Armscore 22TCM Bolt Action Rifle Range Report

[lbaize3]

I managed to get my hands on one of the first new Armscore/Rock Island bolt action rifles in 22 TCM. A Millett 4-16x50 side focus scope was selected and mounted using air gun rings because the rifle did not come with iron sights and was grooved like a 22 rim fire rifle. There was an odd screw at the front of the 3/8 inch grooves that I guess was a stop to keep the rings from sliding forward. I removed the screw and used the stop from the rings in the hole to stop ring movement. After bore sighting the scope I was ready to go to the range and try out this gem. I was looking forward to shooting what had been advertised as a 2800 fps accurate little rifle. But, like so many things in life, the rifle did not live up to expectations.

I think the rifle looks just fine and the barrel appears to be free floated for its' entire length. The trigger, however is entirely too heavy. There is a screw at the back of the trigger guard that allows one to adjust what appears to be the trigger/sear engagement. But it does nothing to lighten the trigger pull. I tried to take the action out of the stock to see about a quick trigger job, but could not pull the action from the stock. Something appeared to be catching the trigger guard and magazine well (all one piece of plastic) and I did not want to force it and break a part. I placed a trigger shoe on the trigger to help ease the pull and will have to make a trip to my friendly local gunsmith for help removing the action from the stock.

At the range, I had some initial difficulty getting the scope sighted in. After a bit of difficulty I realized I needed to unlock the turrets... Gee, you'd think by my age, I would remember the obvious things... Even with the wind gusting to over 10 miles per hour (estimated), I got some good groups at fifty yards:

Note that the average speed of the factory ammo was only 2651 fps. Certainly not the 2800 fps advertised. Major disappointment. And about one in ten of the rounds locked up the bolt requiring me to use a small rubber mallet to open the bolt. I measured the ammo cases after getting home and the unfired cases measured a uniform 0.372 and the fired cases measured anywhere between 0.375 and 0.377. And there were scratch marks on the brass that indicated a somewhat rough chamber. I believe this can be resolved by judicious polishing of the chamber.

The above is a second 50 yard group using factory ammo. You can see that it is slightly over an inch and I attribute that to the wind. One hundred yard shooting was not too bad, but as you can see below, it had an affect on the accuracy of this rifle/ammo combo.

I think that reloads with a better quality 22 Hornet 40 grain bullet will result in much better accuracy. Needless to say I have some 35, 40 and 46 grain 22 Hornet and 218 Bee bullets ordered and will be doing some testing to see what I can do to improve the accuracy of this inexpensive little rifle. I have also just ordered a Magneto Speed V3 to check the speed of my loads here at the house, quickly and easily. (It happens to be on sale at Midway today for $349). Beats the heck out of going to the range to check my loads. I will let you know more when I do.

[Got-R-Did]

Better bullet will surely be the litmus test to prove it's potential.
I look forward to an update.
Got-R-Did.

[oger]

You've had better luck than I have, lets just say it's a work in progress.

[Bullshop]

New barrels seldom shoot to the future potential of the rifle. After a few hundred rounds it should do better.
Just recently I was reminded of this fact by a New Stevens 223. The first few shots with cast leaded badly. Jacketed loads that had a proven record in other rifles were terrible. Normally I would just let the barrel shoot in but this particular new barrel was extremely rough so I fire lapped it. Now it shoots cast very well with no leading and jacketed bullet ammo from the same lot tried initially that shot so poorly now shoots well.
My 22 CCM mod 38 Cooper rifle took at least 500 rounds through the barrel before it would deliver any dependable accuracy. This was with cast boolits only as I don't shoot jacketed bullets in it. Now after perhaps 5000 rounds as a rough estimate as to how many shots it has fired it is extremely accurate.

[historicfirearms]

That's an interesting little riffle and cartridge combo. What's the street price on the rifle? Is it made in the Philippines like other Rock Island guns?

[Bullshop]

I saw what looked like that same rifle chambered in 22 Hornet at a gun show about ten years ago. The rifle I saw was made in the Philippines.
Looks like a nice little rifle chambered for what amounts to be ballistically a modern 22 Hornet.

[texassako]

I have wanted one of those rifles since they were announced for some reason. Probably because I like odd, little cartridges. Maybe I will wait and see how they settle in after a bit of break in.

[lbaize3]

The rifles run from $369 to $400. I paid $400 because all of those less expensive guns were sold when I discovered them.... Armscore is bringing 300 rifles per month to the US. So they are going to be hard to find for a bit...

As an update on my rifle. I took my firearm to Ken Lloyd (my favorite gunsmith) and he polished the chamber and set the trigger at 2 pounds. He also discovered that my barrel was loose and could be unscrewed by hand. He resolved that problem and put lock tight on the threads so that the barrel would not come loose again.

I have been wanting to go to the range to check the factory load velocity, and accuracy with the improvements. I also have reloaded 50 more cartridges with various other J-words and will report on them when I get back from the range.

[Got-R-Did]

Good Times!
I look forward to an update and details.
Got-R-Did.

[worker]

look forward your updated report. I am a fan of .22 TCM, and planning to get this rifle. I would like to have a consistent 2.800+ speed out of it with factory ammo.

[Gtek]

This round has been tempting me for a while. I have a take off 22-250 barrel 1-16 I am thinking about stubbing onto a Handi. My math puts this round at about 10 cents a pop with Boolit/bulk "J"s which equals 22lr it seems at today's prices. Pull back for can or run it at 2k, might be a lot of fun in there. Curious- what twist are they coming in? I have been brain bashing for a bolt receiver to build on but the only one really workable for magazine and rear lugged is the 788 (man, people love them things it appears due to used prices). Destroyer was another option, but mine had to become a 45 and the cost of them used now equals this new. How about some gun porn with pictures of bolt and feed ramp.

[lbaize3]

If velocity is the main reason you want the 22 TCM please note that the 22 Hornet holds more powder. The 22 TCM barely holds 13.2 grains of AA 1680 and that is a fine powder. I will try heavier loads of H110 to see how it works. I have been delayed in reporting the speed of my loads because my Magneto Speed V3 has not arrived yet. It was shipped today and should be here in 2 days. But it has also been raining dogs, cats, cows and meatballs here lately. As soon as I can, I will venture to the range to make a supplemental report.

I did shoot a Nosler 40 grain Varmagedon bullet with 13.2 grains of AA 1680 at a gallon green tea jug full of water. At about 25 yards the jug blew up like it was sitting on a stick of dynamite. There was an entrance hole, but no exit hole.... And there was no sign of excess pressure from the load. I love being able to test fire cartridges in my back yard.

[Bullshop Junior]

Ive been eye balling one of these. The cases can be made from 223, correct?

[porkchop bob]

Ive been eye balling one of these. The cases can be made from 223, correct?

22-TCM is a shorten 223 with same OAL as 45ACP designed to be fired in a 1911 frame. It is difficult to find 22-Hornet brass. Once fired 223 is available. 22-Hornet case has larger volume but short case life when hot loads are fired. 22-TCM case is stronger and should hold up better with hot loads designed for the rifle . Problem is how to mark the Hot loads to avoid being shot in the pistol.
10/15/2014 - Measured case volume by putting spent primer in cases and filling with water.
22-TCM 15.0 grains water - volume is larger by about 1.0 grains of water.
22-Hornet 14.0 grains water

[Gtek]

Where have you found any 1680? A 61' model with a flip phone does not stand a chance.

[lbaize3]

You would not believe the amount of powder I keep on hand. 1680 is one of my go to powders for several different cartridges. I have not looked for any since Obama was first elected.

[richhodg66]

I honestly didn't know about the .22 TCM until reading this post but have been playing with cast in a .22 Hornet for .22 LR duplication. Seems like this would work well for that. How does that rifle handle? Part of the reason for getting the little Savage 219 I'm using now is because of its small and graceful handling characteristics, like a .22. Is this rifle of yours a full sized action or closer to the size of .22 Hornet actions?

[lbaize3]

richhodg66: The 22 TCM is a great little cartridge using jacketed Armscor 40 grain bullets and several other commercial offerings that I am currently investigating. The problem is the magazine that is used to feed the ammo to the rifle. You can not use most cast boolits because the boolit will have to fit below the neck where the hot gases of the powder can cause melting before the boolit enters the rifling. If loaded where the boolit fits in the neck and does not protrude into the powder.... the cartridge will be too long to fit into the magazine and will probably hang up on the rifling. There are several others on this forum that have used cast boolits in their 22 TCM pistols and I would be grateful to hear from them.

[Bullshop]

Is anyone making a bolt action rifle in the FN-5 7? Before Shroader brass became available for the 22 Cooper Dan Cooper told me they had been converting some of there model 38 rifles that had been chambered for the 22 Cooper cartridge (22 CCM) to the FN57 cartridge.

[richhodg66]

Any updates to this thread? Seems to be very little in the way of reviews on these rifles floating around the web.

I'm intrigued with the idea of it, wish I could go see one in the flesh but there don't seem to be any around here.

Does anyone know if this rifle is the same action they used to import as the Squires Bingham model 1500 or something? I've had one of those since I was 14 or so in .22 WMR. It never was exceptionally accurate, but I hunted a lot with it and it was plenty good enough for the purpose.