I found a 40XB and worked with Stacey Blankenship at Milehigh Shooting to get it into an AICS. It may look a little odd with the 20MOA badger rail and the 28MOA AI scope mount, but I’m planning ahead. This is my 22lr trainer for the AE MKIII that I’m going to get. I’m looking to get a 6.5CM, but thought I’d get a trainer first for the winter and get the real rifle for next season.
Stacey had Adam do some minor fitting around the safety and some other areas where the chassis bound on the action. He cut down a mag and added some padding to keep the magazine from rattling. The 20MOA Badger rail and 28MOA AI mount are because I’m going to use the the AI mount and Premier on my AE MKIII when I decide on the particulars. Stacey thought this would be a good way to buy once for the real build, and I can put another scope on the trainer- though I REALLY like the Premier.
Wasn’t planning on doing it, but I ran out to the Colorado Rifle Club and used the shillhoutte range. Adam had bore sighted it for me and I got it zero’d at 100 pretty quick. There was steel at 150 too, so I hit that with 3.2MILs come up. At 200 I used 6.5MILs At 300, 14.4MILs. And at 390 about 21.3. The wind was really starting to pick up and I think maybe the bullets were starting to tumble? Random shots would land short and the wind was making me use 2-4 mils hold. We are supposed to get 6-10 inches of snow tonight, but it was clear blue skies when I started and got a bit cloundy and windy by the time I was done.
The most fun shooting I’ve had in years. 150 rounds of Wolf Extra Match and steel and a little wind to make it interesting. Rifle shot great- working with Stacey and Adam really made it painless.
Can’t wait to rain down death on some prairie dogs.
Thats a pretty serious 22lr trainer, completely shits on my trainer setup.
Once you get out past 300 yards with a 22lr the biggest problem (other than wind) is you’ll see how inconsistent the ammo itself really is.
I shot on a really calm day at 450yds and some shots would kick up dirt 5-10 yards in front of the next shot.
I think its fun shooting 22lrs long distance. My experience has been out to 200 yards is easy after that it gets a little tricky but l’m still pretty capable out to 300. It seems much past that the wind and ammo inconsistencies are really hard to overcome. l’ve watched my shots trace hit a 2nd or 3rd crosswind and literally assume a bottle rocket type of flight pattern.
The most consistent ammo l’ve found for the $ has been lapua center x, the good lots have shot as well as even the most expensive match ammo for me.
Thanks guys for the comments. It is a hoot to shoot, but I’m not going to get out again for a few weeks.
Anthony- I agree with your analysis on the 22lr ammo past 300yards. I was just picturing that little blob of lead just tumbling like a Jim McMahon pass. Looking forward to a more humid day to try to see some trace and some electronic hearing to try to pick up that little ‘plink’ from the 22 hits.
My long term idea is to get some minature IPSC targets scaled to equalize 22lr with the 6.5CM gun that I’m going to have Mile High put together for me. Just an idea- would take the trainer a bit past the simple shooting skills.
Just saw this. Really nice. It looks like a lot of fun, not to mention the huge training value in having a .22LR set up similarly to a centerfire rifle. Although…I am a little pissed at seeing an Atlas on a trainer when I can’t find one anywhere for my “real gun.” You lucky bastich.
I hate to do this to you, but have you considered putting a can on it? That looks like a blast as it is, really makes me want to move ahead with my 17hmr project, but that looks so good.
