How to Make Your .22 LR More Accurate

If you’re hoping to repeat your success without spending thousands of dollars, I’ve got bad news. You may not be able to turn your old squirrel gun into a saddle driver without spending more money than the gun is worth. However, there are several things you can do to make your .22 LR more accurate, which should lead to more success in the small game woods.

Only accurate rifles are interesting, but accuracy is also in the eye of the beholder. An Olympic shooter’s definition of “accurate” will be very different than that of a 12-year-old shooting 6-inch steel targets from 40 yards.

But there are a common yardstick or two that most double deuce hunters and shooters use to determine how their rifles compare to others. Much like centerfire cartridge rifles are considered “accurate” if they can post a group less than an inch at 100 yards, .22 LR rifles are considered accurate if they can do the same at 50 yards. Many rifles shoot at smaller groups, but one inch at 50 yards is a common baseline.

This standard works if you’re thinking about entering an NRL 22 competition. These competitions mirror the National Rifle League’s centerfire courses and rarely require a target smaller than one inch at 50 yards.

An inch is also a good standard for small game hunting. A squirrel’s head is over an inch wider, but squirrel hunters know these little critters are tougher than they look. If you don’t put one directly through the eye or under the ear, they will likely get up and run away after a few seconds. If your gun can fire 1″ groups at 50 yards, you should have no trouble taking down a squirrel quickly and humanely.

Not all .22 LR ammo is created equal – at least your gun doesn’t think it is. If you want to make your double-two rifle “more accurate,” find the ammo that fires it best.

While the .22 LR doesn’t come in the same bullet weight range as other cartridges, you still have plenty of options. If your rifle doesn’t like the classic 36-grain bulk ammo, try some match-grade 40-grain pellets. If that doesn’t work, try a faster 40-grain Hunter match or the even faster 31-grain Small Game loads. I’ve had particularly good luck with high-velocity match-grade options, like these Federal HV Gold Medal Rimfire cartridges.

As with all accuracy tests, try to get as far out of the equation as possible. Make sure both the front and rear of the gun are steady on pouches or a gun rest, take your time and get good shots. After you’ve fired five groups of five shots with each ammo type, you’ll know which one your gun likes best.

The .22 LR is a notoriously dirty cartridge. So if you haven’t cleaned your old squirrel gun in a few seasons, give it a good scrub. I know, I know. That’s kind of like asking your mom about your missing hat, and she told you that “you’ll find it if you tidy your room.” Cleaning is never fun (whether it’s a gun or a room), but Mom knows best.

A hot tip: use a solution that will remove both copper, carbon and lead and let the solution do most of the work. Run a wet stain through the hole and let it soak for the length of time the instructions recommend. After that time has passed, take a nylon brush and scrub that crap out. You’ll be surprised how much your groups contract.

Over time and for a variety of reasons, the action screws that connect a rifle receiver to the stock can become loose. This is more common on large caliber rifles that generate a lot of recoil, but .22 LR rifles are not immune to the problem.

Make sure the action screws are tightened to the specifications in your owner’s manual. If the manual doesn’t list them, contact the manufacturer.

While you’re at it, make sure your scope rings and bases are tight as well. A loose scope doesn’t technically affect a rifle’s accuracy, but it sure does make it difficult to hit something.

Upgrading the trigger won’t make the rifle more accurate either, but it will help she Be more accurate when shooting. Anyone can hold a crosshair or a sight. You miss because you can’t keep your eye on the target while pulling the trigger. A clear, consistent trigger can help keep things stable.

If you picked up an old squirrel gun at the local pawn shop, you may have trouble finding aftermarket trigger options. If this is you, contact your local gunsmith and ask if they will work on your trigger.

If you bought a newer model of rifle, you’ll have better luck. For example, Timney makes triggers for the CZ 457, and there are countless options for the Ruger 10/22. Of course, many new rifles come with excellent factory triggers (I’ve had great experiences with Savage triggers), but you might still want to get that extra edge.

Recommendations 1 to 4 can be implemented independently of your rifle. Retrofitting your weapon is more complicated, but also incredibly effective. Much of your rifle’s accuracy comes from the barrel, so swap barrels can Instantly turn your squirrel gun into a tack driver.

If you have a Ruger 10/22 (or similarly designed rifle), this process is relatively easy. There are a variety of aftermarket keg options available, as well as a variety of instructional videos on how to do it yourself. It doesn’t require any special tools, although you might still want to have a gunsmith do it.

Other types of guns can present greater difficulties. A qualified gunsmith can tell you more about your specific firearm. Some can be rebooted without too much of a headache, although it can cost several hundred dollars. Other barrels cannot be removed without ruining the receiver. In this case, all you have to do is buy a new rifle (a real disappointment, I know).

While upgrading a stock or re-crowning a barrel can certainly improve accuracy in extreme cases, it probably isn’t worth the time and expense. Unless your stock is warped or cracked and the crown is not noticeably damaged, none of the upgrades are likely to give you the accuracy improvements you’re looking for. This is especially true for a .22 LR low-recoil rifle. If you’ve exhausted other options, maybe check out these two; if not, don’t worry.

If your .22 LR rifle is inaccurate, it’s not the cartridge’s fault. The Legendary Rimfire has the potential to be exceptionally accurate, and there are several things you can do to shrink your groups and bring down more squirrels. No strategy is foolproof, but even if you try everything and find yourself with a lemon, you’ll still have fun tinkering with your rifle and spending plenty of time behind the trigger.