Anschutz - ANSCHÜTZ - Modern Sporting Rifles (MSR)

ANSCHUTZ
RIFLE REVIEW
rifles Are known worldwide
for their AccurAcy, precise construction
And unmAtched shooting performAnce.
these outstAnding chArActeristics which
hAve Allowed Anschutz sporting rifles
to dominAte nAtionAl And internAtionAl
competitions cAn now Also be found in
the new Anshcutz semi-AutomAtic
precision rifles in .22lr!
I’m moving away from my normal historical opening format this month
as basically the new Anschutz MSR RX22 is a joint development by three
German companies: Anschutz, German Sport Guns/ISSC and ESC Ulm.
Externally, although it does feel of superior quality in terms of materials,
the new Anschutz resembles the ISSC “SCAR” in both the “Blackhawk and
“Desert” models, although the “Precision” and “Precision Black” versions
look somewhat more unique. It’s what goes on behind the scenes that
makes this just a little bit special, but more of that later!
The goal of this tripatite cooperation was to develop and produce a
highly accurate semi-automatic rifle with excellent shooting performance
that will work well in dynamic disciplines as well as in precision shooting
competitions run by the German shooting clubs BDS, BDMP, DSB, DSU and
VdRBw. The resulting product is a real all-rounder that would be equally at
home with shooting practical courses as well as punching paper!
Anschutz and their project partners used the experience of IPSC
shooters in the development and optimisation of this innovative sports
rifle. They have exposed the MSR RX 22TM to the same extensive tests
as their hunting, biathlon and target rifles to provide shooters with a
very sophisticated product. They specifically used the knowledge and
experience of Dirk Frey, one of the most successful German sports
shooters in dynamic disciplines with numerous IPSC placings and other
awards to his name.
Once the MSR RX 22TM had passed the internal Anschutz test
procedures, the rifle was extensively tested by Dirk Frey under realistic
weather and shooting sport conditions in the respective disciplines. The
experience gained was integrated into the development process.
What LuRks BEnEath?
The Anschutz MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle) RX 22TM model is a modern
small-calibre, self-loading rifle with in .22LR calibre. It contains
a force-locking blowback action with a hammer lock. This gun is
fundamentally made by German Sport Guns/ISSC which is well
known already; sales of the ISSC model are now in excess of
150,000 units worldwide!
However, where things start to change out is that the MSR RX
22TM uses an Anschutz sports barrel as well as a high-quality trigger
system with an adjustable trigger weight from approx. 1500 g/ 2500 g
(3.3-5.5lbs). Let’s look at this step by step.
The barrels are manufactured according to the same Anschutz special
button-rifled process, used for the manufacture of the world-famous and
massively respected Anschutz target barrels. The same also applies to
the manufacturing process of the chamber and the recessed muzzle. The
Anschutz small bore target precision barrel has a recessed muzzle, just
like their other world-famous target barrels. The accurate and always
consistent shooting performance that is guaranteed by the these precision
barrels and their intricate construction guarantees top gunsmith quality at
a high-tech level.
Their target single stage trigger has always been highly respected in
all shooting circles as one which sets a standard for quality, reliability
and precision. The light weight, hardened and finely ground trigger
components facilitate fast and consistent trigger release. The trigger
weight can be adjusted anywhere between approx. 1500 g and 2500 g and
is set to 1800g (4lbs) in the factory.
The cocking handle can be used on both sides of the upper receioer in
one of the three equally spaced positions; this means you can place the
MSR RX .22 “BLACKHAWK”Anschtuz tArget
SEPTEMBER 2012 .22 015

cocking handle exactly where you want it on either left
OR right of the gun to really personalise it! There is also
a two stage safety with a safety lever which acts on the
trigger and a drop safety lock which acts on the firing pin.
The frame is made of aluminium and the anodised finishes
really give the guns a great look!
The Anschutz MSR RX 22TM is currently available in six
versions. The “Precision” and “Precision Black” models
have a fixed, non foldable wooden stock and forend, and
are quite stunning visually mixing state of the art with
tradition. It’s not a design that will appeal to everyone,
but it certainly is different!
What it does though is to provide sports shooters in
precision disciplines with the option of using different
butt plates (hook or rubber) with a length-adjustable butt
plate extension that can be adapted to the individual
shooter. An aluminium profile rail at the front of the
stock provides the option of attaching accessories such
as hand stops or sling swivels for rifle slings. All models
have a factory-fitted, 400 mm long, three-part Picatinny
rail on the top, and a precisely fitting 11 mm prism rail is
available for mounting an Anschutz diopter sight which is
available as an accessory.
The non-folding wooden stock on these models is also
suitable for attaching a clamping unit. This allows for the
use of different butt plates in the Anschutz product range
rIFLe reVIew
practical rifle review
aNScHUtZ MSr rX 22 “BlacKHawK”
(e.g. hook or rubber butt plates) with a length-adjustable
butt plate extension that can be adapted to the individual
shooter.
The “Desert” (tan furniture) and “Blackhawk” (black
furniture) models have a foldable stock made of a high
quality plastic and are also available with a fixed, not
foldable plastic stock at no additional charge. These
models are more modern and “aggressive” looking and
seem particularly well suited for dynamic shooting sport
disciplines.
These are very flexible sports rifles with numerous
adjustment options. The foldable plastic stock allows for
individual adjustment of length and height. The forend has
been fitted with three-part Picatinny rails, a combination
which allows easy attachment of commercially available
accessories such as light modules, bipods and rifle slings;
that said all the rifles come with sling attachment points
both fore and aft.
Optics are easy to fit to all four models due to the full
length “flat top” rail, but all four come delivered with
open sights (ARMS style flip up front and rear) which are
more than serviceable and allow for both elevation and
windage adjustment. The guns also come with a 10-shot
magazine, cleaning set, tools, clear operating instructions
and a very good quality hard case for transport.
Downrange
I first saw the Anschutz “Blackhawk” out at IWA earlier in
the year and I have to admit being pretty excited at the
prospect of getting my hands on one of these modern
looking rifles. I’ve always equated Anschutz with “quality”
and the feel of this gun did nothing to dispel that!
However, it’s not until you get the thing performing
downrange that you really get a true feel for it. Luckily
the launch of the gun almost exactly coincided with the
change in UK distributorship of Anschutz, so it was a
piece of cake to request one from our good friends at
RUAG Ammotec UK; Phil and his team there have been
supporters of .22 Shooter magazine from the outset,
and have become friends over the last months. Phil
was quick to advise that we would have one of the first
“Blackhawks” in the country.
I had the gun delivered direct to our friendly RFD at the
range so all I had to do was turn up and shoot it. When I
arrived it was already laid out on the shooting point ready
to go! First note; as stated earlier it comes in its own
Anschutz branded hard case and this is of a very high
quality indeed.
Overall the heft of the gun is great; given the fact that
there is a LOT of rail space at the front end and that
the butt is of high grade plastic, it balances very nicely
around the magwell. The butt is almost identical to the
ISSC version (in fact it has ISSC moulded into it!) and can
be adjusted in length from 12.4 to 13.8 inches in three
increments. The cheek riser also has two positions. Being
a big lad it was all the way out and all the way up for me,
which allowed a spot on cheek weld. It does fold forward
to the right which is useful for carriage; once locked
forward in place it’s solid.
The pistol grip is a pretty bog standard “AR” style affair.
There’s nothing wrong with this at all, and it does mean
that after market replacement grips should work well. The
trigger guard is nicely formed and large enough that it will
accommodate gloves if needed. There’s am ambidextrous
safety which resembles HK style rather than AR, but it’s
very positive and easy to use. The magazine release catch
is fenced and exactly where you’d find it on any AR style
gun, so all in all everything is pretty straightforward to
operate.
Did I mention rail space? Well this thing has acres of it
at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock so whatever you fancy adding on
in the way of optics and accessories is easy whether you
are left or right handed. I have to admit I love the cocking
handle arrangement! It’s easily moved fore and aft with
three positions on the right and three on the left. This
leads to a decision as to how you want to run it, which I’ll
come onto.
The 10 round plastic magazine provided as standard
is again perfectly fine, and follows the “follower” on
either side pattern. It’s easy and quick to load, which is
a very good thing given how quickly you can get through
ten rounds! Anschutz do offer 2, 5, 10, 20, and 22 round
magazines for the gun so I hope that these will soon be
available in the UK!
Placing the magazine into the gun is straightforward AR
style again; once in it seats well with no wobble. Cocking
is a straight pull back, thumb down on the safety, finger
on the broad, curved trigger blade and you’re good to go!
The sights supplied are workmanlike, just what you need
for this type of gun, although elevation is on the front
sight only.
I tested this with my stock CCI Mini Mag ammunition,
and after a couple of initial FTFs (failure to fires) the MSR
RX22 demolished magazine after magazine all afternoon
with absolutely no further problems. I have to say that
we all scratched our heads at this, just probably the gun
getting into the groove from new so to say. It really ran
like a train from that point on!
At the end of the magazine the bolt does stay to the
rear, so it’s safety on, empty mag out, full mag in, a sharp
pull of the cocking handle to the rear, safety off and away
you go again. This is where the positioning of the cocking
handle comes into play. I eventually positioned the handle
to the rearmost position above the magwell on the left
hand side. As the new mag went in it was easy to continue
left hand movement up, releasing the bolt forward on the
way. My dominant right hand never had to move from the
pistol grip, the right thumb could move the safety lever
to firing position and my finger could come back onto the
trigger very quickly indeed! Just superb…
Normally with this type of gun I go for simple 25m
falling plate, but given the claims about the trigger and
the barrel I decided to go for a dot target to see how well
it grouped. The trigger is indeed very, very crisp with
only a couple of millimetres travel to find the set point,
at which point it breaks crisply. After zeroing on a rest a
couple of mags went downrange resulting in a two inch
grouping; not at all what I had expected!
Then, as usual I stepped back and had my normal
chat to self, and once things settled down (me that is!)
groupings began to drop consistently resulting in a sub
inch by end of play. And that’s on open sights! I’m of the
firm opinion that with a decent, properly zeroed optic and
good quality ammo you could easily be punching similar
groupings out to 50m and beyond.
Not just an ISSC with a different barrel then? No sirree,
the Anschutz is a whole new beast, a whole new level of
accuracy, and all the better for it!
For more information on the Anschutz MSR RX 22TM
please visit www.anschuetz-msr.com or www.ruag.co.uk
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