Project Plans.

[jimiowa]

I have a plan in the works.
I have long wanted to put together the Ultimate Squirrel Rifle or at least my version of it. And have about a year to complete.
I have two concepts in the planning stages.
1) an economy version, would be a CZ Rifle in a Boyd Brothers JRS stock with a 6X scope. This would run around $400 less scope.
2) This would be dual purpose and would be both hunting and IR50/50 Sporter Class competetion rifle.
And this one has me going in two different directions
I would like to get either an anschutz 64 or 54 barrelled action and put it in a Stith Sporter Stock.
The puzzling part is a good used 64 or 54 barrelled action will run between $350-$500 (64)and $600-$800(54). General consensus is the 54 action is vastly superior.
However I could get a new ULA(Ultralight Arms) barrelled action with Jewel Trigger for around $900.
The Stith Stock would run around $175 and I think I can stock it myself.
I am thinking new may not shoot better than Anschutz, but at least I would know what was done to it. And there were 4 ULA rifles in the top 20 at the 2005 ARA Nationals, so a worst case scenario would call for a new barrel.
I will have to work my second job for at least 1 more year so have time to put this together before entering any competetion. There are two clubs in Iowa shooting IR50/50 and ARA matches, 1 1 1/2 hrs away and the other around 3 hours away.

I think I might be wise to do project 1 as practice in stocking before moving on to project 2.

[klsm54]

Sounds like a good project Jim....

If I can put my 2¢ in...ah come on, you know I'm going to anyway.... ;D

I love the ULA idea, of course it's not my money.

I don't care for the CZ idea. It's probably an okay outfit, but just not up to snuff with the Anschutz or ULA packages. But, then again, I never have been a big CZ fan.

For my money, the Anschutz idea sounds like a winner.. I think that a 22LR, unless it has been abused, is seldom less accurate used than when it's new. The service life for a 22 is 100's of thousands, if not millions of rounds. Anschutz accuracy is hard to beat, unless you go for the ULA. I agree that the 54 is a better choice than the 64 action, probably much more.

Whichever option you choose, please keep us abreast of your progress, it will be interesting, I'm certain.... ;D

[jimh]

nice project jim, what kind of groups do you expect with that set up at 50 yds anyway? and be able to really compete in the top finishers on average. scott what don't ya like about the cz's anyway?? just curious if red has influenced you any.

[klsm54]

No Jim, I formed my opinion of the CZ's from my own inspection of them...

Several years ago I was in the market for a 22 Magnum so I looked at a CZ. First I saw one of the European models. Besides the homely sights and stock design that I didn't like, it was covered in tool marks and just didn't appeal to me. The shop told me to come back in a couple weeks as they had some of the American models coming in.

Well I went back. And while the American model lacked the gawdawful rear sight and had a pretty decent stock with classic lines, it still left a whole lot to be desired in the metal work area. Marks that looked like a file had been used for final shaping, and some surfaces that were finished with varying angles on what should have been flat. All in all, just not very attractive in the finish department.

Now I've heard all the glowing accuracy reports, but I don't want a gun, at any price, that has that type of workmanship. Heck a Marlin at less money looked far superior to the rifles I looked at.

Maybe they have improved, but for me, the damage was done....

[Bill]

I guess I will put in my .02 also,
First off it sounds more like your putting together a target rifle rather than a squirril rifle. Do I detect an ulterior motive affoot. More target than squirrel
I also have done this over a years time and went a totally differant direction. And its still not done yet.
These are some of my thoughts on the design of what I wanted.
1:) A rifle that can be carried all day = Light around 5lbs.
2:) A rifle for thick cover = Short
3:) A rifle is accurate = Heavy match barrel match chamber.
4:) A rifle that has a quick second shot = semi auto
5:) A scope that works well in thick cover = Low power with wide field of view. 2.5 power
This is what I came up with.
A Ruger 10/22 action. (only part of the gun thats left from the original gun.
A Butler Creek S.S. Graffite 1" barrel 16"s long with match chamber.
A Syn stock by Corelite.
A 2.5 Power Busnell that I already had.
A sling by Claw
And a yet to be installed Volquartsen trigger
" " a extended Mag Release
What I ended up with so far matched the criteria exactly for what I was looking for a gun to do. Hunt squirrils in rough ground along the creek where I'm crawling up and down banks and through brush and where very few shots are over 100 yds. And a gun that I can carry all day and not feel like I'm dragging a log at the end of the day.

Now IF I was looking to follow a semi target criteria with a 6X scope I would look at a Win 52 Target and have it drilled and tapped for a scope as I can find one of those probably cheaper than I can an anschutz and still have a better rifle in the end.
Now if your planning on following the criteria for the Sporter Class then your direction is just about dead on.
The nice part about it all is when your finished it would and will be exactly what you wanted it to be. Not what someone else (like me ) wanted it to be. Get the Anschutz 64

[Purebred Redneck]

ditto scott

[jimh]

well as of this morning i'm about 25% towards my next project too. i just bought/found another factory ruger stock (walnut) for a m77/22 build. now i need a s.s. assembly to put into it. i'm going for a magnum this time and may even go the .17 route. wouldn't mind a lija barrel for it.

[klsm54]

Hey JimH, how'd the last project turn out?....

Last I remember you had ordered a new sear for it, to get that trigger pull down, but I don't recall anything since then....

[jimh]

It's pretty good. i still want to bed it but i was getting some 3/8" groups at 50 yds with it and i'm afraid to touch it. still need to upgrade the P.O.S. scope on it but it'll do for now. i'm watching for a upgrade scope for my 7mm, it has a 4x12x40 AO 3200 elite on it now. that would make a dandy rimfire scope. i'll get either a 4200 elite or a nikon monarch or there's about in a straight 3x9x40 for it. (don't need the A.O. for deer) didn't mean to hijack your thread jim. but as long as i am, if anyone has a s.s. ruger m77/22 in .22wrm they want to sell let me know. i will be trashing the stock and barrel so one that has been well used is fine. back to jim's post.

[calsibley]

For you guys so inclined it seems like a terrific project to throw yourself into. If I were to get serious about an accurate .22 I'd probably be quite content to get a good Anschutz. Like Scott said, .22s seem to last and maintain their accuracy forever so it doesn't have to be spanking new. Certainly it wouldn't be cheap, barely affordable in fact, but at least I'd only have to cry once. Just one mans opinion. Best of luck with your project. Let us know how you progress with it. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[jimiowa]

Well let me see if I can answer all your questions.
First Scott, I expected your $.02, if I had not wanted that I would never have posted this plan.
And I knew also you had an anshutz you have expressed a fondness for, so your comments in that direction are hardly unexpected.
Next Bill your right, The primary purpose would be competetion, since I have a 10/22 set up much like yours. I want a bolt gun this time.
Jim H. as far as groups, IR 50/50 is a 25 1/4" bulls shot at 50 yards in 20 minutes. The X in the center is the real target. In Sporter Class it takes a rifle capable of shooting 25 X or grouping .2-.3. They tell me it takes a 247-15X score to be competetive. The Sporter rifle is limited to a 6.5 X scope and must have a wood stock weighing 7.5 lbs or less ready to shoot.
I`m 56, blind in one eye and very near sighted, it is probably folly to think at my age I would be competetive. But I`ve wanted to compete since I was a pup so got to try.
I`ll probably end up with a used Anschutz, partly because it might be cheaper and partly because I have wanted one since I saw a Savage/Anschutz in the Coast to Coast store when I was just a kid(When you get old you get sentimental ;D)

Now my thoughts on the CZ, They are the Chec rifles built by Bruno. And like everything made behind the iron curtain are rugged and serviceable. Pretty is not the same as functional and USSR holding bilt a lot of ugly hard to beat equipment. an example would be Mig Fighter planes.
I think the CZ is the only rifle in it`s price range that has a threaded barrel. They shoot pretty well and the trigger can be brought down to 8 oz pretty easily.
As I said, I can get the rifle for under $300 and a Boyd Stock for around $70. If I do that it would be practice in stocking before I tackle a $175-200 stock on the real thing.
On a side note the Walther KK100 is pretty well respected in target shooting circles. It is a CZ rifle front to back fitted with a fine trigger.

[jimh]

scott here ya go. here's the one from this summer.

[Bill]

What you described is real similar to this rifle. Its a multi-purpose match/hunting rifle.
[ftp]http://jga.anschuetz-sport.com/pm/detailansicht.php?mkid=148&l=e&project=jga_de[/ftp]
This is on a 64 action which is the only one I would use and is a 5 shot. Weight is 9 lbs plus and it looks to me like it could really do a nice job with very little changing but then I don't know the weight limits for the catagory your wanting to shoot in. Now a squirril rifle to me its not but a paper punching SOB I have no doubt it would be and with the right scope it would be watchout to the compatition.
Another smallbore that I druel over is the Cooper. Thats one awsome rifle too and can be made into one heck of a target rifle.

[Bill]

Sweet JimH Sweet. I have been looking at one in the Laminated stock and Target Grey in the 77/22 or the 77/22M. The 77/22M I can rebarrel to the .17HMR without much of a problem and trade it back and forth which would be VERY nice.
Dangit, I got to finish getting my .204 project out of hock before I can do any more buying, but here I go on another hunt.

[klsm54]

Bill. One question. What do you have against the 54 Anschutz action?

It has been the standard which everything else has been compared to, on the 54 Match, for decades now. The 64 action is good, for sure, but the consensus would favor the 54. I'm interested on your thoughts.