Missed the dime AGAIN!

[ditto1958]

I am continuing to struggle- er, work- on 5 shot groups at 100 yards with my CZ-452 American. As of today, it still has the stock trigger, and wears a Leupold 2-7 scope (both may be changing soon). As some may recall, last fall when I bought this rifle, I quickly found that it was capable of being extremely accurate. I also quickly found that 5 shot groups are MUCH more difficult than 3 shot groups. Over the winter I resolved that, come spring, I would learn to master 5 shot groups with my rifle. It has been a slow process, but I am gradually improving.

[ditto1958]

The other day I shot about a dozen 5 shot groups with a number of different brands of ammo, ranging from CCI Standard Velocity, to some sort of expensive brands of match ammo. I noticed that on some of the targets, I would get three shots that were VERY close together, but with two shots that were, not really flyers, but were in their own separate group, about an inch out.

I am beginning to conclude that perhaps I have begun to bump up against the limits of my factory trigger and my underpowered scope. The second seems to be more of a problem, as at 100 yards, with 7x magnification, it is difficult some days to see well enough to hold with sub-MOA precision. I am a bit reluctant to change scopes, however, as the one I am using is bright and clear, and holds its zero extremely well.

As for my trigger, it isn't all that heavy, but has too much gritty creep. I have a spring and shim kit on the way that I hope will help with this.

[Henry88]

Enjoy your threads ditto and I think you're on to something.

At some point the trigger is the factor. Not to compare, but I REALLY don't like the trigger on my H001, and it shows on the Targets.

I also agree that when you're talking fractions of an inch @100yds, you probably need a little more power for the better resolution.

Keep them coming................

[ditto1958]

Interesting that you mention your H001 trigger. I have had my H001 for almost five years now, and have shot it a lot. I concluded some time ago that mine has a "deceptively bad" trigger. What do I mean? Well, if I let someone else pick up my Henry and shoot it, they will never say, "Wow, nice rifle, but it sure needs a better trigger."

Mine is not heavy, nor does it have creep. Initially, it feels nice. But try to shoot consistently with precision, and it soon becomes frustrating. The H001 is a slender, handy little carbine, and that trigger is just heavy enough that it's very difficult to release it without moving the sights.

I wonder if anyone will ever start offering third party triggers for Henry rimfires.

As for my CZ, it will definitely benefit from an improved trigger.

[RanchRoper]

Nice job. Thks for the report.

[North Country Gal]

Great report and, for sure, that is an excellent 100 yard group, ditto. Any of us, here, would be proud of that one, myself included.

Absolutely agree on your conclusions about the scope and trigger. The two won't guarantee small groups, but you'll better the odds of shooting small groups, more often.

I do fine with 7x at 50 yards when I want to print nice groups, but for 100 yard work, I prefer a bit more. The Nikon Rimfire 4-12x is very good for 100 yard work, for instance.

Don't settle for anything less than an excellent trigger on a CZ. That CZ 452/455 trigger is so easy to work on.

A comment on the 22 LR for 100 yard work. It's been my experience that the 22 LR struggles a bit at that distance. It's a much better 50 yard round and that's why the standard for 22 LR accuracy testing has always been 50 yards. We have a lot of 22 rifles that will do half an inch at 50 and do it on a regular basis, but those same rifles will only sometimes hold that accuracy and manage an inch at 100. Takes a day of excellent conditions to even have a chance. By comparison, any centerfire 22 we shoot, such as a 223 or 22 Hornet or 221 Fireball that will do half inch at 50 will easily do an inch at 100 yards and beyond, even on days of less than ideal conditions. What I'm saying is that you also have to factor in the inherent weakness of the 22 LR as a 100 yard cartridge. Makes what you've done all the more impressive. Keep at it.

[PT7]

Very tightly-clustered, nice 100-yard group....I'd surely take it!

So the silver lining is that you can put the dime back into your pocket!
Glad to read your report.....keep 'em coming.

[ditto1958]

NCG, I'm probably repeating myself, but the guy at the range who got me hooked on this later admitted to me (after it was waaaay too late) that, "I don't know why we shoot .22's at 100 yards. Someone else started it awhile back, and we just kept doing it." So, I said, "Thanks a lot!" Geez.

[tractortad]

Hey Ditto - that's an amazing group at 100 yds with 22LR - you could have a $500 trigger and $1000 scope and probably couldn't do much better.....

[BigAl52]

Really looks good to me. Id take it walk away and be happy and use that money for another gun. But thats just me and everyone is different.

[North Country Gal]

Ditto, I think you're probably as much a sucker for a challenge as I am. I am notorious for always pushing the limits with my shooting, just to see if I could do it. It's loads of fun and you'll learn a lot, too. Go for it.