Conditions couldn't have been better for 100 yard rimfire shooting, today. Temps in the 70s and light and variable winds. Had some Contenders to work with, too, so we just brought these two Low Walls. Top one is the Winchester Rimfire Hunter in 22 mag that I recently featured in a post. It wears a Leupold 4-12x AO. Bottom is the Winchester Rimfire Hunter in 17 HMR. It now wears an excellent scope in a Bushnell Elite 3200, also 4-12x with an AO. I'm a strong believer of AO scopes for the 17 HMR and the 22 mag because they may see action up close at 25 yards or way out there past 100.
(Weird lighting produced a candy cane effect on the octagon barrels.)
My standard of excellence for a rimfire at 100 yards is an inch or less, under ideal conditions. A rifle doesn't have to do this every time, but at least often enough to show it has the potential to do so. I can live with the more normal inch to inch and a quarter groups if the gun can break that inch barrier, now and then. After all, we're just recreational shooters, here.
To keep things in perspective, these Low Wall Hunters are just that - hunters. They are not match guns or bench guns. They're designed light enough to be carried all day in the field with enough accuracy for hunting. The octagon barrels are tapered and slim. The triggers are hunting triggers, breaking at a consistent 3.5 pounds or so, but crisp and predictable. They are not match triggers. Just good useable field triggers.
Okay, so first the 17 HMR. I goofed and forgot its favorite ammo, namely, the Federal Premium. The CCI did very well, though. Most groups hovered around an inch to inch and a quarter for the worst, but I did manage this beauty. Even with its second favorite ammo, the 17 HMR passed muster. Looked like the 22 mag had its work cut out for it to beat this one.
The 22 mag, though, was up to the task. The 30 grain poly-tipped stuff did very well. In fact, average group size was a touch better than the 17 HMR with several sneaking under an inch. The 22 mag definitely passed muster, all the more so because a 17 HMR usually outshoots the 22 mag in my experience. A 22 mag that will do under an inch at 100 is a real keeper.
(Two in that hole in the orange at ten o'clock)
Just as we were about to quit, I remembered that I had somehow managed to throw a box of the Winchester 22 mag 30 grain poly tipped ammo in the box. Have rarely shot this ammo, so had no idea what to expect.
First thing I noticed with the Winchester ammo is that it fit a bit more snug in the chamber. Not enough to be a problem or cause extraction issues, but just a bit more snug, as Winchester rimfire often is. After my first shot, the second thing i noticed is that the Winchester 22 mag load printed much lower than the CCI load. Shot four more to complete the group and was pleasantly surprised to see that all 4 went in the same hole.
Okay, scratch that. I was ecstatic. I got up and did a happy dance. Bill got a chuckle and fortunately there was no else around to see make a fool of myself. Figured I earned it, though, because this one might be my best ever 100 yard rimfire group. I am definitely going to get more of this ammo. Called it a day after this one.
(As with all my groups, measured c-c)
These may be hunting guns, but I think they have a little match gun in them, too. Our CZ Varmint rimfires are getting very nervous.
