I was going to test another match rifle in addition to the BLEIKER in the YOUNG RAIL REST.

Then I thought a different test might give us another option.

I have some Lilja 22 rim fire match barrels.

I have chambered one with a match reamer, and installed it in a BRNO 452 action.

I am going to shoot the same ammo I shot in the factory BRNO 452, and see what the differences are.

So far I have shot 8 groups.

Only one so far showed that the factory rifle was better.

7 showed the rifle with the Lilja barrel shot better.

We will see if this continues.

Watching ...

Well,

A slight change in plans.

I have shot 20 types of ammo so far at 50 yards.

This barrel is far better than the factory barrel - not a surprise because I think the barrel itself costs more than the rifle if I remember rightly.

Next I will only shoot it at 100 yards, and see what the results are compared to the BLEIKER.

Somethings I have noticed before, and during the testing of these rifles.

Things that MIGHT have an effect, but are not possible for us to notice.

This happened in all three rifles, but more noticeable in both the Bleiker and the barrel I have chambered.

My chamber is relatively tight.

A few cases won't come out of the barrel after firing.

Some have to be extracted by an external method.

Some will extract, but will not eject off the bold.

Some would fly off as they are ejected.

Some feel a bit tight to chamber - especially in the barrel I have chambered.

So far I have only had two misfire, both happened in the Bleiker rifle.

One was an ELEY TENEX and one was a South African made ammo.

Results so far are rather interesting.

I have shot about 20 types of ammo at 50 yards.

Then I decided to shoot only at 100 yards, to speed up the results, and that is really where our interest lies.

I am comparing the results of this custom rifle with the Bleiker, rather than with the factory BRNO, as it seems to shoot much better than the factory barrel.

Saeed, have you played around with a .22 LR cartridge uniformer such as the Neil Waltz die? You are already at the pinnacle of .22 shooting with the Young Rest, the best available commercial ammo from Eley and Lapua and match-chambered Lilja barrels, so this may be an unnecessary link in the chain.

That die only supposed to make cheap ammo shoot as well as match ammo I think.

It firms a new point on the bullet!!??

As the old saying goes, one cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s skin.

In all my 22 rim fire shooting, one does get an impression that something is worth while, and not long after it turns out to be not true.

Ultimately I think good component’s in a good rifle build, and good ammo will deliver good results.

Saeed, are you saying you had failures to feed and extract and eject in the Bleiker?

I ask because the Bleiker is an Olympic class match rifle, and when one is firing in matches, such failures can kill his score.

Match rifles must strike a balance between tightness and function.

The pre-fit and chambered Lilja barrels for the CZ 452 and 457 reportedly strike that balance.

One must test his ammunition for functional reliability, as well as accuracy, in any match rifle.

And in any dangerous game rifle.

Not in the Bleiker.

In the barrel I have chambered.


But, I think I have found the culprit!

Winchester.

All those that got stuck were made by Winchester.

Various types.

No idea why.

I went as fas to brush the chamber clean.

Still got stuck.

Still only Winchester!

Funny thing is even longer cases like the Stinger were no problem.

I should be through this test this week.

Very enlightening indeed!

Lots of ammo shot better at 100 yards in the Bleiker.

And lots of ammo shot better in my Lilja match chambered barrel than the Bleiker.

Frankly, I am very impressed with the results.

And I am certain if anyone wants to improve his sporter 22, he should have a new barrel chambered and fitted.

Lilja barrels apparently have the standard .22 LR 1:16 inch rate of twist.

It seems from these excellent experiments that the keys are top quality barrels and carefully selected top quality ammunition.

Same is true even for center fires.

But for center fires we can load our own!

Almost done with this test.

Weird thing is the enormous difference in accuracy with some ammo.

Not so much with others.

I am going to hazard a guess this is due to stabilization??

It is a lot more pronounced at 100 yards than at 50 yards.

Another thing which I could not explain is the change on point of impact that varied so much at 100 yards with the factory barrel, not so much with either the Bleiker or the Lilja barrel I chambered??

This is even true of the same ammo, but different lot numbers!!??

Really weird behavior.

Good thing I don't drink, as a very good friend of mine suggested I keep a bottle of whisky next to me while testing 22 rim fire ammo!

Now stretch out that range in the open air to 200 yards, and you have a very interesting informal varmint match to shoot with your friends!

Saeed, have you had a chance to play with any of the Vodoo .22 rifles in your rest? They are getting quite a following over here.
C.G.B.

No I have not.

I read somewhere that they are similar to the Remington 40X.

I do have one of these.

Vudoo are unofficially promoting 1:9 inch twists for the .22 LR.

Now, that, to me, is interesting.

A few notes on the following.

3 rounds of ammo misfired.

2 in the Bleiker, and one in the BRNO with my own chambered barrel.

They one an Ely TENEX, a Swartyklip Match Trainer, and a Magtech HV.

I have pulled the bullets from them, and by the looks of it the problem was the priming compound has broken.

You can see it a different color in the powder.

I have only shot 20 targets at 50 yards, as it seems comparing this barrel with the factory barrel was not going to give us any results, as it looks it is shooting much better than the factory 452.

The targets shot at 100 yards are compared with the same ammo, same lot number, as was shot in the BLEIKER.

Numbers in red are the results I got with the BLEIKER.

Last number at the bottom right is the difference in group size.

BLACK ON GOLD the LILJA barrel was better.

GOLD ON BLACK is the BLEIKER is better.

You can see in some instances the differences were great.

In others they were very small.

The QUICKSHOCK ammo is made by CCI, and I suspect it is the same as their own STINGER.

Same size case, and same velocity.

I think one can improve the accuracy of a factory rifle by installing a better barrel.

I have noticed this before with the RUGER 10/22 also.

This was a fun, and eye opening test.

I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

I am far, far from an Olympic-class shooter.

Yet, based on these excellent experiments, I think I can safely say this.

For most of us, $1,200 are better spent on a CZ 452 or 457 and a Lilja barrel than $10,000 on a Bleiker!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I am far, far from an Olympic-class shooter.

Yet, based on these excellent experiments, I think I can safely say this.

For most of us, $1,200 are better spent on a CZ 452 or 457 and a Lilja barrel than $10,000 on a Bleiker!

And the CZ can be used for hunting too.

It has a magazine and much easier to carry and use.

The Bleiker is a fantastic rifle, but made for one specific purpose.

I am surprised at the differences. I believe you two have drawn the proper conclusion. Some truly marvelous groups scattered in there, Saeed. Thanks for taking the time and effort.

Strange this.

I was looking on the Net for information on the reamer I have.

It is a 22 BENTZ reamer made by CLYMER.

On a bench rest site they do not recommend this reamer for match rifles, as it is supposed to be made especially for semi autos??

This is the reamer I used to chamber our Lilja barrel I installed on the BRNO action and tested above.

That must mean that it is not as tight at chambering the rifle as a true match reamer would be, maybe to assist/ensure reliable functioning?

Not sure, though, as all .22s would seem to me to have generally similar extraction power.

It must be tighter than the Bleiker chamber.

I had more problems with brass sticking in the chamber after firing in this barrel than the others.

But, funny enough, all those got stuck were Winchester brass, of various types??

As usual with 22 rim fire, things crop up which do make you scratch your head.