Thunder Roads La/MS November TRLAMS_NOVW | Page 18

BULLET POINTS
S O L AC E
BY: BRODY KENNEN
Solace: to make cheerful.
On occasion, a trip to the range comes with a desire to relax while seeking
quiet entertainment. By far, the most fun that I have during range trips is when
I go out shooting .22 LR in some form or fashion. The most annoying aspect of
shooting rimfire, with my Tinnitus, is the periodic splattering of blowback from
some rounds in semi-automatic rifles. It doesn’t diminish the quality of the ex-
perience, though. I challenge myself to take the white from inside the paper
target’s diamond or removing clay pigeon chips off a range berm.
Currently, I have fun with an outfitted Ruger 10/22 to do that job. The prob-
lem with this is that it’s not exactly relaxing. It’s just that: a job. If the clay
pigeons were hostile targets, charging down the hillside, that would be one
thing. The semi-automatic action of the Ruger peeks the desire to quickly de-
fend the static position that one keeps on the bench. I have had the fortune to
shoot another .22 LR option and it fills the relaxation niche far better than any
of the semi-automatic counterparts.
CZ-USA offers many different styles of rimfire rifles in their line-up. Their
current flagship bolt-action line is the 455-series. I have had the opportunities
to fire several other 452s, but most of my time has been spent behind several
CZ-455 Varmint rifles. Five- and ten-round box magazines feed the heavy-bar-
reled Varmint and the weight of the walnut stock keeps the rifle from bouncing
around if you man-handle the bolt for a quick follow-up shot on a target.
The time has been put in to every bit of the woodworking and machining in
the metal of the 455s. All this quality cumulates into accuracy. I have seen some
superb 50-yard groups with everything from CCI Standards to the upper-tier
and highly expensive Eley, Lapua, Norma, GECO, SK and RWS. The owners of
those rifles tested their holds and zeroes at that range, but I would love to
challenge another shooter to a diamond match at 100-yards plus. I would also
certainly prefer to put my future children behind the CZ, versus a Ruger 10/22,
as it would force them to take their time. They wouldn’t be able to just spray
ammunition all over a berm in a two- or three-second span.
As far as optics, I would purchase another Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40, with
the Dead-Hold BDC reticle, and throw it on the 455. I have also shot the rifle
with some Leupold VX-IIs and Nikon scopes, but the older Duplex reticles left
something to be desired. I would prefer not to have an errant shot or two on a
scorecard due to failing to properly guesstimate a hold-over at 100-yards, with
a 25-yard standard zero. I see the Vortex as a perfectly priced mid-range op-
tion. I cannot tell you a quality difference between the Diamondback and the
VX-I or VX-II Rimfire lines, which range in at $125+ more than the Vortex. The
Nikon doesn’t compare to either in quality, but comes in at around $130 before
shipping.
Some will prefer other optics and reticles due to the layouts of the rifles and
their own physical requirements. I am still blessed with fair eyesight and I can