Most consistent velocity 22 LR Ammo?

M

Maple57

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
I'm going in a 22 LR PRS match in a couple weeks and we're shooting out to 300 meters.

I'm running a CZ 452 varmint

Traditional 50 to 100 yard target shooters like to try every ammo available to figure out what shoots best in their particular rifle.... usually something in the 1050 fps range.

I've found ammo that shoots small 50 yard groups does not always have consistent velocity (like Eley Force) and vice versa

Since we are shooting out to 300, I think consistent velocity is more important than bug hole accuracy, otherwise we will be missing due to vertical spread rather than accuracy or wind read.

So my question is, what 22 LR ammo produces the most consistent muzzle velocity?

Hopefully something in the 1435 FPS range, even though its super sonic. The match is in March so I'm not counting on mild summer like conditions and I hope some speed will help as long as its reasonably accurate.

So far, I've found waxed ammo this time of year is not doing real well compared to plated. My theory on that is the cold wax in the barrel is messing with velocity more than the plated rounds in cold weather.

My Labradar has a hard time activating with 22 sound levels... I think it's just not loud enough to activate the darn thing.... so I need you guys to help.
 
Last edited:
I mentioned this on the T1X ammo thread but I have a feeling the bughole ammo will be the good stuff once the weather warms.

The wax coating on the bullets when it hardens is going to throw things off where as the cheap stuff without it will not have that issue.

As expected the Tenex, Centre-X, etc. often have the best numbers. There is a thread over on SH - I will try to find it.
 
I've found plenty of guys posting accuracy results at 50 ish yards, but I've yet to find such information including velocity spreads as well.
 
Maple57 said:
Hopefully something in the 1435 FPS range, even though its super sonic. The match is in March so I'm not counting on mild summer like conditions and I hope some speed will help as long as its reasonably accurate.
Click to expand...

Wind drift goes wonky right around the speed of sound. If you run the numbers, you'll see that just barely subsonic will probably give you less wind drift (and more consistent drift) than supersonic, and the supersonic stuff will likely spread out a bit as it goes transonic.

This article has lots of good info: https://finnaccuracy.com/blogs/fa-news/22lr-long-range-trainer-how-to-get-best-out-of-it
 
I don't think many people shooting long range with a 22lr uses supersonic ammo. The transition from super to subsonic really screws with things. The key to 22lr is consistency and the transonic range really mucks that up.

Personally I would find whatever subsonic ammo shoots best in my gun and then test how it works at longer ranges.
 
Maple57 said:
I'm going in a 22 LR PRS match in a couple weeks and we're shooting out to 300 meters.

I'm running a CZ 452 varmint

Traditional 50 to 100 yard target shooters like to try every ammo available to figure out what shoots best in their particular rifle.... usually something in the 1050 fps range.

I've found ammo that shoots small 50 yard groups does not always have consistent velocity (like Eley Force) and vice versa

Since we are shooting out to 300, I think consistent velocity is more important than bug hole accuracy, otherwise we will be missing due to vertical spread rather than accuracy or wind read.

So my question is, what 22 LR ammo produces the most consistent muzzle velocity?

Hopefully something in the 1435 FPS range, even though its super sonic. The match is in March so I'm not counting on mild summer like conditions and I hope some speed will help as long as its reasonably accurate.
Click to expand...

It is near impossible to say what ammo will be most consistent in your rifle because each rifle's bore is somewhat different and will produce different results. The only way to know for sure what ammo or ammos have reasonable velocity consistency -- i.e. a low extreme velocity spread -- is to test ammo with a chronograph with your rifle. Having said that, if a shooter doesn't have a chronograph or the time to do it, he could use ammo that has produced the best results at 50 and 100 yards (just because ammo does well at 50 yards doesn't mean it will necessarily perform well at twice the distance). It is almost certain the ammo will be standard velocity (SV) ammo of match quality.

High velocity (or perhaps hyper velocity) ammo may not be a savior at long distances such as 200 or 300 yards because it will have less "drop." It is necessary to keep in mind that even HV ammo has considerable drop at those distances. The ballistics chart shown below indicates that HV ammo has as much or more drop as SV ammo only 25 yards further out. In other words HV ammo drops more at 125 and 175 yards than SV ammo drops at 100 and 150 yards. HV ammo just doesn't have the legs to do much better than SV ammo in terms of drop or velocity (see chart below) as distances increase.

These charts are from the sticky in this forum, found above in Rimfire Ballistic chart https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/63954-Rimfire-Ballistic-charts



 
Lots of great long range (200y) results with many ammo types in this thread on RFC, plus chrony data. h ttps://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1129343

High grade ammo, like Midas +, Tenex, and R-50 typically have the best velocity consistency numbers.
 
I have had good luck in my cz 455 with rws match. 1.5in groups at 100 yds with plenty plenty of room to improve.

But no crono numbers. I know, not very scientific. But I couldnt believe how well they shot.



edit; I just had to actually measure one of the groups... damn I am a liar.

1.268"

8c8o8Kv_OqPXy2VLFhm4McP3ku9p4id45Aowku-SQK4HX6KLyKI08EZYNjGqUbMoxyXwVi72X_Bodubkqg=w1024
 
Last edited:
Suther said:
I don't think many people shooting long range with a 22lr uses supersonic ammo. The transition from super to subsonic really screws with things. The key to 22lr is consistency and the transonic range really mucks that up.

Personally I would find whatever subsonic ammo shoots best in my gun and then test how it works at longer ranges.
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^ this.. plus 1
 
For that velocity window I have used with limited success at 200 yards, Yellowjackets from a Lee Enfield trainer converted in 1922. Of course it's iron sights.
300 yards was a no go. Twelve shots and only one hitting paper at this longer range. The firing pin was too destructive with SK or Lapua match ammo.
 
grauhanen said:
It is near impossible to say what ammo will be most consistent in your rifle because each rifle's bore is somewhat different and will produce different results. The only way to know for sure what ammo or ammos have reasonable velocity consistency -- i.e. a low extreme velocity spread -- is to test ammo with a chronograph with your rifle. Having said that, if a shooter doesn't have a chronograph or the time to do it, he could use ammo that has produced the best results at 50 and 100 yards (just because ammo does well at 50 yards doesn't mean it will necessarily perform well at twice the distance). It is almost certain the ammo will be standard velocity (SV) ammo of match quality.

High velocity (or perhaps hyper velocity) ammo may not be a savior at long distances such as 200 or 300 yards because it will have less "drop." It is necessary to keep in mind that even HV ammo has considerable drop at those distances. The ballistics chart shown below indicates that HV ammo has as much or more drop as SV ammo only 25 yards further out. In other words HV ammo drops more at 125 and 175 yards than SV ammo drops at 100 and 150 yards. HV ammo just doesn't have the legs to do much better than SV ammo in terms of drop or velocity (see chart below) as distances increase.

These charts are from the sticky in this forum, found above in Rimfire Ballistic chart https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/63954-Rimfire-Ballistic-charts



Click to expand...

I would agree that ammo accuracy is rifle specific, but I'm not sold that consistent velocity is.

Perhaps to a degree, but I think if its consistent velocity for one... that part should be about the same for others.

22 LR is more voodoo than science I suspect.
 
Last edited:
Underthegun… That Lapua Midas looks interesting, but I don't happen to have any. I'll see if I can find some after work today.

I'll be out at the farm tomorrow, the weatherman says 41F and clear, so I should be able to do some good testing.

So far, the best 200 yard groups have been with 1435 FPS ammo, but maybe it was just the day... Will test again and see if results change.

Thanks for your help guys.
 
Underthegun . . . what was the lot number on your Midas+?

Limited amount of information on velocities but CCI MiniMag round nose was consistently under the published velocity (1200 fps) and the HP's consistently over (1300 fps).
When the velocities were consistently less that 10 fps variation they would group less than one inch at 100 yards.
One of my rifles will group round nose under 2" and the HP's over 6".

At 300 yards my BSA was around 7" with Eley Team and Match with target sights. Needed 40 minutes of elevation change from 100 meters.

As to the changes in the lubricant during cold weather I use an electric hand warmer in a MTM Dry Box. Some of my best groups were on a hot day . . . 36 C . . . and the lube was dripping off the Lapua CenterX like oil.
 
horseman2 said:
Underthegun . . . what was the lot number on your Midas+?

Limited amount of information on velocities but CCI MiniMag round nose was consistently under the published velocity (1200 fps) and the HP's consistently over (1300 fps).
When the velocities were consistently less that 10 fps variation they would group less than one inch at 100 yards.
One of my rifles will group round nose under 2" and the HP's over 6".

At 300 yards my BSA was around 7" with Eley Team and Match with target sights. Needed 40 minutes of elevation change from 100 meters.

As to the changes in the lubricant during cold weather I use an electric hand warmer in a MTM Dry Box. Some of my best groups were on a hot day . . . 36 C . . . and the lube was dripping off the Lapua CenterX like oil.
Click to expand...

When I did the 5X5 under .5 challenge (successfully) I believe that was what my SK match was doing. Hard to hold on to the darn things cause they were so slippery.

I have some Eley Biathlon that I will try this weekend to see if makes a difference.
 
horseman2 said:
Underthegun . . . what was the lot number on your Midas+?

Limited amount of information on velocities but CCI MiniMag round nose was consistently under the published velocity (1200 fps) and the HP's consistently over (1300 fps).
When the velocities were consistently less that 10 fps variation they would group less than one inch at 100 yards.
One of my rifles will group round nose under 2" and the HP's over 6".

At 300 yards my BSA was around 7" with Eley Team and Match with target sights. Needed 40 minutes of elevation change from 100 meters.

As to the changes in the lubricant during cold weather I use an electric hand warmer in a MTM Dry Box. Some of my best groups were on a hot day . . . 36 C . . . and the lube was dripping off the Lapua CenterX like oil.
Click to expand...
I don’t recall what the lot numbers from either ammonia was. I tested those 1,5 years ago. I know that neither one was accurate enough fo my purposes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom