putting two rifles to the test

[bandit1250]

I went to the range yesterday to shoot two rifles against each other for accuracy. It was another nice weather day to shoot. I took my very low count fired Remington 541-S up against my wife's CZ 452 Grand Finale. I used her rifle because it is very low on being fired so not giving any advantage to one with a well broke in barrel. I didn't have time to swap out scopes so the scopes were Remington 541 had the Leupold 3-9X33 AO and the CZ GF had a Leupold 4-12X40 AO on top. I shot the GF with the 4-12 set on 9X so if there was an advantage it would have only been a slightly smaller reticle in the 4-12. I fired multiple groups at 50 yds with CCI standards, RWS target rifle, and SK Plus. The two rifles were really close in accuracy but the 541-S has a very tight chamber and CCI shot good in it but it closes so hard I don't want to use CCI anymore in this rifle. It closes harder than any rifle/ammo combination I have ever fired. Not any particular lot number of the CCI just all of them I tried. At the end of the shooting if I could say either one was better it would be splitting hairs. The GF had two five shot groups at 1/4" or a hair over and the 541 had two as close as I could measure were 5/16". The 541 had two groups at 5/8" and the GF had the about the same 5/8" size groups with three targets. Each rifle had two groups with a flyer out at 3/4" or a little over. The CZ had the little larger flyer out of the group by a very small amount of less than a 1/16". Not going to blame the ammo as it could have been shooter error. Both had their best targets with SK Plus with RWS very much in the running with some nice grouping. I didn't compare the CCI because of the hard chambering in the Remington. I actually think the GF feels better off the sand bags due to little more weight. Overall both are solid 1/2" accuracy rifles with ammo from pre pandemic prices from $3 up to $5 in price. Maybe some time I will put them to test with higher quality ammo if I buy any better ammo. They both feel like quality rifles that would please most any one except the bench rest shooter guys that won't be pleased with any thing but one hole accuracy. To me the GF stock feels to fit me better and has some added features like full wrap around checkering and the rubber no slip rifle pad. No shooting today with two places that need grass cutting right now.

[North Country Gal]

Great shooting, as always, bandit.

I don't remember the 541S that I had being hard to chamber with CCI, but I do remember it as being very accurate, especially for being such a light and trim rifle. Always thought it would make a great squirrel rifle, but never got the chance to try it.

[bandit1250]

Great shooting, as always, bandit.

I don't remember the 541S that I had being hard to chamber with CCI, but I do remember it as being very accurate, especially for being such a light and trim rifle. Always thought it would make a great squirrel rifle, but never got the chance to try it.

The 541-S Remington's were never claimed by Remington to have match chambers but they did have chambers on the tight side. They do engrave the bullet heavily. The 541-T chambers were not tight like the S models. I bought the first 541-T that came to the shop I dealt with at the time and being a very early model it was tighter than later model T's but not tight as The S models I have owned. The 540's I have are tight chambered and supposed to be "match chambers" and are extremely tight with CCI and a few other brands. I keep CCI ammo away from the 540's and shoot SK Plus and RWS that are snug but don't require heavy force to close the bolt. Extreme force on closing these Remington's can snap the bolt handle off at the bolt body due to the design fault from the way they attach and possibly from these small actions having six locking lugs. Those bolt handles are very small in diameter at the attaching point. I am a life long Remington fan but I think they would have done better using a bolt with a larger handle and attaching point and shaped like a a little smaller 700 Remington style. I believe the 547 Remington now uses that style. CCI standards are sometimes referred to as being "fat" by some rim fire shooters. I have one lot number of CCI that chambers quite a bit easier than my other lots #'s and more like RWS and SK. I have seen a few custom built match rifles that CCI fit so tight that a misfire will not extract and get stuck and need punched back out with a cleaning rod when the extractors fail to pull the loaded round back out. I like CCI standard velocity but I will use it in other rifles like the 581 and the older 5-teen models. I will be disappointed when my stash of CCI standards is gone even if my 540's and 541-S are off limits for it because at it's former price point it is a tough one to beat.

[North Country Gal]

Know what you mean about the CCI SV. We only have about half a brick left. Wish we would have bought more when the price was good. We're also low on the match ammo. That's a big reason why we have been shooting air guns so much. We're way over-stocked on the bulk stuff, but now all we have left to snoot it up fast is our old 10/22. Can't bring myself to shoot it in our good CZs or our 1885s.

[Sir Henry]

Know what you mean about the CCI SV. We only have about half a brick left. Wish we would have bought more when the price was good. We're also low on the match ammo. That's a big reason why we have been shooting air guns so much. We're way over-stocked on the bulk stuff, but now all we have left to snoot it up fast is our old 10/22. Can't bring myself to shoot it in our good CZs or our 1885s.

I’m way overstocked on bulk ammo too. Funny I was thinking of taking a 10/22 to the range next week just to dump lead down range. I’m like both of you and spoiled on the good stuff.

[Sir Henry]

Dang Bandit you did some fine shooting!

[North Country Gal]

Fortunately, a couple of Ruger Single Sixes and a Ruger Bearcat survived our recent sell-off, as did hubby's Smith 617, so those revolvers will be ideal for shooting up the bulk stuff for some fun plinking.

[BigAl52]

Best stuff I buy id CCI minimags. I dont have a nice CZ or Remington to buy those for. But I still enjoy shooting those 22's.

[Sir Henry]

Fortunately, a couple of Ruger Single Sixes and a Ruger Bearcat survived our recent sell-off, as did hubby's Smith 617, so those revolvers will be ideal for shooting up the bulk stuff for some fun plinking.

I only sold one of my thirteen 10/22’s just because I need something to shoot the bulk stuff. I didn’t sell any Henrys. About the only rimfire I sold was problematic semi-autos and a few odds and ends that were seldom shot.

I can remember when a friend and I bought a case of Winchester Wildcats and shot all 5,000 rounds in a single range day with our 10/22s. We shot from sunup to sunset and if I remember right dandelions were the target of choice.

I was in my 50’s and he was around 17. We talked of him joining the Army that day. It was a common subject we often talked about. He is now an E-6 with three more years till retirement. I’m no longer in my 50’s or even 17 but there is still that kid in me that wants to do some I shouldn’t be doing.