Can bad ammo cause serious accuracy issues?

[Longstud]

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

 

[Mysticprecision]

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.

 

[grauhanen]

All the best performing ammo is made with 40 grain bullets. Stick with 40 grain ammo and look for better performing varieties.

 

[Buck1950]

Jerry, Good point about using 'lower cost' ammo for some guns. My Marlin-60 doesn't like SK-RM but loves Rem Golden And my CZ-VMTR does fine with many brands Except Eley.

 

[Thunderhog]

I shot alot of CCI Blazer, in my opinion the bulk ammo is not near the quality of the ammo in the 50 round boxes.
I have experienced the same issues.

This!.....

 

[270WSMXBolt]

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

 

[Big Bad]

During the Obama years, I suddenly found myself shooting .22 ammo that was so bad it was like aiming a garden hose. That was the actual founding age of bad ammo, as far as I could see anyway.