What is best 22 cal benchrest gun outside of Thomas?

[GHairgunner]

I love shooting the 50yard benchrest comps. What I hate is the pile of guns I have with all the custom this and thats and still come up short. I have lots of confidence in my 100 yard setup but I feel the 50 is more precise and demands a higher level of accuracy then the 100. I'm hunting the ability to shoot 250 on a regular basis and on a light wind day make it look easy. What guns? What barrel and twist? At what speed? What ammo? The quest continues and I want to hear you guys and gals brag. Or tell me what not to add to the pile. I know I could get a Thomas, spend a ton of money and wait a year but I feel there are other answers. Thanks for the help!

 

[Solo1]

I love shooting the 50yard benchrest comps. What I hate is the pile of guns I have with all the custom this and thats and still come up short. I have lots of confidence in my 100 yard setup but I feel the 50 is more precise and demands a higher level of accuracy then the 100. I'm hunting the ability to shoot 250 on a regular basis and on a light wind day make it look easy. What guns? What barrel and twist? At what speed? What ammo? The quest continues and I want to hear you guys and gals brag. Or tell me what not to add to the pile. I know I could get a Thomas, spend a ton of money and wait a year but I feel there are other answers. Thanks for the help!

You want to shoot 250 be prepared to spend lots of money. The guys at the big 50 yd matches spend several thousand on a rest alone. Not many of them make 250. If you want to improve your accuracy you must refine everything about your gun, ammo and form. Weigh pellets push 1 through and measure bore size find pellets that fit your bore size etc etc etc

 

[Pumacarl]

You will spend less money, and save time, just getting a Thomas. Keep receipts, you'll see.

If customization is your thing and you just like to work on guns too, besides just shooting them, then you're on the right path. And success earned is better than paying for it, good luck!

 

[jps2486]

RAW TM1000 built by Martin can compete with the Thomas.

 

[GHairgunner]

RAW TM1000 built by Martin can compete with the Thomas.

I have a RAW and it is one on the pile.

 

[GHairgunner]

You will spend less money, and save time, just getting a Thomas. Keep receipts, you'll see.

If customization is your thing and you just like to work on guns too, besides just shooting them, then you're on the right path. And success earned is better than paying for it, good luck!

Your probably right it is the year long wait that stops me.

 

[Solo1]

Your probably right it is the year long wait that stops me.

Well take your raw, start refining pellets then tune then form and practice alot reading the wind too the wind ever so slight is the big spoiler.

 

[Danman]

Refresh me @GHairgunner ...... your the guy who fitted FX barrels into Brk Ghost pcps? How are they doing these days for accuracy/consistency? Curious!
To me the decision is as much about the pellet as it is the pcp you chose. Shooting in no wind I'd stack my S510 up against pretty much anything with good ol 18.13 pellets up to @50Y. Throw is some decent wind and it goes to .
Mrds have those pesky fliers but aside from that are great pellets for bucking the wind. Shot both my pcps today @ 50Y thanks to this post.

The S510/18.13 & Ghost/25.39Mrd deeps both printed tiny groups @ 50Y (with one Mrd flier). Both groups are mag dumps and the mosquitoes were absolutely feasting on me when I shot the S510...i can do better, and yip that is the one and only group I shot tonight with the 18.13 pellets. Sadly the plywood tore away but every shot hit the trap steel behind so I know they all went into that hole. The crappy lower group is 20gr lights @min setting on the ghost...still too fast (965fps) and they scatter badly once I go past 40Y.
I think the mrd fliers is why the heavier JTS/AEA pellets are so Hot currently.

 

[GHairgunner]

Refresh me @GHairgunner ...... your the guy who fitted FX barrels into Brk Ghost pcps? How are they doing these days for accuracy/consistency? Curious!
To me the decision is as much about the pellet as it is the pcp you chose. Shooting in no wind I'd stack my S510 up against pretty much anything with good ol 18.13 pellets up to @50Y. Throw is some decent wind and it goes to .
Mrds have those pesky fliers but aside from that are great pellets for bucking the wind. Shot both my pcps today @ 50Y thanks to this post.

The S510/18.13 & Ghost/25.39Mrd deeps both printed tiny groups @ 50Y (with one Mrd flier). Both groups are mag dumps and the mosquitoes were absolutely feasting on me when I shot the S510...i can do better, and yip that is the one and only group I shot tonight with the 18.13 pellets. Sadly the plywood tore away but every shot hit the trap steel behind so I know they all went into that hole. The crappy lower group is 20gr lights @min setting on the ghost...still too fast (965fps) and they scatter badly once I go past 40Y.
I think the mrd fliers is why the heavier JTS/AEA pellets are so Hot currently.

I wrote this because I want more. I'm shooting the FX liners in both 16 and 24 twist in my barrel design. Outdoors with wind a very consistent 242 to 246 scores. An occasional 250 but it seems like an accident and isn't the norm. I shoot speeds from 890 to 1030 out of the Ghost. While there is some weaker spots in the speed range overall if you where just killing pest you would never notice the difference.

I wrote the question to to try and find the missing parts of the equation. I changed to the AEA/JTS 22gr pellets and got a jump in scores but even these can make me guess at what is going on. While I do size them with a Zan sizer it helped reduce the number points you give up on a flyer but doesn't eliminate them. One question for me is my pellet game good enough.

I'm also working very hard on my wind call game trying new shot protocols trying to eliminate the surprise you just lost 2 points. My guess is that could be its own question for the forum. But any suggestions will get tried to see if the numbers go up.

Pics are all 5 shot groups in light to moderate wind 3-8mph. Things are getting close but still not quite there. So Im here looking for ideas to work on and improve. Maybe its the gun, or barrel, or ammo, or wind reads, or lube, or luck, or just more practice.

 

[Solo1]

I wrote this because I want more. I'm shooting the FX liners in both 16 and 24 twist in my barrel design. Outdoors with wind a very consistent 242 to 246 scores. An occasional 250 but it seems like an accident and isn't the norm. I shoot speeds from 890 to 1030 out of the Ghost. While there is some weaker spots in the speed range overall if you where just killing pest you would never notice the difference.

I wrote the question to to try and find the missing parts of the equation. I changed to the AEA/JTS 22gr pellets and got a jump in scores but even these can make me guess at what is going on. While I do size them with a Zan sizer it helped reduce the number points you give up on a flyer but doesn't eliminate them. One question for me is my pellet game good enough.

I'm also working very hard on my wind call game trying new shot protocols trying to eliminate the surprise you just lost 2 points. My guess is that could be its own question for the forum. But any suggestions will get tried to see if the numbers go up.

Pics are all 5 shot groups in light to moderate wind 3-8mph. Things are getting close but still not quite there. So Im here looking for ideas to work on and improve. Maybe its the gun, or barrel, or ammo, or wind reads, or lube, or luck, or just more practice.

Perhaps its more a matter of being human and not perfect more than anything else

 

[jps2486]

People think that buting the most expensive rifle like a Thomas will guarantee winning matches. Nothing could be further than the truth. While it's true that the Thomas is one of the most accurate rifles on the planet, the guy sitting behind it pulling the trigger has to make it work. If he/she's a good marksman, they can do it with most any good rifle.

 

[GHairgunner]

People think that buting the most expensive rifle like a Thomas will guarantee winning matches. Nothing could be further than the truth. While it's true that the Thomas is one of the most accurate rifles on the planet, the guy sitting behind it pulling the trigger has to make it work. If he/she's a good marksman, they can do it with most any good rifle.

Having the best rifle does make it easier, but your right the driver is the end affect of the entire system. I will make this a new tread but name the top 2-3 things that you believe are the most important part of benchrest shooting? Of also add if possible why and how you practice this.