.22LR Ammo Testing

[MrSpiffy]

Went to the range today to do some more ammo testing on my .22LR Savage MKII FV. I replaced the scope on it recently, as I think the optics on my original had fallen out of alignment. Got a cheapie from Craigslist; a Bushnell Sportview 4-12x 40mm for $20. I can't say I'm impressed with it, now that I've used it. When zooming in, the edges of the glass get blurry, and it's tough to get a good sight picture with it. But when you're perfectly lined up, it does let you shoot fairly well with it. In any case, I guess I can't complain for what I paid for it. It will get replaced with something nicer eventually, though. Probably a Nikon Buckmasters or something similar. Anyway, in my results, you may notice groups moving around quite a bit. That's from me tweaking the scope between groups. But I shot each group at the same POI.

Anyway, here's what I did. I shot these from our 50yd range, using a mediocre rest. (I forgot my sand bag.) I tested the following ammo brands/types:

• Federal Value Pack 36gr (my "control" sample, if you will)
• CCI Stinger HV 32gr (shot the best in my last group of testing @ 50ft, indoors)
• Aguila SuperMaximum Hyper-Velocity 30gr
• SK Rifle Match 2.59 gram (40gr)
• Wolf Match Target 40gr

Here were the results, starting with Federal Value Pack. All targets have 1" black bullseye, and 3" outer ring, for comparison.

Federal Value Pack: (avg. group size: 1.74")


CCI Stinger HV (2 pages, avg. group size: 1.01")




Aguila SuperMaximum Hyper-Velocity: (avg. group size: 1.56")


SK Rifle Match: (avg. group size: 0.88")


Wolf Match Target: (avg. group size: 0.76")


Conclusions:
For starters, the Federal Value Pack bulk ammo isn't too bad for the money. Considering, on sale, you can find it around $15 for 525 rounds, that's less than 2.9 cents per round. Cheap! However, the more expensive ammo definitely performs better than the bulk ammo.

For starters, the CCI Stinger HV rounds are pretty good stuff. They're louder than the rest, but pack a much bigger punch, if you're using them on small game. They grouped around 1" for me, even with some pretty poor groups that were my own fault. I'd have a hard time believing I couldn't get a better average group with some extra patience. My two or three largest groups with the Stinger ammo were the result of impatience, not the ammo.

The Aguila SuperMaximum Hyper-Velocity rounds I did not care for. The group sizes were way too large for the price tag. Maybe they're better for certain situations, but I won't be using them again in this gun.

The SK Rifle Match was nice, had moderate sound volume, and were quite consistent. Good stuff. My 1.47" group was likely my own fault. Take that one group out, and my average group size drops to 0.735", so I'd definitely say this is good-quality ammo.

Same with Wolf Match Target. Excellent quality for target shooting. Great consistency. It was a bit odd to shoot, because it's incredibly quiet. You'd think you had a squib, if you didn't know any better. (First round, I just had to look and found a hole on paper. Whew!) Average group size was excellent. I can't complain, aside from the fact that I had to really adjust my scope due to the low velocity these have. They will drop quite a bit, and you'll feel like you're lobbing them at the target. But they'll go where you want them. I wouldn't use these for small game hunting, though, if you don't need a really quiet round. But, these would be barely audible, if you put them through a silencer!

So, take these results however you will. If you want quality ammo for target shooting, I'd recommend SK Rifle Match or Wolf Match Target. If you're small game hunting, I'd go with CCI Stingers, unless you need something really quiet. I'd guess the Wolf MT would perform fine at shorter distances.

 

[xfyrfiter]

If those are 50 yards they are not bad, at 50 feet not so good, LOL.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would have expected better groups with the Wolf MT and SK Rifle.

 

[SHR970]

Did you do know that Wolf is repackaged SK?
Edit to add: SK is German made Lapua.

 

[jpwilly]

This is how the Wolf MT shoots in my Savage MKII BV at 50 yrds 25 shots.

 

[gbran]

Do you know the velocity for the CCI 32gr Stingers?

 

[MrSpiffy]

Do you know the velocity for the CCI 32gr Stingers?

CCI Stinger ammo should be 1,640 fps.
Aguila SuperMax is around 1,750 fps.
Wolf MT and SK Rifle Match are about 1,050 fps.

jpwilly, nice shootin'. I'd imagine if I made 25-round groups that mine would be somewhat similar. The Wolf MT seemed to group pretty nicely.

SHR970, I did notice that the box of SK had the Lapua name on it. But I didn't know that Wolf is repackaged SK/Lapua ammo. Very interesting! I'd imagine that's why their velocities and group sizes were so similar. The Wolf MT is cheaper, though. If I had to pick, I'd use Wolf instead. The Wolf also seemed considerably quieter than all the rest, too. Not sure why the SK wasn't as quiet.

 

[gbran]

Thanks.

 

[velocette]

Wolf match and SK match (and SK std + & Wolf std) are all the same ammo. All made on the same machines at the same times with the same components. The differences between the std and the match are that some lots of the ammo had smaller deviations, this ammo is packaged as "match". It is the rare rifle & rifleman that can tell the difference between the std and match, aside from the price.
The "differences" some find between SK & Wolf ammo is the lot to lot variations that all ammo makers have.

Roger

 

[Sky]

The Aquila for me shoots high if the rifle is zeroed using Federal bulk but so does the CCI ; pretty much like your targets indicate.

I suppose due to the higher velocity?

What I have found using my weapons (that are scoped) once I zero with a particular .22 ammo it is best to use 'that' ammo or re-zero with a new ammo I intend on using for a sustained period of time. I have not notices MOA spread as much with the different ammo if I use this technique and my CMMG .22 AR uppers in 18" and 16". I am not ace of the base with a .22 but I feel I should hit what I aim at within 50 yards at least most of the time!?!?

In my mind it makes sense because of the wide spread of velocities using different .22 ammo. I tend to shoot 10 shot groupings at 50 yards to zero so maybe I am not reading my groupings correctly; I do tend to disregard the occasional flyer or just plain bad shot on my part..

I just want minute of squirrel head at 50.

BTW nice shooting.

 

[Slamfire]

I met Charles Kemp, the 2010 Metallic Sight National Champ, during the 2010 Camp Perry small bore prone. His rifle used a M52D action, a Winchester trigger group that broke at ¾ lb, but everything else was non-Winchester.

I asked him about his group sizes. He told me, that his rifle liked one particular lot of Eley Red Box, and with that ammunition, early in the morning (no wind), using a bench, his rifle shot consistent 10 shot groups of 0.38”.

He also told me there was not such thing as “best ammo”. You have to test all brands to find the ammunition your rifle likes the best.


Charles Kemp, 2010 Metallic Sight National Champ






I have had good luck with Wolf Match and Target match in small bore prone matches. These groups were shot at 100 yards, prone with a sling, out of two different rifles.





Even in my Sears Ranger (Steven M416), prone with a sling at 50 yards!

 

[MrSpiffy]

Slamfire, that is very cool to meet a national champion like that! Hopefully you were able to pick up a few tips from him.

I definitely have to agree that ammo testing is necessary. If I hadn't done any testing and just used Federal bulk ammo, I wouldn't be that excited to shoot my rifle. But seeing the groups I can get with certain ammo brands/types is quite interesting, and very worth it if I ever want to hunt or compete. I wouldn't trust the bulk ammo, even at 50 yards, to hit a squirrel head. But the Stingers, or the Wolf MT / SK Rifle Match? You bet! Now I know what my rifle is capable of. I bet I could get considerably smaller groups using a better rest or a lead sled to help take some of my own error out of the equation. Now I'm curious to see just how good it'll shoot!