Unfortunately the only way of finding out is shooting it. Even the high end stuff can be disappointing. Not a warm fuzzy feeling spending $350 for a brick of Exact and the $130 SK LRM outshoots it. But as mentioned many times That’s Rimfire
Can bad ammo cause serious accuracy issues?
- Thread starter BK85
- Start date
First time was with 40gr... next time with 38gr. These are NOT the same ammo. Bullet weights can have a big affect in outcomes, as can the load and QC of the ammo.
if 40gr worked, shoot more of that... but don't be shy to try other types of ammo cause you have no idea what is going to work.
Like every other rimfire, they can be picky and there is no one answer for them all. Currently, I am rocking aquila 38gr HP in bulk boxes from Can tire. This ammo shoots plenty good in this factory barreled 10/22 even at 100yds... tried 2 different lots so far with similar results.
By contrast, this 10/22 will happily miss a large target using Fed 38gr HP. I don't think I can even hit the dirt with the win bulk pack stuff.
Why do I have the Fed and Win bulk ammo? Cause these are what work best in my bolt rimfire... with the Win being the long distance option in this rifle.
Try a few types... you have no idea what will work until lead goes downrange. When you find something acceptable, buy as much of that lot as you can afford cause the next batch may not shoot like the last.
Good luck.
Jerry
PS if you shoot with others, split the cost of a selection of ammo types. That way everyone gets to send 10 to 20 for min investment. If the groups look bad from the start, move onto something else. I like to foul the bore with 10rds of any new type before shooting a couple of groups. Running a dry patch through before fouling shots can speed up the switchover as well. All I want at this point is a good vs bad answer. Then I will spend the time with the 'good' ones to focus on what is best for that rifle.
if 40gr worked, shoot more of that... but don't be shy to try other types of ammo cause you have no idea what is going to work.
Like every other rimfire, they can be picky and there is no one answer for them all. Currently, I am rocking aquila 38gr HP in bulk boxes from Can tire. This ammo shoots plenty good in this factory barreled 10/22 even at 100yds... tried 2 different lots so far with similar results.
By contrast, this 10/22 will happily miss a large target using Fed 38gr HP. I don't think I can even hit the dirt with the win bulk pack stuff.
Why do I have the Fed and Win bulk ammo? Cause these are what work best in my bolt rimfire... with the Win being the long distance option in this rifle.
Try a few types... you have no idea what will work until lead goes downrange. When you find something acceptable, buy as much of that lot as you can afford cause the next batch may not shoot like the last.
Good luck.
Jerry
PS if you shoot with others, split the cost of a selection of ammo types. That way everyone gets to send 10 to 20 for min investment. If the groups look bad from the start, move onto something else. I like to foul the bore with 10rds of any new type before shooting a couple of groups. Running a dry patch through before fouling shots can speed up the switchover as well. All I want at this point is a good vs bad answer. Then I will spend the time with the 'good' ones to focus on what is best for that rifle.
Thunderhog
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootneys
This!.....
- Location
- Delta B.C.
Simple answer. Yes absolutely... always... if cheap ammo could perform like expensive ammo there wouldn't be expensive ammo. Regardless of your particular rifle and it's own preference for what what it can shoot there is a fundamental and physical difference between each brand and type of ammo. That's why manufactures have different types in the same category... at different price points.. this isn't difficult to understand right? Let alone the BC difference between bullet weight and FPS average. If your buying ammo that pours out of a milk carton expecting it to perform like something that has packaging that keeps the cartridge individually placed in a container separated from it's sibling.. they are not close to being comparable. Though they are all capable of providing an amount of satisfaction, some will satisfy a little or a lot more. Cheers
Not alwasy true. Put it in a pretty box, sell it for a pretty price, it will shoot better for some based only on Placebo effect. LOL.
Look at 6.5 creed, there were two cartridges that would fit in a shorter action, one in the longer action, two that can out perform it, yet marketing and hype as many convinced that is it the epitomy.
With ammo, there can be a difference, but sometimes we shoot better because we think we have the solution.
- Location
- Northeastern Ontario
No. It's not that simple. Rifles don't prefer one brand or type of ammo. The ammo that every rifle shoots well is ammo that's consistent as possible from one round to the next. All match ammo manufacturers make such ammo. The problem is that not all batches of the match ammo they make are equal.
Manufacturers have different types or varieties of ammo (e.g. Lapua Midas and Center X) because they grade the output of their ammo production runs into different tiers.
There isn't a fundamental and physical difference between each brand and type of ammo. To illustrate, all SK varieties that are rated 1073 fps (Rifle Match, Standard Plus, Pistol Match, and Magazine) are made with the very same components on the very same production runs.
The same is true for SK 1106 fps-rated types (Long Range Match, Biathlon Sport, Pistol Match Special) -- all made with the same components. Lapua X-Act, Midas, and CX are also made with the very same components as are Eley Tenex, Match and Team.
How and why some batches or lots of match ammo are more consistent (shoot better) than others is complex and entirely another matter.
*Generally speaking* I find better accuracy with standard velocity ammunition.
Or perhaps it's because you generally don't find SV in bulk boxes.
But I don't think that I've ever had anything go to extremes like that. Not even the crappy Remington Goldens, where I could hear the extreme shot to shot differences in velocity.
As for cleaning, I treat .22LR rimfires like cast iron - I don't believe in cleaning the hell out of them. In fact I rarely clean a barrel anymore. On a self loader it's the action that gets cleaned on my rifles.
Or perhaps it's because you generally don't find SV in bulk boxes.
But I don't think that I've ever had anything go to extremes like that. Not even the crappy Remington Goldens, where I could hear the extreme shot to shot differences in velocity.
As for cleaning, I treat .22LR rimfires like cast iron - I don't believe in cleaning the hell out of them. In fact I rarely clean a barrel anymore. On a self loader it's the action that gets cleaned on my rifles.
It is not infrequent that we hear a slightly milder, or slightly shaper detonation; that being said, it is rare that a milder or harsher than average shot turns out to be the flier. More often than not, it is one that sounds normal. Likewise, with velocity; when I watch different ammo testing, it is not often it is the fast or the slow outliers that that fly, it is usually one in the median group.
Rimfire is a mystery.
OkayShooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
It is the well I paid more so it has to be better. But there is much ego with that mentality. As there are many that look down on others.
I was never happy with the accuracy of my Ruger SR-22. I bought a pre-fit McGowen barrel from Mystic Precision “Jerry” years ago and it cut the group sizes in half. Its an exact drop in fit for the SR-22, not sure if they still make them anymore. Ruger 10-22’s aren’t noted for great accuracy right out of the box, the first thing most people do is a barrel swap. Very easy to do, might be something you may want to consider at some point.
OkayShooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Another accuracy issue with 10/22s is the single bolt mounting. I noticed my action was able to rock in the stock.
I bedded it and accuracy did improve.
I would generally agree, more consistency, but not always brand to brand speaking. Tac 22 gives me accuracy that I could not have dreamed about 10 years ago, but now I treat as a baseline. CCI SV never shoots as well; Aguilla SV never groups as tight as CCI. SK Std+ only shows a slight advantage if you measure your 10 shot group with a precission caliper, just to eyeball, it is virtually impossible to see any difference. Same holds for
I would agree, but not saying that someday one might find one lighter or more likely heavier, that would shoota bit better.
I would try this stuff if I could find it:
Here we go again!! This thread is about lack lustre performance from rimfire ammo. Nothing about egos or people looking down on anybody! When you find a good lot number for a particular ammo then buy as much of it as you can. As stated sooh many times, price doesn’t guarantee performance but GENRALY better results are achieved with sub sonic target ammo! If an individual buys higher end ammo that doesn’t mean they look down on anyone and Im not sure how you come to your conclusion. Many shooters have different requirements out of their firearms hence the difference in varieties and price. Do you think someone that has a nice sports car or pickup truck looks down at you cuz of your vehicle? Kindah a ####ty way to go thru life thinking so! I drive a 2016 Toyota so that means people look down at me? If they do I don’t really care and neither should you.
Your assumptions about this brand performs better than this brand which performs better than this is misleading. Lot numbers are what matters. You could shoot five lots of the same ammo and none might shoot the same as the other! None of the five might shoot well either! You might find a lot of Tac22 that shoots extremely well and the next three not so much with probably variance between all of them. The only real way is like Jerry stated, Send lead downrange!
Not really sure what centerfire cartridges have to do with rimfire ammo. Bald or folicaly challenged people can shoot all the Creed varieties!! Not for just manbunners haha
It is far from just marketing hype. Have you ever owned and reloading for a 6.5 creedmoor? I have been since 2011, still own the first rifle I bought chambered in it, and have owned and loaded for over a dozen other rifles. From the cheapest to moderate priced offerings.
It is extremely easy to load for, very forgiving, and inherently accurate, and very efficient with its 30° shoulder angle. I have never had a rifle chambered in it that shot bad other than the 120 grain gmx bullets. Other than that, every rifle, with any powder and bullet combination, shot moa or well below sub moa groups. Every rifle with any 140 grain bullet, with 40.5 grains of rl-17 or H4350 shot 10+ shot groups under moa for break in.
I understand the 260 Remington had a slight edge over it in the early years when better brass was only available for the 260, but that isn't the case anymore. The 6.5x55 is an amazing cartridge but it is built for a long action. As with any other 6.5 saami cartridge before it, they are all different in different ways. Can they all shoot the same grain weight bullet relatively the same speed? Sure they can. But it doesn't change the fact that there is differences. I own a 30-06, 30TC, and multiple 308's. They all shoot the same bullet relatively the same, the 30-06 gaining a good advantage as bullet weight goes up. But I still own all of them, shoot all of them, and enjoy all of them.
The 6.5 Creedmoor became popular quite awhile after I owned my first one, and there was only 2 factory loadings for it. But it was by far the best shooting and easiest cartridge to load for. People hate it because it popular, but it's not popular because of marketing, it took 10+ years for it to become popular after it came out. People just starting seeing other people at ranges shooting lights out with it, with a cheap rifle they bought off the shelf.
The Grendel is probably my favorite 6.5 cartridge though, and it needs more people falling in love with it. Another great case design, and probably the best youth hunting cartridge there is.
