Great way to train with wind reading

[DenisA]

I was talking to an F-class friend last weekend and he'd mentioned that he's been shooting some .22lr bench rest.

I was at the Brisbane SSAA today working out an issue with a F-class rifle and thought I'd finish my session at 50y's with my .22lr Anschutz and a couple of WBSF Int. rim fire targets. I think they're also known as the BR50 targets. They're the blue SSAA targets with 25 targets in the middle. One shot on each.

It was sensational!!! A fantastic way to train my mind to focus on mirage and other wind indicators. At this distance in overcast conditions I really had to look hard for the mirage, but it was there and it was accurate. I started out a little wobbly, but it was amazing to see how quickly your mind adjusts to making the right decisions. Not just that but training your nerve to run while you have a condition and braking when you need to.
The beauty is that .22lr's move so much with a light breeze that you have to really focus to hit the middle otherwise your mistakes are REALLY noticeable. Even increasing and decreasing your vert. POA for moderate + left wind and drop offs is important. Belmont was chopping and changing all over the shop.
I'll be interested to see if light level at the target makes as big a difference at 50y as it does at the longs.

I know it's not breaking news that .22lrs are good wind trainers, but what I learnt today is that the BR50 target (if its called that) is set out beautifully and is a great system to inspire focus and illustrate the effect of different wind conditions.

Great training with out having to pay $0.71 per 7mm bullet as I found out today at the Q-store.

I'll never leave an SSAA again without completing a couple of these targets and recommend that if you haven't tried one to have a go. Loads of fun and really interesting.

[Brad Y]

Try it at 100 or 200m! Its darn hard and great fun!

[DenisA]

Try it at 100 or 200m! Its darn hard and great fun!

100y's loads of fun with a 22lr but they loose so much and the parabolic effects (caused by MV variance) are so exaggerated at that distance often I'm left wondering if the inaccurate shot was the ammo or missed condition. The BR50 target would be way too small at that distance too. I shot some of the larger SSAA 200y centre fire targets at 100 which took some concentration but I found it easier at 50y to look at the mirage, make a shot and interpret the result.
The BR50 target at 50 yards is a perfect compromise of everything to see wind/mirage effects with that calibre.

I haven't shot 200 with a .22lr, but it would loads be fun.

.22LR F-class anyone.............. new discipline!, new discipline!.... bahahahahaha.

[Brad Y]

There is one range over here running it informally and they get a few guys to shoot. Im keen to try the same when our range opens up again! I shoot alot of 22 at my little private range on tiny steel plates. Your right so hard to do it properly unless you have a bench quality gun and good ammo etc, but I feel its still good to stay behind the trigger, and great fun when you ring the plate consistently in mirage or if its blustery.

[Cameron Mc]

Agree Denis.... Great training for the mind, trigger release, wind and mirage awareness etc etc.
Amazing how little a change in wind strength can affect flight of the humble 22lr at 50mtrs.
Like F Class this game can be very addictive too. I like the fact no reloading is required and cleaning or lack of is no big deal. Having said that 22 ammo is quite expensive now.

[DenisA]

Hi Cam, I haven't dabbled with Eley or ammo of the sort due to its cost. I've found that SK standard plus is has been FANTASTICALLY accurate in my CZ455 and my Annie SBR. The standard plus is really well priced and I found no increase in accuracy going to the SK rifle match.

I have seen big differences between batches though. The previous batch I had would have rivalled the premium brands in consistency.

I haven't bought .22lr ammo for a while but I guess the price if it will be increasing the same as everything else.

[Brad Y]

I note its not hard to get a really accurate gun going if someone wanted to build trainer. I saw an article on someone putting a match grade tube on a stock lithgow crossover action and shooting a perfect dot with it.

[scott/r]

Kinda glad we weren't shooting the 22lr yesterday, Denis. It was hard enough trying to shoot the 308 yesterday with the wind and mirage changes we had. Karen had nearly 12 minutes of change in 3 shots with the 223. Wonder what that would equate to with the 22?

[williada]

I am just amazed at the skills of two blokes from Moe City RC, Seddo and Danny who use their .22 rimfires at 300 yards regularly. It can be done more easily than I thought. Great fun and reasonable accuracy because the subsonics don't get anywhere near the transonic zone to create wobbles. A real eye opener.

[DenisA]

Smallbore F-class.

I'd love to take the .22lr to a 300 club shoot to experience the challenge but we're on electronics and I guess the risk of wayward shot knocking out a sensor would be extremely high.

It would solve the problem of centres being shot out at 300!

I guess they'd be needing a 20 moa rail on that David??

[williada]

Yes Denis, their sights are jacked up. I'll have to ask the boys by what amount unless Seddo cares to comment as he used to contribute to the forum. They obviously don't do this on windy days at 300. David.

[plumbs7]

My Family and I had a little .22 Comp at 80m shooting shotgun clays (static) today. We were all locked up on the same amount of clays , with my 5 shot detail to go last ! Well I still had to do the washing up but came out on top. After dropping 9 points at the last 600 yds last week at NorthArm and confidence totally shot ! I'll take it! Was lots of fun ! Also avoided my wife boasting about her winning too! Phew! Regards Graham.

[Amac]

Hi Denis

You can't beat it I reckon. And it's so much fun shooting the little targets.

You need to get into some of the better ammo - Eley Match and Tenex. Sure about 40 to 50 cent a shot but very accurate. Again though you need to test a heap of different ammo as 22 Lr is one of those unique animals where sometimes the cheapest ammo will work or sometimes the most expensive is the only shooter.

Shooting to 100 and beyond with standard velocity ammo is quite the challenge. You need suitable wind flags to make it happen and you will see what happens to your shot in differing conditions. Using a 45x Leupy Comp scope you can actually see the projectile fly over the horizontal cross hair and loop into the target.

Just another tool in the practice arsenal.

Cheers

Andrew

[DannyS]

I suggested doing a 300 yard Xmas 22 shoot, got yelled down about projectiles coming down a such a high angle into the butts that it would be dangerous for markers, bullshit, no different that a 308 from 1000 yards, but with a lot less energy.

Have a 20 Moa rail on my savage 22. Great fun at 300 yards. Just put up a longer range target

Could be a challenge for electronic targets ,

[Brad Y]

Just put the T24 on the 22.... going for a sight in this week