Precision rimfire is the discipline that turned the .22 LR from a plinker into a training tool. Matches like NRL22 put shooters on a bolt-action .22 at 25 to 100-plus yards, from barricades and props, with a time limit, and the skills involved, wind reading, position building, dialing dope, are the same ones long-range centerfire shooters pay dearly to practice. The Tikka T1x MTR has become the default rifle for the game, and this guide explains why, and what to feed it.
This is a specifications-and-listing guide from Tikka's data and Ammunition Depot's catalog. For the match format, our rimfire competition guide and the Steel Challenge vs NRL22 comparison are the starting points.
| Action | Bolt, cross-over pattern shared with the T3x |
|---|---|
| Barrel | 20 in, per listing |
| Magazine | 10-round detachable |
| Stock | Synthetic; T3x inlet, so T3x chassis fit |
| Trigger | Adjustable, Tikka-style |
| Ammo | Standard-velocity 40 gr; test lots |
Why the T1x owns the category
Three reasons. First, the T1x action uses the same footprint and stock inlet as Tikka's T3x centerfire rifles, so every T3x chassis, stock, and bottom metal fits. A shooter can run an identical chassis on a .22 and a 6.5 Creedmoor and switch between them without relearning the rifle. Second, the trigger is a Tikka trigger, crisp and adjustable out of the box, which matters enormously when you're breaking shots on a wobbling barricade. Third, it's accurate enough with good ammunition to make the shooter, not the rifle, the limiting factor.
The listed configuration is the MTR, Multi Task Rimfire, with a 20-inch barrel and a 10-round magazine. The barrel is threaded for a suppressor, which makes it a quiet trainer where suppressors are legal. Our bolt vs semi-auto rimfire guide explains why precision shooters choose the bolt.
What rimfire teaches that centerfire can't afford to
A .22 LR at 100 yards drifts in the wind about as much as a 6.5 Creedmoor does at 600. That scaling is the whole argument for precision rimfire: you learn to read mirage, judge a wind call, and hold or dial for it at distances where a range is easy to find and a round costs almost nothing. Our reading wind with rimfire guide covers the technique.
Trajectory works the same way. Standard-velocity .22 LR drops dramatically between 50 and 100 yards, so a shooter has to build and trust a dope card, dial elevation, and confirm at each distance. The zeroing guide explains why 50 yards is the standard rimfire zero.
Ammunition: standard velocity, and lot testing
Precision rimfire runs on standard-velocity 40-grain lead solids. They stay subsonic or just above it and avoid the transonic instability that scatters high-velocity loads past 50 yards. Aguila's Target Competition is the affordable entry point, and it's the load to buy several boxes of, test from a bench at 50 and 100 yards, and stock by the lot. The best group wins; brand loyalty is irrelevant. Serious shooters go further with rim-thickness sorting, and our barrel break-in guide covers the first few hundred rounds.
Support: the bipod is not optional
Precision rimfire stages are shot from barricades, tank traps, and prone, and a bipod is standard equipment. Harris's 1A2-BR2 is the benchrest-style model with a solid, non-swiveling base and 6-to-9-inch legs, which is the right height for prone and low props. It mounts to a sling stud, which the T1x stock has. The listing comes from a July link sheet; confirm it's current. Our rests and bipods roundup covers taller and swivel-base options for barricade work.
Optics
Rimfire precision needs a scope with enough elevation travel to dial from 25 to 100-plus yards and a parallax adjustment that reaches down to 25. Many centerfire scopes don't focus that close. Our rimfire vs centerfire scope guide explains the difference, and the optics roundup lists candidates. A first-focal-plane reticle in mils or MOA to match your dope card is the standard choice.
Building the match kit
- Rifle, two magazines, and a chassis or stock you've confirmed fits your body.
- A lot-tested supply of standard-velocity ammunition; a match is around 100 rounds.
- Bipod, rear bag, and a dope card taped to the stock.
- A cleaning kit; rimfire fouling builds fast, and our cleaning kit roundup covers compact options.
The Tikka T1x MTR is the precision-rimfire default because it shares the T3x footprint, comes with a real trigger, and shoots well enough that ammunition becomes the variable. Feed it lot-tested standard-velocity 40-grain solids, put it on a solid bipod, and treat every 100-yard stage as 600-yard practice at rimfire prices.
FAQ
Does the Tikka T1x fit T3x stocks and chassis?
Yes. The T1x uses the same inlet and footprint as the T3x, so T3x chassis and stocks fit without modification.
What is NRL22?
A precision rimfire match series shot with .22 LR rifles at 25 to 100-plus yards from barricades and props, designed to mirror long-range centerfire matches at rimfire cost.
What ammunition does precision rimfire use?
Standard-velocity 40-grain lead solids, tested by the lot. High-velocity ammunition becomes unstable as it drops back through the speed of sound past 50 yards.
Does a .22 really teach long-range wind reading?
Yes. A .22 LR at 100 yards drifts in wind roughly as much as a 6.5 Creedmoor at 600, so the wind calls are real, just at a shorter distance.
Check the Tikka T1x listing
Configurations vary. See what's listed today and what ships to your state.
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