{"id":90615,"date":"2018-04-20T14:09:12","date_gmt":"2018-04-20T18:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=90615"},"modified":"2018-04-20T14:09:12","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T19:03:30","slug":"training-with-your-22-long-rifle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/training-with-your-22-long-rifle\/","title":{"rendered":"Training with your 22 Long Rifle &#8211; Time Well Spent"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-90626\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo-1024x611.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo-1024x611.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo-400x239.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>It was more than likely your first rifle; in some configuration or another, a good .22 rimfire was probably what started you on the rifle path. The pursuit of rabbits and squirrels, the hours spent plinking tin cans, the sessions spent concentrating on the target\u2019s center; all were important steps in becoming a hunter and shooter.<\/p>\n<p>While the .22 Long Rifle cartridge has been a highly economical choice \u2013 despite the terrible dry spell five years past \u2013 it doesn\u2019t have the same capabilities of the bigger and faster centerfire cartridges. Its mild velocity (and subsequent lack of recoil) is a blessing if you look at it in a certain light. Whether your rifle is scoped or iron-sighted, there is more than just a squirrel rifle here, there is a teaching tool for both the novice and the accomplished marksman alike, and you can practice for nearly any hunting or shooting situation imaginable.<\/p>\n<p>Wind calls, trajectory compensation, trigger control, and even the basic shooting form can be practiced and polished by using nothing more than a simple .22 rimfire. I\u2019ve relied on the one and only .22 that I call my own \u2013 though I have shot literally hundreds of rifles chambered for the little rimfire gem \u2013 to help me when my own shooting mechanics have fallen below the levels at which I know I can perform. Whether a long session of shooting big bore rifles has taken its toll, or it\u2019s nothing more than a rough day at the bench, grabbing that old rifle \u2013 my first, a Christmas gift from my father \u2013 can easily show my flaws and help me correct them.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90629\" style=\"width: 781px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-02B.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90629\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90629\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-02B-771x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"771\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-02B-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-02B-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-02B-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-02B-768x1021.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-02B.jpg 903w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90629\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A good .22 Long Rifle can offer plenty of affordable practice, helping to combat the effects of heavy-recoiling rifles.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>You can set up a small, short backyard range that can help hone your shooting skills, and will translate directly to your centerfire rifle when used at truly long ranges. Small steel plates, spinning targets, paper targets \u2013 especially handy for observing wind drift at various distances \u2013 can be sprinkled around a backyard range so as to provide a challenging range experience, especially if you have the room to place targets at varying angles to the predominant wind.<\/p>\n<h2>Safari Preparation<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_90616\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-03.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90616\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90616\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-03-1024x450.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"1024\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-03-1024x450.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-03-150x66.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-03-400x176.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-03-768x337.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-03.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Heym Express .404 Jeffery (top) and the Ruger 77\/22 (bottom). The smaller rimfire rifle can be used in conjunction with the safari gun to sharpen your shooting skills.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For those of you headed on an African safari \u2013 especially those who will be using an iron-sighted big bore \u2013 the .22 rimfire can be invaluable. My own rifle is a Ruger Model 77\/22, built like a scaled-down big game rifle with a three-position wing safety, and fully adjustable iron sights. It is a bolt-action repeater, so the mechanics are all there \u2013 with the exception of the detachable magazine \u2013 and I use mine not only to sharpen my skills with an iron sighted rifle but for practicing the fundamentals of shooting off sticks, proper bolt-cycling with the rifle on the shoulder, etc.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90619\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-05B.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90619\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-05B-1024x554.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"1024\" height=\"554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-05B-1024x554.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-05B-150x81.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-05B-400x216.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-05B-768x415.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-05B.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90619\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Ruger 77\/22 is built like a scaled-down big game rifle.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90617\" style=\"width: 265px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-04.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90617\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"wp-image-90617 \" src=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-04-181x300.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"255\" height=\"423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-04-181x300.jpg 181w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-04-90x150.jpg 90w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-04-617x1024.jpg 617w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-04.jpg 723w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 255px) 100vw, 255px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90617\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The fine brass front sight of the Ruger Model 77\/22 allows for precision shooting with iron sights, and reinforces the technique when using your big bore rifle.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The sights aren\u2019t quite the same as the wide-V of the big safari rifles, though I\u2019m seriously thinking of switching to that style to make things more uniform, but the fine brass bead and adjustable rear sight allow me to dial things in.<\/p>\n<p>I use a set of shooting sticks \u2013 the three-legged variety so popular across Africa \u2013 and do a considerable amount of practice from that shooting position at various targets around my little range. I can perfect the simultaneous grip on the forend of the rifle, as well as follow-up shots on the sticks without the recoil, report, and expense of shooting my .404 Jeffery or .416 Remington; I have found this practice to make me a better shot when it comes time to work with the big bore rifles. I also have a compact little Tasco 1.5-5&#215;20 scope \u2013 with similar proportions to the scopes I use on my dangerous game rifles \u2013 that gives me the same look at a distant target that I\u2019d have with the big guns. This combination has not only helped me but has taught the mechanics of shooting a big bore rifle to many hunters, without any chance of developing a flinch early on. I usually shoot 20-30 rounds per day when preparing for a safari.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90627\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-01.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90627\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90627\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-01-1024x647.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"1024\" height=\"647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-01-1024x647.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-01-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-01-400x253.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-01-768x485.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-01.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90627\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Massaro with a 404 Jeffery on the shooting sticks, practicing for an upcoming safari<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Long range work<\/h2>\n<p>I bought my wife a neat little Savage Mark II BRJ as a birthday gift, and we set it up with a Bushnell Rimfire Optics 3-9&#215;40 scope, designed to have a number of features that will complement the rimfire rifle. It is set up just like any other long range scope, with \u00bc MOA turrets and a side mounted parallax adjustment knob. The shooter can dial for both elevation and windage, and the rainbow trajectory of the .22 LR \u2013 especially beyond the 100-yard mark &#8211; can present a real challenge to the shooter.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90623\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-09.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90623\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90623\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-09-1024x707.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"1024\" height=\"707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-09-1024x707.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-09-150x104.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-09-400x276.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-09-768x530.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-09.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90623\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Savage\/Bushnell rig offers the same style of features as many long range rifles, allowing the shooter to practice at shorter ranges with a rimfire rifle.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>You can make a neat little dope card for your rifle, and the experimentation with different bullets and loads in varying wind conditions will be a real eye-opener, immediately translating to the wind calls at much further ranges with your centerfire rifle.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90625\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90625\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-11-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-11-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-11-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-11-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-11-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-11.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90625\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mandrake Vermilyea, practicing dialing for elevation changes with the Savage\/Bushnell combination.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you so choose, Bushnell provides an elevation turret labeled for the trajectories of the .22 LR and the .17 HMR. The .22LR variant is marked in 25-yard graduations from 75 to 150 yards, with subtensions in-between for interpolation. It works rather well, and is a great exercise for using your rangefinder in conjunction with your elevation turret, and is very similar to the custom designs available from the various scope companies, where the turret is marked for various ranges according to your personal ammunition performance data, making hunting at longer ranges just a bit easier.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90621\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-07.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90621\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90621\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-07-1024x457.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"1024\" height=\"457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-07-1024x457.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-07-150x67.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-07-400x178.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-07-768x342.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-07.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90621\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Savage Mark II BRJ, topped with a Bushnell Rimfire Optics scope, fully equipped with turret adjustments for both elevation and windage.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s very easy to train a new shooter how to quickly range a target, and dial accordingly for the shot. The reticle of the Bushnell Rimfire Optics scope is a simple duplex crosshair, so there are no marks for holdover in either plane, and you\u2019ll have to rely on dialing. This can be useful for varmints and furbearers at longer ranges, extending the applications of the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. I\u2019ve used the .22 on prairie dogs with a traditional scope (no turret for dialing) out to 250 yards, and I know for certain this setup would\u2019ve made life a lot easier on a hunt with that level of shooting, given the varying distances throughout the day.<\/p>\n<p>My wife\u2019s Savage is equipped just like your average long range rifle; it comes from the factory with the AccuTrigger, and provides an extra sling stud for attaching a bipod, so you can get in the same prone position and have a set up nearly identical to your centerfire rifle.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_90622\" style=\"width: 812px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gastatic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-08.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-90622\" title=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" class=\"size-large wp-image-90622\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-08-802x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Coonan Expands MOT Family of Enhanced 1911s with a New .45\" width=\"802\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-08-802x1024.jpg 802w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-08-118x150.jpg 118w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-08-235x300.jpg 235w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-08-768x980.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Photo-08.jpg 940w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-90622\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Savage AccuTrigger gives the feel of a long range precision rifle, perfect for the back yard range.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At longer ranges, depending on weather and light conditions, you will actually be able to catch the bullet\u2019s vapor trail and call your own shot. This type of training can be invaluable when transitioning to the centerfire rifles, especially with the lighter recoiling 6mm Creedmoor and .224 Valkyrie that will allow you to see a vapor trail at longer distances.<\/p>\n<h2>In Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Having a good bolt-action .22LR in your rifle lineup is certainly a good thing, and I believe once you start to use it for practice you\u2019ll find yourself reaching for it quite often. While the two rifles I\u2019ve highlighted are definitely close enough in appearance and function to their big game counterparts, there are many other choices that make equal sense. It may take you a bit to find the rifle\/ammunition combination that gives you the best accuracy, but once you do you\u2019ll see how much fun spending time with a rimfire rifle at the range can be. The lack of report will give your ears a break, and the virtually non-existent recoil can quickly help you establish your trigger control, even if used before and after shooting the centerfires.<\/p>\n<p>My safari buddies and I have set our guns up to resemble the big sticks \u2013 as close as possible anyhow \u2013 and it has made a definite difference in how well the larger dangerous game rifles are shot. I take my Ruger \u2013 with its iron sights \u2013 out for squirrel hunts and the small targets that squirrels offer will most definitely sharpen your eye. It\u2019s good practice, and when you consider the cost of ammunition for the .375, .416 and their ilk, the .22 LR represents a considerable value for what the shooter will gain for the session.<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?Keyword=savage%20mkii%20.22\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"training-with-your-22-long-rifle\" title=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\">***Shop GunsAmerica for your next .22 LR Training Rifle***<\/a><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wind calls, trajectory compensation, trigger control, and even the basic shooting form can be practiced and polished by using nothing more than a simple .22 rimfire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":90626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[694,749,37,857,861],"tags":[132,102,116,343,168,1086,211],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-90615","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gun-reviews","8":"category-phil-massaro","9":"category-gun-reviews-rifles","10":"category-rimfire","11":"category-rimfire-handguns","12":"tag-buzz","13":"tag-feature-articles","14":"tag-hunting-2","15":"tag-rifle","16":"tag-rimfire","17":"tag-safari","18":"tag-training"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wind calls, trajectory compensation, trigger control, and even the basic shooting form can be practiced and polished by using nothing more than a simple .22 rimfire.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/training-with-your-22-long-rifle\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle - Time Well Spent\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wind calls, trajectory compensation, trigger control, and even the basic shooting form can be practiced and polished by using nothing more than a simple .22 rimfire.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/training-with-your-22-long-rifle\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-04-20T18:09:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-08-30T19:03:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lead-Photo.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"716\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Phil Massaro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Phil Massaro\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/training-with-your-22-long-rifle\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/training-with-your-22-long-rifle\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Phil Massaro\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/aede1ba08d9dc56511faedf0d7dbabf1\"},\"headline\":\"Training with your 22 Long Rifle &#8211; 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