I don't like to brag nor talk much about how well my rifles shoot, or don't shoot. With me getting to the range is a project because it's over an hour away so traveling is at least two hours gone. Normally speaking I take a couple of items to the range and don't concentrate on just one item unless I am having a problem with it. I have a laminated T-Bolt .22 in the heavy threaded barrel configuration. It currently wears a Leupold scope and quite honestly I have been quite surprised with how well it shoots every time I have had it to the range. I installed a Jard trigger in it as the factory trigger sucked and I could not get it under 4+ pounds to save my soul. The Jard trigger made the total package for me with this rifle and I have had no problems at all with it contrary to some others. The trigger breaks at 12 to14 oz. For me the only downfall with this rifle is the fact it is so lightweight that it is difficult to keep steady off a bench rest. If I do my job right this rifle will keep up with my Kimber SVT and both shoot better than my 52B's, but the SVT is easier to shoot well with because of the added weight. The T-Bolt is a heck of a rifle for the money and the accuracy is something I didn't expect out of a Japanese made rifle.

Rick H.

 

The T-Bolt is a heck of a rifle for the money and the accuracy is something I didn't expect out of a Japanese made rifle.

Rick H.

The Japanese can make excellent rifles as you found out with your Browning. I bought a lightweight, synthesis stocked, pencil barreled Howa 223 Mini-action that shoots MOA. More importantly it's dead on target with the first cold bore shot. Because of that I bought my girlfriend a Howa 1500 223 Varmint rifle with a 20" heavy barrel. She routinely shoots half MOA and sometimes quarter MOA with it. We both use commercially available mid priced box ammo. I paid $329 for mine $349 for hers. She routinely out shoots guys with $4k+ dollar chassis guns. In all fairness she does have a $650 scope on it. We shoot 100 and 200 yards.
My son wanted an American made gun for Christmas and he wanted a Remington 700. The quality of the Remingtons has been questionable for years so I couldn't justify spending more than double the money on it. I bought him a synthetic stock 308 Howa 1500 with a sporter barrel for deer hunting. His rifle cost me $329 new in late 2017. After adding a sub $200 Nikon 4-12x40 he's shot MOA at 315 yards and his first buck with it.

Howas have been my best money spent on rifles. They're very utilitarian looking but provide excellent performance for little money. I think they are the best dollar value in firearms. They used to make the barrels and possibly the actions for the highly regarded Weatherbys.

Browning are excellent rifles as well but a lot more money. Then again they are beautifully made and I haven't heard of a bad one yet. If it wasn't for that trigger I would have already bought a 17hmr T-bolt.

In short don't underestimate Japanese rifles. Most of the American and Canadian rifles can't hold a candle to them.

Be well.

 

I'm glad you like your T-Bolt as much as I do mine, especially now that I know what it's capable of. I sure hope my accuracy comments didn't come across as bragging, as I'm still pretty "green" at this type of shooting, having very poor consistency at regularaly getting good groups? Which is another way of saying that I don't think I have anything to brag about (for my highly limited skills at BR shooting). What I was trying to express is just how happy and excited I was with the accuracy the rifle is capable of.
I hear you on the long drive to the range situation. Until early this year, I had a similar long drive to the old (public) range I had used. I'm so grateful to the local shooter who told me about the location of a "secret semi-public" range, that's much closer to home. This came only after living here since mid-2013 and not being able to find the closer range.
Like you I often take more than one with me, including this past Thursday with the T-Bolt. In this case it was another like new BA .22lr rifle, a Savage MK-II BV (laminated/blued) also purchased in early 2019. For it's low cost it did surprisingly well also.
If I hadn't tought myself how to "tweak" lousy triggers (such as the less than ideal trigger on this T-Bolt), I would of had a very difficult time paying the price for the Jard, but understandably the rifle just isn't very good (or as much fun) without a really nice trigger. This is the one major thing most of us feel Browning dropped the ball on, with these otherwise great rifles. Yet, in this day and age of endless law suites for anything and everything, I understand why they made it as they did. For those who just can't afford the Jard trigger, a local gunsmith who's willing to work on a T-Bolt, should be able to do what I did for close to the same cost as an "average rifle trigger job". Honestly, it took me longer to take the plastic housing apart (the 1st time), and to reassemble things, then it did for me to work the sear and notch over. If anyone didn't know, long before aftermarket triggers could be purchased, as they can these days, gunsmiths did most of the "good triggers" out there (other than good factory ones).
I agree Rick, these rifles, even with the heavier barrels, are on the lightweight side compared to many other target/varmint rifles. I'm still using my 1st (kind of a "cheapo") rest, a 1-piece Caldwell Stinger, but I've been using a 1" wide ratchet-strap over the stock (with a piece of smooth leather to protect the wooden ones), cinching the rifle down (lightly) to the rear rest-pad. This has helped a great deal with all of my rifles, regardless of weight or caliber, but I realize this isn't an option for everyone, with every rest.

 

Excellent shooting LoneWolf, but I'm curious as to what ammo you were shooting.
Also, didn't the bolt action MKXXII come out in the early 2000's? I think the semiauto version does go back to the 70s or 80s.

 

Thanks W-Bill. Oops, I forgot to mention the ammo, which was SK Rifle Match. You may be right about the BA XXII being a later production year. I also have a tube-fed SA Howa made XXII which likely led me to state the wrong year of the BA version. My memory isn't what it use to be, sadly...

 

Thanks for the info. I'm a big fan of SK ammo. It's a shame that it's all so hard to find again.
My memory never was all that good, and it's not getting any better. The MK XXII bolt action had a very good reputation, but that's to be expected of any Anschutz and /or Weatherby.
Here's a really good review of the Weatherby that was done shortly after introduction: https://gunsmagazine.com/uncategorized/web-blast-weatherby-mark-xxii-rimfire-elegance/

 

You're welcome W-Bill. I edited my original post to include the SK-RM ammo. I've seen that article, along with many others, on the great, and beautiful XXII rifles. That reminds me, other than the trigger limitations people dislike, I personally wish Browning had made the T-Bolt's with a nice high gloss finish to give them some extra "class". But, as they are, they're still very nice rifles.
Yes, the ammo situation stinks (again). I actually have plenty on hand being that I was buying numerous cases (of all calibers I need) soon after the supply came back, and just after the prices stabilized. Sadly I failed to get fully stocked on certain "good stuff" (more than the 1 case of the SK-RM I got, target-specific - heavier bullet weight 223 and 308) due I think to the virus shut down accelerating mass ammo buying sooner than I was expecting. I do have plenty of "lesser ammo" for everything, potentially (hopefully) about a 9 year supply (a timeframe based on the "great ammo shortage" span)...

 

I hope can do 1/2-3/4 MOA

 

If you've got some good SV ammo for it, and find what yours likes, you shouln't have any problems with 1/2 MOA at 50 yards, provided you have a decent scope. Let us know how things go.

 

1/2 MOA at 50yds is 1/4". Impressive if you can do that consistantly.
gkn

 

gkn, thanks for correcting my brain-fade mistake. I was thinking 1/2 MOA or 1/2 inch groups, but neglected to half it for 50 yards. 1/2" groups at 50 yards shouldn't be a problem, smaller with all the "right conditions".
Edit: If all of the T/V T-Bolts are as accurate as mine, a skilled shooter with other good equipment (scope, ammo, rest, bench, etc) should easily be able to shoot dime sized groups all day (in good conditions). Doing so would also require a light trigger pull (Jard or highly modified factory).