Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Understudy rifles?

Many years ago, an outdoor writer from Oregon by the name of Francis E. Sell wrote that he felt that a hunter should have a small bore rifle that mirrored his "deer rifle" in order to practice more. IIRC, he was a fan of the Winchester 65 in 218 Bee as an "understudy" for the Winchester 64 and/or 71 and the Winchester 43 in 22 Hornet as an "understudy" for the Winchester 70.

With the higher velocities, around 2,800 fps, that have been reported when using Hornady's A17 ammo in bolt action rifles, it would seem that setting up a bolt action 17 HMR to mirror a bolt CF rifle might be a good way to shoot more for less $$ than shooting the CF rifle would cost.

What say you guy gurus? Are Sell's thoughts on the "understudy" rifle a good, useful, valid idea as we prepare to enter 2017? And, if they are, is the 17HMR the cartridges of choice?

nah. .22lr is......

I have a pretty decent Cooper 17 HMR for exactly that reason. It's not for sale, but it doesn't get used much.

As was just said, I also have its twin in 22LR. I put at least 500 rounds through the 22 for every ten that get put through the 17.

I was thinking that, trajectory wise, a 2,800 fps 17 HMR would be a closer parallel to a CF bolt gun than a .22 LR, but even good shooting mid-grade Eley or RWS .22 LR is cheaper to shoot than A17 and cheaper ammo is likely to translate to more lead being sent down range.

Have to agree with Hunts.....

Trigger time is trigger time.

My .257 Roberts M/70 is my understudy to my .35 Whelen also a M/70. The rifles I shoot more than those two are my M/52 Sporter and Springfield 1922 M2 Sporter.

I'm in the process of building a .223 for this very purpose.
700 action
Kreiger #2 countor 8 twist barrel
Echols Shrike stock
Nightforce SHV

I can deer/hog/coyote hunt with it locally and shoot steel with it for practice. Cheap to shoot and easy to handload in bulk on a progressive press. The idea is that it will handle/balance much like my big game rifles and will use the same and reticle.

22 LR in the Ruger 77/22 is the 'understudy' for Ruger 77 7x57, 35 Whelen, twin 257 Roberts and a long throat 257 Roberts.



My Savage 99-A is its own 'understudy'. 13 grs SR4759 tamped lightly with a small tuft of cotton and topped with 87 gr Speer HotCor gives 1650 fps.

BTW, Sell is one of my favorite hunting writers.

Kimber K22 Hunter in 22LR and a Cooper Model 57 in same work great this purpose for me.

My 06 is an understudy of the bigger cartridges.

I practice with my 220 Swift.

The Ruger 77/22 is a nice little practice rifle for a Model 70 as well.

Good idea.. Mostly I used 700's in a variety of calibers.. Used Rem. 22 bolts as understudys.. Lately went to CZ's.. But the safe is different on them.. But I seldom use a safety anyway..

Sell was one good writer.. Nice to see some remember him..

and even better for a ruger UL.....same safety, trigger, barrel length and contour and stock ergo's.....

I use a Ruger 9617 HMR for jump shooting jack rabbits to stay in practice for big game hunting with a Savage 99.

Also have this Marlin 56 22 LR which is nice because it has the safety in the same location as a 99 on the side of the lever.

Ruger 77/22 here.

Along with a 77/17, which as the original poster said, is the easiest way to teach somebody to shoot "centerfire range" while starting out.

I am a believer. I use a .218Bee to understudy the .356 Winchester.
The .218 Bee loaded with the 45-grain Hornady Bee at 2,800 fps has a point blank range on a 4" circle of 177 yards.
The .356 Winchester with the 200-grain Sierra loaded to 2,350fps has a point blank range of 174 yards on the same 4" circle.
The two rifles are interchangeable for snap shooting on critters.

We have lots of small game here and the Bee is a good walking rifle.

I have along standing love for 22 rimfires, and view the centerfires as the understudies. Good shooting form is good shooting form. Any excuse to get out and shoot is a good one.
Trialed the 17's and recognize that they are good, but decided I'm content with the capabilities of a 22 LR.

Browning A Bolt .22, I have 2 of these. They're scoped like my big game rifles, great practice.









P

The Model 75 Winchester looks and feels like a pre-'64. Perfect for practice w/the bigger brother. My Dad said it was the only .22 that he ever saw that actually had a noticeable recoil. powdr