I have a box of precious Eley Tenex Biathlon that I'm saving in case I ever want to use the Anschutz to hunt in really cold weather, but I am curious how it would perform on say a hot day. The Eley site tells me it's got winter special lubricant and the case is slightly smaller than .22LR standard, to allow for the metal on the rifle contracting in the cold.
SK Long Range
- Thread starter Big Bad
- Start date
I stand by what I wrote earlier in this thread.
Instead of posting word salads or streams of consciousness, you might consider enhancing your credibilty by posting some of your best .22LR shooting results. That way everyone can have a guage of your qualifications to make claims that otherwise might seem questionable.
Beyond that, as I've frequently urged in the past -- please ignore me. You seem to be troubled by what I say. Save yourself and everyone else the results of the frustration and anger that is so obvious in your responses to me. If you can't ignore me, please behave in a more mature manner. It would very likely be applauded by many readers.
There is no reason why biathlon ammo won't perform well in temperatures that are warmer than expected in the winter. Typically biathlon ammo is a little faster than the ammo makers' regular rifle target ammo. This is to help alleviate MV reductions that occur with colder temps.
Since bore lubrication consistency is vital for maintaining accuracy, premium biathlon ammos may use a different lubrication than they use on their other rifle target ammos. Temperature can be a factor in how bullet lubrication behaves.
Eley case sizes on biathlon ammo is slightly smaller to help ensure reliable loading with biathlon rifles in colder temps. (You may not be able to measure the differences in DIY circumstances.) The bullet shape is designed to contribute to reliable loading as well.
How your box of Eley Tenex Biathlon actually performs in your rifle will only be seen when it's shot on target.
You are frequently condescending in your responses, and seem to be on the expert in everything. Have you posted any of your results for us to determine your abilities?
he started it
I'll try to play nice. (And this may finish it.)
You're obviously not new here, so the question you've asked of me is odd but perhaps not surprising. Please refer to the .22LR shooting challenges on this forum to help you become a little more familiar with my abilities.
See, for example, https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...s-at-50-yards-meters-all-day!-Really-Prove-it! (See posts #1 and #3 for totals, including one for the "1/4" club")
and https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...0614-100-Yards-Metres-22-Long-Rifle-Challenge (See post #3 for results.)
and a few targets posted this month here https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2295102-Interest-in-100-yard-22LR-challenge
The many targets I've posted over the years may support my qualifications to offer advice and opinions. Of course, no one is ever obliged to agree or take anything I say with anything but a grain of salt.
If you have any rimfire targets that suggest you have knowledge and experience please post them for all to see as I have. If you haven't posted anything of note on this forum, please be so kind as to offer directions for where readers may find them elsewhere. It should be understood that if nothing is forthcoming, readers may take it as the end of the mattter.
This is is exactly why you rub people the wrong way. If I don’t post a target with one ragged hole I can’t possibly be part of the conversation and must be relegated to the kids table while you hold court.
Admittedly I have learned quite a few things from your posts, I think its the delivery that ruffles feathers not the substance.
Calling people out to part take in your 100 yard challenge comes across as a challenge in itself to put up or shut up when there is a slight deviation from your opinion.
waynewjw
CGN Regular
Jeez you guys, stop pissing in the wind and getting your shoes wet. The OP wanted to know about what ammo was best, not side tracks as per some of the posts. We all know that every rifle will like a different flavour of ammo. As in last week I took the ruger Precision rimfire to the range with 10 different type of ammo, knowing ahead of time that 3 or 4 wouldn’t make the cut and proved it to be true. I continued testing and narrowed it down to the best ammo for that rifle with a close 2nd and 3rd option in case I couldn’t find anymore of ammo #1. In some cases I have bricks of the stuff but I also have other .22 rifles that I don’t need to shoot the eyes out of the scarecrow at 400 meters. But in the test cases I bought 2 - 50 round boxes of new to this rifle ammo at the LGS and moved to the next to pickup some other brands. So a couple hundred investment paid off for that particular rifle. The Ruger liked RWS.
Now tomorrow I’m back out to the range to do the same for CZ 457 VPR and see what the results are. Initially the SK Long Range was excellent except I cannot find anymore....yet. And then I will determine which is my main go to rifle and which will be the backup, although intuitively I think I know the answer. Tis the fun of shooting.
Now tomorrow I’m back out to the range to do the same for CZ 457 VPR and see what the results are. Initially the SK Long Range was excellent except I cannot find anymore....yet. And then I will determine which is my main go to rifle and which will be the backup, although intuitively I think I know the answer. Tis the fun of shooting.
waynewjw
CGN Regular
And part of the problem for the OP, and likely for the rest of us is that the precision ammo is expensive enough without adding the shipping cost on top. Unless you buy a $1000 or more for a free shipping deal without knowing how it will perform can become an expensive process. I have found in these hard to get ammo times it’s best to stay in touch with all the gun stores within reasonable travel distance and buy immediately that you know it’s in stock.
Well see, I was wondering if anyone had actual practical experience with it, maybe a biathlon shooter. Not every Anschutz is made for biathlon and perhaps not for biathlon ammunition. I see that ammo was made in 2018 BTW, somebody at the wholesaler was really digging in the back shelves
I have experimented with several bricks of the Tenex Biathlon ammo. It shot very well in cold weather, down to -20 C, but no better than regular Eley Tenex in my rifles - none of which have match chambers. In warmer weather, it shot well and the velocity was quite a bit higher than regular Tenex - average 1175 fps vs regular Tenex at an average of 1090 fps. Once again it still did not shoot as well as my best lot of Tenex.
You are always welcome at the other table. Just wear your big boy pants. I don't post to rub anybody any particular way -- wrong or otherwise. Information that's accurate is always preferable to that which is not. This is not a kids' club where posters should always say things like "You go, shooter." When I'm mistaken about something factual, I welcome correction. Without reference to anyone, I don't always suffer fools lightly. I take .22LR shooting very seriously.
I still stand by what I said when I was called out by a previous poster. He had no regard for the OP's question or those that may have developed over the course of the thread. When someone calls you out without regard to the topic at hand, you may understandably also wish to offer a reply in your defence. I also stand by the information I've offered with regard to ammo.
You may prefer a different answer, but the answer is what it is. You have a single box of a random lot of Eley Tenex Biathlon .22LR ammo. What can anyone possibly tell you about any random box of match ammo, regardless of whether it's Eley Tenex Biathlon or something else? You can't expect anyone to tell you how it will shoot in your rifle even if his discipline is biathlon shooting.
Your random box of ammo will shoot as it will in your rifle when you try it out. You'll be the first to be able to answer the question. No one else can answer it.
Biathlon ammo can be used with excellent results in a variety of rifles that are good, not only models designed to be used in biathlon.
For readers in general, there's nothing special about biathlon rifles that will make them shoot biathlon ammo better than other models of rifles. The dominant manaufacturer of biathlon rifles is Anschutz. Anschutz uses the Fortner action, reknown for its ease and speed of use, both of which are very important in the sport.
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Thanks for the real world response. In fact, it's sort of what I was thinking would happen. I guess there's nothing else noticeable re the reduced diameter of the brass?
I should add to that. The Tenex Biathlon and the Tenex are the most stable ammo's in cold weather in my rifles - down to around -20 C or so. The least amount of fliers. Lapua and SK ammos were the worst in cold temperatures for group size and the amount of fliers, in my rifles. Some of the SK ammos were not usable in cold temperatures. Below -20 C I found that nothing really works very well.
In both my CZ 452 Lux, and my Anschutz 1907, of all the SK ammo, the Biathlon Sport, lot to lot, shoots consistently best for me. In the hottest of the summer and coldest of the winter. It has also out performed on average, the single lot of of Midas and Center X I bought. To be fair, one lot is not a big enough sample size to base any conclusion.
When I saw the new ads and specs for the SK Long Range, I said to myself, hey that looks identical to the SK Biathlon. I wonder of its just a different lube, or grading, or bullet? All along I have apparently been shooting a "long range" round at 50m and doing very well with it in my local club matches. I was aware of its extra velocity and IMO I think it does better in the wind at 50m than the slower subsonics. For 100m matches it is my first choice.
At my altitude here I am fairly certain that even on the hottest days with the lightest density air, the SK Biathlon Sport stays subsonic. I have never heard the distinct supersonic "crack".
I do however pay attention to keeping it in the shade on the bench on the hot days.
I thought the SK Biathlon was my little secret, as I could usually find it in stock once a year or so at my favourite CGN sponsor stores when my case was running low.
But the other day I was looking at Nordic Marksman's stock and there was well over 20 bricks of SK Biathlon in stock. I relaxed and said to myself, hey I will maybe buy some tomorrow. Next day I checked there was only 1 brick left! How dare other people buy "my" secret SK Biathlon stock! Maybe it was some legit Biathlon rascals who actually shoot real biathlon competitions....in which case I guess its OK they bought "their" ammo, and I wish them well, and bad on me for snoozing and loozing.
So in my NM order when I snagged the last brick of SK Biathlon Sport, I added new to me 4 bricks of Eley Biathlon Club to try out, before committing to a case. (I know, I know, its called "Club" probably for a reason). Eley lists its muzzle velocity as 1060ft/s – 1085ft/s, which is much slower than the SK Biathlon Sport. So it is not a substitute for my favourite, but I am looking forward to trying it.
I am hoping Hirsch can order more SK Biathlon Sport!
When I saw the new ads and specs for the SK Long Range, I said to myself, hey that looks identical to the SK Biathlon. I wonder of its just a different lube, or grading, or bullet? All along I have apparently been shooting a "long range" round at 50m and doing very well with it in my local club matches. I was aware of its extra velocity and IMO I think it does better in the wind at 50m than the slower subsonics. For 100m matches it is my first choice.
At my altitude here I am fairly certain that even on the hottest days with the lightest density air, the SK Biathlon Sport stays subsonic. I have never heard the distinct supersonic "crack".
I do however pay attention to keeping it in the shade on the bench on the hot days.
I thought the SK Biathlon was my little secret, as I could usually find it in stock once a year or so at my favourite CGN sponsor stores when my case was running low.
But the other day I was looking at Nordic Marksman's stock and there was well over 20 bricks of SK Biathlon in stock. I relaxed and said to myself, hey I will maybe buy some tomorrow. Next day I checked there was only 1 brick left! How dare other people buy "my" secret SK Biathlon stock! Maybe it was some legit Biathlon rascals who actually shoot real biathlon competitions....in which case I guess its OK they bought "their" ammo, and I wish them well, and bad on me for snoozing and loozing.
So in my NM order when I snagged the last brick of SK Biathlon Sport, I added new to me 4 bricks of Eley Biathlon Club to try out, before committing to a case. (I know, I know, its called "Club" probably for a reason). Eley lists its muzzle velocity as 1060ft/s – 1085ft/s, which is much slower than the SK Biathlon Sport. So it is not a substitute for my favourite, but I am looking forward to trying it.
I am hoping Hirsch can order more SK Biathlon Sport!
As you note, SK Long Range is produced in the same production run as SK Biathlon. The only difference is in how it's graded -- and the packaging the rounds are put in.
With regard to performance in the wind, extra velocity in .22LR ammo causes more wind drift. This can be confirmed by ballistics calculators. This is not new information and the reasons for this are understood and can be explained.
To be sure, the instinctive reaction might suggest that the faster the .22LR ammo is, the less time it spends in the wind and so the less it is affected by it. Unfortunately, like so many things with .22LR ammo, what really occurs is not so simple.
Slower .22LR ammo drifts less in wind than faster .22LR ammo. While the difference is not great between SK's factory rated 1106 fps ammos and 1073 fps ammos, it increases when MV differences are greater.
If an ostensibly faster ammo is indeed less affected by wind it's likely that it's particular lot actually shoots slower than the factory rating suggests. This is possible because some lots may shoot with average MVs that don't match the rating suggested by the factory. In addition, different rifles, even those of the same make with the same barrel length, may shoot the same ammo with very different average MV's.
