SK long range - anyone. Try it
- Thread starter fljp2002
- Start date
The printing on the box says "FOR TARGETS 100 YARDS AND BEYOND". What would be necessary for SK Long Range Match to be more accurate at longer ranges than SK standard velocity ammos?
SK Long Range ammo has a slightly higher MV than SK Standard Plus or SK Rifle Match (1099 fps vs 1073 fps, as listed on the SK website). Both MV's are nominally below the speed of sound, so that in itself confers no special advantage. In fact it can be a disadvantage. Although it may seem counterintuitive for some readers, the fact remains that faster .22LR ammo will drift more with wind than regular SV ammo.
In a comparison of SK Long Range and other SV ammo, a small extreme spread is more important than MV. Muzzle velocity will vary from round to round (and from rifle to rifle), and a low extreme spread is more and more necessary as range increases. SK Long Range would need to have a lower ES than other SK standard velocity ammo in order to be more accurate. At 100 yards a 10 fps difference between one round and another results in very close to .25" of vertical. At 200 yards a 10 fps difference produces about one inch of vertical. And keep in mind that these are the results with perfectly aimed and released shots in perfect conditions. Of course, the lower the ES the more potentially accurate the ammo can be at shorter ranges as well.
Shooters should note that ES is only one of many characteristics of the most accurate match ammos.
Nevertheless, what ES should be expected for SK Long Range Match? Reports on RFC suggest that it is similar to that of SK Rifle Match, somewhere around 40 - 50 fps for a string of 50 shots -- a typical box. Different results may be obtained with different lots. The best match ammos can typically have an ES of 30 fps, but it can be higher or, more rarely, lower.
There is no reason to believe SK Long Range is any less accurate than SK Rifle Match -- or indeed any more accurate. Ammo that is less accurate at, say, 50 yards does not become more accurate as distance increases. And unless SK Long Range was priced significantly higher, SK would be shooting itself in the foot if SK Long Range was on average typically more accurate than its Rifle Match. Why would anyone buy SK other than Long Range if it were in fact the better ammo at ranges under 100 yards?
SK Long Range Match is not yet sold by the major match ammo dealers in Canada. To give some indication of pricing, in the U.S., SK Long Range sells at one major target rifle and ammo dealer at $8.50 per box of 50, while SK Rifle Match is $7.75 a box, about a 10% difference.
Perhaps what is most compelling is the promotion of SK Long Range Match ammo as being better for long range shooting than, say, SK Rifle Match. The box says "FOR TARGETS 100 YARDS AND BEYOND" -- and surely that must count for something, doesn't it? After all, with the recent growth of interest in longer range .22LR shooting, there is a growing market for ammo for that niche. SK is in business to make products that shooters want to buy. Clearly, SK Long Range Match fills that niche of long range .22LR shooting. People will buy it because that what the box says it's for.
SK Long Range ammo has a slightly higher MV than SK Standard Plus or SK Rifle Match (1099 fps vs 1073 fps, as listed on the SK website). Both MV's are nominally below the speed of sound, so that in itself confers no special advantage. In fact it can be a disadvantage. Although it may seem counterintuitive for some readers, the fact remains that faster .22LR ammo will drift more with wind than regular SV ammo.
In a comparison of SK Long Range and other SV ammo, a small extreme spread is more important than MV. Muzzle velocity will vary from round to round (and from rifle to rifle), and a low extreme spread is more and more necessary as range increases. SK Long Range would need to have a lower ES than other SK standard velocity ammo in order to be more accurate. At 100 yards a 10 fps difference between one round and another results in very close to .25" of vertical. At 200 yards a 10 fps difference produces about one inch of vertical. And keep in mind that these are the results with perfectly aimed and released shots in perfect conditions. Of course, the lower the ES the more potentially accurate the ammo can be at shorter ranges as well.
Shooters should note that ES is only one of many characteristics of the most accurate match ammos.
Nevertheless, what ES should be expected for SK Long Range Match? Reports on RFC suggest that it is similar to that of SK Rifle Match, somewhere around 40 - 50 fps for a string of 50 shots -- a typical box. Different results may be obtained with different lots. The best match ammos can typically have an ES of 30 fps, but it can be higher or, more rarely, lower.
There is no reason to believe SK Long Range is any less accurate than SK Rifle Match -- or indeed any more accurate. Ammo that is less accurate at, say, 50 yards does not become more accurate as distance increases. And unless SK Long Range was priced significantly higher, SK would be shooting itself in the foot if SK Long Range was on average typically more accurate than its Rifle Match. Why would anyone buy SK other than Long Range if it were in fact the better ammo at ranges under 100 yards?
SK Long Range Match is not yet sold by the major match ammo dealers in Canada. To give some indication of pricing, in the U.S., SK Long Range sells at one major target rifle and ammo dealer at $8.50 per box of 50, while SK Rifle Match is $7.75 a box, about a 10% difference.
Perhaps what is most compelling is the promotion of SK Long Range Match ammo as being better for long range shooting than, say, SK Rifle Match. The box says "FOR TARGETS 100 YARDS AND BEYOND" -- and surely that must count for something, doesn't it? After all, with the recent growth of interest in longer range .22LR shooting, there is a growing market for ammo for that niche. SK is in business to make products that shooters want to buy. Clearly, SK Long Range Match fills that niche of long range .22LR shooting. People will buy it because that what the box says it's for.
I doubt it does... but, I'd like to have a look at a pulled bullet to see if there happens to be some sort of trick profile that gives it a better ballistic coefficient.
Even if we don't "see" an obvious appearance difference, it would be interesting to run it side by side with other ammo in the same weight and speed range at long range to see if it flies any flatter, which would indicate a better BC.
Short of that, it is likely just a marketing ploy.
Even if we don't "see" an obvious appearance difference, it would be interesting to run it side by side with other ammo in the same weight and speed range at long range to see if it flies any flatter, which would indicate a better BC.
Short of that, it is likely just a marketing ploy.
looking forward to trying some
I will quietly add my two cents and im old and do not believe in advertising blitzs to a new found market. However I have learned through, well enough 22 ammo to buy a nice house, many years of shooting ,testing,sampling,weighing,measuring and all that can be done. Final conclusion is we are at the mercy of the food we feed our babies. Apples today are rotten grapes the next time, still apples just terrible ones.However as of late I have been shooting and testing a lot of ammo at a lot of different distances and while im not a ballistician or scientist, I will state the different ammos that will make one hole groups at fifty yards will completely change beyond the 100 yard mark and more so the farther you stretch the distances. the farthest I have been able to hit a measured target is 425 yards. I missed the first shot because of wind and hit the next four in a row. We were then moved to 408 yds and I hit with enough regularity that it became boring. Im proficient with a rifle and lucky enough to own an extremely accurate firearm. Anyone with my rifle can do this with proper form but it aint going to happen with cheaper ammo on the regulararity it happens with the Cadillac ammo. Shooting at 100 or less like ORPS just shoot the SK standard or the lower end Eley(not FORCE). Don't be surprised though if you miss the 1/4 inch on the KYL rack at fifty or even 25 yards. THATS WHAT UR PAYING FOR. Listen to results from your rifle. All else is here say. I can prove what I say just ask the 50 plus people that were there and its not me. ITS THE RIGHT AMMO IN AN AMAZING GUN.
Ive been interested in this for a while and I will try it when it hits the shelf. However, I've been shooting CPRS style matches a lot this year and I've had a lot of ammo issues. Interestingly enough SK rifle match is my best grouping round at 50, but, at 100 it falls apart and force is much tighter and consistent at distance. Finding the right ammo has been a struggle and ever since I've started this type of shooting since it brakes everything I knew about 22 ammo. But I will try this stuff, I think a slower round that won't go supersonic should be more stable but we will see.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Summerland, BC
Curious to give this ammo a test as well... for those out west, pm or email. Will certainly help with postage the closer you are to the shipment.
As has already been said, finding the right type and lot of ammo for your barrel is really the key here. As much as I love SK ammo and have done well with them, my new match barrels prefer Lapua and man, can it work well.
For those thinking of the CRPS finale end of Oct, temps are falling and ammo choice is REALLY going to matter. PM or email to get some other options to test.
Made a huge difference in my rifle
Jerry
As has already been said, finding the right type and lot of ammo for your barrel is really the key here. As much as I love SK ammo and have done well with them, my new match barrels prefer Lapua and man, can it work well.
For those thinking of the CRPS finale end of Oct, temps are falling and ammo choice is REALLY going to matter. PM or email to get some other options to test.
Made a huge difference in my rifle
Jerry
It's a very good point that finding the right lot for your rifle is critical, but it shouldn't be surprising that Lapua ammo does better than SK. While the Nammo Group owns Lapua and SK, the two ammo brands are quite different in price and, ultimately, accuracy . The former, beginning with Center X on the low end up to X-Act on the high end, with a few in between costs considerably more than the much more economical SK line of .22LR ammo. To use an analogy, General Motors makes Cadillac and Chevrolet. One, in all its varieties, is the top-of-the-line GM product, the other is the more affordable line for those with more everyday means and tastes.
In short, the best lot of Lapua for your rifle will very likely shoot better than the best lot of SK. To illustrate, there are few if any shooters in high level competition who shoot SK rather than Lapua .22LR ammo. Of course budget realities don't allow most shooters to use expensive ammo. The SK line of ammo provides more affordable choices, albeit with the trade off of ultimately somewhat less accuracy, often with a wider ES (critically important for long distance shooting) and a few more fliers.
At the same time, it is a misapprehension to believe that the name Lapua (or any other name on a box of ammo) is a guarantee that it will perform well in a particular rifle. Some lots are better than average, some are worse. It is necessary to lot test to find the lot that shoots best for your needs. I've had some lots of Center X shoot very well indeed in a number of rifles, while other lots in the same rifles are no better than decent lots of SK Rifle Match. Same with Midas +. Shooters should not think of "finding the ammo the rifle likes". Instead they should seek to find the lot the rifle likes.
Lapua will perform just like Eley Match because they are just very consistent from shot to shot. If that SK will do that and work well for your rifle, then all rests on the shooter to deliver his skills on that shot at all those wonderful ranges.
I got a few boxes of some Eley Match from a friend at the club. He had a box of 500 from the 70's. I took it to one of the first matches of CRPS last year in production class. I choreographed it and it was running a little faster than standard velocity at around 1120fps - consistently. with a standard deviation of 1 fps. It was crappy rainy day in February and I came in second overall in the match. The ammo was very impressive considering that age. Now that's friggin' quality!!
I got a few boxes of some Eley Match from a friend at the club. He had a box of 500 from the 70's. I took it to one of the first matches of CRPS last year in production class. I choreographed it and it was running a little faster than standard velocity at around 1120fps - consistently. with a standard deviation of 1 fps. It was crappy rainy day in February and I came in second overall in the match. The ammo was very impressive considering that age. Now that's friggin' quality!!
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When it is said that "Lapua will perform just like Eley Match" it suggests that all Lapua and Eley Match are always of equal quality. Lapua makes seven varieties of .22LR ammo, some of it much less expensive than Eley Match. The performance of all of this ammo will vary by lot, some will be better than average and some will be worse, and that is important to keep in mind.
At the risk of dancing around terminology and results, it is doubtful that any .22LR ammo will have an SD as low as 1, unless a very, very small sample size was used in which the rounds chronographed had unusually consistent MVs. A lot of ammo with an SD around 5 is enough to stand out as having a very low SD.
What do you mean? What did someone do at Silverdale?
I choreographed it . . . I think you meant chronographed!
Testing is not a matter of life or death . . . it is much more important than that.
Testing under consistent circumstances can be extremely difficult as everything can change with temperature, humidity and wind.
Three lots with the same velocity are not necessarily the same.
Testing is not a matter of life or death . . . it is much more important than that.
Testing under consistent circumstances can be extremely difficult as everything can change with temperature, humidity and wind.
Three lots with the same velocity are not necessarily the same.
