The heavy barrel Savage MKII will be able to shoot 1/4" at 50 yds. The MKII is a proven rifle, and quality shooters can get 0.5 MOA groups surprisingly more often than once a blue moon. Even the cheapest .22 rifles sold new nowadays are often capable of sub-MOA groups, due to machining technology.
Muellers are excellent scopes, I have 3. I highly recommend your choice on the Target model (8-32x44).
Now, for <span style="text-decoration: underline">you</span> to bring it together, you need to:
Step 1 -
Buy MKII Mako rifle, Mueller Target scope, and base/rings (I recommend an airgun 1-piece mount/base, Leapers or UTG brand have been great for me). Seriously.
Step 2 -
Buy a few bricks (2000+ rounds) of cheap ammo (I recommend CCI Blazer, costs about $18 for 525 rounds).
Step 3 -
Go to the range with the whole package, and just shoot the rifle for fun a few times, don't even bother with the scope, just point it downrange and "shotgun" aim it. Try to hit empty shotgun hulls, and skip them along the ground, about 25 yds out.
Step 4 -
Mount the scope with rings/base. There's lots of people who think they know how to do it right and have goofy techniques, just do it yourself, it's straight forward, you'll learn by trial and understand things yourself better. Try to have the scope crosshairs RELATIVELY in a "+" shape, not an "X" shape, and make sure all the screws are as TIGHT as you can hand turn them, some people use a locking agent like Locktite to bind up the screw threads. The most important thing is the scope is set where you can put your head on the stock comfortably and see a clear circular outline, giving you a good eye relief.
Step 5 -
Shoot at a blank piece of paper, standard size, placed out at 25 yds. Don't mess with the scope turrets for at least 2 mags, just put rounds into that paper, getting used to the magnification, and adjust the side focus (knob on the left hand side of the scope) to where the image is clear at 25 yds. People talk about shooting rests, bipods, etc., don't worry about that unless you're really interested. Firm sandbags/gelbags (provided at lots of ranges), will serve you just fine.
Step 6 -
Put a fresh piece of paper out, and draw large "+" in the middle with a thick black marker. Now, shoot at this +, and shift the turrets knobs until the rounds get in the general center of the target. This may take over an hours worth of shooting to get a feel for the scope turrets, how much they adjust, and how to get your scope on target.
Step 7 -
Once you get rounds in the center area, put up this target at 25 yds, and start to shoot at each individual dot:
.22 Test Target
The target is made of .45 ACP cases, but the rifle will be perfectly capable of hitting these on the dot at 25 yds, despite what you will believe at this point. <span style="color: #3333FF">THIS IS THE LONGEST STEP, MAY BE FRUSTRATING, AND WILL DEVELOP YOUR FUNDAMENTAL BENCHREST SHOOTING SKILL.</span>
Step 8-
After probably 3 trips to the range, you'll be able to hit each .45 casing picture with cheap ammo consistently. Now, move the target out to 50 yards and do the same thing. Due to wind, ammo, etc, your groups will MORE than double, but keep at it. Again, this test is well within the capability of the rifle, it's all up to you. Just adjust the focus knob to get a clear picture at 50 yds, and keep shooting. POI change will require a few clicks adjustment on the vertical turret.
Step 9 -
After you can hit these targets at 50 yds, (about 1 MOA shots), go buy quality ammo. To step up at this point, and go sub MOA, you'll need match grade ammo, I recommend Eley, followed by Remington-Eley, followed by Federal Gold Medal, followed by Wolf/SK.
<span style="color: #FF0000">DO NOT BUY MATCH GRADE AMMO IN LITTLE 50/100-ROUND BOXES! Buy at least a brick (500 rounds). If you buy small amounts separately, you will have lot variances, age variances, etc, that will ruin the point of getting premium ammo. 50-boxes on the store shelf next to each other, same brand and line of stuff, WILL VARY ACCURACY WISE. Chances are ones been there for a year, one was dropped on the floor, etc. Buy in one go, and get 500 rounds of the same stuff.</span>
Step 10 -
Now, go back, clean the rifle out well. (22s need to be cleaned between ammo changes to season the barrel with the new lube, no joke). Then shoot the new ammo for a few mags, and figure out where your POI (point of impact) change is. It will change, mostly because match ammo is subsonic, and bulk rate stuff isn't. Readjust your scope, and go for it.
After maybe half a dozen days at the range and 2-3k rounds of ammo; the MKII Mako, Mueller, & Eley ammo will give you 1/4" groups at 50 yds, if you learned well.
If you see someone at the range with what looks to be a premium .22 setup (ie retro scope as long as the rifle barrel, held in what looks like coil springs), ask for pointers. If there's a club at the range, join.
<span style="color: #FF9900">To those of you who think this can't be done with the mentioned equipment, you need to learn how to shoot.
Bench rest rimfire differs quite a bit from other disciplines of shooting.</span> [/quote
So your saying this can be done with an out of the box Savage. I say your full of SHIT. YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT SHIT. Mueller and Savage and 1/4 inch groups at 50yards it will never happen. Ill pay your airfair and hotel expenses to see it. Let me know if you want to take me up on it. This is an open forum i have the money for you to prove me wrong. Lets make this happen. You have a Savage 22 rifle that will shoot 1/4 inch groups at 50 yards with a Mueller scope on it
