Frequently Asked Questions:
What type of rifle shooting do you do?
Every week, we shoot 4 position smallbore 22 LR rifle at the Michigan State University Demmer Center. We shoot a NRA B-17 target at a distance of 50 foot. The four positions that we shoot are Offhand (standing), Kneeling, Sitting, and Prone (laying down on the ground). We shoot ten shots in each position at ten points each shot. You have a unlimited number of practice rounds in each position. The maximum score is 400 points, 100 points for each position.
How much is this going to cost?
There is no question that the shooting sports can be an expensive hobby. Various costs include equipment costs, ammunition, range fees, league fees, meals, hotels, entrance fees, and so on. By participating in the Capitol City Rifle Club Rifle Team, you can minimize costs but there still are going to be expenses.
No really, what are the actual expenses?
Well, the first cost is going to be the monthly or family MSU Demmer Fee which is currently $39.00/month. Then there is the weekly $5.00 match fee which includes the $3.00/match league fee and $2.00 to the team to cover expenses like paper targets and other minor items. The league fee goes to league expenses like the annual banquet and the awards passed out at the annual banquet. Please check with MSU Demmer for up to date monthly costs. For your ammo you can figure that you will need 50 or 60 rounds of 22LR ammo.
What about equipment?
As a minimum, you will need the following equipment to compete:
You may be able to rent a rifle from MSU Demmer which they will keep in their rack for everybody to use, they have some nice iron sighted Savage target rifles available. (please check with MSU Demmer). The CCRC also has a couple rifles available to borrow but you will need to put a substantial deposit down as well. I have a number of target rifles that you can try out as well. If you do not have a rifle but are interested in shooting every week, let us know and we will get you started one way or the other. MSU Demmer also has offhand stands and shooting mats available as well.
OK, WHAT ABOUT THE RIFLE?
If you already have a 22 lr rifle, you are all set in the rifle department. Realistically, any 22 lr rifle will do and most will be accurate enough for a new shooter at 50 foot. If you are looking to purchase a competition rifle or upgrade to a competition rifle, there are a couple of questions that you need to ask yourself before you begin. These two questions are if you are going to use Iron Sights or a Scope, and what weight rifle do you want to shoot. Obviously, it is common sense to try out a number of different rifles before you purchase your own and this is where MSU Demmer, the CCRC, and the CCRC Rifle team can help. Between us, we have quite a number of competition rifles you can use for a short period of time.
With that being said, eventually, you will want a rifle of your own such that have confidence in the zero of the rifle and that is selected to your personal requirements.
As I said before, you need to decide if you want to shoot iron sights or telescopic sights. I would recommend a scope simply because as we age, a lot of people are unable to use iron sights with any degree of success. If you do have your heart set on using iron sights, there are a couple of optometrists in the area that are familiar with the needs of shooters and we can direct you to their offices.
Assuming that you do not have $3,000.00 or more available for a brand new top of the line Anschutz, FWB, or Walther rifle, lets take a look at some of the more economical target rifles out there:
Savage:
Savage makes a nice Iron sighted heavy barreled rifle that can be had brand new for about $300.00. Their new accutrigger can be adjusted down to about a pound and really is a serious competitor for the budget minded shooter. Other models include heavy barreled bolt actions with provisions for a scope mount should you prefer. Suprisingly accurate for the cost. Weight varies with the rifle but usually around six to 8 pounds with a scope.
Ruger 10/22:
These rifles are the kings of customization. While you can compete with a straight off the shelf rifle, you can also invest up to $2,000.00 in aftermarket triggers, sights, scopes, barrels, stocks, and other parts to make it more personalized. Available everywhere, and with a little bit of tweaking they can deliver the accuracy you need at the distances we are shooting. Weight: from 4 pounds up.
CZ:
If you want a lighter weight but higher quality bolt action rifle, take a hard look at the CZ rimfires. The Ultra Lux with aftermarket sights from Denny will set you back about $600.00 but is a excellent 28 inch barrel bolt action iron sighted rifle. Other models can be scoped but they are well made, accurate rifles. Weight about 6 pounds.
Remington 513t:
These rifles are available on the used market for $350 to $500. They usually have decent iron sights and some of them are grooved to accept scopes. 28 inch heavy barreled bolt action, these were one of the first rifles used by our armed forces for 22 lr rifle training. Weight about 7 pounds.
Kimber 82G:
With the Kimber 82g, we are starting to get into the top of the line rifles for serious target shooting. Originally made under government contract and recently distributed through the CMP system, these are excellent rifles delivering excellent accuracy. They have a full length accessory rail for hand stops, sling anchors, bipods, and palm rests, and adjustable length of pull to fit a variety of shooters. They came with good to excellent iron sights and are easily adapted to scope use. Weight about 10 pounds.
Used top of the line wood stocked used rifles:
Remington 40x, Winchester 52, Anschutz’s, and other top of the line used target rifles. These are available on the used market and depending on the condition, go from about $800 all the way up to almost $3,000.00. For a nice looking used one, the cost is usually from $1,200.00 to $2,000.00. They usually come with butt hooks, hand stops, sling swivels, and palm rests that slide in the accessory rail on the bottom of the stock. Length of pull is usually adjustable and sometimes the height of comb is too. Usually very heavy at 10 pounds to 16 pounds.
Top of the line aluminum stocked European target rifles:
These expensive rifles are available new from Champions Shooters Supply out of Ohio or Champions Choice out of Tennessee. With all the accessories, expect to pay about $3,600.00 for a complete rifle, sights, hand stop, sling, etc. The brands are Anschutz, FWB, and Walther and for obvious reasons, I recommend that you start out with a more economical selection.
What about scopes/telescoping sights?
If you want to use a scope on your rifle, and most competitors in our league use a scope, the most important item to remember is to make sure the scope you are using/purchasing focuses down to 50 foot. Most riflescopes will not focus at this distance so you need to be careful with your selection. I would recommend that you carefully review the specifications of the scope you are considering either from Champions Choice, Champions Shooters supply, or either of the online optic suppliers, Optics Planet or SWFA. I would also recommend that you keep your objective lens at 40mm or below, the bigger objective scopes are simply awkward for position shooting. As for a top of the line scope that I recommend, you can not go wrong with the Leupold EFT 6.5x20x40 AO scope. It has an Adjustable Objective that focuses down to 50 foot, is Variable Power from 6.5 to 20 power, and the objective diameter is 40 mm. When you are standing, you can reduce the magnification to 6.5 or 8 or 10 power which will settle the cross hairs down in the scope and when you are laying down in the prone position which is more stable, crank it up to 20 power. Plus with this scope you probably will not need a spotting scope at 50 foot. The downside is that these are expensive but they do have the Leupold warranty.
Other equipment?
An offhand stand is nice to rest your firearm on in-between shots in the offhand position. As I said before, MSU Demmer has a couple but you might want to get your own.
A shooting coat will improve your scores, especially in the offhand.
A sling will also improve your scores by holding the rifle steady in the kneeling, sitting, and prone position.
Shooting mats make the prone position a lot more comfortable.
Padded shooting mitt or shooting glove.
Cartridge block to hold and organize your ammo.
Kneeling roll.
Hat-to keep the glare out of your eyes.
Shooting pants and shooting boots-even more stable then street clothes.
Firearm Case-I recommend a hard case.
Accessory bag.
What type of rifle shooting do you do?
Every week, we shoot 4 position smallbore 22 LR rifle at the Michigan State University Demmer Center. We shoot a NRA B-17 target at a distance of 50 foot. The four positions that we shoot are Offhand (standing), Kneeling, Sitting, and Prone (laying down on the ground). We shoot ten shots in each position at ten points each shot. You have a unlimited number of practice rounds in each position. The maximum score is 400 points, 100 points for each position.
How much is this going to cost?
There is no question that the shooting sports can be an expensive hobby. Various costs include equipment costs, ammunition, range fees, league fees, meals, hotels, entrance fees, and so on. By participating in the Capitol City Rifle Club Rifle Team, you can minimize costs but there still are going to be expenses.
No really, what are the actual expenses?
Well, the first cost is going to be the monthly or family MSU Demmer Fee which is currently $39.00/month. Then there is the weekly $5.00 match fee which includes the $3.00/match league fee and $2.00 to the team to cover expenses like paper targets and other minor items. The league fee goes to league expenses like the annual banquet and the awards passed out at the annual banquet. Please check with MSU Demmer for up to date monthly costs. For your ammo you can figure that you will need 50 or 60 rounds of 22LR ammo.
What about equipment?
As a minimum, you will need the following equipment to compete:
- Eye and Ear protection (Required)
- Rifle
- Rifle Case
- Ammo
- Shooting Mat
- Offhand Stand
- Competition Sling (highly
recommended)
- Competition Shooting Glove (highly
recommended)
- Shooting Coat (highly recommended).
You may be able to rent a rifle from MSU Demmer which they will keep in their rack for everybody to use, they have some nice iron sighted Savage target rifles available. (please check with MSU Demmer). The CCRC also has a couple rifles available to borrow but you will need to put a substantial deposit down as well. I have a number of target rifles that you can try out as well. If you do not have a rifle but are interested in shooting every week, let us know and we will get you started one way or the other. MSU Demmer also has offhand stands and shooting mats available as well.
OK, WHAT ABOUT THE RIFLE?
If you already have a 22 lr rifle, you are all set in the rifle department. Realistically, any 22 lr rifle will do and most will be accurate enough for a new shooter at 50 foot. If you are looking to purchase a competition rifle or upgrade to a competition rifle, there are a couple of questions that you need to ask yourself before you begin. These two questions are if you are going to use Iron Sights or a Scope, and what weight rifle do you want to shoot. Obviously, it is common sense to try out a number of different rifles before you purchase your own and this is where MSU Demmer, the CCRC, and the CCRC Rifle team can help. Between us, we have quite a number of competition rifles you can use for a short period of time.
With that being said, eventually, you will want a rifle of your own such that have confidence in the zero of the rifle and that is selected to your personal requirements.
As I said before, you need to decide if you want to shoot iron sights or telescopic sights. I would recommend a scope simply because as we age, a lot of people are unable to use iron sights with any degree of success. If you do have your heart set on using iron sights, there are a couple of optometrists in the area that are familiar with the needs of shooters and we can direct you to their offices.
Assuming that you do not have $3,000.00 or more available for a brand new top of the line Anschutz, FWB, or Walther rifle, lets take a look at some of the more economical target rifles out there:
Savage:
Savage makes a nice Iron sighted heavy barreled rifle that can be had brand new for about $300.00. Their new accutrigger can be adjusted down to about a pound and really is a serious competitor for the budget minded shooter. Other models include heavy barreled bolt actions with provisions for a scope mount should you prefer. Suprisingly accurate for the cost. Weight varies with the rifle but usually around six to 8 pounds with a scope.
Ruger 10/22:
These rifles are the kings of customization. While you can compete with a straight off the shelf rifle, you can also invest up to $2,000.00 in aftermarket triggers, sights, scopes, barrels, stocks, and other parts to make it more personalized. Available everywhere, and with a little bit of tweaking they can deliver the accuracy you need at the distances we are shooting. Weight: from 4 pounds up.
CZ:
If you want a lighter weight but higher quality bolt action rifle, take a hard look at the CZ rimfires. The Ultra Lux with aftermarket sights from Denny will set you back about $600.00 but is a excellent 28 inch barrel bolt action iron sighted rifle. Other models can be scoped but they are well made, accurate rifles. Weight about 6 pounds.
Remington 513t:
These rifles are available on the used market for $350 to $500. They usually have decent iron sights and some of them are grooved to accept scopes. 28 inch heavy barreled bolt action, these were one of the first rifles used by our armed forces for 22 lr rifle training. Weight about 7 pounds.
Kimber 82G:
With the Kimber 82g, we are starting to get into the top of the line rifles for serious target shooting. Originally made under government contract and recently distributed through the CMP system, these are excellent rifles delivering excellent accuracy. They have a full length accessory rail for hand stops, sling anchors, bipods, and palm rests, and adjustable length of pull to fit a variety of shooters. They came with good to excellent iron sights and are easily adapted to scope use. Weight about 10 pounds.
Used top of the line wood stocked used rifles:
Remington 40x, Winchester 52, Anschutz’s, and other top of the line used target rifles. These are available on the used market and depending on the condition, go from about $800 all the way up to almost $3,000.00. For a nice looking used one, the cost is usually from $1,200.00 to $2,000.00. They usually come with butt hooks, hand stops, sling swivels, and palm rests that slide in the accessory rail on the bottom of the stock. Length of pull is usually adjustable and sometimes the height of comb is too. Usually very heavy at 10 pounds to 16 pounds.
Top of the line aluminum stocked European target rifles:
These expensive rifles are available new from Champions Shooters Supply out of Ohio or Champions Choice out of Tennessee. With all the accessories, expect to pay about $3,600.00 for a complete rifle, sights, hand stop, sling, etc. The brands are Anschutz, FWB, and Walther and for obvious reasons, I recommend that you start out with a more economical selection.
What about scopes/telescoping sights?
If you want to use a scope on your rifle, and most competitors in our league use a scope, the most important item to remember is to make sure the scope you are using/purchasing focuses down to 50 foot. Most riflescopes will not focus at this distance so you need to be careful with your selection. I would recommend that you carefully review the specifications of the scope you are considering either from Champions Choice, Champions Shooters supply, or either of the online optic suppliers, Optics Planet or SWFA. I would also recommend that you keep your objective lens at 40mm or below, the bigger objective scopes are simply awkward for position shooting. As for a top of the line scope that I recommend, you can not go wrong with the Leupold EFT 6.5x20x40 AO scope. It has an Adjustable Objective that focuses down to 50 foot, is Variable Power from 6.5 to 20 power, and the objective diameter is 40 mm. When you are standing, you can reduce the magnification to 6.5 or 8 or 10 power which will settle the cross hairs down in the scope and when you are laying down in the prone position which is more stable, crank it up to 20 power. Plus with this scope you probably will not need a spotting scope at 50 foot. The downside is that these are expensive but they do have the Leupold warranty.
Other equipment?
An offhand stand is nice to rest your firearm on in-between shots in the offhand position. As I said before, MSU Demmer has a couple but you might want to get your own.
A shooting coat will improve your scores, especially in the offhand.
A sling will also improve your scores by holding the rifle steady in the kneeling, sitting, and prone position.
Shooting mats make the prone position a lot more comfortable.
Padded shooting mitt or shooting glove.
Cartridge block to hold and organize your ammo.
Kneeling roll.
Hat-to keep the glare out of your eyes.
Shooting pants and shooting boots-even more stable then street clothes.
Firearm Case-I recommend a hard case.
Accessory bag.