Thank you for the opportunity to talk about my interest in 22 rimfire rifles and Vintage Rimfire matches. Until retirement my career involved research and development in the food industry, but now I prefer researching and developing shooting skills. I belong to several shooting and collecting organizations including life memberships in the NRA and American Single Shot Rifle Association (ASSRA).
Single-shot 22 rimfires have become a challenging opportunity for me as each of my guns becomes a project to see what it takes to maximize performance. Benchrest shooting is the way to go for seeking this goal and, although my competitive nature is low-key (read – it has to be fun), a realistic gage of progress can be obtained through friendly competition.
One nice thing about the Vintage Benchrest matches is that they allow for a wide range of rifle types to be tested against each other. For example, I like shooting bolt actions because they represent the highest degree of rifle refinement but I am also strongly drawn to the older classic lever action single-shots; both of which fit into the spirit of Vintage Rimfire matches. Using these old rifles allows me to experience the romance and history of an older age and compare their accuracy to the newer designs. At the last St. Louis Vintage Benchrest meet I was able to demonstrate the ability of one of my favorite old timers, a Stevens No. 417 Walnut Hill.
The Walnut Hill is based on a slightly larger Stevens 44 action that has a swinging breechblock that is activated by a lever. It was the last hammer fired lever-action target rifle made in the US by a major firearms company (by this time the Stevens line was part of the Savage Arms Co.) and was sold during the 1930s and into the forties. Mine is in like new condition and is topped with a 20X Unertl scope and so represents an excellent rifle for comparative studies. Interesting features include a speed lock made by using a short hammer fall and heavy spring and a powerful ejector that aims the case at the face of the cocked hammer so it ricochets forward rather than toward the shooters face. The action is beautifully color case hardened, and of course it has a target chamber that seats the bullet into the rifling when loading a cartridge.
At the October Vintage Benchrest match my Walnut Hill and I placed first in the Target Rifle Match with a 476-11X score. SK Standard Plus ammo was used along with a very hard hold. A heavy trigger (bad characteristic of its speed lock) and round beavertail forearm, which doesn’t fit well on any of my front rests, means there is a tendency to rock and roll when fired. I counter this with a rabbit ear rear bag and a very loosely filled sandbag simply placed on the front pedestal. Hard downward pressure at the rifle tang and a single finger hard pressed on the barrel just ahead of the front scope mount improves stability.
This Stevens has performed well in other shoots. Recently, at the ASSRA Schuetzen matches I took first place in the benchrest Kelly 100 and 200 yard group matches with five shots in 0.656 and 2.131 inches respectively. My best long range shooting was a 200 yard 1.478 inch Kelly group (new record) in 2003. The old rifles can shoot well!
I hope this description of the fun I have had with 22 benchrest shooting inspires others to join the Vintage matches with whatever rifle they may have. Not only will they enjoy the competition but they will also meet other shooters eager to share their knowledge.