PRS/NRL22 rifle

I’m not sure to blame, but this thread required me to buy a suitable 22 for long range. Got a CZ Varmint. I mounted a scope and am starting to test various brands of ammo. Pictures and report will follow.

rdnktrkr Keep the info coming. I’ve got much of the same ammo and it’ll be interesting to compare…
 
rdnktrkr said:
I'm back after family vacations, weekend get-a-ways and prior commitments. I joined the club where we shot the competition and went out Saturday to test the ammo I had on hand, I left 2 Eley boxes on the bench that I wanted to try so I get to go try it again:). I was there before we could start shooting 8:30 to set up targets and start getting ready, probably started shooting before 9:00 and stopped around 1:30 or 2:00. I tried 27 different rounds 7 CCIs, 5 S*Ks, 1 Eley, 1 Wolf, 1 Norma, 7 Aquilla some have Eley Prime on the side, 1 American Eagle, 3 Remington and 1 Winchester, this is some I've picked up and some that are vintage. What I found is my gun didn't like all but 3, CCI SV target, Norma TAC, and Eley Target. I shot each at 50yrds using a 1/2" target and only tried the 3 that would stay inside the dot and at 100yrds they all shot about the same. I can get the CCI locally for $3.50 (limit 4), Norma runs around $4.00 and Eley is around $7.00 on the web. I will return and set up some 1" targets at 100yrds and play again then try the 200yrd berm to see if any fall apart after 100.
They had props set up for practicing the upcoming NRL match this weekend and the PRS match the next so I got to watch how they moved and setup on the targets, Maybe I can get enough ammo and my dope to practice with them next time their out.
I noticed inside a covered bench centerfire rifles are no fun to sit next to. I saw some nice rigs, RimX, Vudo, Tikka, and another Bergara and all offered to let me shoot them but I declined knowing I would only want to get another.
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I'm using Norma TAC for practice.

It does "OK". No issues staying on a 4" plate at 200 and an 8" plate at 300 most of the time. I shot it this am at 220 & 307 in 9 MPH winds and it did OK. I've chrono'd 2 different sessions of it and the SD averages right around 7-9 for 10 & 20 shot strings. The only issues I've found are in a box of 50 I'll come up with a couple serious lows of 900+ then a high of 1150+ while the averages are right around 1120FPS. I suspect those are the group flyers that make me go Huh?

For practice it works, since my wobble off the props far exceeds the deltas in MV effects.

The best I've been able to find and test is Lapua LR. I get sub .4" groups reliably at 50 (often .2s and .3s) and SDs is the 6FPS range, there's really no extreme high/lows that I've seen. I've got a brick of it arriving on Monday. SK LR Match isn't far behind it, I've got 2 boxes left, but is unobtainable right now.

A friend of mine got bit too. He's got a Tikka T1X MTR on the way and a Vortex Venom. He's one of those Tikka guys.. and he's striving to stay sub-$1300.00. We're going to build a Pyramid and I'm ordering a KYL Rack next week.
 
I tried the SK match and it didn't work as good as the other 3. Also tried SK pistol match, Semi-Auto rifle, High Velocity match, and Long Range match, either my rifle or I didn't like any of them, it was towards the end of the day so I could have been part of the problem.
I was disappointed at how bad the Remington and Aquilla shot, especially the Remington, I don't know if it was because of the age of some of them but I had some that couldn't hold 2'"at 50yrds
Is there a difference between red boxed Norma TAC22 and the black boxed TAC22? I found the black box for $3.00 + shipping, I was shooting the red box.
 
rdnktrkr said:
I tried the SK match and it didn't work as good as the other 3. Also tried SK pistol match, Semi-Auto rifle, High Velocity match, and Long Range match, either my rifle or I didn't like any of them, it was towards the end of the day so I could have been part of the problem.
I was disappointed at how bad the Remington and Aquilla shot, especially the Remington, I don't know if it was because of the age of some of them but I had some that couldn't hold 2'"at 50yrds
Is there a difference between red boxed Norma TAC22 and the black boxed TAC22? I found the black box for $3.00 + shipping, I was shooting the red box.
Click to expand...

Unsure, all I've found and tried is Red Box.

Got to tell you, playing with the .22LRs has imparted a whole new importance on watching the wind flag!!!

I used to 'sort of" pay attention, because my centerfires can blow through a lot, especially when just testing loads at 100yds. With this stuff I've got to stay on the flag like a hawk, or flyers.

I've completely skipped the normal budget stuff with this rifle, so no results. I've used Rem, Win, Aquilla, CCI in my 77/22 and 10-22 and they've all done OK for squirrels, plinking etc.
 
Chuck R. said:
Got to tell you, playing with the .22LRs has imparted a whole new importance on watching the wind flag!!!

I used to 'sort of" pay attention, because my centerfires can blow through a lot, especially when just testing loads at 100yds. With this stuff I've got to stay on the flag like a hawk, or flyers.
Click to expand...
One definitely has to pay more attention to wind flags when shooting rimfire calibers at longer distances. This is especially true if you shoot 17m2. I won't bother grabbing my 17m2 rifle on a windy day.
 
Where is a good place to look for the better ammo? I would like to try 2 or 4 boxes before buying a brick or case, doing that I have found places that have only one of the upper tier ammo, plus shipping makes their prices a little high and locally I haven't found many options.
 
The current ammo situation is why I'm looking into getting a tuner, so I can tweak things to make the best use of what I have.

I managed to get a few boxes of the SK LR Match, Lapua LR and Norma TAC for testing. I already had some Eley Club on hand. As you know, the challenge is finding something your rifle likes, then finding enough of the same lot to keep it going. I just bought the brick of Lapua LR, but it's not the same lot that I tested, so who knows.. I could very well have bought $198 worth of plinking ammo..

As for finding it.. I search, find a manufacturers part number, then search again, hoping to find it in stock.
 
I found 4 new options that according to their site is in-stock and I've been wanting to go by there and check them out. I've never heard of RWS ammo but I will try it. They show the Eley subsonic, Eley target (one of the ones it liked), RWS subsonic and SK High Velocity match (orange box, I've tried the red box) in stock, maybe they will have some other options when I get there, they show a lot of other options on their site just out of stock. There is also another large LGS there I will look at and if I get some free time I can stop by the CMP store to look around.
 
rdnktrkr said:
Where is a good place to look for the better ammo?
Click to expand...
Tough these days. I have been buying match ammo one brick at a time for the most part, although I have picked up 1K on the same order. It's just expensive.

I have bookmarks for a number of match .22 ammo types, just keep checking them, but yes, hard to find a wide variety in ne spot these days.

Your best bet, that I know of, is here.

 
I looked at their site and they have the best selection I've seen, I will look again after I go by Creedmoor Sports and Shotgun Sports and Outdoors on Wed while I'm in Anniston.
Looking around the red box Norma Tac22 is 1083fts and the black box is 1100fps, I would love to try 1 or 2 boxes before purchasing a brick.
 
Midway isn't doing to bad either right now, here's a search of some of the "better" stuff.

www.midwayusa.com

Shop 22LR - 22 Long Rifle Ammo for Sale | MidwayUSA

Shop 22LR Ammo from leading brands like Aguila 22LR, Winchester, Remington, Aguila and More today at MidwayUSA.
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com

They've got red box TAC22, and SK Plus, with a couple Eley.

I really think my approach is going to be to focus on finding what's consistent ES/SD-wise and let the tuner tweak the groups. There's just no way that ammo with a high SD is going to hold together at 200+ yards. Everything I've shot so far has held at under 1/2" at 50yds, but the high/lows on some of the ammo is pretty dramatic.
 
EuroOptics is an SK dealer, although they've been out of stock on a lot of stuff. I just ordered a brick of Semi Auto to give it a try in my 457.

I've just been on a hunt for sub $10 a box ammo that shoots pretty well. My everyday ammo has turned out to be Federal Auto Match.

Killough also let's you order Eley Match and Tenex by lot number. Figure out what is good for you and stock up. I just refuse to spend that much to shoot local matches.
 
I haven't tried the Federal AM, I have some bulk boxes I was going to try my next time out, I have some more Eley, RWS, Fiochi, and SK to try along with few bulk boxes. When I get back home and get our internet back up from the storms I am going to order a brick of the Norma Tac22 black box to try. Also I have been shown the difference torque has on the action and a difference having a different torque on the front and rear torque has on accuracy (something else to try). I have found that I am more accurate using a rear bag with plastic beads instead of sand and tried the bipod close to the mag and that hurt accuracy also.
I will have to take a few good weather days to clean up the 3 trees around my property but am looking forward to heading back to the range.
 
Picked up some more ammo to try from Creedmoor Sports (great staff, friendly and helpful), they no longer have a showroom but allow orders for pickup. 20230816_043936.jpg
I will try to get out to the range soon to try it all out and compare with what I've already shot. Should I take a cleaning rod and run dry patches through the bore between different ammo? I also want to allow the barrel to cool and see it I get a flyer and if I get a flyer on the first shot of the day. I feel I can try shooting out to 150 & 200yrds since I figured out why my dope was off.
 

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Varminterror said:
NRL22 Base class is $1300 combined rifle and scope MSRP, PRS Production Division is $1500 combined MSRP.
Click to expand...

So after wandering down this rabbit hole to the point where Ive found matches within 50 miles of my casa.

For those shooting a while. Does this MSRP limit change yearly? Curious as 1300.00 5yrs ago has more buying power than today.
 
I think so, I looked at the rules and the limit was 1250, then Varminterror corrected me for this year. I was thinking of staying inside that limit and feel it is doable with a competitive gun And have fewer competitors in the base class. I qualify for the old fart (OG) division which has even fewer competitors so I'm going that route. Your scores are posted along with everyone else so you get an idea how good your shooting and I think improving my score will be my goal
 
It's pretty tough to stay withing the limit for base.

Friend of mine that's coming out today to zero and test some loads, just broke it by about $40 with a Tikka T1X MTR and a Vortex Venom. I figure I'll just shoot what I want and consider it practice.

I've got a couple guys coming out tomorrow to practice from the props, so it's already having a positive effect (other than the whole financial aspect)

UPDATE: So my buddy showed up with his brand new Tikka and a couple boxes of ammo:

Eley Tenex: Holly CHIT!! .3 and .2" groups and an SD of 5 for 15rds

Eley Match: Holy Chit! (again) .4 and .3" groups SD of 6 for 15rds

Eley Club: .4 & .7 groups SD of 10. He's going to use this for practice ammo. It shoots about as well as Norma 22TAC in my Bergara.

Overall, the Tikka shoots. Wind was 7-10 and shifting, made maximum use of the wind flag!
 
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Chuck R. said:
It's pretty tough to stay withing the limit for base.
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I am a self admitted Glass snob so I already know it would never be doable for me.
It just seems extremely low in today's market. It seems they think $$ does buy Championships/advantages????

Experience in other Competition (USPSA/IDPA/3 Gun) I cannot fathom implementing a $$$ cut off for classes.
 
You can stay under the production class limit fairly easily if that's all you care about, but too many of us have more expensive "wants"
and are able to fund it, even if it means building a rifle slowly one piece at a time, which I am currently doing.

The matches I have been to are full of high end rifles, with a handful of production class rifles, so expect to compete against very accurate rifles.
tarosean said:
It seems they think $$ does buy Championships/advantages????
Click to expand...
The best shooters still prevail, so many have top end rifles, but yes, they do it with the best stuff, or at least very good stuff, which
is match ammo, true match barrels, actions that run smooth, guns that feed, scopes with excellent clarity.
tarosean said:
I cannot fathom implementing a $$$ cut off for classes.
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Yea, it doesn't work that well. :)
 
From today's practice session, we shot the KYL rack prone, off a blue barrel, and off 3 positions from the ladder. The ladder positively sucks when it's to high for prone and too low for kneeling..

GCrSV7fl.jpg


is there a trick to this?

Also, now that we have some scratches on our scopes from the aforementioned &^*% ladder, what's' a source for black stretchy tape that the guys use to prevent scratches?
 
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