[rfr]

Good morning all,
This is a shameless plug really, I hope I haven't breached the forum rules.

I have been working on a new bolt action rimfire design for about 15 years now and it is time to let the project out for public viewing. Basically it is a front locking rimfire action that is scaled to the cartridge size. In fact bolt diameter is only 11mm (7/16" ish).
Website is Rimfire Research - Front locking rimfire rifles - Home and is still only pretty basic in it's layout. I am planning to be in small scale production by the end of the year.

All comments appreciated.

thanks

Bruce

[ScottA]

So why the new design?

[JonM]

what is a front locking bolt and how is it better than whats there now?? i read your website but i dont get it.

[rfr]

The new design came about because as a new shooter I couldn't understand the need for a different mechanism in bolt actions to use a rimfire cartridge. In a lever action, or a revolver, or basically any other type of firearm the only difference was the size and position of the firing pin. I also thought that most rimfire rifles were ugly compared to centrefires and that if I could come up with a mechanism that could be either, and wasn't complicated, , then I would pursue it.

For comparison here is a pic of by bolt in the centre with a 22mag. Top is a CZ527 in 223 and bottom is a Walther in 22lr. The scale difference is obvious.



Bruce

[Bigdog57]

An interesting idea - I agree, that the bolt does not to be so large as many rimfire rifles have.
My only concern would be if the rim splits (I have had this happen!) then it's far easier for the small bolt to allow the gases to be directed back to the shooter's face. Does your action provide for this?

Nice looking rifle - I hope it takes off!

[rfr]

Gas leakage is handled the same was as a centrefire. Gas port facing the extractor cut. Most of the rest will go down the feedramp and into the magazine. It was one of my first worries when making the bolt so small, but with the smaller diameter comes good feeding.

Bruce

[headhunter]

Cute tint thing. How does it shoot?

[rfr]

Both prototypes shot great. the 17HMR model was easily sub MOA from a dodgy home made stock. The 22mag model was about MOA. Both of these tests were done from sandbags on the back of a vehicle, not a bench rest so even though they are a bit crude and don't have premium barrels they are showing good promise.

22lr production samples being made now are a little more rigid and this time around will have proper range testing from fixed rests.

Bruce

[DrumJunkie]

From Rimfire Research - Front locking rimfire rifles - Home

Why is a bolt-action rimfire rifle based on a completely different design than a centrefire, even if they are made by the same company?

That is a good question. I have to wonder why it was never done. I would imagine that at some point they looked at it and thought the the different design was better but I'm not a gunsmith so I would need to get info from someone much smarter than me. I am very interested in how all this pans out.

[jpattersonnh]

It is similar to CZ's Micro Mauser design. They also scaled the action to fit the cartridge in the 527 series although that is a centerfire rifle. I would like to see what kind of accuracy these get.