Some spring shooting fun

[North Country Gal]

Finally! Yup, some nice spring weather, so off to the range we went with our usual mix bag of guns. These were the standouts, today.

Belgium Browning, T-bolt, T2 version in 22 LR, 1966 vintage
This was a recently acquired little jewel, first time to the range. Cost us, dearly, but pleased to report, not just a pretty face. Scope is a rimfire classic in a Leupold 4x Rimfire. Nice match for a trim, sweet 22 rifle.



Managed some half inch groups with CCI SV at 50 yards, so had to get fancy and see what the T bolt would do with pricey Eley Subsonic. Here's a great example of why you don't need some monster 24x scope to shoot good groups at 50 yards. What you do need, though, is good optics as found in this classic Leupold 4x. This group puts this vintage T-bolt in the same excellent accuracy class as the new current T-bolts.


Trigger is very nice and crisp, breaking at about 2 pounds. Another great offhand shooter for me.


Bill did very well with this vintage Browning, too, using CCI SV.


Low Wall Hunter 22 mag
Dan, this one's for you. Had to bring along at least one Low Wall, this time the 22 mag. Scope is a Leupold VX 2, 4-12x40 AO.


Loves the Winchester Varmint 30 grain 22 mags.


Cimarron Frontier 357
Figured I was getting rusty with my revolver shooting, so dusted off my only single action, this one a Cimarron/Pietta 357 Frontier. Got it cheap from a cowboy action shooter who was using it as a back up gun. He had never fired it. I filed down the front sight to accommodate sooting 38s.


Okay, maybe only a little rusty. Happy dance on this one.


Hope you enjoyed it, folks, and hope you can get out and do some shooting, too.

[ditto1958]

Good shooting. And that Browning is to die for!

[bandit1250]

Some beautiful guns and some great shooting as usual. Glad the weather is nice now so you can get out and shoot. Our weather is warm but very windy here for the last few days. Maybe shoot a day this week if the wind dies down.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, guys.

Yes, the little Browning is a delight in every way. Abut as good as it gets in a rifle that feels and handles like a 22 rifle, the kind of 22 you want to grab and disappear into the woods for a day of squirrel hunting.

[RetiredSeabee]

As always great shooting and beautiful guns. Looks like Jim and the T bolt get along quite well.

[RanchRoper]

Smokin' hot shooting. Nice to see you out again. Long winter.
That revolver target is a nice one for sure.

[deano5150]

I can’t get over that tiny group with the revolver! Extremely impressive! I’m jealous.

[Ojaileveraction]

As always, WOW great shooting!

[fortyshooter]

Some very good shooting and great guns there! Think I will get a couple of my .22's out tomorrow.

[dddrees]

Finally! Yup, some nice spring weather, so off to the range we went with our usual mix bag of guns. These were the standouts, today.

Belgium Browning, T-bolt, T2 version in 22 LR, 1966 vintage
This was a recently acquired little jewel, first time to the range. Cost us, dearly, but pleased to report, not just a pretty face. Scope is a rimfire classic in a Leupold 4x Rimfire. Nice match for a trim, sweet 22 rifle.



Managed some half inch groups with CCI SV at 50 yards, so had to get fancy and see what the T bolt would do with pricey Eley Subsonic. Here's a great example of why you don't need some monster 24x scope to shoot good groups at 50 yards. What you do need, though, is good optics as found in this classic Leupold 4x. This group puts this vintage T-bolt in the same excellent accuracy class as the new current T-bolts.


Trigger is very nice and crisp, breaking at about 2 pounds. Another great offhand shooter for me.


Bill did very well with this vintage Browning, too, using CCI SV.


Low Wall Hunter 22 mag
Dan, this one's for you. Had to bring along at least one Low Wall, this time the 22 mag. Scope is a Leupold VX 2, 4-12x40 AO.


Loves the Winchester Varmint 30 grain 22 mags.


Cimarron Frontier 357
Figured I was getting rusty with my revolver shooting, so dusted off my only single action, this one a Cimarron/Pietta 357 Frontier. Got it cheap from a cowboy action shooter who was using it as a back up gun. He had never fired it. I filed down the front sight to accommodate sooting 38s.


Okay, maybe only a little rusty. Happy dance on this one.


Hope you enjoyed it, folks, and hope you can get out and do some shooting, too.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, Man thats some great shooting!!!!!


Doubt that I can come even close , but that certainly tells me what is possible.


Thank you, and thanks for all your help with picking such a terrific rifle.



Thanks also for including the details on the scope as well. I may put this off for a bit but this was extremely helpful also. By the way is the mount anything special or just an ordinary Leopold mount? If I remember correctly you said those were medium Leopold rings.

I'm hoping to get mine by the end of next week or a little later.


Cheers,

Dan

[North Country Gal]

Thank you, again, for the nice comments, folks.

Dan, those are medium height Leupold Standard rings. Base is also a Leupold Standard, specifically for the Low Wall Hunter. The Hunter series has a thinner, tapered octagonal barrel than other version of the Miroku 1885, so they need to be a different height to accommodate that taper.

Not to tempt, but ... Miroku, in the past, has also made versions of the Hunter in centerfire calibers. We were lucky enough to find one in 223. Only difference between it and the Rimfire versions is no sights and it extracts, rather than ejects, empties. 1885s are not standard production guns for Winchester/Miroku in that they are made in small batches in select calibers. When those sell out, they bring out new calibers and configurations. This is something that Ruger now does on their No.1 single shot.

[dddrees]

Thank you, again, for the nice comments, folks.

Dan, those are medium height Leupold Standard rings. Base is also a Leupold Standard, specifically for the Low Wall Hunter. The Hunter series has a thinner, tapered octagonal barrel than other version of the Miroku 1885, so they need to be a different height to accommodate that taper.

Not to tempt, but ... Miroku, in the past, has also made versions of the Hunter in centerfire calibers. We were lucky enough to find one in 223. Only difference between it and the Rimfire versions is no sights and it extracts, rather than ejects, empties. 1885s are not standard production guns for Winchester/Miroku in that they are made in small batches in select calibers. When those sell out, they bring out new calibers and configurations. This is something that Ruger now does on their No.1 single shot.

Thanks for sharing, always find information like this interesting and extremely helpful. I remember someone recommending a 223, but when I checked Winchester they weren't even making one in this caliber. Frankly I think I wanted to stick with cheaper Rimfire Calibers anyway, but from your explanation I can now understand why it may not be currently available. From what I have seen and based on other posters on various forums it does seem Winchester is somewhat known for their limited editions. In fact it does seem I was extremely fortunate to get a 1873 with a shotgun butt stock. If I had the desire I probably should have gotten one in a higher caliber than 357 as the crescent style butt stocks aren't very shoulder friendly especially with larger calibers. They also made a 1892 in takedown configuration last year and I find that somewhat desirable. Unfortunately with everything else this maybe one I never get. In fact one persons advice who told me about this in the first place was that if you see something you want when it comes to the Miroku Winchesters you best jump on it quick because you never know how long they will be making it.

Unfortunately it appears as Leopold no longer sells the VX2 4x12x40mm but sells another VX-Freedom 4-12x40 which does not include the AO nor does it appear that it has the lifetime warranty or at least that warranty was in the VX2 description but not in the VX-Freedom. Seems from a few reviews the VX2 was the better scope. Wonder if I might be better looking at other brands like Weaver.

Weaver has a 3 - 9 x 32 with AO for rimfire for about the same price as the Leopold. Seems the magnification wouldn't be as great but it does have an AO. Not sure what base might be good but I would think medium rings would still be the answer.


Any thoughts on Weaver Scopes and that specific magnification?


Thanks again,

Dan

[North Country Gal]

Dan, I like an AO on a 17 HMR or 22 mag, simply because you'll likely be shooting it up close at typical 22 LR distances or out there at centerfire rifle distances. Nice to be able to focus the scope, specifically, via the AO for any distance.

Certainly not essential to have 12x for even 100 yard shooting, by the way. 9x will certainly do.

My experience with the Freedom and the VX2 line does not support the notion that the VX 2 is noticeably better. If anything, I think the contrast on the Freedom line is better.

Be aware that Weaver scopes are going belly up. Now owned by Bushnell who will continue to warranty them. If you can find one, the Bushnell Elites are at least as good in terms of optics and quality.

[Henry88]

What everybody else said x2

[dddrees]

Dan, I like an AO on a 17 HMR or 22 mag, simply because you'll likely be shooting it up close at typical 22 LR distances or out there at centerfire rifle distances. Nice to be able to focus the scope, specifically, via the AO for any distance.

Certainly not essential to have 12x for even 100 yard shooting, by the way. 9x will certainly do.

My experience with the Freedom and the VX2 line does not support the notion that the VX 2 is noticeably better. If anything, I think the contrast on the Freedom line is better.

Be aware that Weaver scopes are going belly up. Now owned by Bushnell who will continue to warranty them. If you can find one, the Bushnell Elites are at least as good in terms of optics and quality.

The challenge has been finding a scope with an AO. I took a quick look at Bushnell last night and couldn't even find one as with Leopold. Weaver had one and Nikon did as well. It does seem Nikon is a lower cost alternative but typically lower cost indicates lesser something but it does seeem that their warranty is the best so far I have seen in writing anyway.

[North Country Gal]

I agree that lower price is usually a sign of lower quality, but not in the case of Nikon. Nikon's expertise in lens making filters right down to their lowest cost scopes. They make their own lenses. Everyone else in the industry until you get up to Zeiss and Swarovski, contracts their lenses from various sources. This includes Leupold, by the way.

Also, Nikon produces their scopes in Nikon managed plants, even the ones outside of Japan. They don't simply go shopping for someone to make their scopes on contract. I have no hesitation putting Nikon scopes on my very best guns.

[dddrees]

I agree that lower price is usually a sign of lower quality, but not in the case of Nikon. Nikon's expertise in lens making filters right down to their lowest cost scopes. They make their own lenses. Everyone else in the industry until you get up to Zeiss and Swarovski, contracts their lenses from various sources. This includes Leupold, by the way.

Also, Nikon produces their scopes in Nikon managed plants, even the ones outside of Japan. They don't simply go shopping for someone to make their scopes on contract. I have no hesitation putting Nikon scopes on my very best guns.

Sounds great and very reasurring and that's why I wanted to run it by you and see what you thought. The detail you go into is extremely helpful. I think however I'm going to look around a bit though and get a feel for what all is out there in case I missed anything but I am very glad to hear this is a solid option. I just like to get as good feel what all my options are before I commit to something. Hate thinking I overlooked anything and then regret a choice I make later.


I really do appreaciate all of your help.

Thanks,

Dan