Lithgow Crossover

By Pete Moore

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Last updated: 27/01/2017

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As a shooter with a keen interest in military equipment the name Lithgow is no stranger to me. It’s the Australian arsenal that has been in the business since 1912. In that time they have made SMLEs, medium and heavy machine guns (Bren and Vickers) plus their version of the L1A1 SLR for the Australian Armed Forces and bang up to date their version of the Steyr AUG.

DOUBLE DUTY

They also have a sporting division that currently offers a single .22 LR model plus a series of barrels under the Black Mountain brand. Doubtless we will be seeing centrefire sporters too, but the subject of this test is the LA101 CrossOver. This is a rather well built rimfire and as the name might imply offers what’s best described as a heavy barreled, precision hunter/varminter.

I know for a fact the Aussies have a bit of a love affair with the old CZ452, which has been a rimfire staple for many shooters over there. I say this as I was invited to the CZ 50th anniversary in the Czech Republic some years ago and there was an Australian journo there, doubtless he thought that a 20,000 mile round trip was worth the effort!

HEAVY FOR A 22!

First impressions were of a big rifle for a 22 LR, with its heavy 20.9” barrel and 39.4” length (less moddy) it tips the scale at a healthy 6.83 lbs. This is not far off a comparable centrefire and in truth a long barrel on a 22 is not really necessary. However, as I soon discovered this larger build is to accommodate both 22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) and also the UK’s favorite 17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire). I suppose you could compare it to my Ruger M77/17 All-Weather in terms of weight and size. Looking at the mag well shows a rear spacer that can be removed to accept the longer Magnum magazines, very similar to how CZ does it with their 455 switch barrel. Though the CrossOver does not offer that facility! I don’t doubt it’s a shooter in any calibre but I look forward to testing the HMR version.

The build quality is good, the barrel is cold hammer forged giving that distinctive and attractive spiral finish and threaded 1/2x20 UNF with a neat little protector. The receiver is steel too and both these along with the scope bases and bolt handle are Cerakote H finished in what is called Titanium colour, which is a sort of matt stainless. It looks good and is tough enough too!

TACTICAL HUNTER

The stock is a black, one-piece glass fibre-reinforced moulding and more heavy tactical than standard hunter. The butt is deep with a low grasping hook and the length of pull (LOP) can be adjusted by spacers; doubtless good for prone and supported work off a bipod. The deep/wide pistol grip is well angled for an easy hold with textured sections on either side. The comb is high and wide and offers a good head position. A rubber butt pad finishes it off and there’s a QD sling stud set at an angle on the hook.

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The forend is long, deep and square in section and provides a lot to get hold of. It’s also rigid enough to free float the barrel and has long textured gripping panels on the sides like the pistol grip. A QD stud is fitted two inches from the tip. The integral trigger guard offers masses of room inside and has an angled front strap, which I like. Feed is from a 5-shot, polymer copy of the CZ452 magazine, which is flush-fitted, there’re cut-outs either side of the well to ease removal. The release catch is at the front and pulls back. The CrossOver will accept any CZ452 mag, I tried a synthetic 10-shot from my 452 Varmint and it did the job!

MECHANICS

The action is held to the stock by twin Allan bolts in front and behind the mag well. Separating these two shows a hollow build but with plenty of cross bracing making it pretty rigid. Unusually the rear action bolt locates into a dovetail block, which is a sliding fit as opposed to fixed so be aware if you take it apart as it could fall out! The bolt handle is long, straight and slightly angled back and topped with a synthetic ball end. Normally on rimfires locking is achieved by the bolt handle engaging a slot in the receiver, which is all that’s really required. Not so on the CrossOver as the tubular body shows three lugs at the rear for full engagement. In operation this gives a low, 60° lift angle and a smooth and easy arc and stroke. At the rear is a polymer shroud with a red, cocked action indicator pin that protrudes at 6 o’clock.

The safety is a standard, 2-position unit located rear/right of the action, it pushes forward to FIRE and rearwards for SAFE. It allows bolt operating in SAFE position and is reasonably easy to access with the firing hand thumb. The trigger blade is near straight with a slightly concave face and vertically grooved and breaks at a quoted 2 kg and offers a crisp break with the minimum amount of creep and I found it most acceptable. It’s non-shooter adjustable, though Lithgow says a 1 kg spring is available to be fitted. To be honest and once it has had a few hundred rounds through it will doubtless smooth up to give a near perfect weight and feel for the hunter! Two nice features are the pre-fitted, 1”, Weavertype bases and the fact a dedicated left hand model is available too. Now that’s keeping the customer satisfied!

GLASS UP

Importers Highland Outdoors supplied a Nikko Stirling 6-24x50 target/tactical type scope, a bit much mag for a 22 rimmy but at least it would let me see what it could do out to 100 yards easily. I raided my rimfire ammo stores and dug out the usual cross section of fodder, though I doubted if the CrossOver would not shoot it all to the best of its ability, which on the surface looks high.

I threw in a Harris BRS (Bench Rest Swivel) bipod, my all time favourite pod. Coincidently and fortuitously I had just been sent the new A-TEC Wave rimfire moderator from importers Jackson Rifles. This muzzle-mounted design I was told is going to replace the old and reliable SAK as an entry level can. So what better to team up with a new rifle?

There’s little doubt the CrossOver is a fine rifle, shooting off the bipod it was easily ½”-capable at 50-yards so an easy inch at 100m. The reticule of the scope was a tad thick and I reckon with a finer cross hair it would go sub-1” at 100. Feed and function were flawless and the what is actually quite a long bolt handle combined with the short lift angle made operation smooth and slick.

It did however prove a tad ammo fussy and was not quite so smooth with truncated cone bullets like those Eley uses for their Sub-Sonic Xtra load. Round nose and the more pointed ogives were fine though. This is due to the rather short feed ramp as I discovered. Operation of the safety does require you to break your firing hand hold to a greater degree.

When flipping from SAFE to FIRE there’s a loud and noticeable mechanical click, which could spook the game! Though not heavy it’s not light like a CZ452 for example and the 21” barrel makes it less handy than the 22 Long Rifle 16” carbines we Brits are used to! Price-wise you are looking at the thick end of £900, which is topping the sort of money you’d pay for an Anschutz 1417, 1517 and Sako Finnfire II Hunter. For me that’s hot for a 22 LR, though good for a high end Magnum rimfire.