Thread: 22lr Benchrest: Rebarrel a 22, preferred gunsmith

Originally Posted by Jaco Goosen

Have you decided on the chamber/reamer you want to be used for the chamber?

Will you be going with a different twist on the new barrel?'

Do you wanna go to a much heavier profile barrel? The design of the action kinda dictates max barrel diameter. Could do a strait like I did on my CZ452.

The T1 is not the the easiest of rimfires to replace the barrel on. A number of prefit barrel manufactures stopped doing barrels for the T1 because of an issue some rifle builders had after removing the factory barrel.

I haven't done a T1 yet but Ive done the research and have decided on how Id go about rebarreling a T1.

True flite barrels? You can support local, the team at TF deluvers a good product. Go Ultra match.

Ive got several of the more popular 22 LR match reamers - Reach out if interested.

Note: It takes longer to finish the build on a rimfire compared to a centrefire - maybe its just me wasting a lot of time testing.

I haven't decided on the chamber, I'm aware there are a ridiculous amount of 22lr reamers available so was going to wait and see what future smith's had available/would recommend.

I'd probably be looking at something like medium Palma, do not stupidly heavy, probably 24" may 26".
Will likely stick with a 1:16 twist, doesn't seem like enough conclusive evidence that the tighter twists are worthwhile.

I have heard the issues with removing the T1 barrels so I was going to do that myself, or atleast attempt to.
It sounds like it's not a fun task but certainly not impossible with enough heat applied.

Barrels blanks I was initially looking at importing a Bartlein but I've since heard a lot of good things about TF rimfire barrels so might just go that route.

Probably not many at all.

I'm no expert at building rifles but are the top line rimfires built more around the ammo as your pretty much at the mercy of the ammo for rimfires? rim thickness etc...

Your title to this thread has "Benchrest" in it this form of competition shooting has to be, in my opinion, the most precise forms of rimfire competition shooting.

From what I understand Grant at Trueflight had input from one of the top rimfire Gunsmiths in New Zealand when he was developing the Trueflight rimfire barrels.
The gunsmith I'm referring to was Harvey Westland, he truly understood rimfires and also competed in rimfire Benchrest. His action was built by himself and while it looked like an Anschutz it did have a number of similarities to the Brno model 1-2 action.

If you are truly looking for Benchrest accuracy I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a barrel from Trueflight, but I'm not sure who I would recommend as a gunsmith.
HJA8's post has a lot of sound information in it.
I have no knowledge of the TX1 but I do look at Rimfire Benchrest results and most (99%) of the winning rifles are built on custom actions, 2500X, Hall, Turbo, Falcon etc and Shilen, Benchmark, Lilja, Rock Creek etc barrels, this is at the top level of Benchrest.

There are many rifles that are accurate, Rem 540x (541), Brno Model 1, Anschutz, Walther etc, the Anschutz match 54 has been an excellent action and team that action up with a top class barrel and if everything is done right it will be a very competitive rifle, another that was sought after many years ago was the Suhl action.
There are many things that make a rifle competitive but one addition is a tuner and the next is finding the ammunition the rifle likes.

If you are serious about shooting rimfire Benchrest both NZDA and TSNZ run rimfire Benchrest competitions, the NZDA National Rimfire Champs will be held at the Nelson range on Easter Monday.

I took the barrel off my T1X for shits and giggles, it took a while to find a torx bit that would stand the torque required, I think I snapped at least 6 or 8 (3 brands tried at least haha) before the final set screw "cracked" - so its "doable". Kenny at Desert Precision Gunworks has made some excellent videos on the issues you might encounter upgrading a T1X.

In the end I decided there were easier/better platforms to focus on than the T1X. It's biggest advantage is that you can get absolutely tier 1 triggers for it.

The comment re ammo selection is valid - Tested good lot numbers will determine the ultimate accuracy of any 22LR build. Not sure about NZ but finding SK/Lapua in any quantity has been virtually impossible in my area for several years now.
I have several Bartleins & Benchmarks in various contours, lengths and chambers - My TF barrels fitted and chambered my my Tasmanian gunsmith will run with any of them.
I'm yet to be convinced that these faster twist barrels offer any advantage over the 1:16 and unless you're trying to balance a butt heavy rifle, these 1.2" straights don't do a lot for me either!

More irreliventia: I believe the EM332 is modelled on the Suhl action.

Talk to Grant at Trueflite, he built a Lithgow up for me with one of his barrels that shoots fantastically, as good as any of my many other custom 22RF BR rifles, Vudoo's included

The problem with the Lithgow is the trigger, it is lbs not ozs

I have a couple of Krieger 1-16 22 RF blanks in stock

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Talk to Grant at Trueflite, he built a Lithgow up for me with one of his barrels that shoots fantastically, as good as any of my many other custom 22RF BR rifles, Vudoo's included

The problem with the Lithgow is the trigger, it is lbs not ozs

I have a couple of Krieger 1-16 22 RF blanks in stock

I was thinking about you when I started this thread as I remember you being one of the first guys to start bring in Vudoos.
Promising to hear a rebarrelled Lithgow will hold it's own against them.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

I was thinking about you when I started this thread as I remember you being one of the first guys to start bring in Vudoos.
Promising to hear a rebarrelled Lithgow will hold it's own against them.

As mentioned its the trigger that lets mine down, Grants barrel & smithing certainly works with this rifle

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

As mentioned its the trigger that lets mine down, Grants barrel & smithing certainly works with this rifle

Just based on Gregs reply, I would again recommend a trueflight barrel and add get Grant to chamber and fit it.

It has been said by more than Greg, the trigger is what can make or break a rifle and Benchrest triggers are measured in oz, not lbs.
While a Anschutz trigger has been fitted to a Lithgow to make it better, what was the cost, would it have been a better use of funds to start with the Anschutz

Originally Posted by 19Badger

While a Anschutz trigger has been fitted to a Lithgow to make it better, what was the cost, would it have been a better use of funds to start with the Anschutz

Some of us build things just to see what can be achieved regardless of cost! I've been buying new Anschutz rifles since 1965. As much as I love them, a lot of new (and less expensive) actions have become available in recent years. The 64 is dead now and the 54 is a classic from a bygone era.
The current Anschutz BR offerings are so expensive that it's possible to build a full on custom for less $$.

Now you tell me you've got 16t RF barrels......2024 goals updated.

Originally Posted by Jaco Goosen

Now you tell me you've got 16t RF barrels......2024 goals updated.

I have a heap of US cut rifle barrels here, getting them in constantly

Allen Carr Gunsmith Kapiti.