NRL .22 base class

[drcoastline]

Any NRL .22 shooters here? looking to get started in base class. I have been looking around and sampling different platforms. Max cost for base class $1,050.00 weapon and glass.

Tikka T1x, Ruger 10/22, Ruger Precision rim fire, Savage B22 precision, and the Savage BTVLSS (basically a Mark II in stainless left-handed, Boyd stock.)

There are Pros and cons to all these platforms as well as some limitations due to my location (NJ) 10 round mags no threaded barrel. The biggest hurdle is I am Left-handed.

The Tikka has a flimsy feel to the polymer stock and I really don't like the sloppiness in the bolt. Available in left handed-action

Standard Ruger 10/22 can't say much about this other than I was looking for a bolt not a semi-auto.

Ruger Precision rim fire- Seems like an ok good entry? I don't think comes in left hand?

Savage B22 precision- Some issues with nicking the round in the mag throwing off accuracy. Left-handed also questionable.

At the moment I am leaning toward the

Savage BTVLSS- It seems to check all the boxes? Any thoughts or advice? It may be difficult to upgrade when the time comes.

[flatbutt]

Higgins may be your best source for this.

[Seahawk]

Neat that you are doing this. I have never participated but after some cursory homework, the base class looks like fun.

I have a 10/22 and I don't think that is what you are looking for.

I have a Savage bolt action in WMR that has been a great little varmint rifle for over 10 years. Very accurate.

I would be interested in reading how this all plays out, especially the course.

Best.

[cabmandone]

Just curious, why are you concerned with left handed? I shoot left handed and have never owned a bolt action rifle or shotgun designed for a left handed person.

As for the rifle itself, I'm a fan of the Savage rifles. I don't know what the rules are for NRL but if you need to keep the gun "stock", I'd want something with a good adjustable, smooth trigger.

[id10t]

My Savage BTV (same as teh BTVLSS but not stainless or lefty) was a barely sub-moa gun with CCI SV and low end match ammo (SK Std+, Wolf before it became an Ely product).

It did however need 20-30 rounds of ammo down the tube to "settle in" to max accuracy when clean OR when changing brands/types of ammo.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Neat that you are doing this. I have never participated but after some cursory homework, the base class looks like fun.

I have a 10/22 and I don't think that is what you are looking for.

I have a Savage bolt action in WMR that has been a great little varmint rifle for over 10 years. Very accurate.

I would be interested in reading how this all plays out, especially the course.

Best.

Don't get me wrong Paul, I like the 10/22, but I think the bolt will be a little more challenging, operator involvement. I am also looking to see how good I can be on as little money as possible, that's why I am entering the base class.

My initial hope was to either buy a base gun like the TK1 or an entry MarkII or barreled action and then build a precision rifle. But after a little research all of those would automatically put me in the Open class. You can't switch out the stock for a chassis and/or if an official can whip out their phone pull up your weapon and find an MSRP you automatically go into the open class. So a weapon that has been discontinued can be perfectly stock will go into open class.

So basically I am going to need to buy what I am going to shoot. It can be modded, without penalty, rails, bed the action, etc. but other than that basically stock.

EDIT: sorry Paul, it seems the courses change depending on where you are shooting. I guess each club sets up their own courses so something different each time.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Just curious, why are you concerned with left handed? I shoot left handed and have never owned a bolt action rifle or shotgun designed for a left handed person.

As for the rifle itself, I'm a fan of the Savage rifles. I don't know what the rules are for NRL but if you need to keep the gun "stock", I'd want something with a good adjustable, smooth trigger.

Nick, I shoot mostly right handed guns, but for this it is a timed event and it has a lot to do with staying on target. With a right handed action I need to lift my head use my right hand to manipulate the bolt then drop my head re-grip the fore grip and re-sight the target.

With a left handed action I can stay on target. fire use my thumb to rechamber a round and never leave sight of my target through the scope. It's easier, faster, less moving around and I am left handed so it is more natural.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by id10t

My Savage BTV (same as teh BTVLSS but not stainless or lefty) was a barely sub-moa gun with CCI SV and low end match ammo (SK Std+, Wolf before it became an Ely product).

It did however need 20-30 rounds of ammo down the tube to "settle in" to max accuracy when clean OR when changing brands/types of ammo.

I have a lot of options with Savage if I don't go SS, but I like it and it is already step up for NRL. 22 and priced right.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Nick, I shoot mostly right handed guns, but for this it is a timed event and it has a lot to do with staying on target. With a right handed action I need to lift my head use my right hand to manipulate the bolt then drop my head re-grip the fore grip and re-sight the target.

With a left handed action I can stay on target. fire use my thumb to rechamber a round and never leave sight of my target through the scope. It's easier, faster, less moving around and I am left handed so it is more natural.

That makes sense! Like I said, I'm not familiar with the events. I might have to do some reading. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by cabmando

That makes sense! Like I said, I'm not familiar with the events. I might have to do some reading. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

I was looking into long building a range precision shooter .308 or 6.5 Creedmore. As I looked into it further and thought about the state I am in and my surrounding states it seemed ridiculous to build a gun that has a range of 1000 yards. I don't have anyplace within hours that I can shoot on a regular basis, the cost to build and ammunition cost So I started looking into alternatives.

In my part of South Jersey and the tri-state area DE, PA a 400 yard range is long. 200 yards is the norm. My club has a 300 yard lane so I am lucky. Shooting a 1/2" group of .22 at 100 yards is pretty challenging, extend that to 200 or 300 yards I may as well be shooting a .308 at 1000. All the same dynamics and actions.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

I was looking into long building a range precision shooter .308 or 6.5 Creedmore. As I looked into it further and thought about the state I am in and my surrounding states it seemed ridiculous to build a gun that has a range of 1000 yards. I don't have anyplace within hours that I can shoot on a regular basis, the cost to build and ammunition cost So I started looking into alternatives.

In my part of South Jersey and the tri-state area DE, PA a 400 yard range is long. 200 yards is the norm. My club has a 300 yard lane so I am lucky. Shooting a 1/2" group of .22 at 100 yards is pretty challenging, extend that to 200 or 300 yards I may as well be shooting a .308 at 1000. All the same dynamics and actions.

Yeah 1000 yds is a tough range to find. Closest I get is about 900 yards from my house to the road North of me. We have guys posted on the road making sure no cars are coming. We can plink at 550 yards all we want up at our hunting property. If we ask a few neighbors around my nephew's place, we can get to 1000 or more but we've never done that.

Rimfires can be a lot of fun when shooting for accuracy. My friend recently built what he's calling a "long range" 22 rimfire. I haven't seen the rifle yet and didn't ask him what he did to it. My plinker for anything 200 and closer is my .22 mag.

[id10t]

You can build a MOA capable 10/22 for about $800 including glass.

Base rifle (stupid $289 at bass pro)
Green Mountain heavy or heavy taper barrel ($100ish)
Tier 3 or Tier 1 trigger job from Brimstone, or KIDD drop in unit ($100ish)
Replacement stock from Boyds. ($100ish)
$20 in supplies to bed receiver and take down/v-block area
Meuller 8-32x44 w/ Target dot (or mildot if you insist, I don't like mildot...)

[cabmandone]

^^^
Then you just have to build the shooter!

[LWJ]

DR,

Are you saying that you are left handed but that you often / occasionally shoot right handed?

That is weird. But, familiar as that is my story as well.

I am left handed, right dominant eye and leg. I am more comfortable to shoot righty but if a shot counts? I shoot lefty.

It also means I am completely worthless playing basketball.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by id10t

You can build a MOA capable 10/22 for about $800 including glass.

Base rifle (stupid $289 at bass pro)
Green Mountain heavy or heavy taper barrel ($100ish)
Tier 3 or Tier 1 trigger job from Brimstone, or KIDD drop in unit ($100ish)
Replacement stock from Boyds. ($100ish)
$20 in supplies to bed receiver and take down/v-block area
Meuller 8-32x44 w/ Target dot (or mildot if you insist, I don't like mildot...)

The problem with that is I would automatically go into the open class. I want to stay in the base class.

The Savage BTVLSS as pictured is $450.00 to my FFL, Primary Arms 4x14 HDSS with Christmas tree mill dots is about $200.00. So that qualifies. I can still add a pic rail and bi pod, trigger job without a penalty.

[Bill Douglas]

I was going to suggest looking on rimfirecentral . com but they are very biased towards the brands and models they own.

CZ may fit into your price bracket.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by LWJ

DR,

Are you saying that you are left handed but that you often / occasionally shoot right handed?

That is weird. But, familiar as that is my story as well.

I am left handed, right dominant eye and leg. I am more comfortable to shoot righty but if a shot counts? I shoot lefty.

It also means I am completely worthless playing basketball.

LWJ, I shoot left handed (left index trigger finger) Left eye dominant but with right handed guns (cartridge ejects on the right side). It's not that big of a deal with a semi Auto other than getting a fair amount of burnt powder in my right eye and the occasional shell casing.

I use scissors and golf clubs right handed.

I was a fairly good switch hitter in baseball, and could go left and right in basketball. Decent ball handler. But, I am white so I can't jump or maybe it is that I am 5'-7"?

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I was going to suggest looking on rimfirecentral . com but they are very biased towards the brands and models they own.

CZ may fit into your price bracket.

CZ is very nice and I have seen a few, I wasn't to keen on the slop in the bolt. I must say of all the guns I have looked at the Savage Mark II's had the tightest and smoothest bolts in the price range.

[pwd72s]

Neighbor across the street just inherited a (1950's?) vintage Remington. Glass, bolt action. He showed a 25 yards group of 5...coulda covered the hole with a quarter. The high grade walnut stock made me drool. Probably next to impossible to find that wood today. Of course, right handed.

Lefty shooters probably have very limited options...perhaps a custom? $$$$ though.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Higgins may be your best source for this.

No, not this time. I have very little interest in rimfire target rifles for my own use. All of my rimfires are squarely in the "plinker" class.

Interestingly, .22 rimfire benchrest is the hottest thing going at my club range these days. Shot at 50 yards. I'm seeing some really, really outlandish setups being hauled to the firing line to be used in this competition. There are apparently several classes, just like any other competition, with the "open" class not really looking all that much like rifles...

What I can tell you about rimfire competition concerns ammo supply. These guys shoot up A LOT of ammo and, as we know, rimfire ammo varies a great deal from lot to lot. One lot may shoot well in your rifle, then the "exact same" brand and bullet weight from a different lot will scatter like shotgun pellets. I know guys used to buy a variety of ammo, test it, and return to the gun shop to clean them out of the brand and lot that their rifle liked.

Well, with current ammo shortages, they just cannot do it that way anymore. No one gun shop will have a case of .22 of the same lot that a guy can buy. In answer to this, some of the manufacturers of match quality rimfire ammo offer a pretty worthwhile service.

Lapua, Eley, and maybe others have programs wherein you can ship them your barreled action for testing. They mount it in their universal "stock" and fire different lots of ammo through it. They will choose the lot yours likes best, and sell you a case of that lot number. The benchrest guys do this, I might imagine that the NRL guys must as well.