Problem solved.

Today mounted a 4-16x50 scope on it and was shooting some very small groups at 100yds; this with the first load tried and 'way too wired on caffeine. Some tweaking of the scope; no caffeine; and trying a few other loads and I expect to be very impressed with this rifle.

 

All of ours shoot as good as our better rimfires, they are worthy of as good a scope as you want to put on them. No, they aren't built for Benchrest but at our longrange rimfire matches they hold their own and for any type of timed/precision match they can't be beat.

They may have sold cheap back in the day but I'd pick mine as one of my favorite guns to shoot.

I have friends with Summits and there is no comparison, I just saw a Steyr today for the first time and even though they are similar to the Izhmash they aren't even in the same ballpark to the smoothness of the 7-2.

The scope rail that comes on them is a short version, an extended rail was available which makes positioning the scope better for eye relief and cheek placement But my buddy got the last available one and he didn't plan on making more.

Topstrap

 

My main objective is one-shot, one-kill on small game at <=100yds. The quick, straight-throw action does have a great feel. Had never shot it before yesterday. And it'll take a little work in order not to break my cheek-weld operating the action; but I believe it'll be much easier to learn than that was with a conventional bolt handle.

First time out I was hitting or barely missing a 5/8" paster PoA at 100yds. This using good ammunition, Eley "Sport"; but even so I don't expect to find a .22's favorite ammo 1st try. And 'way too much caffeine ... hadn't expected to be shooting the rifle yet yesterday: 'scoping it just went faster than expected.

Thanks for the reply.

 

Concur with Topstrap44's observation on the other attempts to copy the 7-2's toggle bolt. I too have handled an original Summit, the Steyr variant as well as the new Volquartsen version of the Summit. None of them come close to the smooth action of a broken in 7-2. As with any receiver, if you have a new 7-2, the action will improve significantly as it wears in.

I went a different route with mine as a suppressor host. As for the cheek weld, not wanting to pay for and then have to adapt a biathlon stock to the 7-2's curved trigger, I just fabricated my own from carbon fiber. This gave me the fit I wanted in the grip, butt and cheek. It's still pretty much a prototype so it ain't pretty, but it fits me and my desires.


Does pretty good at 100 yds and both the stock and action are tough as nails.


As for a scope mount, highly recommend getting a full length picatinny rail for it. Makes proper scope mounting so much easier. A good smith should be able to radius a section of rail and add any MOA you might want. Just make sure they add the receiver stud holes for a good lockup. PM me if you want info on a good smith in the northern VA area.

If you're going to scope it, another handy mod is to mill a slot on the bottom of the receiver that allows the bolt pin to be removed from the bottom. Makes cleaning much easier as you don't have to remove the scope each time you pull the bolt.


Another nice item is an improved toggle handle shaped to engage trigger finger and thumb easier. Check with some of the Biathlon shops for an old 7-4 handle and you might get lucky. I think I got one of the last ones from Larsen a few years ago, but hopefully they got more in stock. A few on the forum here have made their own that look really nice.

Sorry to be all over the map but it's always nice when someone realizes how much of a gem these rifles can be.

 

Ah ha!

Concur with Topstrap44's observation on the other attempts to copy the 7-2's toggle bolt. I too have handled an original Summit, the Steyr variant as well as the new Volquartsen version of the Summit. None of them come close to the smooth action of a broken in 7-2. As with any receiver, if you have a new 7-2, the action will improve significantly as it wears in.
...
As for a scope mount, highly recommend getting a full length picatinny rail for it. Makes proper scope mounting so much easier. A good smith should be able to radius a section of rail and add any MOA you might want. Just make sure they add the receiver stud holes for a good lockup. PM me if you want info on a good smith in the northern VA area.

If you're going to scope it, another handy mod is to mill a slot on the bottom of the receiver that allows the bolt pin to be removed from the bottom. Makes cleaning much easier as you don't have to remove the scope each time you pull the bolt.
...
Another nice item is an improved toggle handle shaped to engage trigger finger and thumb easier. Check with some of the Biathlon shops for an old 7-4 handle and you might get lucky. I think I got one of the last ones from Larsen a few years ago, but hopefully they got more in stock. A few on the forum here have made their own that look really nice.

Sorry to be all over the map but it's always nice when someone realizes how much of a gem these rifles can be.

Great post! Thanks for all the tips, especially the slot on the receiver.

 

I own both the PWS Summit and Izhmash. They aren't even remotely in the same league. I easily earned a Rifleman patch at my first Appleseed with the Izhmash. The Summit is a fun suppressor host but mine is nowhere near as precise as the Izhmash.

 

Zero'd

Yesterday morning, I zero'd the scope. The stock needs a bit more length yet ... I expect to have that done by Friday. Then if I am doing as well as yesterday, some photos.

What was clear: this rifle can take rabbit / squirrel head-shots at 100yds, given adequate sight alignment and trigger control. Still need to get more comfortable with the action. But it's coming along ... four of six strings I was not breaking the cheek-weld through a magazine.

 

Squirrel rifle

Intending to have a .22LR rifle, with which I can place 95% of my shots on a 2" circle at 100yds. Well, maybe it's me, in fact pretty well sure that it is.

Using either my Winchester 52 with a 5x Leupold 'scope or Izhmash 7-2-KO with a 20x Steiner 'scope: hitting 80%. The rest are within a 3" circle. Still hoping it's from a combination of: ammo; caffeine; slightly rushing the trigger. Eley was producing slightly smaller groups from the Izhmash. But most shots I called "off" were essential tremor moving the gun too late to uncommit from the shot.

 

Steiner 20x - that's some nice glass

I find when the barrel is seasoned to the particular ammo, my 7-2 tends to place the first cold bore shot about 3/4" high + 1/2" right.
After that, they settle in to whatever consistency the ammo will yield and my limited skill will allow

Indoor 100yd range test of some rounds I have a supply of:


Also really like the Accuracy 1st Scope Level. Surprised how easy it is to cant and never realize it.

 

I have one of each, and both are great shooters capable of 0.5 MOA groups at 50 yards, although I really have to be shooting well to do that. In my case the Summit has a PWS action with Feddersen 0.920 barrel in a Victor stock. My Izhmash is the Sobol version, not the 7-2. I think that the Summit/Feddersen combo is a bit more consistent than the Izhmash, but not by much, maybe 0.1 MOA difference. The Izhmash prefers SK Rifle Match, while the Summit likes Eley Edge the best. Both rifles also perform really well with Lapua Center-X