The 300 WM is a fine cartridge, I shot it for many years shooting long range as well as for hunting. The only con is the recoil of the cartridge in hunting weight rifle. I just got tired of getting beat up shooting it.
I had a Ruger #1 and also would swap out the barrel's on my Savage action from my heavy long range target barrel's to a Magnum contour sporter barrel for hunting, as well as changing my target stock to a hunting stock.

In reality, the 300 WM is only marginally better than the old reliable 30-06 shooting a hunting style bullet. It gives you a little less drop, and a little more energy at distance.
I still have two 300 WM barrel's setting in a closet, but I quit shooting the cartridge and turned the Savage into a 6.5-06. Hardly any recoil, and I can kill anything this side of a grizzly with it.

 

I have shot a 300 WM in my 20s (quite a long time ago) and the recoil turned me off to that particular caliber...when the 300 WSM came out, I read up on the new cartridge and like what I saw so I bought a Weatherby Vanguard 300 WSM with a 24 inch barrel. It was a dream to shoot ( I reload and settled on a 180gr SST)...the limitation is really 190gr bullets for the WSM case. If you plan on shooting any bullet over 190gr, then the 300 WM would be better suited for those longer bullets. I have two WBY Vanguards: 300 WSM and the 223 Rem which are much lighter than my heavy barrel Rem 700 Target/Varmint in 223 Rem and my Ruger VT77 in 308 Win that has a stainless medium contour barrel.
Other notable improvement, many of the new offerings have a muzzle brake and although I have never shot a 300 WM that had one, it could be the silver lining to the mule kicking aversion I and many other people have. Your list of choices above all look good, and since I am familiar with the WBY Vanguard action (Howa 1500 by another name), I would consider the Howa and it has a threaded barrel so you can add a suitable muzzle brake if you so desire.
As for the 24 inch barrel on the Howa (or WBY), if you don't plan to target shoot in rapid succession (meaning giving the barrel a bit of time to cool) I figure you will be very happy. And for hunting, you will be very happy to have a lighter rifle because everything you add on to it increases the weight. Ounces add up to pounds and pounds equal pain.
Have fun deciding on what suits your needs, brings you the most joy, and knowing that anything in North America is not beyond the capability of whatever you choose.

 

If you plan on shooting any bullet over 190gr, then the 300 WM would be better suited for those longer bullets.

You right, but 300 WM today outdone by 300 PRC if larger bullets. If he go that direction then 300 PRC be better choice.

(Edit: and no belt!)

 

Sorry blow up your Q, but want do you right. Sako S20 in 300 WM. Great sale at Eurooptic. Bout $300 more than other samples above, but get a helluva lot more than $300 improve quality.

Sako S20 Hunter .300 Win Mag 24" Bbl 1:10" Rifle JRS20H331 For Sale - EuroOptic

Sako S20 Hunter .300 Win Mag 24" Bbl 1:10" Rifle JRS20H331 For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

 

An easy to carry 300 Win Mag for hunting that's also good for long range target shooting? Did you flunk physics 'Spooker?

 

Noreen or BAR.

 

I think that Bergara looks really nice, they seem to get great reviews and I know they make great barrels. What's the price? They are a 700 clone right?

 

If you are going to splash out consider something that will hold it's value..

Sako Finnbear in 300 Win mag.

300 win mag is not my favourite caliber. I think 7mm rem mag is more user friendly.

 

Your asking for you cake and eat it too.

If you're looking to dabble in long range shooting then that's fine as most of the rifles out there will do that with no problem. If you're wanting to seriously get into long range shooting then you'll want something else.

My suggestion to you is to ask yourself what it is that you are going to want to do with the rifle. Be truthful to yourself. If you're going to hunt Whitetail from a deer blind or tree stand with it then I say you're wasting your time with it. If you're not going to shoot past 600yds, again you're wasting your time. If you are wanting one just so you can say you have one, then buy whichever one feels the best or looks the best.

Years ago I bought a first Gen Remington Sendero chambered in 300WM. At the Bench it shot tiny little groups and it reached out to 1200yds(the furthest I shot it) with little effort once I had my drop figured out. It was heavy enough that shooting at the the bench it wasn't bad.
When I took it Elk hunting it was just a little to heavy. With the scope I had on it, loaded, and sling, it weighed 13lbs. Not something I liked carrying at 10,000' elevation.
I ended up selling the rifle to a friend of mine and he put a different scope on it and a muzzle break and turned it into his long range hunting rig.

My uncle bought the Bergara in 300WM. It is a really nice looking gun and it shoots really well. He uses a suppressor on it so the recoil is manageable for him. He bought it as a just because he could gun. He lives in the Midwest and shots on deer where he hunts rarely exceed 100-150yds. A 308Win is more than enough for that but he likes the 300WM. He brings it out west when he hunts with me. Except last year he brought out a 270Win.

 

If your not in a big rush to buy one I'll let you shoot both of mine when I get them fully kitted out.

Right now neither have scopes and I'm re-evaluating the Leupold 6HD I have for my 700 Milspec 2.

I've been waiting to mention this rifle below until I've actually had experience shooting it.


It's the redheaded stepchild of the CZ family and unfortunately has a bad reputation largely in part to cz-usa's liability worry minded legal department forcibly eliminating the barrel change feature.😑
Not why I bought it however. I'd been looking for something similar to Remington's old "Mountain Rifle" but in a cartridge/stock configuration that was right for me so I found this one basically used like new minus the box and papers.
24" same as my old Rem. Sendero Special. That's hammer forged and threaded.
Stock like all base synthetic ones is nothing much but a little careful glass bedding ought to make the forend area more rigid I'll probably do some similar to what I did with the fiberglass M-14 stocks I reinforced for my M1-A.

But I didn't really want to hijack this thread.

I'm also a fan of the Smith Enterprises muzzle brake.

 

If your not in a big rush to buy one I'll let you shoot both of mine when I get them fully kitted out.

Right now neither have scopes and I'm re-evaluating the Leupold 6HD I have for my 700 Milspec 2.

I've been waiting to mention this rifle below until I've actually had experience shooting it.


It's the redheaded stepchild of the CZ family and unfortunately has a bad reputation largely in part to cz-usa's liability worry minded legal department forcibly eliminating the barrel change feature.😑
Not why I bought it however. I'd been looking for something similar to Remington's old "Mountain Rifle" but in a cartridge/stock configuration that was right for me so I found this one basically used like new minus the box and papers.
24" same as my old Rem. Sendero Special. That's hammer forged and threaded.
Stock like all base synthetic ones is nothing much but a little careful glass bedding ought to make the forend area more rigid I'll probably do some similar to what I did with the fiberglass M-14 stocks I reinforced for my M1-A.

But I didn't really want to hijack this thread.

I'm also a fan of the Smith Enterprises muzzle brake.

Love CZ rifles. CZ 550 UHR 300 WM one rifle never part with. Sad, it discontinue now, but CZ website describe:

CZ - Česká zbrojovka a.s.

CZ - Česká zbrojovka a.s.

cz-usa.com

 

I love 300 win mag and would pick, kind of what's offered by the OP, a Ruger only made of wood. I'd inmediately get the trigger seen to, work up a load for a 180 gr projectile that be zero'd at 200 and live happily ever after.

Tikka are well made but ugly. Jap rifles are good for the price point.

Just my .02.

 

The 300wm has always been a wish list item for me.

Animalspooker, which way you leaning, on the choices you listed or some other manufacturer? You have endless options and a wide price range. You've had some time to weigh and do your research. Also, the the scope mounting will be an important consideration since there are MOA ranges specific to the distances you desire to shoot most but you know that already.
Please give a hint as to how you want to configure your rifle to meet your most desired use.

 

Animalspooker, Have you looked at the Savage 110 Precision in 300 WM or 338 Lapua. Not cheap but will meet both your hunting and long range requirements, weighs a bit over 11 pounds before you put anything on it. You will have bragging rights. If you go with the 338 Lapua, you would be invincible anywhere on the planet. Thor would be your friend.

I figure you will probably do more long range shooting since hunting is more seasonal.
300 WM ammo is under $3/ round
338 Lapua is about $5.50 /round - reloading might be a good option.

 

I know that one of the most important things, at least to me, with rifle stocks for both comfort and precision in shooting is the stock fit.
I love/hate Ruger bolt actions for that reason. My block head just doesn't do a decent cheek weld with them. Nor do my large hands like thin grip areas anymore.

But everyone has different tastes and needs and hunts in different environments at times.

For the price of ammunition might as well go .50bmg.

Seriously though if ammunition and time were not a problem I'd go with the .300PRC in a proper rig for what your personal requirements are and no one else's. Or my requirements for that matter.

I'll say again just to make sure: get a stock that'll fit you properly for whatever you want to do with it. You know this but many out there don't.
Because if it doesn't fit you it'll knock the snot out of a individual recoil wise. Recoil doesn't bother me if it's controlled.

Again for the money a property timed and muzzle brake is a great addition. Or a suppressor instead.

 

I’m a big fan of the .300 WM but I don’t do any real long range target shooting and never really used bullets over 180 grains. I have also tried of heavy rifles as grow older.

I’ve had 4 different .300 mags over the years, 1 .300. WBY, 1 .300 WM and 2 .300 WSM’s. 3 of the 4 were M70 Winchesters. My first .300 WSM was a Browning A-Bolt. My current .300 WSM is a Winchester M70 Extreme Weather.

Wanting a long range rifle that can also be carried for hunting, I would consider the Browning X - Bolt Stalker Long Range.

 

Animalspooker - they still make the Remington 700 Sendero with a stainless fluted barrel...has the 5R rifling. During Kosovo the AF Special Ops teams could have picked any rifle they wanted and they selected the 300WM Sendero as their highly reliable and accurate platform for their missions. Consider adding this to your list as well.

Model 700 Sendero SF II | Remington

 

I don't know what I'll do. I forgot about Remington, but would love a Remington Sendero, only I'll need it with a Ruger American price tag. Then ACFixer has to throw a wrench in the plans and tell me about REMARMS who I'd forgot about. I'm assuming that's who's making the Senderos now? I used to have a 700 Police LTR in .308. Loved that gun. Got talked out of it.

 

I don't know what I'll do. I forgot about Remington, but would love a Remington Sendero, only I'll need it with a Ruger American price tag. Then ACFixer has to throw a wrench in the plans and tell me about REMARMS who I'd forgot about. I'm assuming that's who's making the Senderos now? I used to have a 700 Police LTR in .308. Loved that gun. Got talked out of it.

C'mon 'Spooker, as the saying goes, "if I had your money I'd burn mine." You're not going to get it for a Ruger entry level price tag, fughettaboutit, but this rifle fits your bill. It's not like you're buying a hooker and a couple grams of blow with the money, you can always recoup it or nearly so if you really need the money back. Reed's always has great prices and they ship cheap ($20) and super fast and being a biz owner you can probably get with them direct and avoid taxes right? This is one heck of a $1,250 rifle. Probably the rifle I would buy if I wanted to get a .300 Win Mag.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1010042119

A Ruger American or a Howa or whatever is fine if you just need a great bang-it-up woods gun, they fill that niche nicely, but if you really want to reach out there you're going to need a decent piece of glass and just my opinion, I don't put $1,000 scopes on $350 rifles. Buy yourself something nice and just get your wife a cubic zirconia for Christmas. 🤣

 

RemArms LLC is closing their NY rifle manufacturing facility and will only be producing shotguns in NY. They are moving their rifle manufacturing to their Georgia factory in early 2024.
Since things are manufactured on super accurate CNC machines, consistency, tight tolerances, and high quality should be expected.
Regarding price for something you really want vs. what would meet the requirements. We all go through those agonizing drills. In the end you will figure out what will meet your needs.
Best of luck on selecting a new firearm.

 

I love the 300 WM round and would love one of the ones that have been suggested here. I had always wanted a 300 wm and about 7-8 years ago I was shopping at the PX on Ft Lewis, WA and they were having a gun sale. I bought a Remington 783 in 300 WM for under $250. Cheap, crappy stock and lousy scope, but I had my 300 WM. Lol I was planning on putting a new stock on it, however, it will group one inch at 100 yards, with the right ammo, so I kept the same cheap plastic stock and I'm not worried about dinging it up as I walk through the woods and mountains elk hunting. I put a Vortex 3x12 scope on it and it's a perfect hunting gun. It has a thin barrel, so after about 5 rounds you start to get flyers, so no good for long range. I've been craving a better 300 win mag every since I bought this one. Ft Lewis had a Bergara in 300 WM and I almost bought it, a few weeks ago, maybe I need to go back and see if it's still available. Hahaha Just don't tell my wife!!

 

I’m a huge Sako fan, codger.

ACFixer - way to throw another option into the mix…. Hooker and blow 🤔🤔🤔

 

The .300 Win. Mag. has been around since 1963, and is still going strong. There is a reason for that. I currently own 3 rifles chambered in .300 Win. Mag, (Remington, Savage, and Kimber). All 3 are very accurate, and connect well at long range. I would never sell them.

 

Bergara.
they are what remington was trying to make for the last 40 years.
only they are accurate and 2/3rds. the price.

i opted for the 0-6.
I would have already bought a second one but they don't make it in 25-06, and a third if they made it in 257 weatherby.
i'm fine with not having to deal with the 300 mag brass and extra costs associated with it just to gain @100 fps. or so.

heck i barely run my 0-6 to the original military specifications and it does fine on deer out past 300 YDS.

 

Okay, what I was doing earlier today.

CZ 600 in .300 Winchester Magnum
Now the only thing I've done so far has been stuffing epoxy "steel" putty into the Forend to stiffen it.

Scope is an older vintage Leupold 4.5-14x40mm with an adjustable objective and the previous owner had the tapered target knobs for windage and elevation. 1" tube.

Ammunition, I'm ashamed to say I used the cheapest store brand Bass Pro had. Herter's 180gr hunting ammo. Normally I handload my rifle ammo for rifles like this but I didn't have time.

Rings are, IIRC Weaver Steel medium height 1" they were a smidge too low so I shimmed the scope up with Gorilla Tape.

Short run down.
Bore sighted and basic zero at 25yds.
Went to 100yd line to obtain a dialed in 100yd zero.
There i didn't do any happy snaps as I was trying to beat the possible rain or whatever was coming.
Then I went over to the 300yd range to see what hold over I needed.
Well I found out somewhere between the 1st and 2nd lower dots gets me close to the center of the target and that's the best I could do under time constraints.

And remember that old "rule of thumb"?
My knuckle of the thumb is approximately 1" wide.
So extrapolate from there.

 

Just saw pics of the new Ruger American Gen II. Sharp!

 

Yeah I just looked at it.

One in .450 bushmaster is something I might be interested in.

 

When a person says they want to shoot long range these days, that makes it hard to know what they want because so many new things called, long range.. A person wanting to shoot long distances will say they want to try 1,000 yard steel or something to that effect. Long range, "shooting" among long range shooters, means hitting steel at 600-1,000 yards. If you sign up for a long range shooting basic course at Whittington for example,

The basic course is taught with folks using the 308 and 6.5 learning to lob rounds into targets, day one at 100 yards, day two at 600 yards and day 3 at 1,000 yards. That is lobbing rounds for long range shooting. But if you are a serious long range shooter you are not going to use a 300 Win Mag, they just do not have the power, even with 28 inch barrels. For example, here are the records and guns used.

• Billy Carter: .375 Cheytac. Carter achieved back-to-back confirmed impacts on a 1 MOA Target (36 inch by 36 inches) at 2.07 Miles in a 9 round shooting iteration!
• George Costello: .338 SnipeTac. Costello achieved one confirmed impact a 2.07 miles.
• James Elmore: .375 Cheytac. Elmore achieved two confirmed impacts at 2.07 miles in two separate Measured Courses of Fire.
• Gerald Guzman: .416 Barrett. Guzman achieved two confirmed impacts at 2.07 miles in two separate 5 round Measured Courses of Fire on a 4 MOA Target (12 feet by 10 feet).
• Bruce Mansur: .375 Cheytac. Mansur achieved one confirmed impact at 2.07 miles in a six round shooting iteration.
• This is long range shooting. I started going to Whittington about 30 years ago. A 300 Win mag was acceptable then because the Marine Corp used the 300 McMillion Remington in sniper work. But I have not seen one in use for long range shooting in maybe 20 years. The 300 Win Mag, is considered a hunting gun, easy for elk to 350 yards without any need for correction. Example. With the Nosler Accubond loaded at the highest velocity listed by Nosler, you can hold dead onto an elk at 350 yards and have a solid kill shot without fumbling around for a range finder or any guesswork. This is a top end Nosler load, you will not get that velocity with factory ammo.

Now consider the exact bullet with the 30-06 for comparison. With the recommended 1,500 foot pounds for elk, you can also dead hold on the elk and effect a solid kill at 350 yards and massive power to spare. If you look at the numbers very closely, the drop of the 30-06 is only 2 inches at 350 yards, on a 200 yard shot they hit at exactly the same place, at 275 yards the difference is only 0.4 inches. Point being, at a hunting range of 275 yards, the added recoil of the 300 only makes 4/10 inch difference when the power needed is excess in both.

So, exactly what are you hunting and what level of flatness do you desire.? If power is the issue, I would move on up. I shoot the 300 Weatherby because it gives me about 100 -150 fps more with my longer barrel, but only for elk.

So, if shooting long range targets, you are going to be shooting lots of rounds. The Weatherby kicks a lot, the 300 Win Mag not so much but not what you want to shoot 100 rounds at a session. So, please define what is meant by long range?

If you are going to hunt with it and carry it, the shorter 22 or 24 inch barrel cuts down on weight but also velocity and trajectory. As far as accuracy related to price. The Weatherby Vanguard or the Howa is by far the best. Ruger American would be close and the Browning Hells Canyon probably near the top of the heap. Nothing wrong with the Savage either. Those are the big sellers and we know they perform well.

TAG did a review of the Howa in 2017. Gun Review: Howa 1500 - The Truth About Guns
Howa 1500 Review - Underrated Bolt-Action - Gun News Daily Some if not all of the Howas come with a 1/2 inch guarantee. Whatever you buy, make sure it comes with an accuracy guarantee. Howas have an adjustable trigger, be sure whatever you buy has one.

Vanguard:Bing Videos Here is a guy shooting the 300 Win Mag in the Vanguard at one mile, took him 5 rounds to hit it. Weatherby's Vanguard: The Company's Most Popular Bolt Action | An Official Journal Of The NRA (americanrifleman.org)
This one in 2005 had a 1.5 inch guarantee. All Vanguard rifles now have a .99 inch guarantee. Whatever you buy since you are planning to shoot distance, get one with an accuracy guarantee. These have an adjustable trigger, be sure to get a rifle with one that is user adjustable.

Ruger. The Ruger in 300 only comes in camo. It has an adjustable trigger but no accuracy guarantee. Look nice for sure. MSRP $789.

Savage 100 Hunter Adjustable trigger, NO accuracy guarantee.

Browning. They claim excellent accuracy and I have seen several. That said, they do not show any accuracy guarantee.

Seems strange they do not offer one.

Anyway, just some information to aid your quest.

 

What would you buy? The 300wm has always been a wish list item for me. Don't know why exactly other than it's long range and ability to kill anything on the North American continent (not at the same time have you...at least not for me).

Ideally, I'd have one that is efficient at both long range target shooting, but also a (somewhat) easy to carry hunting rifle. I've looked at the Howa, the Bergara, just saw the Ruger FTW Hunter (wow) and a number of others. I don't want a pencil thin sporter barrel, but also don't want a Heavy Palma barrel either. That's another reason I'm asking...some of you here must have barrel profile expertise...I do not.

So what would you look for in a barrel if you wanted to shoot mostly target, but also felt good about taking the gun to hunt? And besides the barrel, what brand would you have your eye on?

View attachment 196133
Ruger FTW Hunter

View attachment 196134
Bergara B14 Wilderness (#5 barrel)

View attachment 196135
Howa 1500 HS Precision


Browning X-Bolt Stalker Sup Rdy

View attachment 196138
Tikka T3X Lite

I am not a big fan of full size CZ rifles. I like their carbines in 223 and 7.62 x 39, but not the full size guns so much. That said, here is an add for one at Kentucky Gun Co today for $400. ✅ A fellow would be hard pressed to find a better deal on a 300 Win Mag.

 

The only thing I really don't like about the CZ 600 is the trigger.... well I've got a love/hate relationship with it.
The love: I like their 4 setting click adjustments for the trigger pull.
The hate: The lowest setting is a little coarse and draggy. It's a 1.5pounds of not bad but graveled vs. smooth pavement.
If it can be safely disassembled and lapped okay. Currently with everything going on with my, former, house here and moving.
Not going to do it.
Now if someone like Timney were to do a replacement....yeah I'd probably go for it.
But this one is a hunting rifle for me.


And I'll admit that today with different cartridges 600-1000 isn't the end point to long distance shooting.
There's supposed to be a gunsmith and competitor in that sport fairly close to my new property.
So I hope to eventually make his acquaintance.

I've been into different types of what I'd call precision shooting since a young teen.

If someone were interested in it as a total beginner.
I'd suggest this route:
.22lr precision trainer Bergara or CZ. To get the fundamentals down and perfected.

If at all possible as an understudy for a quality bolt action in either .308W or 6.5CM
Brand not specific but I'd strongly recommend getting as close as possible dimensionally stocks and triggers of similar weight and break.

Next step up would be dependant upon what the individual wants to do and available time and money.

Hopefully if I can reach my limits with the .300wm the next thing on the menu will be something in the .338Lapua category.

That will be a 100% custom built rifle when I think it'd be worth the expense.

But I'm not going to push myself so much to take the fun out of it for myself.

 

The only thing I really don't like about the CZ 600 is the trigger.... well I've got a love/hate relationship with it.
The love: I like their 4 setting click adjustments for the trigger pull.
The hate: The lowest setting is a little coarse and draggy. It's a 1.5pounds of not bad but graveled vs. smooth pavement.
If it can be safely disassembled and lapped okay. Currently with everything going on with my, former, house here and moving.
Not going to do it.
Now if someone like Timney were to do a replacement....yeah I'd probably go for it.
But this one is a hunting rifle for me.


And I'll admit that today with different cartridges 600-1000 isn't the end point to long distance shooting.
There's supposed to be a gunsmith and competitor in that sport fairly close to my new property.
So I hope to eventually make his acquaintance.

I've been into different types of what I'd call precision shooting since a young teen.

If someone were interested in it as a total beginner.
I'd suggest this route:
.22lr precision trainer Bergara or CZ. To get the fundamentals down and perfected.

If at all possible as an understudy for a quality bolt action in either .308W or 6.5CM
Brand not specific but I'd strongly recommend getting as close as possible dimensionally stocks and triggers of similar weight and break.

Next step up would be dependant upon what the individual wants to do and available time and money.

Hopefully if I can reach my limits with the .300wm the next thing on the menu will be something in the .338Lapua category.

That will be a 100% custom built rifle when I think it'd be worth the expense.

But I'm not going to push myself so much to take the fun out of it for myself.

Not sure why we are discussing trainers on this thread but, be that as it may, I train a lot of folks and own a lot of training rifles, hence my 2 cents.


As to trainers. I bought a Ruger Precision Rimfire in 22 mag a couple years ago. It shoots under 1/2 inch moa, many groups around 0.3 moa. They are about $450 and well worth the money. I shot it suppressed most of the time. I chose the 22 Mag over the 22 simply because I might want to call a coyotes, the WMR gives me the ability to take shots on coyotes out to 175-200 yards if I want. As accurate as the gun is, you could shoot at eyeballs.

As a trainer for slow precision shooting, no one is offering a gun that accurate at that price. I also have the 17 HMR and 17 WSM by Savage that shoot 1/2 inch groups, but ammo is never guaranteed and costly, the 22 mag is always around and 27-28 cents per round for CCI recently.

Ruger is made in America of course the others are made in Spain and the Czech Republic. Personally I will buy a Ruger over the imports every time. In the rimfires however, it is an EZ choice, the little Ruger will shoot circles around the imports in the rimfire category. Ruger has totally changed the game with their small actions in these and the American Series. Their production guns are now equal to the target guns of yesteryear. Modern manufacturing has scored big hits, lucky for shooters.

Bergara was the barrel maker of choice for decades. If you bought a Contender, you immediately added calibers and the barrels were from Bergara. But all that has changed. Every off the shelf rifle you buy these days, including ARs will shoot 1 inch or less groups. As an instructor on the ranges, I started being totally shocked about 8-10 years ago when all these cheap ($600) ARs started showing up on the ranges shooting 1 inch groups, with that cheap steel cased Russan ammo. Totally destroyed what we knew about accuracy since the days of Jack O'Conner when only accurate rifles were interesting. Now, they all do that.

So when the OP says he wants a 300 Win Mag or others suggest they are building one, I simply expect them to be 1 moa guns from day one. Lucky us. Think about how many rifles you own and how many on a still day with a Led Sled or solid rest will make that magic 1 inch. My guess is most of the guns we already own will do that, except for the lever actions or guns with Mannlicher stocks or guns not free floated or bedded, most all others should do that.

Just my opinion based on my guns and those that I train.

Just as a point of reference, here is the lead review of the Ruger Precision Rimfire 22 mag that I bought, I only printed a couple comments, but you get the idea and the link is there for the others. If you just enjoy shooting one whole groups or have a kid to train, this will give them confidence like nothing else.

9 Reviews. 5 out of 5 Stars!


Michael G on 06/27/2023
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
Some of my pals in the gun club I belong to are very involved with .22 benchrest competition. I have a Henry lever gun scoped that I thought might work to get involved in that. I worked with it for a time and determined it was not likely that was going to happen. In looking around for an entry level gun to do that I came upon the Ruger .22 precision rifle. I'm not a big fan of Ruger as the last two I have owned ended up going down the road as defective but .. third time is a charm right? So I bought a Ruger .22 precision rifle. I have not had it long only a few weeks. Prior to it's arrival I attended the club's .22 benchrest match. My word ... competing at that level for me seems like it will be unlikely. None the less I remain undaunted. I scoped the Ruger, messed around with ammo and am sorting out what kind of rest etc. will work for me. The Ruger has been well behaved thus far, no problems of any kind and is pretty darn accurate. I can shoot consistant 10 round groups in a 1 x 1 inch box at 50 yards ... if it's not too darn windy. When the wind it up .. those groups are pretty loose. So it's an exercise in sorting out mechanical things, increasing my personal skill and finding out what works for me. I guess like most things we all have different quirks so what works for one may not work for another. Presently I'm using Eley Club ammunition and the Ruger seems to like it pretty well and shoot consistently with it. The Ruger precision rifle seems well made and well thought out. Fit and finish is nice. So far I have not had any difficulty whatsoever with it. I love that the stock and comb are super adjustable and easy to manage. Even if I ended up just shooting it for fun in the end that would be fine because it's great fun to shoot. My only negative is I shoot rifles left handed and a left handed bolt is not available for this rifle. Most of us leftys have grown up in this right handed world and learned to cope and modify our way of doing things sooo .. that for that. It's not a huge problem but I would have preferred a left handed bolt given that opportunity. I'm content owning this Ruger and enjoying it. I especially like feeding it .22 ammo rather than feeding my pistols that cost a "bunch" more money to take to the range. I had forgotten just how much fun .22's are. A blast from the past. I would rate this rifle at five stars because it behaves well, it's economical to shoot, it seems well made to me and has worked like a charm.

Maribell R on 02/03/2020
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
I’ve been shooting this rifle for six months now I’ve put around three thousand rounds shooting squirrels and targets. I’ve shot everything from cci match ammo to gold bucket ammo and I’ve been extremely happy. My gun is outfitted with a leupold vx freedom rimfire scope, low rings, sunshade and bubble level with a canting utg bipod. Most of my shooting is at long range with cci standard velocity. Zero at fifty yards with federal gold medal match 40 grain you can expect two quarter inch groups easily with them, well taken shots stacking them in the same hole. With cci standard velocity you can max out the scope at 450 yards and with some Kentucky windage out to 500. This gun out in the corn field shooting trailer rims will hit repeatedly at 300 yards. I think this is a safe purchase for anyone looking for a cheap way to target practice or hunt small game.


Randy I on 08/26/2019
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!
1st day at the range it was shooting one hole 5 shot groups at 25 yards with a inexpensive scope and bulk ammo will go to 50 yards next range trip
Ruger Precision 22 Long Rifle Bolt Action Rifle | 8401 | Blue/Black, 18" Barrel, 10+1 Rounds, Synthetic, Adjustable Stock - Buds Gun Shop



Both the CZ 22 trainer and the Bergara trainer receives good reviews also, just not very many of them, I suppose because fewer people buy them because the cost 2-3 times more.

FWIW