What .22 Rifle is the most accurate?

[300 H&H]

What rifle holds the title anyway? Anshutz 54 and derivatives, Remingtons famous 40X, Winchester 52's or some other perhaps a full race volqortsen 10/22. What do you all think?

[skeeter1]

My only experience is with a Winchester 52, and my Marlin 39 isn't in the same league. I'd give a nod to the Ruger 77/22 as well.

[300 H&H]

What modle of 52 Winchester did you shoot early,B,C,orD? I have one of each being a Winchester bug, But I got a CMP Reminton 40X not so long ago, but the weather has not let me do a head to head with the 52D that is my comp. gun. It looks to me like it may be the new top dog in the rack, time will tell. The 52D has been glass bedded as well as Pillared in the action screw holes and with Wolf match extra it is 0.5m.o.a. or perhaps a bit better off from a bench. Had a ruger m77/22 as a sporter untill I got my first CZ 452 and it would out of the box clean the Rugers clock pretty easily. I have seen the guns Tom Volquartsen builds and I only live 12 miles or so from him, Know him personally as well. The groups he ships with his guns are very impressive, but I have not shot one personally as they are difficult to single load, hence they do not show up in any matches that I shoot at. Has anyone else out there got a volquartsen to shed some light on them?

[MRMIKE08075]

WIN 52
REM 40X
VICKERS EMPIRE GRADE FALLING BLOCK
BSA MARTINI
ANSHUTZ
FIENWERKBAU
COOPER

in that order.

best regards, mike.

[rangerruck]

check this;

Until Steve Boelter's book came out the definitive source for .22 accuracy was the test that Jim Carmichel conducted back in 1994. He used over 9,000 rounds of ammo and shot for 4 straight weeks at 8 hours per day. He used 12 different rifles with 21 different brands of ammo. The range was 50 yards and he shot 5 shot groups from a bench rest. The results were published in chart form in the February issue of Outdoor Life and I summerize as follows according to ranking:
#1 Anschutz M-54 with Fiocchi Pistol 315
#2 Remington 40-X with Eley Blue Pistol
#3 Anschutz BR-50 with Russian Olimp-R
#4 Anschutz M-1700 with Fiocchi Rifle 330
#5 Kimber Sporter with Russian Olimp-R
#6 Remington 541-T with Russian Olimp-R
#7 Ultra Lite Arms with Russian Olimp-R
#8 Ruger 10/22 with Fiocchi Pistol 315
#9 Dakota M-22LR Sporter with Russian Olimp-R
#10 Ruger 77/22 All Weather with Fiocchi Rifle 320
#11 Cooper M-36 Med-heavy barrel with Federal Gold Metal Ultra
#12 Marlin M-2000 with Fiocchi Pistol 300

He ranked the ammo across all the rifles as follows:
#1 Fiocchi Rifle 320
#2 Russian Olimp-R
#2 Fiocchi Pistol 315
#4 Federal Gold Medal Ultra Match
#5 Fiocchi Pistol 300
#6 Fiocchi Rifle 330
#7 Fiocchi Pistol 310
#8 Federal Gold Medal Match
#9 Eley Blue Pistol
#10 Eley Tenex Red
#11 Fiocchi Rifle 340 Silhouette
#12 Fiocchi Rifle Rifle 340 Biathlon
#13 RWS R-50 Tourament
#14 Winchester Super-X HV
#15 CCI New Lot Green Tag
#16 Federal Gold Medal Match
#17 Winchester T-22
#18 Winchester Super Silhouette
#19 RWS Silver Match
#20 CCI Old Lot Green Tag
#21 Remington Target

He did find that accuracy improved 15% when he matched rim thicknesses.

[williamd]

Darn, I have only had 5 (#1,2,6,8,10) of the rifles 12 listed. I need to get busy. And, only have one of them now.

But, most accurate I had was a Walther KKJ single shot. Bought it from the person who brought it over from Europe to Canada. Used Eley Black Box. Have never seen another like it and this exact model in not in books I have found. Beautiful French walnut stock with reddish streaks. Stupidly sold it to somone who offered me a lot for it! Thought I'd replace it someday ... wrong! I seem to specialize in this!

Had a Winc M52D that was very good. Surprised the Winc 52 variants are not on the list.

Though I had one I was never impressed by the 541T.

[300 H&H]

Carmicle's test must have only tested current models manufactured back then. And only ammo available then as was, because some off the ammo "listed' there is no longer made, and some of todays best ammo is not listed. makes for good reading I suppose. but this is now and there are a lot of rifles out there that would make the "list" if they only tested them being shot by people who do very well with them. I guess I was hoping to here from people who shoot more, not some one else's results. New is not always better. Kirk

[Rembrandt]

Had Tom Volquartsen build me a 10/22 back when he was a young pup and could be found regularly at the Des Moines gun shows. Use it to shoot flies at 100 yards...(that what happens when you're bored punching paper).

As good as that rifle is, my pick would be the Winchester 52's for the most accurate. Currently have six, and each one is a one ragged hole gun.

[Bigahh]

Some interesting stuff! Had no idea .22 lr could shoot that well!

[berto64]

Just shoots older 22's. JC Higgins mods 26-30 semi auto & several Remington Mod 12c's and a couple of 12CS's in 22WRF. All with iron sights.

At 100 yards a gallon jug full of water doesn't stand a chance.

[skeeter1]

What modle of 52 Winchester did you shoot early,B,C,orD?

My dad had a 1948 Winchester 52B Sporter that he got after WWII. With a Lyman Alaskan scope and Griffin & Howe mount, it was $240, which was big bucks in 1948. My cousin has it now (that's what dad wanted), so it's staying in the family.

Finest rifle of any caliber I've ever fired. The last one like it I saw for sale was >$3K.

[williamd]

At a match ... usually the other guys!

[300 H&H]

most accurate .22 I have is a modified Winchester 52D , would post a picture if I can figure out how! it has been glass bedded and pillar bedded in the action screw holes and has a really neat adj. comb done by a local target shooter/gunsmith. I also have a 40X that, well when I get it back from the same gunsmith will be right in the hunt with the 52. In Iowa prone shooting we see Anchutz about 66% Win52 about 30% and the rest 40X on the firing line. We also see more old barrel mount Unertl target scopes than I have seen in one place and time! Most guys really like them as they do not strain there eyes after a couple of hours looking through them. I use Redfield 3200 also long barrel mount. I been told the long scopes bend the light at less severe of and angle and can use a flatter lens to do the same thing than a reciever mount scope can . Barrel vibrations in .22 are such accuracy loss is hardly a factor. Have Redfield RM6400 24X it is a good scope but seems to be a lot fussier about parrallax adj. than the 3200, and with more eye strain in a long match as well. Lets not forget Lyman super target spots in the list as they are also very highly regaurded in these shoots by those fortunate enough to have one.

[stash247]

My shooting club is of the old German persuasion, in that we shoot at 100 yds, with iron sights, unless you are over 70, or have vision so poor you cannot get a driver's license.
Every rifle on the line is capable of half inch groups, at that range, or it would not be there, but all are somewhat 'ammo sensitive'.
There are Rem 40-X's, Win 52's, Suhl's, Anshutz 54's, 64's, Walthers, Finnish Lions, Win Single shots, and even my Stevens 44 1/2, in the group.
Few of these rifles are 'production' pieces, having been bedded, floated, rebarreled, rechambered, etc, numerous times, in some cases.
Accuracy depends on many factors. Ammunition is at the top of the list, here, as a change in bullet shape (like Eley has done, recently) requires a change in chamber dimensions, for optimal accuracy; set the barrel back, if it's a good one, and rechamber.
We all buy a few boxes of many flavors of ammo, every spring, and 'trade out', to test different ammo lots, in a particular rifle, then rush to the supplier of what works best, in our particular rifle, hoping to buy a case or two, of that particular lot of ammo, to shoot the season with.
If the question is 'production rifle' I would question the inclusion of the 40-X, as it is now a 'Custom Shop only' offering, from Remington, but would put it at or near the top.
The Win 52 has been 'out of print' for nearly 25 years, my old Stevens was built originally, in 1914, and discontinued in 1917, so what are, exactly, the criteria, for this poll?
In my particular case, I think the most accurate rimfire I own would be a Hart Barreled Win 52, but, with a straight 1 1/2" diameter barrel, it is somehat removed from 'production' status; it will shoot a ragged hole, at 100 yds, but weighs close to 20 pounds.
Next spot would be a toss up, between the Stevens, which has a Stevens reciever, but few other parts of their making, and a 40-X remington, all original, except the Canjar trigger, and the pillar bedded, floated barrel stock.
A Suhl "Standart 150", will shoot nearly as well, and it has never been touched; I gave about $260, I think, for it, 20 years ago, including the Anshutz sights.
We get into a real problem area with this question, in the area of gear, because those of us 'driven', by accuracy, seldom leave any stone unturned; the Stevens, for instance, may wear a 14, 16, 16 1/2, or a 17 twist barrel, all of identical (to .0005") contour, depending upon conditions.
I originally built the rifle to experiment with barrel twist rates, with any given lot of ammo, under varying conditions, but liked it so well it became my favorite 'offhand rifle'
The question needs to be further refined, or there will never be any answer.

[300 H&H]

Thanks for chiming in Stash!! I was not looking for a definative answer who I originally posted the question about the most accurate 22 rifle, more a disscusion on what is out there and what works well in the hand of the each shooter. And is sounds facinating what you have done, experimenting with twist rates ect. Production guns will rarely be as accurate as modified ones as we do the things we do to enhance the rifle to perform better. Short of an accutal match, it will not be know witch is the "most Accurate" of the rifles we discuss, but the discussion itself is of great interest to those who quest for better accuracey. Thanks again for your post Kirk

[williamd]

We shot 22rf at 100M in competition and at this range few rifles can hang with them. Flies and dropping the target by shopoting the thumbtacks were favorites.
Shot open sight and scope. On the KKJ I had apertures at rear and front. Great! Used a 10X (old model) Weaver with ultra fine x-hair in scope work. This scope had two horizontal x-hairs. Some useless range finding thing I guess. But, instead of sighting in on the 'right' lower x-hair I would sight in the higher one. Then when others pleaded enough to use the KKJ - and it took a lot - I just let them. When their shot was several inches high I just said 'touchy trigger, eh?' Made my day. Finest trigger I ever used.

[45ball]

I cant tell you the exact brand but it would most likely be a bolt action.

[rangerruck]

maybe this one;
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek078.html
he is using Suhl actions.

[Lead Lobber]

Mine.

[pistolchamp]

I have a Briley 10/22 conversion with heavy fluted barrel, Briley trigger job, 6.5x20 Leupold and all the bells and whistles from Briley.

When it only had a few thousand gophers to its credit I took it to an indoor 100 yard range and with three sober witnesses I shot a .296" 10 shot group with that rifle using Aguila standard velocity ammo. Very nice hunk of iron and wood.

[Don Buckbee]

Rifles that I have that shoot extremely well are:

Suhl 150
Martini MkII, I have two of them.
Anschutz Model 54 Match Target.
I have a bunch of other 22 target rifles, but none as accurate as the above rifles.


Depending on ammo, any one will shoot the best. But, The Suhl and the two Martini's, are consistently the most accurate at 50 yards. The Anschutz is my 100 yard rifle and have won a number of matches with it at that distance.

I don't have a 52 target or a 40x target, so I can't cmt on them. With the way the above rifles are shooting, I probably won't get either one in the near term.

Scopes are important to good groups too, and I have a Mitchell 32x and a Unertl 24x for that part of the accuracy equation with the rifles above, except for the Suhl which has a Leupold 6.5-20 on it, the close focus model for shooting 25 yard matches.

With an all out custom rifle, the above rifles come in second.
Wolf Match target sorted by weight and rim thickness performs best in more of my target rifles than most other ammo, save the expensive Lapua.

Don

[300 H&H]

Don, Thanks for the post. How much difference do you see when you are shooting Lapua I have never tried that brand. Do you shoot the Midas Lapu I have seen in champ choice? thanks Kirk

[Don Buckbee]

The Lapua I shoot is Midas L. I have tried the Midas M, but have not had good results in any rifles I have.
I bought two boxes each of five different lots of the Midas L for testing. Four of the five lots shot very well. So, the ammo finding game involves brand and lots within a brand.
I had bought these lots to test, then stock up on the ones that shot well. As time passed, all of the lots that shot well were sold out, so I wasn't able to buy several bricks of each. Other guys had good results with the same lots, so they went fast.
I do have about a box of each of the good stuff remaning though; not enough to shoot rifle matches with, but enough for Squirrel hunting.

Don

[stash247]

Originally Posted by Don Buckbee

The Lapua I shoot is Midas L. I have tried the Midas M, but have not had good results in any rifles I have.
I bought two boxes each of five different lots of the Midas L for testing. Four of the five lots shot very well. So, the ammo finding game involves brand and lots within a brand.
I had bought these lots to test, then stock up on the ones that shot well. As time passed, all of the lots that shot well were sold out, so I wasn't able to buy several bricks of each. Other guys had good results with the same lots, so they went fast.
I do have about a box of each of the good stuff remaning though; not enough to shoot rifle matches with, but enough for Squirrel hunting.

Don

Such is preparation for the shooting season! FWIW, the Midas M is smaller, or the other way, the Midas L is larger, in diameter, by about half a thousandth of an inch, to acconodate barrels of varying dimensions.
Lapua ammo has never been cheap, and the 'Midas' nomenclature, ought to have provided fair warning of price!

Most shoots extremely well, as I would expect, of rimfire ammo at over a thousand dollars a case, but it like others, is 'lot sensitive', if you want the very best.
How accurate will budget allow? Terry

[bluesea112]

Depends on who is shooting the rifle. When I was a kid, I could knock a fly off a fence post at 50 yards with my zip gun. That sure was an accurate piece of pipe.