.22lr ammo accuracy testing

ChrisA

ChrisA

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I have found CCI LRN SV and CCI Sub sonic LHP the best overall accuracy on a wider range of rifles. I have tested S&B SV, Federal SV, Remington subsonic, Remington/Eley target, and SK rifle match. I wasn't trying too hard and not cleaning the barrel before moving on to a different brand so that likely affected result reliability.

For a casual budget-minded plinker/target shooter, not going to do any competitions anytime soon, is Lapua Midas that I've heard is one of the best for accuracy, worth it?

What others would you recommend if not Lapua Midas for say consistent sub 0.5in groups at 50m bench shooting with target rifles?
 
Hey Chris-as someone more eloquent said earlier this week (Jerry @ Mystic Precision); "the rifle can't out-shoot the ammo"..or something like that. I'm paraphrasing. :) You're on the right track for sure, but the best advice I could offer would be to round-up as many varieties of ammo as you can, in the price range you want to stick with...and learn what the rifle wants to shoot well. Agreed, things like CCI SV, SK Standard-generally work well in a wide variety of guns, but generally lack the consistency to print tight groups all the time. In my experience (purely anecdotal, I have zero interest in competition)..it's ammo IN the $25-$30 range that can get you there, but they won't all do that in your particular rifle. Maybe/maybe not. You simply have to give it a go. In my best target rifle, I tried RWS R50 one day, and the first 3 shots, through the scope, looked like they went through the same hole. The first thought that entered my head is; "why did you try this stuff-you're not going to buy any more of it @ $30/50" lol

SO...I use SK Rifle Match at a more reasonable $ level, and I can take flies off pumpkins @ 50 yards with it. My accuracy expectation. :)

EDIT-I might add that there is a level of precision I'm simply not after, but requires extra steps like buying all of your ammo from the same lot, measuring rim thickness, sorting for consistency, etc. That's about where the fun get's zapped right out of rimfires for me. :)
 
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Test the entire box with five 10-shot groups shot over wind flags at 100 yards/metres will show the inconsistency you are looking to eliminate.
Buying boxes of ammo that can be replaced with a case of a known lot number makes sense to me.
Buying a sample package might lead one in a desired direction but this sample packs are made up of tail ends from a number of lots and a case of something that looked good can not be duplicated.
Having an agreement with your supplier that he will keep a case set aside and will hold it for a month works for me and collecting my disability pension for three or four months scores the lot that worked best.
American made ammunition is not repeatable by lot numbers, If a box of CCI SV worked and the LGS has the rest of that case available might be the best you can no.
Hornady Target or Federal Target (SV and HV) fail to show consistency. the extra cost of European made ammunition makes more sense to me.
 
ELEY, Lapua, RWS, SK. Match ammo from these generally will outperform any run of the mill
ammunition from other sources. This becomes increasingly apparent over the long haul. Dave.
 
Unless you're shooting a target gun with a match chamber I wouldn't waste it on $30 Midas+.
The best bang for your buck will be SK Standard Plus and Eley Club. It will easily outperform CCI SV, S&B SV in any rifle I've tried.
I usually use CCI and S&B for pistols. They work better in loose sporting chambers.
 
Snug Chamber ?

Just to add - I've read about some match ammo brands that will not fit in Sporter rifle chambers and vice versa. One should check this b4 buying a case - $$$
EDIT - I found one thread, but this isn't the one i had in mind. Just an example : ht tp://www.rimfireaccuracy.com/Forums/showthread.php/13164-Trouble-with-Lapua-ammo
 
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EHG said:
Unless you're shooting a target gun with a match chamber I wouldn't waste it on $30 Midas+.
The best bang for your buck will be SK Standard Plus and Eley Club. It will easily outperform CCI SV, S&B SV in any rifle I've tried.
I usually use CCI and S&B for pistols. They work better in loose sporting chambers.
Click to expand...

"Ditto" , I have an 457 MTR that won't chamber any thing CCI & 1710 that doesn't
care for CCI either .
The RWS Target Rifle & SK 'anything' are what they prefer at $7 - $9 per box it
won't beak you ,.
 
ChrisA said:
I have found CCI LRN SV and CCI Sub sonic LHP the best overall accuracy on a wider range of rifles. I have tested S&B SV, Federal SV, Remington subsonic, Remington/Eley target, and SK rifle match. I wasn't trying too hard and not cleaning the barrel before moving on to a different brand so that likely affected result reliability.

For a casual budget-minded plinker/target shooter, not going to do any competitions anytime soon, is Lapua Midas that I've heard is one of the best for accuracy, worth it?

What others would you recommend if not Lapua Midas for say consistent sub 0.5in groups at 50m bench shooting with target rifles?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't recommend any casual target shooter to expect great things by simply spending more on ammo.

There are a number of factors that work together to give consistent 1 MOA results at 50 yards with a .22LR firearm. Ammo is only one of them. First, the rifle itself must be capable. Some are better shooters than others for a variety of reasons. The barrel is the most important and not all barrels are equal. As an example, some CZ rifles are blessed with good barrels, while other rifles of the same make are not. Some manufacturers don't build rifles that are made to shoot especially well. The set up can be important too. The bench or table should be very solid. So should the rest. Wobbliness never contributes to consistency. It also helps to have a suitable scope. While some shooters have achieved consistent sub-1 MOA results with relatively low powered optics, a scope with adequate magnification is always preferable and can make a difference.

As far as ammo goes, most shooters can expect more consistent and better results with many SK products over CCI. While some CCI results can be favourable, quite often CCI varieties are more capricious than SK varieties, even the entry level SK Standard Plus. To illustrate, more shooters have met the 1/2" challenge here on this forum with SK than with CCI.


.22LRGUY said:
Hey Chris-as someone more eloquent said earlier this week (Jerry @ Mystic Precision); "the rifle can't out-shoot the ammo"..or something like that. I'm paraphrasing. :)
Click to expand...

While Jerry deserves a lot of credit, it's doubtful he'd claim authorship of the absolutely true expression as it's already been used on this forum.
 
Thanks for the helpful info. Unfortunately it looks like SK Rifle Match is sold out online last time I browsed the big stores and my LGS doesn't carry high end ammo.

I've been trying to shoot using the Lyman 57 aperture sight, not a scope, using international standard 50m smallbore targets. I can get about 1-1.5 inch ragged hole obliterating the 9 and bullseye rings and part of the 8 ring using 50 rds CCI SV on my old mossy 144 LS. An older chap at the range generously allowed me to shoot his Anschutz 64 MPR with a very high end scope that I think was worth more than the rifle. I was an instant marksman using SK Rifle Match. He recommended that brand. I can see how a high end and high power scope can improve scores dramatically.
 
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I’ve found that my Tikka and 10/22 both shoot CCI SV and the SK Rifle Match I have into an average of 1 7/8” for 10 rounds at 89M. Lots of groups under 1 1/2”, but you never know which ones beforehand. The Ruger is their Competition model so the chamber is tighter than their normal 10/22 chamber. SK Standard + and ELEY Club were worse for me. I don’t know if the rifles or ammo is the limitation until I get some better ammo to test.
 
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