Target Sports

RIFLE REVIEW: IT'S A KIND OF MAGIC

Created on 14th May 2009

TIM FINLEY tries out the new Rimfire Magic from South Yorkshire Shooting Supplies - and finds the company is going from strength to strength

WITH EVER-tighter import and export restrictions along with the worsening economic climate, it has become increasing difficult to source firearms parts from the USA. South Yorkshire Shooting Supplies has taken the step to produce a number of its own-branded firearms accessories and parts in this country using UK manufacturers. The owner's son is an accomplished CNC programmer and machinist so the company has had no problem in having parts designed and made exclusively. Just a few examples of SYSS's own-branded parts now include muzzle brakes and Remington 700 magazine floor plates to fit Accuracy International five and 10-shot magazines. The natural extension to this was to make its own semi-auto .22 LR actions. Not only would supply no longer ever be a problem, but SYSS could also design an action based upon the staff's years of experience. The new Rimfire Magic action is modelled upon the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 action, which SYSS has been customising for a decade.

The company has redesigned the action based upon its own intimate knowledge of the faults of the 10/22. Its own bolts have been machined too, with a hole to take a small steel pin above the bolt's firing pin. This holds down the firing pin, guiding it to the perfect striking position on the rim of the round every time. The first production run of 25 actions was made to prove the design and iron out any snags. There have not been any at all so far and I was pleased to be asked to take part in the testing process.

The action is machined from a solid billet of aluminium with an integral Weaver sight rail on the top of the action. One reviewer criticised the height of this scope rail. I can only assume they have never heard of low scope mounts - the height is perfect for a gallery rifle and fitting several red dot and reflex sights on the Rimfire Magic action proved this. It's easier to alter the height of normal scopes with different heights of scope mounts than be stuck with a too-low reflex sight and that's the way SYSS went in its design - very well thought out if you ask me.

The action can use any 10/22 magazine available. I tested it with both standard Ruger magazines and Eagle 10 shot stick magazines. The recoil buffer is Rimfire Magic's own, made in the USA. The extractor is Volquartsen or can be Power Custom depending on customer choice, and the firing pin and spring are Ruger parts. Any trigger group made for a 10/22 can be fitted as per customer requirements. Roger also tells me he is having his own trigger guard housings made, with the first ones to be produced as this article is published.

The test rifle was fitted with a Green Mountain lightweight fluted stainless steel barrel. I am very familiar with these barrels. I discussed the build of the test rifle with Dave, Roger of SYSS's trusty gunsmith and sidekick. We came to the conclusion that a nice muzzle brake would set off the barrel profile, as well as taming the front end for rapid fire competitions. As it happens SYSS has its own brakes CNC'd too and one was duly screwed on. The muzzle brakes are made in aluminium for rimfire applications and in stainless steel for SYSS's centerfire custom rifles. The action was coated in a silver finish using Duracoat. Further runs of actions will be coated in-house at SYSS with Gunkote in a variety of colours. SYSS now has a blasting and spraying kit as well as an industrial oven for such action and barrel coatings.

For range testing the action was first put into an ambidextrous Boyds Smart Stock Evolution laminate stock for short-range rapid fire work. I used a variety of Barska red dot reflex sights as well as their very nice low mag 1.5-4.5x20 FFP Mil-Dot scope. For falling plates the rifle did indeed live up to expectations. I also wanted to try the action for more precise longer range work so it was fitted into a Bell & Carlson adjustable target stock and topped with a Burris 8-32x44 scope, with the appropriate mounts. I was taken aback by the group sizes.

Unlike other shooting magazines, Target Sports prints pictures of actual groups shot by the reviewers. I have always thought this is the right way to do it. It's easy to state "the rifle shot the regular ½" at 50m groups" but you need pictures to back the words up. The Green Mountain barrel gave me regular 0.60" to 0.75" five-shot groups at 50m, but sadly not one under the magic half an inch at that range. That spec of barrel has given me 0.45" sized five-shot groups on past tests, so both Roger and I were shocked. Bad custom barrels do happen, as do really good factory barrels. I went back to Roger with the results and he told me to report my findings in the magazine. If it were a customer's gun the barrel would be changed. To be honest, for plate work it is more than adequate.

Now for the price. SYSS will not sell its actions to anyone else to build a rifle. Going on SYSS's build list, the Rimfire Magic action with a trigger tune is £375 compared to £275 for a Ruger 10/22 receiver and bolt. I know which one I would rather have. With an integral scope rail, bigger choice of colours and the back up of being designed by SYSS the question is already answered.

SYSS is going from strength to strength and the range of in-house products is growing monthly. With no waiting time to get bits from the States, it really makes a lot of sense for the UK market. Plus it's buying British-made products too.

Technical Specification

Model: Rimfire Magic
Country of origin: UK (South Yorkshire)
Calibre: .22 Rimfire long rifle
Action: 10-shot Semi-auto
blow back
Features: Integral Weaver scope rail, choice of colours
Can use any stock/magazines made for Ruger 10/22
Price: Action only not supplied
Action and tuned trigger £375 (plus cost of stock and barrel to customers' specification: see SYSS build list for options)
Supplier: South Yorkshire
Shooting Supplies

T: 01226 756332
E: enquiries@rimfiremagic.co.uk
W: www.rimfiremagic.co.uk

RIFLE REVIEW: IT'S A KIND OF MAGIC

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RIFLE REVIEW: IT'S A KIND OF MAGIC

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