope. Well I am still enjoying shooting and it looks like saving money by not having to build a Trophy Case.
 
If ammo price is a problem, try some SK Rifle Match. It shoots better than Center X in my rifle, but testing several lots is always a necessity with rimfire ammo. Both ammos are made by the same company.
 
Thanks for the advise. I haven't tried this brand. I am new to the Statesville area, where are you finding this brand.
 
I have only tried CCI target, Norma Tac 22, Eley, and the Lapua Center X. So far the CENTER X groups the best. I may try some SK if I can find it. I know it is a learning experience. I have been shooting for a long time but it has also been a long time ( 57 years) since I shot competition.
Thanks for the help
 
Is your barrel free floated? I've never had a 52 so I don't know if they are from the factory or not.
Have you played around with the position of your front rest?
Some guns may like it out on the front of the stock, some in the rear, some some place in between.
 
ronn47 said:
Is your barrel free floated? I've never had a 52 so I don't know if they are from the factory or not.
Have you played around with the position of your front rest?
Some guns may like it out on the front of the stock, some in the rear, some some place in between.
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No Ronn47, I don't believe it is what you would call free floated. It hasn't been bedded but it does have an attached barrel band which keeps it in the stock. I have experimented a little with it by loosening and tightening but I really haven't noticed much difference.
Your suggestion about the Front rest sounds interesting. I have only had it positioned towards the Front of the Rifle.
I have something new to try now, thanks for the advise.
 
#1gohunt said:
That is interesting, I looked at it and the price seems reasonable. I already have a good Caliber. Can you tell me more about your accuracy results.
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It works better for me when sorting them by .005” differences. You end up with a lot of time in it, but it works really well. Me and a buddy shoot out to 300yds with out .22lr bolt guns. I constantly hit golf balls in strings at 100-150yds. I don‘t shoot matches, but at 50 yds using sorted Lapua Center X , my Bergara shoots one ragged hole. at 100 it is one ragged hole to a clover leaf if I do my job. I had it lapped and replaced the trigger with a Timney Calvin Elite and set it at 13oz. When I am not shooting Lapua in it, I shoot (and sort) SK Standard. It is a heavily waxed bullet but truthfully performs almost as good as the Center X. I have learned not to clean mine before I go shooting. It takes a box+/- to get it back to shooting after a thorough cleaning.
 
That is really interesting. I have never heard of this for 22 Ammo. Since Lapua Center X is suppose to be precision manufactured, out of a box of 50, how many shells do you sort out over your .005 tolerance? I am thinking about ordering one.
What is your location, if you don't mind me asking. I am new to Statesville area and haven't met to many 22 fans.
I have learned also not to clean a 22 barrel, unless it is really filthy.
 
#1gohunt said:
That is really interesting. I have never heard of this for 22 Ammo. Since Lapua Center X is suppose to be precision manufactured, out of a box of 50, how many shells do you sort out over your .005 tolerance? I am thinking about ordering one.
What is your location, if you don't mind me asking. I am new to Statesville area and haven't met to many 22 fans.
I have learned also not to clean a 22 barrel, unless it is really filthy.
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I am from Jefferson. Out of a brick of 500 I might get 75-100 that are close enough to use within each .005” group. Very few are horribly long or short. But you have to see how your rifle responds. Mine likes longer ammo and seems to do better with it. Just separate them into groups based on the length and test them out to see how it does. Other factors such as the amount of propellant affect it but are out of our control. The length sizing just give a slight possible advantage.
 
You are training the gun but are you training you?

Physical endurance, stamina, resting heart rate, breathing are all going to have a big impact unless you have the gun locked down in a vise.

All those get better with exercise and work on you. I can already see this paying off shooting my bow.
 
charliedeltajuliet said:
I am from Jefferson. Out of a brick of 500 I might get 75-100 that are close enough to use within each .005” group. Very few are horribly long or short. But you have to see how your rifle responds. Mine likes longer ammo and seems to do better with it. Just separate them into groups based on the length and test them out to see how it does. Other factors such as the amount of propellant affect it but are out of our control. The length sizing just give a slight possible advantage.
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Thanks for the additional information, I believe I am going to try this. My scores have been within 12 to 15 points of the shooter in first place maybe I can narrow the lead some.
 
chiefjason said:
You are training the gun but are you training you?

Physical endurance, stamina, resting heart rate, breathing are all going to have a big impact unless you have the gun locked down in a vise.

All those get better with exercise and work on you. I can already see this paying off shooting my bow.
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Well I am 75 years old and have been exercising up until a little over 3 weeks ago when I wrecked my bicycle doing Lake Normans bike trail. I believe I bruised 2-3 ribs, my wife is a nurse & she didn't think they were broke. Doing a lot better now. I was a Rifle and Archery instructor at Clemson University for almost 9 years. I know what you mean about Shooting your bow.
Thanks for the advise and good luck this Archery season.
 
charliedeltajuliet said:
It works better for me when sorting them by .005” differences. You end up with a lot of time in it, but it works really well. Me and a buddy shoot out to 300yds with out .22lr bolt guns. I constantly hit golf balls in strings at 100-150yds. I don‘t shoot matches, but at 50 yds using sorted Lapua Center X , my Bergara shoots one ragged hole. at 100 it is one ragged hole to a clover leaf if I do my job. I had it lapped and replaced the trigger with a Timney Calvin Elite and set it at 13oz. When I am not shooting Lapua in it, I shoot (and sort) SK Standard. It is a heavily waxed bullet but truthfully performs almost as good as the Center X. I have learned not to clean mine before I go shooting. It takes a box+/- to get it back to shooting after a thorough cleaning.
Click to expand...
@#1gohunt
If you really want to dig a rabbit hole after checking the lengths, get a digital scale and sort the different lengths by weight.
I read about weighting 22 lr rounds years ago, the guy was shooting Eley 10X in BR50.
He said it paid off for him.
 
How often do you need to clean the barrel? I googled it and found this Eley link saying every 90-100 rounds.
eley.co.uk

Does a cleaner gun mean a cleaner shot?

With 15 years’ experience as a Benchrest competitor and champion, Dan Killough knows how to extract maximum accuracy from a rimfire barrel.
eley.co.uk eley.co.uk

What do folks here recommend for best accuracy?
 
One thing I try to do is find what each .22 likes best and do not switch its ammo. Yes, that means try a bunch of different stuff, find what it likes best and then buy that ammo by the case (if you can find it) but a case of .22 doesn’t take up much space … however it can empty space in your wallet but you’ll not have to replenish it as often either. Honestly an onhand inventory of a couple cases of CCI Standard Velocity and couple cases CCI Mini-Mags (Mini-Mags are decent accuracy but I buy them more for functionality … if a semi-auto won’t run on Mini-Mags 99% of the time something is wrong with it) when you find at a decent price is as good of an investment as about anything else … the good match stuff like Eley, Wolf, Lapua, etc has gotten to the point where you just buy what you can when you can get it and just try not to cry.
 
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NCFubar said:
One thing I try to do is find what each .22 likes best and do not switch its ammo. Yes, that means try a bunch of different stuff, find what it likes best and then buy that ammo by the case (if you can find it) but a case of .22 doesn’t take up much space … however it can empty space in your wallet but you’ll not have to replenish it as often either. Honestly an onhand inventory of a couple cases of CCI Standard Velocity and couple cases CCI Mini-Mags (Mini-Mags are decent accuracy but I buy them more for functionality … if a semi-auto won’t run on Mini-Mags 99% of the time something is wrong with it) when you find at a decent price is as good of an investment as about anything else … the good match stuff like Eley, Wolf, Lapua, etc has gotten to the point where you just buy what you can when you can get it and just try not to cry.
Click to expand...
I have a good supply of CCI standard and mini mags. I have always thought they shot good. That is until I started shooting IR 50. Then I started experimenting and settled on Lapua Center X. It is selling for $13-15 a box of 50. It does bring some tears to my eyes. I haven't tried any of the higher grade Lapua and I don't believe I will because of the price.
Thanks for the advise. I now have a couple of other things to try.
 
#1gohunt said:
I have a good supply of CCI standard and mini mags. I have always thought they shot good. That is until I started shooting IR 50. Then I started experimenting and settled on Lapua Center X. It is selling for $13-15 a box of 50. It does bring some tears to my eyes. I haven't tried any of the higher grade Lapua and I don't believe I will because of the price.
Thanks for the advise. I now have a couple of other things to try.
Click to expand...
Lapua Center X is an excellent ammo and one of my 455’s loves but another that I shoot supprseed likes Wolf Match Extra better for some reason them an old Mossberg trainer loves inexpensive CCI Standard Velocity so one ammo does not necessarily cover them all.
 
I think the part is Hornady RF17. Searching that part number, I see it also available at Midway.
www.midwayusa.com

Hornady Rim Thickness Ga 17-22 Cal

The Hornady Rim Thickness Gauge is perfect for rim fire enthusiasts who demand nothing but the utmost consistency. The gauge allows the shooter to sort...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
 
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