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It was the long range .22 competition at Bisley yesterday - It was a trial event, so the turn out of 22 was pretty good.

There was a variety of rifles and shooting styles - The majority looked to be fairly serious prone shooters, who were shooting TR rifles (some with Gemini stocks etc.) with jackets and slings...there were half a dozen using scopes...one gentleman with an interesting scaled down sharps rifle, and two guys using Enfield trainers with front blades; which was impressive.

I had to get up at 'silly o'clock' to make the 8:30 briefing, but it turned out to be well worth it - The works on Butt 19 are coming along, and there's now a nice gravel path instead of mud from the 300 car park to the firing points - My only complaint of the day was that the butt marking was poor in the afternoon (I think they were training a few newbies), and the poor RCO had to face a constant barrage of calls for message 4s and challenges... fortunately he had the patience of Jove, and kept it all going in a friendly and relaxed manner.

There was some impressive shooting at 200, with a best score of 73.12 (!) - I was quite happy with my 68.4, as I only dropped 4 shots to the wind...but also wound the scope the wrong way to drop another, and then wound it the wrong way again putting one into the 3 ring (numpty!)

Then I lost the plot (literally) at 300 - The wind was very changeable; mainly in our faces, but veering left and back right again - This did some very strange things to the .22 bullets, and seemed to make large changes to elevation as well as windage...on top of this the hail shower didn't help (my poor Anschutz!) - I learned that I really didn't know what the adjustments on my new scope translated to (having only zeroed it in ideal conditions at 200), and between the conditions and chasing my own errors made a right old mess of it, with a full range of 5s, 4s, 3s and even a 2...in fact looking at my score card, it looks like I was using a shotgun!

Then back to 400 - I was having doubts that I would even hit the target, but the conditions calmed down, and instead of trying to guess the scope adjustments I used the mil-dots to aim off for both windage and elevation (as it turned out I ran out of elevation on the scope despite zeroing it at zero at 200!)...and put in a card no worse than my 300 shoot - I didn't feel too bad, as everyone, even those who knew what they were doing, struggled at this distance.

It was very tricky and sometimes frustrating, but fascinating and fun...the .22lr is definitely capable of shooting the distance, but good scores will require a lot of concentration and practice...in fact it could well become addictive - If the NRA run it again, I'm definitely up for another go, and I can highly recommend it to anyone who has a .22 of any type who wants a challenge tongueout

Were most folk shooting subsonic ammo to get around the bullet stabilisation issues caused when it drops below the speed of sound?

I've seen some interesting YouTube footage of some really long range shooting in the US in desert areas where they can observe the bullet strike

I was the only person I know of who was using super-sonic ammo (R 100) - I was going on the theory that it might help with the wind; though the gains in elevation are negligible...

...from talking to others (as you do at comps), the consensus was that sub-sonic was better - Firstly because at only 50 fps faster than standard, it may be super at 100 (which is what it's intended for) but drops out of super before 300, causing, as you say, destabilization - And secondly, due to the simple maths that the more you increase the velocity, the more you increase the possible variation - The opinion seemed that you were better off sticking to a good quality batch-tested sub-sonic...

...but I couldn't tell you what effect it had on my scores, as I was shooting badly anyway - In future though I'll be sticking to the R 50, which proved very accurate in the mini McQueen.

Another .22 long range event is being organised at Bisley on the 9th of November.

The format has change slightly - It was 5 sighters (last 2 convertible) and 15 to count at 200/300/400...this time it's 5 sighters (last 2 convertible) and 20 to count at 200 and 300.

Unfortunately as it's being arranged privately you have to be a member of the NRA; but with more support and continued success the event could end up being endorsed...

...which is why we need more competitors...so if you're interested, please PM me and I'll give you the organisers contact details.

The last one was a lot of fun, and I'm really looking forward to trying it again tongueout

Is it possible to consistently get 1/2" groups at 100 yards with a .22LR?

Only asking as I've not shot much precision .22LR but have heard of claims that this is possible out of some firearms.

Yes absolutely - My 30 year old Anschutz 54 shoots a 1 hole group at 50 yards, and will hit a 1" target every time at 100 yards - A lot of the old traditional Anschutz and BSA prone target rifles are capable of this with ammo they like...

...the problem is the wind though, which I'm beginning to learn has a quite an effect on .22lr bullets...so such tight groups are only possible in perfect conditions...

...even a slight change at 200 yards can move the shot 6"; and head and tail winds affect the elevation so much more than with full-bore at that distance...

...in anything less than perfect conditions, I'll be happy to just hold the bulls-eye.

I'd be really interested in trying out long-range .22" TR! Am not an NRA member, granted, but if there's an informal shoot at some point with a space going...

What's the wind like on the .22 bullet at 200yds - are we talking MOA accuracy or wheel of fortune with the sights?

At the event in April the majority shot with open (mainly aperture) sights, and quite a few were fully rigged up for prone TR (some with Gemini stocks etc.)...

...the 1st and 2nd place were taken by scoped rifles, but as for the rest of the field, it was mixed...which is part of what makes it very interesting...

...as for sight adjustments; 200 isn't that bad when you get used to it - it's a bit like shooting 600/700 with a .308, so a change from 'gentle' to 'fresh' can put you out into the 3 ring - 300 is the tricky one where the wind direction (as well as strength) seems to have an equal if not worse effect than .308 at 1000 in MOA.....

...I've practiced a few times at 200/300 since the comp, and find that it's difficult for me (not used to scope turrets...have to look and think) to keep up with the wind changes, but have had some success with aiming off once I've found the bull - but I recon that an experienced TR shooter good at plotting could win it with open sights.

As for a 'wheel of fortune'?...no, not once you're confident with your zero (though I'm glad they've ditched 400, as I'd run out of elevation on the scope)...I was all over the place at 300 on the last comp (challenging conditions), but Nick Tremlett who won it hardly dropped a shot...

John MH wrote:Is it possible to consistently get 1/2" groups at 100 yards with a .22LR?

Yes, ooman, we have two guns that can achieve it. One is a CZ 452 and the other a Greener heavy barrel take down from around 1898. It takes a lot of practice at reading the wind though... CCI Minimags seem to be a good round for 100 yard shooting with both rifles though the CZ also groups well with Remington subsonics but then requires even more skill at range and wind estimation.

At NRASC shoot at Bisley earlier this year the chap next to me was shooting an Anschutz 54 and holding the target in a breeze at 600yds