I have a CZ 455 .22 Varmint that I would like to set up with attention to wringing out as much accuracy as possible at 200 yards. Small steel and shooting for groups. I understand the nuances of finding the right ammo/rifle combination, etc.

What are the Tribes thoughts on the process of seasoning (e.g. "breaking in") a .22 cal bolt action rifle? Necessarily? Helpful? Witchcraft???

If you think it is helpful, what process do you follow?

Thanks in advance. JRC

I have 4 CZ455's including a Varmint Precision Trainer. I don't do anytinhg to break in the barrel and all are exceptionally accurate for an out of the box factory rifle. Im not sure if they would be more accurate with breakin but they're accurate enough for me so I havent bothered.

Not necessary, in my opinion. Either the barrel is good, or not. Maybe shoot some fouling shots and then fire for effect.

I don't think the pressure, heat, or bullet hardness of a .22LR is sufficient to do anything but deposit lead in any imperfections. IMO, break in would add nothing.

My only recommendation with the CZ is to clean all the packing gunk out of the barrel before using it.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/...wthread.php?t=342208

All my target rifles came with instructions as to how to break in the barrel. That is all except the 22lr ones. You don't clean a 22lr all that often either. The cartridge doesn't have enough powder in it to really do any damage to the throat or rifling the way a center fire cartridge does.

Unless you are lapping it by hand, which I personally don't recommend, you cant really do much with a 22lr by trying to fire lap it.



My CZ came from the factory with an astonishingly smooth bore.



Just shoot it and enjoy.


Be aware that switching between different types of ammo with different wax lube on the bullets can cause the rifle to take a little time to settle in.


So don't shoot a 10 shot group of one ammo and then immediately shoot a 10 shot group of another ammo in your search for what ammo works best for your rifle.


My rifle likes Wolf Match Target, CCI subsonics, and CCI standard velocity.

CCI subsonics are my favorite for hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by JRC:
I have a CZ 455 .22 Varmint that I would like to set up with attention to wringing out as much accuracy as possible at 200 yards. Small steel and shooting for groups. I understand the nuances of finding the right ammo/rifle combination, etc.

What are the Tribes thoughts on the process of seasoning (e.g. "breaking in") a .22 cal bolt action rifle? Necessarily? Helpful? Witchcraft???

If you think it is helpful, what process do you follow?

Thanks in advance. JRC

In my experience of shooting for groups. Don't even waste your time with the cheap bulk pack ammo.

I don't think you have to buy Lapua Midas, but don't buy Remington Thunderturds either.

quote:

I don't think you have to buy Lapua Midas, but don't buy Remington Thunderturds either.

This sounds like solid advice. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
I don't think the pressure, heat, or bullet hardness of a .22LR is sufficient to do anything but deposit lead in any imperfections. IMO, break in would add nothing.

I'm inclined along these lines. I think and $$$ to be made with accuracy is a bunch of ammo experimentation, trigger tuning, and quality glass. After that we can include practice.

Even the benefits of "breaking in" a centerfire rifle (with formed copper jackets at high velocity) are debatable. With a .22LR, you are definitely not going to wear down any rough spots with low velocity lead and/or copper dipped bullets.

There are lots of good choices for mid-price .22, but CCI SV is probably the best value....if you can find it in stock. And there is certainly a point of diminishing returns with .22 ammo. A $60 brick of SK SP is going to be far more accurate than a $30 brick of Remington or federal. A $200 brick of Ely Tenex is not going to be "far" more accurate than the SK SP, but it should be slightly more accurate, and probably have fewer of the occasional fliers.

Shoot 50k through it would be a good start.

CZ says they lap their barrels

quote:

Originally posted by DamageInc:
Even the benefits of "breaking in" a centerfire rifle (with formed copper jackets at high velocity) are debatable. With a .22LR, you are definitely not going to wear down any rough spots with low velocity lead and/or copper dipped bullets.

I'll go along with all that.

quote:

Originally posted by SgtGold: The cartridge doesn't have enough powder in it to really do any damage to the throat or rifling the way a center fire cartridge does.

I have a BSA Model 2 from 1910.

And a Walther Sport Model 2 from 1930.

And a Walther Sport from 1934.

And a Mauser ES35B from 1937.

And a BSA Martini from 1957, and another from 1962.

And an Anschutz from 1963.

None of them has any visible wear in their chambers, and most shoot a five-hole group at 50m with 'cooking' ammunition, even better with pricey stuff.

Whenever I clean any of them, accuracy goes down the pan for about 50 rounds, then starts to pick up again....

tac