LA101 CROSSOVER .22 RIFLE
L101 Crossover .22 rifle, a 22 has been the first firearm of so many young Australians. Well look at this rifle from Lithgow, it may get you to revisit this calibre!
Table of Contents
.22 rifle, the first firearm of so many young Australians. It was certainly mine. Again the name Lithgow crops up in similar numbers. When I first saw the LA101 online it oozed features that were so lacking in the early 22s I had used. Hence, this article is not a review. Just a collection of data and experiences by others.
A bit of history
My first .22 rifle was one I bought for 10 bucks when I was 14. Cheap eh? Yea well. A Winchester Model 1904 single-shot bolt action. It was well-used and quite frankly………. a dog!
This bloke on YouTube reckons his grandfather could shoot a dime at 100 yards with one. Maybe because it was new or dimes were a lot bigger back then. You could hit the side of a barn with mine if you chucked the rifle at it! Anyway enough on that.
Lithgow Arms has been in the business of making firearms since 1912. Everything from .303s and Bren’s to .22s. Dad had a Lithgow, single shot 22 LR. Chalk and cheese! Below is a picture from the Australian War Memorial:
A great little bunny rifle and very accurate.
Back to the future
The LA101 as I mentioned is a long way from these earlier 22’s. I will run a quick list of features:
- available either in right-handed or left-handed configuration
- rimfire (cheap ammo)
- a choice of 17HMR, 22LR or 22WMR calibres (See Lukes article Basic Cartridge Selection)
- three lug rear locking bolt
- match quality trigger
- walnut or laminate stock
- the stock has a 2cm Length of Pull adjustment (laminate only)
- full floating barrel (22LR and 22WMR only)
- 10 year manufacturers warranty
- Guaranteed sub-MOA capability leaving the factory
to name but a few. Did I mention Made in Australia? Looks good as well!
The 10 year warranty is available on rifles previously purchased and is transferrable between owners.
Register for the warranty here.
By the way, if you are wondering what is meant by CrossOver it means the rifle is designed to be used for either hunting or target shooting.
Specifications
Calibres
- 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (17HMR)
- 22 Long Rifle (22LR)
- 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (22WMR)
Overall Length
- 977-1007 mm (Polymer adjustable) 977 mm (Timber)
Weight
- 3.1 kg (Polymer) 3.3 kg (Timber)
Barrel
- 17HMR Button broached, target crowned
- 22LR & 22WMR Proprietary, military grade steel, cold hammer forged. Medium varmint weight, target crowned. Coated in Cerakote™
Barrel Length
- 531 mm
Rifling
- 6 grooves 1 : 9” (228 mm) right hand twist
- 6 grooves 1 : 16” (406 mm) right hand twist
- 6 grooves 1 : 16” (406 mm) right hand twist
Muzzle Thread
- ½” x 20 UNF or ½” x 28 UNEF Right Hand
Receiver
- High tensile steel with recoil lug. Weaver bases (Picatinny Rail available as an optional accessory) Coated in Cerakote™
Stock
- Floated design with 2 sling studs, available in polymer (RH/LH), walnut (RH only) and laminate (RH only)
Length of Pull
- 325-345 mm (Polymer Adjustable) 345 mm (Timber)
Trigger
- Single stage 1.5 kg release
Safety
- Two position, with indicator. Safety catch blocks the trigger
Magazine
- Removable, single stack box magazine, polymer construction. Compatible with CZ452/455 series.
Capacity
- Five round magazines available (flush fitting)
The CZ 452 & 455 series are 10 round 22LR Magazines from Czech manufacturer CZ. Compatible with BRNO, CZ made .22 rifle as well as others.
Mark and Sam
As I indicated at the beginning of this article we have not had the opportunity to review this rifle to date but Mark and Sam of MarkandSam AfterWork do a great job on their YouTube channel.
Lowell Strauss from the canadian firearms journal
Stan Trzoniec from Rifle Magazine
Another review with an international perspective, this time from the USA for Stan’s review Testing a New Australian Import page 294.
Summary
Pro's
- Quality throughout
- Aussie made
- Crossover is true to its meaning, targets or hunting
Con's
- No adjustable cheek piece
- Butt hook seems unnecessary in the field
- Not cheap
Reading the reviews and watching the videos I really had to make a stretch to come up with any negatives. There is so little to complain about. Overall, I would say it would be a showpiece on your gun rack. Just class.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How long is the barrel on a Lithgow LA101?
Where are Lithgow firearms made?
Lithgow firearms are made at Lithgow Arms in the town of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia.
What is the accuracy of the LA101?
The Lithgow LA101 achieves 1 MOA at 100m without effort. Mark from MarkandSam AfterWork has been plinking 6″ steel targets at 510 yards in moderately windy conditions.