SU22 Accuracy Test - Results to follow

[brokendownyota]

Hey guys. Got myself a nice little SU22 for xmas, and now it's time to see what it can do.

Background:

I like to shoot. I'm not particularly good at it. This test is for my own benefit, I just figured I'd put it up here because when I was looking for info on this little rifle, it was really hard to find anything. My intended use for this rifle is gopher slayer, with some tacticool fun stuff on the side. It's currently wearing a 3-9 Scorpion Rimfire scope. In addition, in my ~200 posts on CGN, I don't think I've actually contributed anything, so I probably owe you guys something by now.

Method:

I'm shooting at a community pasture, not a range, so distances will be estimated. I'll be shooting prone, using a slightly-crooked UTG bipod and probably a sock full of sand as a rear bag. My ammo box came with some sort of shooting rest system that clips in...if I can figure that out, I might take a go at it.

Weather forecast is looking like a high of -5, but I intend to get out early, so I'm guessing -10 ish.

I've got a handful of different types of ammo to try. Today's (tomorrow's, but who's counting? I'm excited!) contestants shall be:

Federal 525 pack - $22.99/brick, 4.38c/round
Winchester Wildcat - $20.00/brick, 4.0c/round
Remington Thunderbolt - $3.49/50, 6.98c/round
Remington Yellow Jacket - $4.99/50, 9.98c/round
CCI Stinger - 7.99/50 - 15.98c/round
CCI Mini-Mag - $7.99/100, 7.99c/round

This is a cross-section of what I could find on the shelf at Cabelas in Edmonton today. If I missed anything near and dear to your heart, send me some and I'll make it happen. Or, you know, don't.

I'll also burn through a few for fun afterwards to comment on function. I'll let you know if I have any stoppages, FTF, FTE, or if they smell funny. Using the stock Black Dog 10rd magazine, unmodified, because the other ones are too long for me to shoot prone comfortably.

I might take some pictures of me, the rifle, and the "range". Probably not, I'm forgetful that way. I'll definitely scan the targets.

Targets, BTW, will be http://www.targetz.com/targetzlib/10147.pdf

Unless I get there and I don't like them, then I'll try something else. If anyone can recommend something more suited to the task before I get up in the morning, I'll check it out before I head out.

I totally <3 this little gun, so if you have anything you'd like me to do on my next outing, let me know and I'll be happy to consider obliging.

Advice, comments, insults, and offensive insinuations about my ### life are welcome.

-Scott

 

[brokendownyota]

The results are in!

I got out early this morning...Okay, I got out this morning, coffee in hand, with my good buddy Jollyroger along to heckle me.

I'll preface this "range report" by stating that I learned a few things...first among which is the fact that I need some serious practice. I thought using a rear bag would be easy...turns out it's not. The trigger on the SU isn't wonderful, and I haven't done nearly enough shooting in any way shape or form.

Lesson learned. So, without further adieu!

We got there and set up - I even brought a picnic blanket to keep myself comfortable!

Loaded up the mags:

and started shooting. First up was some fouling, as I cleaned the poor little guy over beers last night. Clean rimfires just aren't right! For that matter, no black gun should ever be truly clean, just temporarily, and until you can get it back to the range!

Then we settled down and got to work. Results are below, and below that will be my notes.

The first thing we can learn from all of this is that I'm a terrible shot and should feel shame. Don't you worry, I do. Most of my shooting happens at gophers or at an actual range off a bench, to sight in. I have 0 practice trying to form groups for the sake of forming groups.

The Federal 525 performed well, as I expected.

The yellow jackets had a single feeding issue, with the very first round, then fed reliably (through all of 15 rounds, I know, not much as a point of reference). I also had one dud during the post-shoot messing about.

The thunderbolts grouped nicely, but I had one FTF (it was struck, I ran it through again, it still wouldn't go - dud round), one that sounded a bit light on the powder side and ended up away from the group.

The stingers grouped the best - I should hope so, considering the price. I think I also did my part behind the gun here for the most part - like I said, not used to shooting a whole lot, so the act of getting up, changing targets, and starting fresh probably helped me settle in and do a better job.

Mini mags grouped alright, tho I clearly didn't do my part here either. The final group on the right was nice and tight.

Wildcats performed very well. Pricing and accuracy is definitely comparable to the 525's, but I'll pay the extra .38c/round to get the jacketed Federal.

If anyone can look at my groups and tell me what I was doing wrong, or give a guy advice on grouping, let me know.

*****DISCLAIMER*******

If some of these groups are missing rounds, it's because I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA where they went. I may have loaded mags wrong, or gotten up for a coffee and made safe without collecting the ejected round - I'll try harder next time, I promise.

In addition to all of this, I did a couple of function tests...loaded 2 magazines to capacity (27 rounds each) with assorted, random handfuls of everything. Rapid-ish fire at a chunk of steel just to see how she fed/extracted/etc. Everything went off without a hitch. 0 stoppages for the entire range day aside from the ones listed above.

Moral of the story is the SU22 eats all sorts of stuff and is fairly accurate. I'm a terrible shot and will practice. I'll do this up again in the summer when I've had a little more trigger time.

Thanks for reading,

-Scott

 

[Nbkev]

Nice test

If that was at 100 yards Id think you were doing ok

I was out today and shooting an su22. I went through 300 rounds or so with maybe 10 at the most ftf's. Ill probably polish the feed ramp to try to dial a little more reliability out of it.

 

[little_airwolf]

Scott, what distance? And what was the wind like?
Just want to compare apples to apples. If you shot at 25yds and I was at 50yds grouping would be different.

 

[supernova]

-1 point for leaving a rifle on the firing line while downrange! Theres my condescending crap comment as requested I stay away from Remington ammo due to the high number of duds and how dirty it is. I enjoy the rancid smell because my father always bought me thunderbolts when I was a kid. Kind of a sick love-hate addiction I geuss. The upside to yellow jackets is they do feed very reliably in all my .22's and they smack stuff pretty hard, but the high number of duds takes them out of the running for me. I like blazer for plinking as its cheap, reliable and feeds well. They shoot tight groups except for alot of fliers. I can usually do cloverleafs surrounded by 1 or 2 fliers with a good bolt gun and blazer. They go bang every time though and feed great so theyre good for plinking. Now regarding your shooting, be sure to load your bipod a little or switch to a front bag. It will make a difference even with a rimfire. Getting comfortable, controlling your breathing, good trigger control and lots of practice will tighten those groups considerably. Keep up the good work

 

[brokendownyota]

Airwolf:

Distance was 25m...32 good paces for a 6'1 fella in snow, anyway. No wind to speak of.

The biggest killer was my attempting to use a rear bag and the heavy trigger on the SU22. Mucho practice to come, and I'm researching the trigger job.

-Scott

 

[little_airwolf]

Do the trigger job of ktog site. It lowered the weight for me by more than 3lbs. It's not as light as my savage but it is alot crisper with almost no creep compared to stock.
Zipties are your friends when putting the gung back togerher!

 

[cyclone]

I liked the review !....


How was it loading the mags , outdoors and in the snow ?.....


For me, winter shooting is the reason to have multiple magazines......

 

[little_airwolf]

Still waiting for my ar tower conversion for my su-22. The 275 round drum is awesome and is simple to load. Can't wait to try it out! I hear ya loading sucks in cold weather!