.22lr Newish Shooter Progression
For some background I've been shooting pretty consistently over the last year with an old marlin 25. Around once a week and about 1500 rounds total. With bulk ammunition my groups are 1.2-2" at 50y and with eley ultra (only nice ammo I've been able to get my hands on so far) it groups .75" at 50y. My best group so far is a 12 shot .454" at 50y. I've learned a lot having only begun shooting in this last year but the improvement has slowed down with my current rifle. I cannot get it to group smaller consistently. I'm disabled so I really only will ever be shooting off of a bench or prone and likely not in competitions. I understand more advanced bench setups remove as much of the shooter as possible using 1 piece mounts or 2 piece inline setups. However, I'd still like to shoot with the rifle shouldered trying to mimic technique for centerfire trying to nail down the fundamentals of shooting. I only have access to a 300y range so I'm still looking at rimfire. Being able to shoot well is the general goal.
I don't feel like I know enough to make a decision on what I should be doing to improve going forward. Is it time to upgrade peripheral gear? Get a new rifle? Get gooder (just keep shooting more)? Specific brand/part/gear recommendations are helpful as I don't know what is and isn't good period and what is and isn't good value for money.
My goals are to get at least .3" groups at 50y on average and shoot at least 1 MOA or better out at 300y which I'll be stretching out to consistently.
Is this a good goal to set? Should I be shifting the goalposts to something more or easing them up?
How deep down the rabbit hole do I need to go to achieve that level of accuracy? Will factory rifles get me there with confidence?
As opposed to a new rifle should I be looking at getting a kestrel, chronograph, or some other piece of gear instead?
What kind of stabilization setup do you recommend? Bipod/Rearbag? Frontbag/Rearbag?
Locally my options for rifles are:
- Used CZ 457 American in .17hmr $480
- CZ 457 MTR $950
- Tikka T1x $650
- Cheapest FFL is $20
Having tried the actions and triggers on all 3. I liked the Tikka action best but I'd be happy and content with either CZ. The ergonomics between the CZ and Tikka isn't a large enough gap to lean me one way or the other. I did not like the B14R or 90 degree actions in general probably due to being left handed. I've seen a few lefties writing that a 90 degree bolt throws feel worse than shorter bolt throws to them and I guess I'm one of them.
I'm not an infinite tinkerer once I have the rifle set I'll leave it alone until something on it needs to change.
As far as budget goes I'd like to achieve my goal as economically as possible but if I need to save to get there that is more than fine. I've saved up about $1k in the last 8 months or so. I'm budgeting off disability so it might take me a while but I'll get there.
Getting out to the range and shooting has been great so far and really good for my health. Thanks for being and awesome community and a great resource.
EDIT: The .17HMR would be re-barreled for .22lr basically just buying the CZ 457 action. Should just need a .22 barrel and the mag spacer.