At was Colonel Townsend Whelen who famously said, “Only accurate rifles are interesting.” We recently tested four examples of today’s crop of 22 LR bolt-action rifles to see if any could achieve “interesting” status, and we were gratified at what we found.

Choosing samples from the less-than-stratospheric part of the market, we wanted to know if these somewhat more moderately-priced rifles were sufficient for certain accuracy applications. Our first test piece was the Ruger Precision Rimfire 8401, $480. The next entry was the B14R from Bergara, $950. Third was the Tikka T1X, $519, and last was the Christensen Arms Ranger 22, $830.

Still mired in the great ammo panic/hoard/drought, we used our standard source to locate match 22 LR ammo. AmmoSeek.com is an aggregator that does a very good job of finding and listing ammo that is currently available for sale. Sticking with 40-grain standard-velocity rounds throughout these tests, we selected SK Match, Eley Tenex, and Eley Match. All testing was done at American Shooting Centers in Houston. We fired multiple five-shot groups at 50 yards. All rifles were well-sandbagged in a Caldwell TackDriver Pro (Brownells.com 100-027-023, $49), further supported by a large rear bag, heavy from Tab Gear (TabGear.com, $34). Velocities were measured by LabRadar (MyLabRadar.com, $559).

For optics, we used one of the outstanding Bushnell Elite Tactical XRS3 scopes with the G4P Precision Reticle (Model: ETXRS3G4, $1700). These are very popular on the PRS circuit right now, and we can see why. The Elite Tactical XRS3 is a 6-36×56 variable. The 6-36 power range may be a bit much for PRS, but it works well for F-Class, and the shooter always has the option to dial down the magnification. The G4P reticle provides a variety of subtensions, especially on the horizontal crosshair, which, in turn, makes holding off for wind calls simple and precise. We found the glass to be clear and the adjustments to be consistent. Competitive shooters might easily spend $4000+ on good scopes, but not everyone can. Not everyone has to. There is even a Production division in PRS where they try to limit the initial investment a shooter has to make to get started in the sport. The $1700 price tag for the Bushnell fits well within the price parameters (maximum $4500 for rifle and optic) for Production division without handicapping the shooter. Do yourself a favor and check this scope out. Now to the rifles.

Gun Tests Grade: A

$830

In direct contrast to the Bergara, Christensen Arms decided to forego recoil mitigation and opted, instead, for portability. Everything in this rifle is designed for maximum weight savings. With a muzzle diameter about 0.86 inch, the barrel is about the same size as the others in this test. The similarities end there. The muzzle and the breech end are sizable, but everything in between is under tension from a carbon-fiber wrap. The tube is hand-lapped and comes with a 22 LR Bentz match chamber. The muzzle, of course, is threaded 1⁄2×28, and a good thread protector is provided.

Christensen attaches the barrel to a precision black-anodized aluminum receiver. A 6-inch-long 0-moa Picatinny rail spans the length of the action, providing lots of room for optics. The oval-shaped bolt may be more than 0.6 inch in width, but its height only measures a slim 0.45 inch. The bolt handle and the bolt shroud are both very slim, in keeping with the lightweight design. The smallish bolt knob is grooved for traction and is threaded in case the shooter prefers a different design. The bolt features dual extractors and dual opposing locking lugs. Bolt removal comes via the lever on the left rear of the receiver.

The Ranger uses a Remington 700 Trigger Tech trigger, the operation of which provided a clean break, as we expected. This trigger was the field version and was only adjustable down to about 2.4 pounds. The trigger actually felt a bit heavier than that, and we had to really focus on our control as we shot the accuracy tests. We think this rifle is worthy of a bit lighter trigger, but we are confessed trigger snobs. As expected with a Rem 700-style trigger, the Ranger had a Remington 700-style two-position safety located immediately behind the bolt handle. Once again, the bottom “metal” was polymer, but that did not create any problems. We were pleased to find a Ruger 10-22 compatible magazine nestled in the magwell. Any 10-22 compatible mag should fit. Magazine release is started with a large paddle right in front of the trigger. The sides of the magwell were dished out, allowing a bit more purchase area in the event of a stuck mag.

We loved the carbon-fiber composite stock. Very light in weight, our sample was tan with black webbing. The fore end was flat, as was the more-narrow shelf on the buttstock. The design did a good job of riding bags for us. The grip is ambidextrous, with an almost vertical angle. The lines then flow into a good palm hook, perfect for supporting hands or bags. The comb, though not adjustable, was actually high enough to allow a pretty good cheek weld. It is capped with a hard-rubber grooved recoil pad. The two sling-swivel studs are ready for a good, thin sling.

Our Team Said: Feeding and extraction were flawless through the three different types of ammunition. The Ranger came in second place in the shooting, averaging 0.464 inch for five-shot groups at 50 yards. It showed a preference for the Eley Tenex fodder. The very light weight may have been a factor in how hard we had to focus to get the smallish groups. But then we would cherish that lack of weight (the Christensen weighed less than 4.5 pounds, empty, sans scope) if we were going to spend a day in the woods carrying it.

22 Long Rifle Range Data (50 Yards)

Value Guide: 22 Rifle Rankings