Centerfire hunting rifle and matching 22 practice

86er · Post by **86er** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:55 pm

Does anyone pair up a centerfire with a rimfire so they are set up the same? In other words, put the same sights/scope, sling, etc on your Marlin 336 as your 39A or your 1886 matched with your BL-22?

I think having the same exact sight picture and accessories on a rimfire as a centerfire seems like a great way to get meaningful practice for hunting.

Right now I set up a 39A to mimic my Win 86EL. The reason is, the barrel length gives me the same sight picture since they both have the same exact sights on them (front and rear). The 39A was also a heavier gun than most. Different makes but the feel is what counts for this experiment. So far so good with this concept.

I am thinking of looking into a Ruger LA rimfire to match my Savage 99 but I am open to suggestions of other rimfires that might match up with the 99.

Any thoughts on this?

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:01 pm

These guys make barrel adapters for single shots. Get with them and see if the would make some thing that would work for you.

http://www.mcace.com/index.htm

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:29 am

I'm sure all the shooting you do helps.

I have the Lyman globes and tang sights on several rifles and the sight picture looks the same on all. But no two rifles are exactly the same, it's in the trigger, the balance, etc.

jbm1968 · Post by **jbm1968** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:00 am

I have done what you are talking about with pistols and rifles and find it a great technique. The key is the practice and you can get that even without a perfect match.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:58 am

I think it is a great idea. I sort of have this set-up with my Winchester 9422 and 1894 carbine. Both have lyman peeps on them with the same size peep diameter hole. Their front sights are slightly different with the 9422 being finer than the 30-30 - the handling, balance, and feel of these to are quite similar - which is why Winchester was said to introduce the 9422 all those years ago.

Antietamgw · Post by **Antietamgw** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:03 am

I like my .22's but they are basically for plinking (for me anyway). I shoot alot of reduced loads in my centerfires for practice. In fact, I rarely shoot full power in anything larger than .30-30 unless it's needed. I shoot a number of different rifles with iron sights and find that trying to keep the sights similiar makes more difference to me in getting good quick first hits than whether I'm shooting a lever or single shot. I've settled on a reciever sight and a sourdough front sight. I sight in to hit on the top of the post with my reduced loads. Doesn't much matter what you put these sights on, the sight picture is pretty close and very familiar. An afternoon with a couple rifles, a bag of cans and a bunch of ammo is a wonderful thing.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:05 am

I tried the "matching guns" idea, when I was younger, and recommend it for newer shooters/hunters - but found that it doesn't matter if you do a lot of shooting & hunting, over a longer period of time.

IMHO, it's more important to have all your different triggers feel about the same, and also to have about the same buttstock dimensions (LOP, drop, cast on/off etc) on all your guns.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:22 am

I think it is more important for handguns than rifles, and more useful. That may be because the handgun requires so much 'instinctive' feel vs. most long gun shooting (I've never been a long gun 'snap' shooter). It is also easier to get a handgun of the same design and even heft in .22 LR.