A new shooter's progress log

This may be of more interest to me than others, but here we go! I intend on keeping a log while I learn to shoot and hone my technique. I enjoyed reading this sort of stuff while I was waiting for my firearms licence to be processed and hope others may too.

The rifle is a Tikka T1x in 22LR with a 20" barrel. It sits in a KRG Bravo chassis with a 5 baffle dpt suppressor, 6-9 inch Harris-style bipod, and a Vortex Crossfire II 6-24x50 scope (second focal point, MOA turrets, BDC reticle) with a cheap rice-filled rear bag. All on top of a Caldwell Stable Table Lite. I tried lightening the trigger pull today for my third outing with the rifle. At a complete guesstimate I'd say it is down to 1 pound (started at about 2).

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Conditions today were 14 degrees Celsius with gusty northerlies. Shots from about 50m (paced). I'm not sure if wind can affect bullet travel at that distance, but it certainly affected how steady I was able to aim. I had a reasonable amount of left-right wobble that I struggled to control. Here are my groups all using CCI standard velocity.

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I have a cheap rangefinder on the way from China which I will use to more accurately measure my shot distances and stretch my legs out further. I'll also start testing different ammo types once my local range accepts my membership and I get some calmer days.

Cool. I did something similar when I first got back in to it. It's easy to get your knickers in a twist about non-cloverleaf groups, but every single one of those would be a dead rabbit, head shots too, so well done! For some reason, CCI Subsonic group better in my CZ452 than CCI Standard, so worth a go. I can get nice groups to 75m with 22LR, much beyond that and it starts to look horrible, so only shoot 2" gongs or rabbits out to 100m which seems to work!

Nice shooting considering the gusty wind, on a calm day they should be looking very tidy. Certainly each shot would have resulted in a dead rabbit.

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Originally Posted by Dusty Fog

if 1/2 n 3 are are that close does that mean the next two shots are heating the barrel up?

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Unlikely.

I should look at the app settings and turn off the numbers if I can. The impacts weren't selected in order.

Edit: I don't believe the targets are in order either.

Not the best groups today. Just some practice with Federal Champion 36g. Light easterlies. Targets in order this time, last 3 at 85m.

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Got to shoot on the range on Saturday so I can now be sure of how far I am shooting. Mild to moderate easterlies that day.

I shoot about 10 rounds of new ammo when changing type to sight in before trying for groups.

CCI Standard velocity up first at 50m and 100m.

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Next up, CCI Sub-Sonic at 50/100. These seemed a little odd in that they were louder than the CCI Standard Velocity rounds. The loudness varied too, so I assume some rounds had a bit more oomph.

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Last, CCI Suppressor at 50/100. These were certainly quiet, but waxy as hell. I noticed wax rubbing off on the magazine after loading it, and a little wax appearing at the chamber entrance. Ejecting the spent brass was also a bit rough and took a fair amount of effort. I probably won't buy these again.

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I'm going to spend more time at the range tomorrow and will try something other than CCI.

Here's all the ammo I am testing. Only 1 match grade...

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Good day at the range yesterday, sunny and light breezes.

Unfortunately it seems the rifle likes the expensive stuff! RWS Rifle Match at 50m and 100m.
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The rest are nothing to write home about really and just serve to show how good the RWS is.

Aguila Super Extra Hollow Point at 50/100.
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I was expecting more from the Eley Subsonic Hollow Point. Couldn't get enough rounds on paper to show 100m groups - just 50m.
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Winchester Subsonic 40 grain at 50/100.
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Winchester Subsonic 42 grain at 50/100.
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Next I think I'll try suppressor with 3/4/5 baffles and off, then try the action screws at different torque settings.

your groups are impressive! even the biggest spread are well within kill shots. how do the different rounds affect reliability?

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Originally Posted by nowool

your groups are impressive! even the biggest spread are well within kill shots. how do the different rounds affect reliability?

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Honestly after seeing so many tiny groups posted around the internet, I was a bit underwhelmed with many of my results! I need a little more practice and time, stick with fewer ammo types to break the barrel in and clean it less often. What do you mean by reliability? I can confirm that I had zero failures to fire and no hangfire. In terms of accuracy, aside from any errors I make, I believe it comes down to manufacturing consistency and the type of lube used. I won't be buying CCI Suppressor again as they were so rough to extract. I'd really like to try some SK ammo but for now I'm thinking my go-to for target/plinking is CCI Standard Velocity, for hunting CCI Sub-Sonic, and RWS Rifle Match when I want to impress.

You've had good results with some ammo, so you have a formula that works. Personally, I wouldn't mess around with the rifle too much.