What gun to buy .22 Bench rest.

fixedwheel said:
My problem is I end up comparing every trigger to teh Anschutz 9015 air rifle. That is sublime.

I need to have a play on a Walther KK500, but only when I can just go "I'll take it" if it is as good as I am told.
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I have both, a KK500 M-Expert (i.e. mechanical rather than electronic trigger) for prone and an Anschutz 9015 One basic 10M rifle - I prefer the KK500, but there's really not much in it, just comes down to personal preference.

With regards to benchrest, any dedicated target rifle would be good, mainly due to the trigger. Before I got the KK500, I was using a club Annie Match 54 in a supermatch stock 1967 vintage, heavy lump but shot really well. you should be able to pick up something like this for 3-400
 
ian964 said:
I have both, a KK500 M-Expert (i.e. mechanical rather than electronic trigger) for prone and an Anschutz 9015 One basic 10M rifle - I prefer the KK500, but there's really not much in it, just comes down to personal preference.
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Thanks for your perspective on the two triggers, still means I'll have to save for a KK500 though!
 
Bardot said:
So 'as and when' I get my FAC I'm keen to get involved with 50 yard/metre Bench rest shooting .22lr. Money is very defiantly an object (as I don't have any) so how much do I need to save in order get a rifle that would be competitive. I'm happy to go down the second hand route but what guns should I be on the look out for ? (Not keen on the older extra large stock type target guns).
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Something to think about is what type of BR you are thinking of doing. There are two main disciplines shot here in the UK to think about before you spend a lot of cash.

There is what you might call "World Rules" BR and NSRA BR. In a nutshell, WRBR is shot with both a front and rear sandbag and rest and there are strict weight limits on the rifle. NSRA BR is shot from the shoulder, no rear bag and only a flat top front rest and no restrictions on the weight.
If you are on a limited budget then NSRA BR is the way to go. You could get yourself up and running with a rifle and all necessary gear, suitable to compete at National level for £600.

The problem with WRBR is that very few of the old match rifles will meet the weight limit and it wouldn't be unusual to spend a grand on a front rest.
So- £300 on a good 1970's Anschutz Match 54 (Plenty about), about £200 on a Vector Optics Sentinel scope and a flat top front rest. (Homemade if you have basic DIY skills)

Can a basic set-up like this be competitive in NSRA BR? Yes, absolutely. I shoot for the County team and have won the Kent Open BR competition for the last two year.

Ten consecutive targets.

Ashampoo_Snap_09 October 2023_22h21m30s_003_.webp
 
Thanks for a very comprehensive answer. It seems NSRA is the discipline for me, I have now visited a local club just to look at what they do. So I'm thinking save for a setup very much as you suggest. Are the old Match 54's "bullet proof" so to speak or are their know issues to look out for?
 
The old M54 was fairly reliable and to be honest, they were never used hard. You must remember that right up until the 70-80's there was at least one rifle club in every town, often several. All shooting prone rifle, mostly 25 yards, in national postal league competitions every week. These competitions were run by the NSRA and all rules were strictly adhered to, you knew if you were shooting against Ford of Dagenham "C" team or ICI Glassworks "B" team, you were all on a level playing field.
So the country was awash with .22lr Target rifles, through the 50-60's the majority of the rifles were BSA Martini Internationals of various marks, with a smattering of Finnish Lions, Vostok CM-2's, Walthers, Unique's and Anschutz. In the '70's the Anschutz 54's became much more popular, even dominant and BSA failed to compete.
Into the '80's the popularity of .22 prone shooting started to wain, clubs lost members and many closed down. 10 years ago, you would have had a job to give a BSA International or Anschutz 54 away. They are still greatly undervalued, they still shoot as well and any of the new rifle, they may not look as cool, but quite satisfying when you beat someone with you £250 40 year old rifle when they have a £5,000 Bleiker or Grunig & Elmiger rifle.

The M54 action is considered by most to be better than the later M64 action.
If you buy one with aperture sights, you could sell the sights for about half the price of a scope.
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Reactions: tac
Here's a 1967-made Anschutz Model 1409 I bought off the ready-to-be-scrapped pile for £25. Dang me, it had no sights though!!
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This is what it does at 25m - five shots -
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Scope is a Tasco Model 707 x16.
 
tac said:
As rare as very rare things here - both of 'em. Agreed that they are both top-range rifles, but...............................

Here are two of my vintage TRs - top is a BSA Intl Mk2 with a home-whittled laminated stock made by the original owner - scope is a Tasco 707 x18.

Bottom is a true left-handed BSA Intl Mk2 with a x18 Unertl Super Varmint with the calibrated head.

View attachment 744598

The top rifle cost me £65, the bottom, just £55 - scopes were extra.... And here's the Anschutz Model 1407 with a x16 Tasco 707 - a 'freebie' from a friend in the USA who was going blind.
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Do you use them with a sling and no rest (as per option with the NSRA) as they both have hand stops on them
 
2506sendero said:
That's a lovely set up.
Any more details about the glass please, model number/year of production etc?
Thanks
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That's a vintage 20x40 1960's Tasco #708. These were from the time when Tasco's made quality glass in Japan.
They come in a wooden box and because they are basically a telescope with no internal erector tube etc. they are very clear. All adjustment is on the outside of the tube.

Many of the good quality .22lr match rifles of the period had small dovetails on the barrel to fit these scopes.
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I have a 1813 super match which is very accurate but one rifle that doesn't get much mention is the BSA International MK? a chap at my club has been using one , has adapted it to take a scope and is constantly at the top of the charts , he shoots against others that use all the top tier rifles and glass and still beats them. I think he paid £250 for the gun.
 
ColinD said:
Do you use them with a sling and no rest (as per option with the NSRA) as they both have hand stops on them
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Nope, I just rest them on the saddle of the rest. I'm not real serious about this bench rest thang, just like to shoot small groups.
Eastmids-HD said:
I have a 1813 super match which is very accurate but one rifle that doesn't get much mention is the BSA International MK? a chap at my club has been using one , has adapted it to take a scope and is constantly at the top of the charts , he shoots against others that use all the top tier rifles and glass and still beats them. I think he paid £250 for the gun.
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I paid 55 and 65 for mine, respectively.

I once helped a dealer send 48 of them to the US of A, where they were gobbled up by 'smiths converting them to the high-stepping centre-fires like the Donaldson Wasp, Mashburn Bee and .219 Zipper. My late buddy Rick Wagner had around ten of them, and had me scouring the dealers for left-hand stocks.
 
Eastmids-HD said:
I have a 1813 super match which is very accurate but one rifle that doesn't get much mention is the BSA International MK? a chap at my club has been using one , has adapted it to take a scope and is constantly at the top of the charts , he shoots against others that use all the top tier rifles and glass and still beats them. I think he paid £250 for the gun.
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Although I mostly use my Anschutz M54 for competitions I also use a BSA International MK5. These are still very capable rifles and beautifully made. For many years a lot of then stayed collecting dust in the back of cabinets, however many are now being given a second lease of life with NSRA BR or long rang rimfire comps out to 400 yards.

It's not difficult to get a BSA International into BR trim. A three inch wide flat block fitted to the accessary rail on the fore-end and a side mount to fit a standard scope that attaches to the action using the original aperture sight mounting holes.

Here's my MK5 in BR trim.
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@Bardot
Check out some of the auctions, real bargains about
This auction is in Nantwich Cheshire so would mean RFD transfers BUT you get the gun at the right price its worth it.
a few of these will probably sell for 100 quid or less.

Auction search | Wilson55.com | Auctioneers & Valuers

Auction Search at Wilson55 auctioneers and valuers.
www.wilson55.com www.wilson55.com
 
Shadowryder said:
@Bardot
Check out some of the auctions, real bargains about
This auction is in Nantwich Cheshire so would mean RFD transfers BUT you get the gun at the right price its worth it.
a few of these will probably sell for 100 quid or less.

Auction search | Wilson55.com | Auctioneers & Valuers

Auction Search at Wilson55 auctioneers and valuers.
www.wilson55.com www.wilson55.com
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That is a very interesting collection. Sadly it going to be a fair while before I get my FAC. Just building a shopping list in anticipation. Will probable get the scope and rest before hand. I have come to realise that something like that Match 1913 is what I am going to end up with . Going to ear mark that sight for future months. Cheers.
 
Bardot said:
That is a very interesting collection. Sadly it going to be a fair while before I get my FAC. Just building a shopping list in anticipation. Will probable get the scope and rest before hand. I have come to realise that something like that Match 1913 is what I am going to end up with . Going to ear mark that sight for future months. Cheers.
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They have firearms auction every three months,
Another one is HOLTS they are Norfolk area

HOLTS Auctioneers

HOLTS are Europe's leading Auctioneers of Fine Modern & Antique Guns.
www.holtsauctioneers.com www.holtsauctioneers.com

Another is Southams based in Bedford

Sporting Guns & Antique Arms

More details about one of our upcoming auctions.
www.southamsauction.co.uk www.southamsauction.co.uk
 
Anschutz all the way, I have an Annie sporter & a match gun....paid peanuts for them 2nd hand & got two that shoot like lasers.

BSA Martini action are getting old but they still shoot well.

Looking on Guntrader there are also a few BSA Century's & indeed Supersport 5's both of which hold their own accuracy wise if money is tight (they are also both two stage triggers if that's your preference).
 
I am looking at a BSA Martini Henry .22LR on our next club shoot next month,
One of our club RFD has one complete with picatinny rail which I unfortunatley need with my old eyes
he is only asking 70 quid and I like something old with a bit of character.
 
I'm pretty sure you don't mean a Martini-Henry - the British Army's service rifle from the late 1870s to around 1888.

1750798059893.png


I guess you mean a BSA .22cal Martini of one mark or another. Can you show it to us?
 
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