Ruger Ammo test at 50 yards

Ganderite

Ganderite

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I had a good day at the range today. Every day at the range is a “Good day”, so I had a better than average day at the range.

I took a pair of 10-22s to the range, with some samples of various ammos and shot groups.

The first rifle is a new one I bought last week on EE. It is a Ruger target rifle in their composite stock. I cleaned the barrel and action (it was almost unused) and used some sandpaper around a socket to open up the barrel channel a bit, to make sure the barrel is floating.

I started with BBM ammo, because it is heavily greased, and I wanted to condition the barrel after I had cleaned it. The first 5 shots went into the dirt, just to foul the barrel a bit, and then I shot a 1.38” group (50 yards). A bit disconcerting.

Then I shot 10 rounds of Ely Sport. 0.60” Then I felt better. A rifle that can tell good ammo from mediocre ammo is a good rifle. I proceeded to shoot 10 more 10-shot groups with different ammo. Ely Club, Ely Force, SK Plus and SK Pistol Match all shot in the 0.55 to 0.65 range.

I will compete with SK+

The I tested my el cheapo rifle a Rock Island clone of a 10/22. This is a Philippine copy with interchangeable parts, except for the barrel. I have not done any mods, except slip a piece of ammo box cardboard under the barrel for some forend pressure.

I slackened off the barrel band screw and shot a 4” group. I tightened it 2 revs (barely snug) and shot ten more groups. Groups were 0.65” to 1.5” with Ely Force being a clear winner. SK Plus was also good.
Next time out I will switch the Vortex scope to a nice Tasco 3-9, which seems appropriate for this cheap rifle.

I like beating guys who have rifle-scope rigs that cost more than the car I drive.

By the way, one of the ammos I tested was Federal BTOB (Bring Your Own Bucket). Total crap. I shot it in the carbine (2.90") and also in a pistol test I ran. In 4 pistols it was terrible, and in some would not run the action.
 
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What kind of accuracy is "good' for an ordinary 10/22 carbine? I was thinking anything under 1.00" at 50 was good. (10 shot groups).

On the next outing I will shoot multiple groups with the ammo the rifles like (SK Plus for the Ruger Target and Ely Force for the carbine).

Back in the day when i worked for CIL ammo, my boss insisted that results had to be "statistically significant". That is, more than one good group.
 
Ganderite said:
What kind of accuracy is "good' for an ordinary 10/22 carbine? I was thinking anything under 1.00" at 50 was good. (10 shot groups).

On the next outing I will shoot multiple groups with the ammo the rifles like (SK Plus for the Ruger Target and Ely Force for the carbine).

Back in the day when i worked for CIL ammo, my boss insisted that results had to be "statistically significant". That is, more than one good group.
Click to expand...

I was just wondering with regards to the 1.0" group at 50 yards, is that with factory iron sights? Or is it with a scope? From a stock Ruger 10/22.
 
My 10/22 carbine is a Rock Island - a clone of the Ruger that sold for much less than a real Ruger. I bought one and have been pleased with its trigger and general off-hand accuracy as a plinker.

Then I shot an Outlaw match with my bolt rifle (Norinco NS 522) and found my self thinking that I would save a lot of time with a semi - if it was as accurate as the bolt rifle.

So I did some bench shooting with good ammo to find out the facts.
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Facts:

My bolt gun is a cheap Norinco NS-522 with a Tasco scope. It reliably shoots 10 shot groups under 0.75" at 50 yards with CCI Standard and SK Plus. Groups are typically in the 0.5 to 0.6 range.

SK Plus 0.57, 0.45, 0.57

CCI Stnd Vel 0.53, 0.57
puJNxbs.jpg


My Rock Island clone 10/22 clone also prefers CCI Stnd and SK Plus. Groups average around 1.4". There is no way this rifle will be anywhere the equal of my bolt rifle.

SK Plus (all 10 shot groups 1.00, 1.35, 1.25, 1.39

CCI Standard Velocity 1.24, 1.00, 1.07, 1.22. 1.48
LV2i3GS.jpg


I also shot Ely Force ammo in all 3 rifles. Groups were bigger, although in the semi-autos the extra power of the Force ammo seemed to be very positive in running the actions.

The clone and the Norinco are in the el-cheapo class (under $500) for Outlaw matches. I am an old. slow shooter and the match calls for a lot of position changes, against the clock. (Typically 2 minutes to for 12 shots from at least 3 different positions.) For most shooters, the accurate bolt rifle would be a better choice. Since I lose so much time changing positions, the semi would be better, if it is good enough to hit the targets (steel gongs). So I will play with the barrel band screw tension and see if I can shrink the groups.

I also bought a Ruger target rifle. This costs more than $500, so I would have to compete against the guys with expensive rigs. (Their rifle/scope cost more than my car is worth.)

The Ruger TR also likes CCI Stnd and SK Plus (I tried about 10 different flavours of cheap to moderate priced ammo.) The CCI Stnd Vel is a real pleasant surprise because it is half the cost of some other ammo I tried.
SK Plus 10 shot groups 0.59, 1.05, 0.44, 0.78

CCI Standard Velocity 0.55, 0.64, 0.48
1qcxlZR.jpg
 
Nice results Ganderite.
I like doing rimfire tests, cheap and fun.
My son is just starting Biathlon this year. Once we get our rental rifle, I get to do the rimfire test and I bought a few test boxes today. Eley Sport, SK standard plus, and the SK flat nose. Plus all the other stuff I have here already.
 
Ganderite

Thanks for posting, always nice to see what my 10/22 could do if I got the "Good Stuff" I normally shoot bulk ammo and get annoyed when it fails to cycle and eject properly although I only shoot Blazer these days through my 10/22's. To me the "Good Stuff" is when it cycles every time which they do with blazer I can group normally around an inch at 50 yrds with a decent scope. Next time I am in London I will pick up some match ammo and have a sit down with my rifles looks like you had a great time. These days when I go to the range I usually go through 50-100 rounds versus the 500 or more I used to shoot years back perhaps its time for the "Good Stuff"

Ammo I used to use in my 10/22s....American Eagle, Federal bulk, Wild Cat, Golden Bullet, Winchester bulk. I always thought it was extractor problems but when Blazer and other CCI runs perfectly I now wonder. You bulk ammo users will get this.......Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Pop, Bang, Bang, Pop.
 
Some years ago our remaining stock of Winchester .22 got completely banned from the semis after all the failures it caused.

Really, with a semi you have to pay a lot of attention to it cycling reliably and that's the main merit your ammunition has to have and accuracy comes second. Any sort of manual repeater (bolt, lever, revolver, etc) has the advantage that you can focus on accuracy first.

Still not sure which side of the ORPS/CRPS production/open split to fall on, but thinking I'm not going to win anyway and I'm not getting any younger, so the rifle I learn better marksmanship from soonest is probably a better choice than trying to suck up to the standings. So I'm mildly on the open side and not letting that bother me too much.
 
Every rifle is something onto its own and testing ammo for your rifle is worth the effort.
For American made ammo, the CCI Standard Velocity is an excellent starting point.
CCI Select was very good in one rifle but the Green Tag has never proven to be worth the money.
Lot to lot consistency is rare.
Testing accuracy over a Chronograph will show why groups suddenly balloon.
CCI SV comes in two versions . . . the Plastic tray variety is made in Idaho and the paper boxes are manufactured under contract . . . perhaps Federal.
The Paper Box one is very similar to the Hornady Target in packaging and performance . . . mediocre at best.
One day I may have to pull 10 rounds of different rounds but the amount of powder from CCI SV was 0.88 and 0.94 on two rounds.
Unfortunately, after you pull the bullet you don't get the chance to reconstruct with measured powder charges.
 
horseman2 said:
CCI SV comes in two versions . . . the Plastic tray variety is made in Idaho and the paper boxes are manufactured under contract . . . perhaps Federal.
The Paper Box one is very similar to the Hornady Target in packaging and performance . . . mediocre at best.
Click to expand...

That's very interesting info. CCI SV is hard to come by at brick and mortars in my part of Alberta. Only stuff I've seen on a shelf in the past year was the cardboard box variety at a Canadian Tire in Swift Current. I'll not bother with the cardboard box stuff if its plinker ammo only.
 
Grain said:
That's very interesting info. CCI SV is hard to come by at brick and mortars in my part of Alberta. Only stuff I've seen on a shelf in the past year was the cardboard box variety at a Canadian Tire in Swift Current. I'll not bother with the cardboard box stuff if its plinker ammo only.
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The CCI Sv ammo in my tests above are all from a cardboard box style ammo. I have sine conducted another test in 3 rifles and the CCI SV is tied with SV Plus as the best. 50 yard groups are in the 0.5 to 0.6 range. No fliers.
 
horseman2 said:
...
CCI SV comes in two versions . . . the Plastic tray variety is made in Idaho and the paper boxes are manufactured under contract . . . perhaps Federal.
The Paper Box one is very similar to the Hornady Target in packaging and performance . . . mediocre at best.
...
Click to expand...

I'm seeing CCI SV arrive with 50 rounds in a clear legless plastic plate, in a thin dark blue cardboard box. Is that your plastic tray variety?

Fine print says CCI/SPEER OPERATIONS, LEWISTON ID and MADE IN USA
 
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