Which bolt action .22 LR rifle would you recommend for accuracy from a bench or in the field?

Which bolt action .22 LR rifle would you recommend for accuracy from a bench or in the field?

  • CZ 457 Varmint

    Votes: 29 40.3%

  • CZ 457 American

    Votes: 11 15.3%

  • Tikka T1X MTR

    Votes: 12 16.7%

  • Savage B series Timberlite

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Ruger Precision Rimfire

    Votes: 4 5.6%

  • Ruger American Target

    Votes: 2 2.8%

  • Springfield 2020 Target

    Votes: 1 1.4%

  • OTHER (explain in post)

    Votes: 14 19.4%

  • Savage Mk 2

    Votes: 13 18.1%

  • CZ 457 Lux

    Votes: 2 2.8%
  • Total voters
    72
Supposedly the VX Freedom 6-18X has a fair amount of adjustment.
My rig is for 100 yard and under, but may be able to go further.
If not, I won't be changing the pic rail.
Want to see how subsonics do, as this could be my polite pest remover.
Reticle has enough hash marks I can figure something out LOL
 
Pat Riot said:
Another Savage I came across today on the Bass Pro website is this:
Savage Arms Mark II TR Bolt-Action Rimfire Rifle. It’s a pound heavier than the BTV.
View attachment 1207050
www.savagearms.com

MARK II TR | RIMFIRE | SAVAGE ARMS

We know what it takes to build a truly reliable bolt gun, and we put all of it into our trusted Mark II Series.
www.savagearms.com www.savagearms.com
Click to expand...

I have what is essentially that rifle with a shorter barrel and cannot share any of Hookeye's criticisms.

I wonder if this action is not also "long and ugly". :rofl:

1714401020241.jpeg
 
Varminterror said:
Pat Riot said:
Viridian 6-24x50 scope ... I am not familiar with the use of 20 or 25 MOA rails and actually wondered why one would need one.
Click to expand...
Get a 20MOA rail for your 22.
Click to expand...
FWIW, for my 10/22 and Viridian 6-24x50, using EGW 20 MOA rail brought maxed out crosshair vertical/elevation turret adjustment back to center of turret adjustment for 50 yard zero.

I prefer crosshair centered on turret adjustment for 50 yard zero because I think adjustments are more accurate with crosshair near the center of turret adjustment.
 
Im not a fan of vertical grips.
Reason why I ditched my 10/22 build in Victor Titan stock.
Wrist position for field carry/hunting was uncomfortable.

Liked the old CZ455 synth stock. New 457 one unfortunately looks horrible
Why I went with wood on my .22 mag (did not win the wood lottery on it either).

If CZ had a 455 style synth style stock on the 457 Id get another in .22 LR.

But they don't.

Yeah, I'm kinda picky.
The 455 was nice, except for the backwards safety. That really irked me. Bye bye.
 
Last edited:
Hookeye said:
Im not a fan of vertical grips.
Reason why I ditched my 10/22 build in Victor Titan stock.
Wrist position for field carry/hunting was uncomfortable.

Liked the old CZ455 synth stock. New 457 one unfortunately looks horrible
Why I went with wood on my .22 mag.

If CZ had a 455 style synth style stock on the 457 Id get another in .22 LR.

But they don't.

Yeah, I'm kinda picky.
The 455 was nice, except for the backwards safety. That really irked me. Bye bye.
Click to expand...
Then why did you buy the TR in the first place? It's not a traditional field stock.
 
CraigC said:
Then why did you buy the TR in the first place? It's not a traditional field stock.
Click to expand...
Initially for NRL22.
But my health said no go (RA kinda sucks).

The 1022 build was to be dual usage, and it was there that I didn't really care for that grip.
Think an old sporter (fingergroove) w a 20" sporter GM bbl would be a nice hunter build.
Got a beater and w factory bbl, after tweaks...it still shot horribly. Covid time frame, no blued 20" GM sporter bbls avilable.
After a yr of waiting I said forget it.
 
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I had a 541T-HB w a 4-12X AO Leupold on it.
Not bad looking.
Shot decent.
Didn't care for the mag.

Like the Anschutz mags w contoured base plate, hand when carrying goes over that area and doesn't offend.

The CZ isn't perfect but I find their plastic mags/protrusion less offensive.

1022 flush fit mag system is pretty darn nice IMHO

Talkin hunting rigs.
 
A KIDD 10/22 build in a McMillan might be the best compromise for me (hunter/target rig).
Or an Anschutz.
Either one is pretty spendy for somebody that doesn't shoot much .22 lr.
But man they are cool :)
 
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My Savage TR isnt bad but doesnt wow me.
My criticisms may not even register with some.
Maybe Im too picky or biased.
Just threw out my observations.

My dad liked a lot of stuff i didnt.

And he was more grumpy than me LOL
 
IMG_20240429_111443361~2.jpg
Excuse Miss Eleanor's blanket. Thats her perch to watch hunting YouTube videos LOL
The CZ's scope may get moved fwd a bit

Edit: moved scope fwd 3/8". Hopefully not too much, as it will get used for winter fox (not just summer chucks).
 
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Hookeye said:
Supposedly the VX Freedom 6-18X has a fair amount of adjustment.
Click to expand...

Eh, it's a relatively common adjustment range. Leupold's site is showing 55moa elevation available for the VX-F 6-18x40mm. Very few current production scopes have less than this, and MANY current production models have far more. 50-60moa erector assemblies are very common tech, relatively inexpensive, and very common in hunting scopes. But 55moa will typically run out of turret (or dial) around 150 yards. The VX-Freedom is an interesting bird. They repurposed an old 15moa/rev erector assembly in a 30mm tube - it's really reminiscent of 1990's 6-24x scopes with 1" tubes. Not much elevation available, and a LOT of dialing to get there. This would be a nice optic for squirrels and rabbits out to ~200-250, but a guy is dialing a LOT to get a little. For comparison, their new Mark 4HD 4.5-18x has 125moa elevation available with 75 dialable (3 revs), and 25moa per rev (their mrad based version has 125moa available with 103moa dialable (3 revs), and 34.4moa per rev = much faster dialing for distance). It's been relatively rare for a long time already to see scopes with less than 50moa of internal capacity, but the last ~20yrs has seen more and more common offerings with 80-100moa capacity, or more.
 
Varminterror said:
…

TLDR version: Get a 20MOA rail for your 22. A 40MOA rail/rings is even better. …
Click to expand...
Varminterror said:
…A 100yrd zero with a 22LR is ~19MOA from optical center (instead of ~4.5 for a centerfire at 100yrds), so a 20moa rail doesn't really and any added scope capacity at all, it just puts the 100yrd zero back to optical center, leaving only HALF of the scope turret capacity available to the shooter.

A 22LR really can benefit from having at LEAST 40MOA in the base and rings, using a scope with 60+ MOA capacity. That puts us very near the top of our turret at 50yrd zero, meaning we can shoot out to ~330-340 before we run out of turret, and can hold over to reach 400yrds if so desired. On my Savage Mark II BSEV, currently I have 60MOA in rail and ring shims under a scope which has 110MOA adjustment capacity, so I have access to ~103moa, meaning I can dial clear out to 500 before I have to start holding, and can hold out to ~550. On my Ruger Charger 22LR, I have a scope with 93MOA capacity and 60moa rail + ring shims, so I am ~1" high at 50yrds in my zero, but I can dial out to the equivalent of 94moa, which gets me to 450 without holding, and about 525 holding in the reticle. But those are rather extreme set ups.
…

So put 20MOA or preferably MORE on your 22LR.
Click to expand...
@Varminterror - I edited the above for brevity. Hopefully, I didn’t break it up too bad or take things out of context.

I’m just about set to return my EGW 30 MOA rail. I was going to put it on my Ruger American Rimfire, Target model, and mount my Veridian Serac on top of it. Are you saying that maybe I don’t need to return it after all? Also, you discussed map in terms of bases, rings, etc. Does it make any difference where that Mia is found? IOW, if I want 40 moa, do I need to get it all in the rail, or is it ok to get 20 in the rail and 20 in the bases? Please bear in mind that I will only occasionally shoot past 100 yards. There are only 2 ranges nearby. The one I belong to goes out to 100, and the other goes out to 250

To all who have provided info, thank you.
 
We shot out to 350 and 300 on one stage yesterday (don’t do it very often). I could dial for 300, but had to dial and hold for 350, I max out around 315/320ish. I can’t remember if it’s a 20 MOA rail or a 30. Some scopes with more elevation built in would be ok. Can’t remember off hand what the 30mm Tract 4-20x50 has.

Looked it up 20 Mrad of elevation. So 10 up from center?

Anyway, as is it maxes out at 14.7. I needed 16.3 (iirc) for 350. (12+ for 300)

Exit: zeroed at 50 yards
 
Well I am almost the proud owner of a CZ 457 American Synthetic Stainless. I say “almost” because i had to order it through my LGS.
It has a 20” suppressor ready barrel and synthetic stock. My LGS could not get their hands on a Varmint model at all.
They also couldn’t get the walnut stocked Americans except for the ones with the 24” barrel. I didn’t want that long of a barrel with .22 standard velocity ammo and no iron sights.
I am definitely okay with an American model. It might be in this week but no later than early next week.

Here is a picture of the model I am getting. It’s a screen grab from Bud’s. I couldn’t find a picture of it anywhere else, not even on the CZ website.
IMG_6045.jpeg
www.budsgunshop.com

Buy CZ 457 American Synthetic 22 LR Threaded Barrel Stainless Steel Online

Caliber: 22 LRStock Finish: BlackAction: BoltBarrel Length: 20.5"Capacity: 5+1Muzzle: ThreadedOAL 38.50"Receiver Finish: BlackReceiver Material: SteelSafety: Tw
www.budsgunshop.com www.budsgunshop.com

My LGS has a Savage Mk 2 BSEV in stock. I handled it and didn’t like it at all. That funky comb on the stock and my cheekbone would not get along.
1714414321409.jpeg
 
Walkalong said:
Spats McGee said:
I’m just about set to return my EGW 30 MOA rail
Click to expand...
We shot out to 350 and 300 ... I could dial for 300, but had to dial and hold for 350, I max out around 315/320ish. I can’t remember if it’s a 20 MOA rail or a 30

zeroed at 50 yards
Click to expand...
30 MOA rail will allow you to shoot further out than 20 MOA.

If you are shooting mostly 50-100 yards, 20 MOA rail could provide you "more accurate" center of turret adjustments while 30 MOA will allow you to shoot further out.
 
Pat Riot said:
Well I am almost the proud owner of a CZ 457 American Synthetic Stainless. I say “almost” because i had to order it through my LGS.
Click to expand...
Well, I’d suggest cleaning the new barrel, then running a hundred of some lower end generic through it, then start dialing it in.

For accuracy I’d try to duplicate whoever made the older Wolf Match. RWS maybe? Eley? Dunno. Someone here will know.
 
redneck2 said:
For accuracy I’d try to duplicate whoever made the older Wolf Match. RWS maybe? Eley? Dunno. Someone here will know.
Click to expand...
I think SK made old Wolf and now ELEY - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-cz-varmint-22-lr.929942/page-2#post-12886813

redneck2 said:
suggest ... running a hundred of some lower end generic through it, then start dialing it in.
Click to expand...
Personally, I shoot several hundred rounds of cheapest copper plated/wash ammo to "burnish" the bore before shooting lead ammo. 45,000+ rounds through different 10/22s, Take Down, T/CR22 with no leading of barrels and clean bores.

CCI SV is my reference ammo for accuracy but these days, I use Aguila "boxed" 40 gr CPRN for cheaper reference ammo at start, during and end of group shooting - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...nition-comparison.908102/page-2#post-12812234

index.php
 
Last edited:
redneck2 said:
Well, I’d suggest cleaning the new barrel, then running a hundred of some lower end generic through it, then start dialing it in.

For accuracy I’d try to duplicate whoever made the older Wolf Match. RWS maybe? Eley? Dunno. Someone here will know.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Thank you. I always clean and lube new guns. I am already on the hunt for appropriate ammo. Pretty sure SK is gold plated or something. 😆 A little pricey for .22 LR. That’s okay though. It’s not plinking ammo.
 
LiveLife said:
Personally, I shoot several hundred rounds of cheapest copper plated/wash ammo to "burnish" the bore before shooting lead ammo. 45,000+ rounds through different 10/22s, Take Down, T/CR22 with no leading of barrels and clean bores.
Click to expand...
Good idea. Thank you. I have a bunch of CCI Mini Mag I could use for this task.
 
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