What are you feeding your 22lr rifles?

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nevadabob

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Recently picked up 2 used long guns: Remington nylon 66 and a Revelation 150 Western Auto made by Marlin (actually a Marlin 49). Haven't been out plinking with them yet due to fire restrictions and the crazy smoke drifting in from California.
Bought some SK semi-auto rounds and SK rifle match rounds online. Hoping they'll function and fire OK.
 
The higher the accuracy potential of the gun I'm shooting, the better ammo I tend to feed it. For run-of-the-mill guns that lack the potential for MOA accuracy, I'll usually shoot some type of bulk-grade ammo like Winchester 333/555, Federal 550 or Automatch, or something a little better like Norma TAC-22 or GECO Rifle. For my more accurate bolt action guns that are capable of half-MOA accuracy or better, if I'm actually shooting for accuracy at the moment, I like to shoot at least the level of SK Standard Plus or Pistol Match, depending upon which one the particular gun in question likes better. I've found that most .22 LR rifles are pretty picky about ammo if you want to get the best accuracy out of them.
 
Yes, the 66 should work with anything you put in it but a dud round is a dud round. Also be careful with it. That unbreakable stock can be broken and pretty easily and replacements are like hen's teeth.
 
After extensive testing, I feed my tweaked and suppressed Ruger 10/22 CCI suppressor (45 grain, 970 fps) for accuracy and (surprisingly, disappointedly) Remington Golden Bullet for cheap "accuracy". It's what my rifle has demonstrated to prefer. Some of the ammo I tested was marginally more accurate, but for the combination of cost, accuracy and subsonic nature, the Suppressor ammo was hard to beat for me.

I actually chronographed the CCI ammo and the 16.5" barreled Ruger is right on with the published muzzle velocity. The Remington is a bit shy of the 1255 published velocity, actually shooting 1195 fps.
 
What are you feeding your 22lr rifles?
After testing 16,000+ rounds of various 22LR in 10/22 TakeDown and ARs with CMMG 22LR conversion bolts, I decided to get serious about 22LR ammunition testing. So I bought new 10/22 Collector #3 and T/CR22 and started capturing every 10 shot group fired out of the box (To monitor trigger break in and rifling wear) and continuing with 20+ ammunition testing - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lector-3-break-in.859106/page-2#post-11398189

Since 22LR accuracy is dependent on rifle/ammo combination, here's my latest list of most accurate to least accurate composite findings so far from T/CR22 and 10/22 testing - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/eley-aguila-22-ammo.871752/#post-11572036

  • Aguila 40 gr Lead RN Pistol Match Competition Eley Prime (Boxed) - Initial testing showed promise
  • Aguila 40 gr Lead RN Eley/Aguila Prime (Boxed) - T/CR22 produced smaller groups than CCI SV shot from 10/22 Collector
  • CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr Lead RN (Boxed)
  • CCI Blazer 40 gr Lead RN (Boxed)
  • Federal Auto Match 40 gr Lead RN (Bulk pack)
  • Aguila 40 gr CPRN Eley/Aguila Prime (Boxed)
  • Winchester 36 gr CPHP 555 (Bulk pack)
  • Remington 36 gr CPHP Golden Bullet (Bulk pack)
  • Winchester 36 gr XPert (Bulk pack)
  • Remington 40 gr Lead RN Thunderbolt (Bulk pack) - While very small groups on par with CCI SV/Blazer were produced on occasion, it was not consistent
  • Federal 40 gr Lead RN Champion (Boxed)
  • Federal 38 gr CPHP Field Pack (Bulk pack)
  • Armscor 36 gr CPHP (Boxed) - While smaller groups were respectable, overall group size were not consistent but not bad for lowest priced copper plated ammo
  • Winchester 40 gr CPRN M22 (Bulk pack) - Several duds per box
  • Federal 36 gr CPHP Walmart 550 red box (new box) - Bulk pack
  • Federal 36 gr CPHP Walmart 550 red box (old box) - Bulk pack
  • Federal 36 gr CPHP Value 525 blue box (Bulk pack)
Pending testing:
  • Aguila 38 gr CPHP Aguila Prime (Boxed)
  • CCI Standard 40 gr LRN (new blue box)
  • CCI MiniMag Target 40 gr CPRN
  • ELEY Sport 40 gr LRN
  • Federal Game Shok 40 gr CPRN
  • Federal Match 40 gr LRN
  • Winchester SuperX 40 gr CPRN
 
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Federal bulk pack 36gr hp from the 90's.
Shoots pretty good in the 10/22 and field master pump
 
I have tried 8 or 10 different brands including some match ammo. So far my 455 CZ prefers Wolf Match. I never realized how much difference there was until I got serious with the testing. Some rounds would shoot 4" from point of aim when sighted in with the Wolf. One thing that has been consistent with several of my rifles has been Lapua. It never shoots good in any of them.
 
Obviously, anything I can get at the moment. ;)
I got another case at Cabelas this morning, Browning stuff.
I’m trying to cut back, but my boy needs a reward for doing schoolwork without me throttling him like Homer Simpson...:eek:
:D
I’m trying to save some Standard Velocity for my suppressor. I’m finding it difficult...
 
I have tried 8 or 10 different brands including some match ammo. So far my 455 CZ prefers Wolf Match. I never realized how much difference there was until I got serious with the testing. Some rounds would shoot 4" from point of aim when sighted in with the Wolf. One thing that has been consistent with several of my rifles has been Lapua. It never shoots good in any of them.
Some guns I guess, my CZ's prefer Lapua. But they don't like mixing brands.
 
There seems to be at least one flyer in every box of Wolf. It usually rears its head when you are shooting a good target for score or a nice group. As far as match grade ammo goes, there are far better choices.

The OPs guns are not match level guns, I wouldn't feed them match grade ammo. For them, a decent bulk like Federal Automatch should do fine.
 
I prefer CCI MiniMags or CCI Standard Velocity. Anything other than Remington ThunderCrap and Golden Crap and I am, uh, golden ;).
 
CCI Mini-Mags are my go-to for 22 LR autoloaders, but I'm hoarding my last few boxes and shooting cheaper stuff until supply returns to semi-normal again. My CZ-75 Kadet particularly likes CCI.

In my semi-autos, I'm mostly using either Remington Golden Bullet or my supply (originally 10 bricks) of Armscor I bought over ten years ago and am still using up. The Armscor stuff from back then was surprisingly good.
 
The Armscor stuff from back then was surprisingly good.
It's still pretty decent.

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My 10-22 will eat just about anything standard velocity that I feed it. My M&P 22 AR generally will too, as long as it is well lubed. My nylon 66 doesn't seem to like the current cheap bulk stuff that I buy at 500 or so to the box. I don't know if it is the gun or the ammo. I think I may need a new mag tube.
 
As of late, the bulk ammo I've been shooting has had a lot of duds. CCI, Federal, have all gone bang, but I have lost faith in anything Winchester or Remington.
 
I prefer CCI MiniMags or CCI Standard Velocity. Anything other than Remington ThunderCrap and Golden Crap and I am, uh, golden ;).
Ive always had good luck with Thunderbolts. In fact, thanks to the bullet profile they use, it feeds more reliability in my semiauto rifles than anything else. Accuracy seems adequate too- minute of tin can anyways.

CCI HV and Stingers seems consistently good. I dont actually care for their SV stuff- its quiet, but wont cycle my autos and the amount of drop past 25yds is annoying.

Winchester Western has given me nothing but trouble with their .22s. Jams, duds, ugh.

I tends to gravitate to bolt-action rimfires these days, as Im sick of clearing jams. If you single-load them, they never jam, lol.
 
My .22LRs have had some pretty expensive match ammo over the years, especially when I was shooting Rimfire Benchrest. I haven't bought the Lapua "expensive spread" for quite a while, but have some left over and shoot it from time to time. All my competition benchrest rifles are gone, but my customized and heavily used Rem 581 (top) kinda rules, along with my Ruger 10-22, Shilen-barreled "Picherized" rifle.

The Rem 504 (bottom) I bought at a salvage company in the Waterville, Maine area, where I've gotten several rifles over the years. On the first day of a newly-received batch of guns, I recognized it in the rack and when some guys were fighting over centerfires, I scoffed it up at a great price. Don't know how many remember that there was a bad batch of 504 barrels and those rifles didn't shoot worth a darn. Fortunately, mine has a great barrel and it continues to amaze me. The 504 was Remington's answer to the Winchester 52 and though not quite as well put-together, the price was much lower and it has been a really good rifle for me.

My fun ammo is the white box Federal "Auto Match" in the 325 count white box and go through 5-10 boxes a year, at least when shooting at the indoor club range in the winter.
Copy (2) of P2040006.JPG Ruger 10-22.JPG Rem504 W-Simmons ATV 4-14X.JPG
 
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Ive always had good luck with Thunderbolts. In fact, thanks to the bullet profile they use, it feeds more reliability in my semiauto rifles than anything else. Accuracy seems adequate too- minute of tin can anyways.

CCI HV and Stingers seems consistently good. I dont actually care for their SV stuff- its quiet, but wont cycle my autos and the amount of drop past 25yds is annoying.

Winchester Western has given me nothing but trouble with their .22s. Jams, duds, ugh.

I tends to gravitate to bolt-action rimfires these days, as Im sick of clearing jams. If you single-load them, they never jam, lol.

I have had to many squibs, FTF and bullets stuck in my barrel with Thunderbolt ammo. It is just not worth my effort and it is dirty. I have had entire boxes of Thunderbolt that were bad. Same with the GB. But I am glad to hear some folks have use for them.
 
Englishmn & doubleh...thanks for the nylon 66 info. I've heard the plastic stock is prone to crack in cold weather if mishandled. I found a very useful YT video on cleaning which I've already walked through. Fortunately I bought a 66 that was pretty clean to begin with. Bought it from a lgs. He has his 22's mounted on a wall and I had to do a double take when I first saw it. I asked him "What can we do about that price of $389?" I was working on a trade with him and he knocked it down to $350. Sold!
 
$350 is good price nowdays.
I wouldn't clean a 66 other than the barrel unless it was acting up.
We once buried mine in the sand along a river most of a day then dug it up shook it off and it still wouldnt jam.
We did it again with the bolt open and had to take it apart and clean it to get it to cycle.
 
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