Marlin 925M range report

[JKosprey]

I had spoken earlier about some alterations to my .22 mag-mainly, a new scope, trigger, and free-floated barrel.

It's a standard 925M in .22 WMR, wearing a Nikon Prostaff 4x32. I also put in a Rifle Basix trigger.

I had shot it since free-floating, with the old equipment, and it neither added to, nor subtracted from the accuracy of the groups. A waste of my time, but a learning expirience nonetheless. The system I have going now does seem to be effective, but I am debating doing a full-length glass bed to see if that would cut down on barrel vibrations and tighten things up. I'm probably going to leave well enough alone.

The scope it was previously wearing was a cheap Simmons 3x9x40 that came off of my Savage package gun. For a cheap scope, it did a decent job of holding it's zero, but light transmission sucked, and there were some paralax issues, especially at shorter range.

The Nikon was much clearer and better for light transmission-I had no trouble seeing targets, even though the lights at this particular range suck. It's an indoor, 100 yd range, and there are several dark spots, oddly enough usually right where your target is set. I did have a bit of an issue with the decreased magnification. I normally hunt on a lower setting, and I've found 4x is perfect for quick shots on squirrels and bunnies. But at the bench, I like to dial the scope up, to help place my shots a little tighter and to be sure that I am aiming at the same spot. This is more difficult to do with a fixed 4x.

I had neglected to bore-sight it, and the scope was shooting very low, and somewhat right. I was firing 3 shot groups and triangulating them, then adjusting. It took about 5 of these strings to get it on target at 25 yds.

The trigger was an incredible improvement. This rifle came with the newer T-900 fire control system from marlin, which is supposed to be an improvement over the older style triggers. It was very heavy, I'd estimate about 6 pounds, but smooth with no creep. I learned to give it a bit of takeup, then squeeze a bit harder and it would release. All well and good, but I knew with a better trigger I'd have a muchg more accurate rifle.

Installation of the Rifle Basix trigger was a bit of a pain in the ass, mostly due to my inexpirience. I had no trouble with the mechanics of it, but getting the sear adjustment screw, and the trigger weight adjustment screw to work in tandem so that the sear would actually catch, and keep the bolt cocked upon closing took awhile. I got it to work right and break at about a pound after about an hour. I'll need to pop the action off and nail-polish the screws to keep them in place at some point soon. This trigger has a tiny bit of takeup, and then lets off with a great surprise break. The safety works, however I noticed that I can only engage it with the bolt open, weather it is cocked or not. I don't recall if the original safety fuctioned this way as well, but I don't think so. I didn't find a great way to fix it, but it *does* work, and I think I can live with it. I don't trust mechanical safeties anyhow.

Once sighted, at 25 yds, 3 shot groups averaged about a 1/2 inch, holes touching, with the occasional flier that was my fault. The trigger was a dream to shoot with and I think I was pulling the rifle off target expection to need more force. When backed out to 50 yards, I was still just under an inch.

For giggles I sent the target out to 100 yards. This is supposed to be a decent 100 yd varmint gun. I fired about 15 rounds, in 5 shot groups that were about 3 inches. Disappointing, but I think it was more me than the rifle. Between the bad light at the range, and getting used to the lower magnification, I had a hard time aimng at the same point on the target each time. Groups were about 6 inches lower than they were at 50 yards. This was annoying, as everything that I'd read said that the .22 WMR was a flat shooter out to 100, and tapered off from there. It may have been the ammo I was shooting. I will have to double check the bullet weight and see if they were extra heavy. They would have been acceptable groups on coyotes but I might have missed a woodchuck at that range, unles I aimed above him about an inch.

All and all, I think the upgrades were very much worth it. Hopefully with a little more practice I can tighten things up even more.

[arctictom]

This is fun cartridge , it will make you pay attention to wind. Have fun.

[Darrell]

My .22 WMRs don't seem to shoot quite as well as the .22 lrs, but I still dig 'em. I'm eager to see that Kel-Tec pistol due out in a few months.