Thread: .22 sporter accuracy

You are right to question accuracy from this little Annie. Group sets average from 24mm to 35mm at 50 - or approx 1" to 1.4". That's actually about double what I'd expect from this rifle - I'd be thinking averages more like 0.5 - 0.7". Some basic Annie models like the 1415, 1450 etc are not match shooters, but still one would expect better here.

Some good suggestions above. You can also check other basics to eliminate poss causes on inaccuracy. Structurally some 22 makes can have looser chambers, unevenness (tight and loose spots) in bore, loose barrel pinning, and faulty crowning. Gunsmith could check that but wouldn't expect first three in an Annie.

Then check usual suspects.. Bore cleaning as discussed earlier - one gunsmith mate used to occasionally Jiff stubborn barrels to get them like new - not too often I hope, but I can confirm it does work. Then remember not to shoot too many rounds continuously through a standard barrel 22LR - they can warm some and you can get an element of heat distortion. For example a Henry H001 lever 22LR I bought which after 6-7 rounds opened up from 0.75" groups to 2-3". Then have a look at that bedding job. Bedding and or floating on 22 sporters can work, but also may not. Gunsmith mate and I both did the experiments and after a time didn't bother. Depending on your bedding setup, experiment with screw pressures. Then be prepared to change scope. Have had several rifles that should have done better - and then suddenly did so after swapping a proven scope onto them.

Something not quite right here and shouldn't be too hard to track it down, get that 1415 shooting better.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

You are right to question accuracy from this little Annie. Group sets average from 24mm to 35mm at 50 - or approx 1" to 1.4". That's actually about double what I'd expect from this rifle - I'd be thinking averages more like 0.5 - 0.7". Some basic Annie models like the 1415, 1450 etc are not match shooters, but still one would expect better here.

Some good suggestions above. You can also check other basics to eliminate poss causes on inaccuracy. Structurally some 22 makes can have looser chambers, unevenness (tight and loose spots) in bore, loose barrel pinning, and faulty crowning. Gunsmith could check that but wouldn't expect first three in an Annie.

Then check usual suspects.. Bore cleaning as discussed earlier - one gunsmith mate used to occasionally Jiff stubborn barrels to get them like new - not too often I hope, but I can confirm it does work. Then remember not to shoot too many rounds continuously through a standard barrel 22LR - they can warm some and you can get an element of heat distortion. For example a Henry H001 lever 22LR I bought which after 6-7 rounds opened up from 0.75" groups to 2-3". Then have a look at that bedding job. Bedding and or floating on 22 sporters can work, but also may not. Gunsmith mate and I both did the experiments and after a time didn't bother. Depending on your bedding setup, experiment with screw pressures. Then be prepared to change scope. Have had several rifles that should have done better - and then suddenly did so after swapping a proven scope onto them.

Something not quite right here and shouldn't be too hard to track it down, get that 1415 shooting better.

Thanks for the input @mudgripz I’ll keep forging on with it, next step is a light bore polish. I’ve got a VX1 3-9 spare that Ill try on it too. The crown and bedding are good. I think that there is a large element of technique at play, these light sporters seem to be finicky to shooter input on the bench. Will keep at it and see how it goes.

The 1415 I had was a bitch to shoot as well and despite the fact that I could shoot the occasional group (using match ammo) down into the 0.2s and 0.3s I couldnt come close to averaging 0.5 at 50 with it. So it got sold and after a few interim canidates I finally now have two rifles that will average well undef the 0.5 but they are a full kg heavier.

The 1415 isn’t a top quality rifle. At best the budget Annie. Personally I’d put my faith in a em332 instead.
I had a 1415 that shot lapua gold box amazing. But everything else it didn’t like.

they dont make 22 ammo like they used to thats for sure !

they dont make 22 ammo like they used to thats for sure !

Originally Posted by Mangle

they dont make 22 ammo like they used to thats for sure !

I had some appalling Winchester the other day. QC is out the door.

I would do three things (in this order).

Try some Eley low velocity target.
Clean the barrel with proper solvent and a bronze brush - shoot again.
Check the bedding for collapsing wood (to much tension) or loose (too little) and check if the barrel is touching anything.

Is the scope Parallax set for 100 ? I have had a scope with bad Parallax make me think a 22 was stuffed

Try eley match or tenex
Rws make a good line too but the most expensive is the best.

My Sako finnfire 2 shoots 1” at 50m with match. Off bags front and rear.

Just be patient Hunter-nick. Run through the cleaning process and checklists above, and maybe next time take also a rifle you DO consistently shoot well with. Sometimes when having trouble with accurizing one rifle, its good to pick up another and discover it isn't you. And if you're fairly new to target shooting in any form, don't worry. The only time people are instant experts is on the internet - but get them on the mound or onto the bench and its another story. Good to join a club - smallbore, precision 22LR groups, NZDA etc to learn good technique from an experienced member. No substitute for time, helpful guidance and some years.

A good, sharp, not too expensive sporter 22 can give averages in the 10-15mm range with hunter ammos. Plenty will do that in the right hands eg CZ, Brno, most polished Norinco JW15s, Marlins etc. All of mine and team-mates' will. Some even better. Example - I took latest little Marlin 795SS semiautomatic to range recently to shoot it in with HV CCI Minimag. To my surprise it averaged 0.59" (15mm) but this was at 75m, not 50m. Would mean roughly 0.4s or 10mm average at 50m. And that is a basic, inexpensive little sporter with good factory barrel. Cobber took it out again few weeks back after scope change and he also averaged 0.48" (12mm) at 50m. Accuracy is where you find it, and there are some sharp little units out there. So if the Annie does not come up to spec - as it did not for Tent etc above - don't fuss. Happens to all of us. Just try another rifle or two - esp with that new club technique you'll be picking up..

Originally Posted by Kelton

Iv got a marlin 925 I think it is with a cheap as back country scope 4x32 it shoots tiny little groups with subsonic ammo but it doesn’t like full power .22 very much at all I don’t even bother with it anymore at 50mtrs it’s little targeted holes at 100 it would be an inch to 1.5. It seems to be really old Remington ammo that came with it that iv not seen since so it’ll be interesting to see if it holds accuracy when I run out and am onto the newer CCI that’s available locally . The only full power loads I tried were a range of Winchester and it was pretty poor. I head shot a magpie and a plover at 75 years the other week and was well impressed with the little subs I feel they lack the power for body shots though but the accuracy allows head shots

I call bullshit on my self after todays efforts with about 10 rabbits missed clipped the fur off the top of two I swear, redemption with a big billy at 4 mtrs if that counts the barrel was halfway to his head . That’s the last of the Remington ammo for me any how so time for a re zero with some CCI and il be sure to take photos good or bad

Thanks for all the input guys. A bit to think about… I’ve been tinkering with rifles for 25 years so am not new to it all, but still a lot to learn! I think my shooting is at least ok, I can get MOA out of an unbraked 7mmRM with factory ammo, and have shot many sub moa groups with various other good centrefires.

I’ll finish scrubbing the barrel, try another scope this weekend and see where that gets me. At the end of the day, the accuracy level is fine for knocking possums out of trees (which is its main work at the moment)

Originally Posted by Freezer

The 1415 isn’t a top quality rifle. At best the budget Annie. Personally I’d put my faith in a em332 instead.
I had a 1415 that shot lapua gold box amazing. But everything else it didn’t like.

Yeah I get that it’s a budget model, but still has the same action and (reputedly) same barrel quality as the higher tier 64 models. The stock is beech, and the iron sights aren’t as plush but that’s about it from what I can tell.

Another range session with the Anschutz today, also took my jw15 along.

The JW shot as it always does, pretty nicely despite the 3.5lb trigger. Has a clean break, just heavy…. Average group size for 3 different ammo types was 23mm.

After scrubbing the barrel, the best I could coax out of the Annie was 10 shots inside 28mm at 50m with Win 42max. Formed a round group, no stringing tendencies that I could see.

One thing I noticed with the VX1 3-9 on the JW was the parallax at 50. The reticle would ‘move’ a full 15-20mm in the vertical plane with head movement. That leads me to the conclusion that I need a rimfire scope to extract the last bit of accuracy out of these rifles. Would that be a reasonable assumption?

Not necessarily a "rimfire" scope but if you want to eliminate the variables when shooting paper with a 22LR, adjustable parallax is essential IME...Preferably something that goes down to 25 yards or less.