Federal Automatch Accuracy?

I like it. I have more .22's than everything else combined and use a lot of the AutoMatch because I found a lot of it cheap. My experience has been above average accuracy compared to most other bulk ammo, but I don't currently own a 10/22. I've used it in quite a few semi-autos and bolt rifles as well as pistols. I haven't ran into many (if any) misfires which is better than I can say for some of the Remington stuff I've had.

Different rifles do like different ammo, so you may snag one of the 325 round packs and try it out before you stock up. I have one rifle that shoots the cheap AutoMatch better than it does the Eley stuff that's 5x more expensive.

I have limited experience with Federal Automag 325 packs. I bought one several years ago and finally got around to shooting it in my FILs old Remington 251 .22lr rifle. It choked after a handful or rounds through it. No problems with other ammo at all. Minimags, Winchester, CCI standard, etc...
I wrote Federal about the problem and they send a check to me for the purchase price of the ammo. (probably cheaper than shipping ammo to me)

So... there you go.

Out of my 10/22 before i did the trigger upgrade. With the fed auto match.

I have used Fed Automatch in my 22's. I like it. Not as accurate as the $15/50 stuff but it is quit good in both my CZ's and 10/22. Try both and see what your rifle likes. CCI SV is also good. It's been a long time since I have tested ammo so I can't say which is better. Probably close. Automatch is the best bulk ammo in my opinion.

I like it, I haven't shot any of the newest stuff but what I've shot had been good.

The older fed auto match i think has more velocity. There is a difference with the report. I been wanting to chrono the 2.

Used to be pretty good stuff.

Not so for the recently manufactured.

One thing I had happen maybe someone it may interest. This is for the older fam ammo, not sure on the new stuff. I had some fam in a coffee can and a few 50 round boxes of the blue federal standard ammo form 2012-2014 era. One box opened when in the truck driving to my dads and 30-40 fell out in to almost 800 fam round. Other the the powder inside there exactly the same even by weight. So now that can is really only for plinking, shame since it was hunting to target accurate in many of my 22s.

I have shot a lot of Automatch in CZ rifles. It's good ammo for the price. It's not subsonic. I have also shot a lot of CCI SV in the same CZ rifles. I believe the CCI is the more accurate of the two.

I think it was 25 yards. Here is a after the BX trigger was installed.

It was one of the most accurate ammos, including expensive match ammo, in 2 different bolt action .22s. This was some 5 years ago. As this is basically economy ammo, not one of their dedicated premium offerings, components and results may vary. I should have purchased a huge quantity of that specific lot. It was truly exceptional. Rumor has it locally, that this ammunition can be "out of spec" or over run Federal biathalon ammunition in certain lots. When I cornered one of the Federal execs on the small bore range last year, all I got was a S eating grin and a "no comment."

It wouldn't work at all in my BERSA .22's, but they work perfectly with CCI and Golden bullets. Also had some FTF malfunctions in my SIG 322. I don't think the Auto Match is doing 1200 FPS, but not having a chronometer, I can't be sure. I have had more than the usual amount of dud's with it too. It's pretty cheap at Wal Mart though.

Scout21 said:

Federal Automatch ... Is accuracy and reliability acceptable?

always used CCI Standards ... stock 10/22 ... 18.5 in. barrel

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During my 4000 round break-in of new 10/22 Collector #3 (Essentially stock 10/22 with factory modular stock with factory picatinny scope rail and factory ghost ring sight) where factory trigger went from 7.5 lbs down to 4.5 lbs, Federal Auto Match did well accuracy wise and was reliable without any misfires - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lector-3-break-in.859106/page-2#post-11310458



Since Auto Match is loose bulk packed (instead of boxed that are better protected from rough shipping/handling), Auto Match groups varied in size. While boxed CCI SV/Blazer 40 gr Lead RN consistently produced smallest groups without significant flyers, Auto Match groups were larger with infrequent flyers. Having said that, compared to other non-match 22LR ammunition, Auto Match accuracy is pretty good only surpassed by Aguila 40 gr Lead/CPRN. Here's some excerpts from the thread on CCI SV and Auto Match.

• CCI SV/Blazer 40 gr LRN (Boxed not loose bulk pack) and Aguila 40 gr LRN/CPRN have consistently produced smallest groups with CCI SV/Blazer capable of 1/2" groups at 50 yards and Aguila capable of 1"-1.25" groups at 100 yards.

• Federal Auto Match 40 gr LRN, Federal Field Pack 38 gr CPHP, Federal Game Shok 40 gr CPRN and Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr CPHP produced more consistent groups after trigger break in and accurizing parts replacement.

Here's how Auto Match ranked compared to others from smallest to larger groups:

1. CCI Standard 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
2. CCI Blazer 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
3. Aguila 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
4. Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Boxed - Consistent group size
5. Aguila 40 gr LRN Pistol Match - Boxed, Consistent group size
6. Federal Auto Match 40 gr LRN - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
7. Federal Game Shok 40 gr CPRN - Boxed - Fairly consistent group size
8. Federal Field Pack 38 gr CPHP - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
9. Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr CPHP - Loose Bulk - Fairly consistent group size
10. Remington Thunderbolt 40 gr LRN - Loose Bulk - Small to large groups with flyers
11. Armscor 36 gr CPHP - Boxed - Varying group size with flyers
12. Federal Champion 40 gr LRN - Boxed - Group size varied
13. Federal Value 36 gr CPHP 525 Blue Box (Old/New) - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
14. Federal Value 36 gr CPHP 550 Walmart Red Box (Old/New) - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
15. Winchester XPert 36 gr LRN 500 - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
16. Winchester 36 gr CPHP 555 - Loose Bulk - Group size varied
17. Winchester M22 40 gr CPRN 500 - Loose Bulk - Group size varied with flyers

My own experience is in some of my 22 rifles it shoots great while in others it is lousy. That is true of just about any of my rifles and I have quite a few 22 rifles. The same is true of just about any 22 ammunition out there. Hell, Remington Thunderbolts and a few low priced flavors shoot great in my old Remington rifles. It's like a crap shoot on what works well and what doesn't. My best advice would be give it a try and see how well it works for you. I recently returned a Savage Anschutz rifle to my sister I had on loan for a few years and that was one of the very few 22 rifles I have used which really did shoot better with higher end ammunition. While it shot well with about anything the better Eley stuff was great. Again, give the Federal Automatch a shot (literally) and see what it does in your rifle.

Ron

Random 8 said:

Rumor has it locally, that this ammunition is "out of spec" or over run Federal biathalon ammunition. When I cornered one of the Federal execs on the small bore range last year, all I got was a S eating grin and a "no comment."

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I have heard that same tale about AutoMatch being Gold Metal Match that didn't make the grade. I know Gold Metal Match wasn't all that great of a performer in benchrest guns. I gladly ditch the last few bricks of Gold Metal Match that I had. I doubt if the two were the same because they had different advertised speeds. AM is 1200. Gold Metal was 1080.







I doubt if AutoMatch was the higher priced Ultra Match that didn't make the grade, because they are also two different speeds.

Either way, today's AutoMatch isn't the culls of either Gold Metal or Ultra Match, because they have both been discontinued.




Federal did have some ammo that performed well in biathalons and such in the 90's. It was also named Ultra Match. It was distinctive because of the dimple in the case. It and the orange box UM are not related other than by name.

Reloadron said:

Hell, Remington Thunderbolts and a few low priced flavors shoot great in my old Remington rifles

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I have a Remington that shoots Thunderbolts really well, which is the only rifle I've ever owned that did. It does shoot better ammo better, but not different enough to matter to me.
A TC Classic I have shoots absolutely any Federal HV, including AM better than it shoots Eley Tenex, Match, Target, Standard or CCI of whatever variety. The only thing that's even close is Aguila Super Extra. Guess it just likes higher velocity stuff...just not anything with "Winchester" on the box.

Federal 20 years ago is not the same as today, I’m not sure why. Back then it was better than CCI. Today, definitely not.

Here's a sample of what I can do with AutoMatch out of my S&W 617 at 25 yards from a sandbag rest. I've always had good luck with it.

I use AutoMatch in my handguns with good results but use higher velocity CCI Mini-Mags in my rifles.

I find it more accurate and lots cleaner than other bulk offerings, plus all my guns like it, and I can’t recall the last FTF with it. Certainly one of my preferred ammo choices.

I use it in my Marlin 60 for iron sight silhouette matches. I put a set of Tech Sights on it and sighted it in at 60 yards. I managed to hit the small chicken at least once.

My favorite accurate hunting ammo is Winchester Super X. There are a couple loads, and one is definitely better than the others but I aint sayin'!

it is the second least accurate for me in all of my rifles, just in front of the winchester 333 packs. However some guns seem to like it. It is the only ammo my m9-22 wont shoot worth a crap.