Thread: 22lr Benchrest: Rebarrel a 22, preferred gunsmith

Originally Posted by 19Badger

While a Anschutz trigger has been fitted to a Lithgow to make it better, what was the cost, would it have been a better use of funds to start with the Anschutz

Some of us build things just to see what can be achieved regardless of cost! I've been buying new Anschutz rifles since 1965. As much as I love them, a lot of new (and less expensive) actions have become available in recent years. The 64 is dead now and the 54 is a classic from a bygone era.
The current Anschutz BR offerings are so expensive that it's possible to build a full on custom for less $$.

Here's a few image links which may interest Beetroot - Up-graded LA101's, 1761's & Tikka:
Jason threaded the Tikka receiver & it has had a SWAN (Australian) barrel fitted.

https://i.imgur.com/gKnYLbr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/M6w7hlW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EeezdwO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8jKukJy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FC1zSp0.jpg

Originally Posted by HJA8

Here's a few image links which may interest Beetroot - Up-graded LA101's, 1761's & Tikka:
Jason threaded the Tikka receiver & it has had a SWAN (Australian) barrel fitted.

https://i.imgur.com/gKnYLbr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/M6w7hlW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/EeezdwO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8jKukJy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FC1zSp0.jpg

Where were these pictures from?

Interesting they’ve opted to thread the T1x receiver, would think that’d be more trouble than it was worth.
I’d be curious to know how it shoots.

Have you seen anyone go for a tighter barrel twist?
There seems to be differing opinions on the issue but sounds like for long range shooting (200m+) there may be some benefit to a faster barrel twist, but comes at the expense of accuracy inside of 100m.

Jason Lowe threaded the Tikka receiver. The 1761 & LA101 BR rifles are his and the two repeaters are mine.

I'm sure if you emailed Lowey Products, Jason would answer any questions you may have. I've had several rifles with press in type barrel tenons threaded with excellent results - Can't see where the TX1 would be much different if you wanted to go that way.

https://shop.iceng.com.au/

Pretty sure this fellow has played with faster twist 22LR & reported good results at longer ranges. No way am I going down that path - I have enough trouble fine tuning my 1:16 builds!

@Beetroot I have a Bergara B14R 22lr that was rebarreled with a hardy match 22RF barrel. It is an 18” medium Palma 1:16 twist and the hardy match chamber reamer was used which is similar to the Vudoo chamber specs.

It shoots tenex well but prefers special match. At 50m the groups average 1cm for ten shots, es is 17 and Ed is really close to single digits.

At 300m it has very little vertical dispersion, around 4” IIRC.

I use it for PRS to good effect.

Poor mans Vudoo…

Here is miss 10 hitting the 353m target 14/20 times…

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

@Beetroot I have a Bergara B14R 22lr that was rebarreled with a hardy match 22RF barrel. It is an 18” medium Palma 1:16 twist and the hardy match chamber reamer was used which is similar to the Vudoo chamber specs.
I use it for PRS to good effect.
Poor mans Vudoo…

Couldn't agree more!
IME, a B14R build done right would have the potential to run with any Vudoo. I've already told Beetroot that if I decided to build any more rim fires, it would be a B14R with a TF Ultra Match.
My B14R has been carefully tuned but is basically a factory rifle - It's a bit ammo picky but runs every bit as reliably as my Vudoo/Rim X rifles. It is so close to the "high end" guns accuracy wise that conditions, shooter ability and ammo choice are more critical than the rifle's performance.

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

@Beetroot I have a Bergara B14R 22lr that was rebarreled with a hardy match 22RF barrel. It is an 18” medium Palma 1:16 twist and the hardy match chamber reamer was used which is similar to the Vudoo chamber specs.

It shoots tenex well but prefers special match. At 50m the groups average 1cm for ten shots, es is 17 and Ed is really close to single digits.

At 300m it has very little vertical dispersion, around 4” IIRC.

I use it for PRS to good effect.

Poor mans Vudoo…

From the various anecdotes I've read I'm beginning to believe my hypothesis of rimfire inherent accuracy coming mostly from the barrel and chamber.
Obviously ammo is the ultimate deciding factor in group size but a shit barrel won't group well regardless of ammo ES.

I'm still trying to decide whether to rebarrel my existing rifle, or keep it for a dedicated hunting rifle/spare rifle and then do a new build.

A friend is waiting on a new barrel to arrive for his Anschutz 1761, if that turns out to be a tack driver and perform at distance I might import a 1761 barrelled action.
Or else I'll buy a 20" T1x and see how that performs, then rebarrel either my current T1 or the new T1.

@300_BLK is that scope a 4-24x50 Zerotech?
I've been hearing a bit about Zerotech scopes, never seen one in person though.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

@300_BLK is that scope a 4-24x50 Zerotech?
I've been hearing a bit about Zerotech scopes, never seen one in person though.

Sure is, amazing glass and build quality. Tracks well.

Will be buying as many as I can afford.

This is the Japanese made scope.

Zerotech are underrated.


Re chamber on that barrel, it is cut nearly identically to the vudoo, slight crush fit at 3/9 o’clock so you get consistent velocity and accuracy. You should see how well it shoots with cci standard! Amazing

My 1761 17m2 shoots exceptionally well but the bergara is on par if not better due to the mags.

This shoots as well as my mates (4 of them) vudoo’s - if I did it again I’d get a hardy carbon full diameter barrel 40-50mm thick in 22RF

Beetroot, I’d add trigger after barrel and chamber.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

Sure is, amazing glass and build quality. Tracks well.

Will be buying as many as I can afford.

This is the Japanese made scope.

Zerotech are underrated.


Re chamber on that barrel, it is cut nearly identically to the vudoo, slight crush fit at 3/9 o’clock so you get consistent velocity and accuracy. You should see how well it shoots with cci standard! Amazing

My 1761 17m2 shoots exceptionally well but the bergara is on par if not better due to the mags.

This shoots as well as my mates (4 of them) vudoo’s - if I did it again I’d get a hardy carbon full diameter barrel 40-50mm thick in 22RF

CCI SV is what I've ended up shooting in most matches the last few years, it was the only ammo I could reliability get. Would love to have a barrel that shot that stuff well.

My T1x is pretty good, wouldn't say amazing though.

Hmmm. Would you run a high performance engine such as an aircraft or race car on 91 octane fuel? Even a chainsaw needs deceng gas or its performance is significantly reduced.

Same with a rifle especially a 22. CCI SV is the equivalent of 91, sure the engine will run but hit a tricky spot and ask for its all - it aint happening! 91 isnt bad fuel, its consistent and reliable within its design parameters. CCI aint benchrest ammo and anybody who thinks it is . . . well they are cherry picking their shooting data.

Originally Posted by Tentman

Hmmm. Would you run a high performance engine such as an aircraft or race car on 91 octane fuel? Even a chainsaw needs deceng gas or its performance is significantly reduced.

Same with a rifle especially a 22. CCI SV is the equivalent of 91, sure the engine will run but hit a tricky spot and ask for its all - it aint happening! 91 isnt bad fuel, its consistent and reliable within its design parameters. CCI aint benchrest ammo and anybody who thinks it is . . . well they are cherry picking their shooting data.

I don't disagree, but CCI SV has been the only ammo I've been able to get consistently ove the last 3 years.

I did some ammo testing a started to buy Eley Club as that shot exceptionaly well in my rifle, but the batch of ammo I stocked up on turned out to shoot like shit at long range in my rifle.
I took multiple range trips, boxes of ammo and matches before I diagnosed the issue, so went back to CCI SV when Eley/RWS became scarce.

I shoot PRS events and CCI SV is actually fairly well suited to these events.
Inside of 50m CCI SV shoots not to bad, 50-150m it's acceptable (this is the distance I do most of my shooting), 150m+ is when it really starts to open up.

I'm not wanting to rebarrel my rifle in the hope of shooting CCI SV only, but if it does shoot amazingly well with it I'll be stoked.