If it likes one, should it like the other?

[Slowbalt]

If your rifle likes SK Standard+, is it more likely than not that SK Rifle Match should perform at least as well?
If your rifle shoots CCI Standard Velocity well, should it throw CCI Green Tag good too?
If RWS R50 groups awesomely, should RWS R100 group amazingly?

Is performance in one "range" a reasonable indication of performance within that "range"?

 

[trky chsr]

I would say no. Generally "rifle" match stuff is higher velocity than standard and while I have found some rifle match to shoot as well as standard (both in SK and Eley) I wouldn't expect as much as hope. I have a CZ At-one and I have shot very good groups with SK Standard, Eley Team and Centre-X. However I have also shot outstanding groups with Eley Sport as well at almost half the cost of some of the others. I have RWS R50 and R100 but haven't tried them yet although RWS Rifle Match did shoot well also. I do generally agree though that performance in one "range" is a reasonable indication or performance within that range but there are always exceptions.TC

 

[grauhanen]

If your rifle likes SK Standard+, is it more likely than not that SK Rifle Match should perform at least as well?
If your rifle shoots CCI Standard Velocity well, should it throw CCI Green Tag good too?
If RWS R50 groups awesomely, should RWS R100 group amazingly?

Is performance in one "range" a reasonable indication of performance within that "range"?

Generally speaking, ammo performance is not the result of a rifle "liking" ammo made by a particular ammo manufacturer. Performance is based on ammo quality and consistency. Most often shooters who try ammo like SK for the first time find that it shoots much better than high velocity and bulk .22LR ammos in general. What they've experienced is the result of using better quality ammo because high velocity and bulk ammo is not very accurate at all by comparison.

The best answer anyone can give to your specific questions about SK + and SK RM, CCI SV and CCI GT, and RWS R50 and RWS R100 is very simple but it will sound like a politician's promise. The answer is "Maybe" or even "a definite maybe." In a more practical sense, the answer isn't clear or simple.

In the SK line of ammo, for example, SK Rifle Match is the top graded variety of SK standard velocity ammo. Standard Plus is the next best grade. On average SK RM should perform better than SK Standard Plus but it doesn't necessarily or always work out that way.

Each variety of ammo is made in batches called "lots" and different lots of the same variety may perform very differently. In other words, it's possible for one lot of SK RM to perform less well than certain lots of SK +.

There's only one way for a shooter to know with some certainty how a particular ammo will perform and that's by testing it because the name on the package isn't a guarantee of how an ammo will perform.

Generally "rifle" match stuff is higher velocity than standard and while I have found some rifle match to shoot as well as standard (both in SK and Eley) I wouldn't expect as much as hope.

In SK varieties of .22LR ammo, both SK Standard Plus and SK Rifle Match have the same nominal factory muzzle velocity rating.

Below is an explanation of how SK ammo is graded.



Capstone is the US distributor of SK/Lapua. Esterline's words were taken from https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/cz-usa-model-457-22-lr/365081

 

[Mystic Precision]

In theory, if you got the SK ammo types from the same production lot/date, sk RM should shoot better vs Std+. However, the odds of that is slim. If you have a tuner, then the probability you can make it work out is very high.

I run SK RM for practise and Lapua CX for match with the same tuner setting

Otherwise, you have as much luck as picking up another lot of SK std+ and it shooting .... or not.

I don't enough of the others listed to know if this applies. I shoot SK/lapua because of the similarities

Jerry

 

[stuckon308]

Being a guy who thoroughly enjoys testing different types of ammo (especially the cheap to moderate varieties) I would echo what has previously been said. Not necessarily, but possibly. Rimfires are temperamental beasts. Assuming one type of ammo will work great in your gun because it works great in another is a mistake. Always test.

 

[horseman2]

My ammo testing is based on what I can buy in bulk/case lot amounts after testing boxes of what will still be available in two weeks.
A good understanding with your supplier will reserve sufficient cases of the lots you are testing.
Right or wrong, it was my belief my rifles preferred Eley Math in the 1060's. Four different lots were tested at 100 yards over wind flags but on a calm day.
The intent was to shoot five 10-shot groups. One lot was stopped after the third group, another after the fourth and two were completed.
Of the five groups in the selected lot, the largest group was 1.1" and the other four were under 1". Both lots had a published velocity of 1062.
This may not be the best testing procedure but I have had success with it.
Common testing errors occur when not setting guidelines that will give a statistical conclusion. Occasionally even MiniMags or Blazer or CCI SV will produce a 5-shot group. That does not mean your rifle loves it and warrants buying a case the next time you visit your LGS!