Apologies for 22LR question(s) but... CCI Stingers, 22 WMR, Short Rifle???

[DefiantDad]

Hello everyone,

I tried searching and searching around here for "Stinger" and "22LR" but... not really sure about the search results.

Anyway, I ended up getting yet-another-gun, a 22LR. Remington 597 Yellow Jacket.

I scoped it with a simple 9x and got a couple extra 10 mags.

GOALS: Target shooting at 100 yards (also as low-cost training for long guns such as .223 and .308); small game / feral animals; self defense in a pinch with no other gun on me (in that order).

22LR newbie questions:

Best accurate high muzzle energy rounds, CCI Stingers?

I hear about 17 HMR, 22 WMR, etc... none of these are compatible with my 22LR right? The only caliber I should be using is 22 Long Rifle, yes?

What about Short Rifle, etc. (sort of like asking if I can shoot .38 Special out of a .357).

Basically I don't really know very much about 22LR although I shot tons out of 10/22 and Ruger pistols before. Just didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the ammo.

Thanks!

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, .22 Long Rifle only.

None of the .17's or .22 WRF or .22 WMR will fit or work.

.22 Shorts will fit, but they will not cycle the action and probably won't even feed as a manually operated repeater.

CCI Stingers are known for their speed, but certainly not for their gilt-edge accuracy.

Your best bet for accuracy is going to be 40 grain standard or high-Velocity .22 Long Rifle.
Or 36 grain Hollow-Point for small game killing performance.

Every rifle is different, so you need to try several different brands of ammo and see which one your rifle shoots best.

rc

 

[Texan Scott]

Please don't attempt to fire any WMR in you 22lr. Bad.

Best 22lr for your rifle will depend on your rifle. Not the model, but your personal rifle
Try several brands, see what it likes.

I suppose you could fire shorts, but they likely won't feed reliably from your mags or cycle your action. They most certainly will not shoot to your scope's point of aim, so not much point to the bother, really.

General rule applies: use only the ammo for which your weapon is marked.

 

[WNTFW]

GOALS: Target shooting at 100 yards (also as low-cost training for long guns such as .223 and .308); small game / feral animals; self defense in a pinch with no other gun on me (in that order). You may want more than one ammo for these goals.

22LR newbie questions:

Best accurate high muzzle energy rounds, CCI Stingers?
Won't matter what others do, it comes down to what works for your rifle. You my find trends that agree though.

I hear about 17 HMR, 22 WMR, etc... none of these are compatible with my 22LR right? The only caliber I should be using is 22 Long Rifle, yes?
Yes

What about Short Rifle, etc. (sort of like asking if I can shoot .38 Special out of a .357). Why? They cost more than .22LR

Basically I don't really know very much about 22LR although I shot tons out of 10/22 and Ruger pistols before. Just didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the ammo.

In my mind shot execution is what you are practicing with .22LR. Dry fire, air rifle, .22LR and then centerfire are what I do. With .22lr (bulk packs) I try to buy boxes from the same lot in hopes getting consistent ammo. I don't shoot expensive .22LR match ammo. In my experience Remington ammo is not nearly as bad as it sounds on the internet. I shoot what I can buy locally. Price is a factor after performance and availability. However price difference in bulk packs is minimal in the cost of a range trip. I essentially buy the cheapest bulk pack that is adequate for my use.

 

[DefiantDad]

OK thanks; I will start by experimenting with 36 and 40 grains.

(I have/had zero frame of reference for bullet weight for 22LR, so thanks for this.)

FTF question: I had not had very good previous experience (over the years shooting other 22LR guns) on 22LR feeding; I assume those 30 round mags (for my 597 rifle) I see on the Web are just going to exacerbate Failure to Feed problems with the 22LR, correct? For the time being I am just going to stick to the 10 round mags, loaded to 8 rounds (based on what I have been reading).

 

[DefiantDad]

GOALS: Target shooting at 100 yards (also as low-cost training for long guns such as .223 and .308); small game / feral animals; self defense in a pinch with no other gun on me (in that order). You may want more than one ammo for these goals.

22LR newbie questions:

Best accurate high muzzle energy rounds, CCI Stingers?
Won't matter what others do, it comes down to what works for your rifle. You my find trends that agree though.

I hear about 17 HMR, 22 WMR, etc... none of these are compatible with my 22LR right? The only caliber I should be using is 22 Long Rifle, yes?
Yes

What about Short Rifle, etc. (sort of like asking if I can shoot .38 Special out of a .357). Why? They cost more than .22LR

Basically I don't really know very much about 22LR although I shot tons out of 10/22 and Ruger pistols before. Just didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the ammo.

In my mind shot execution is what you are practicing with .22LR. Dry fire, air rifle, .22LR and then centerfire are what I do. With .22lr (bulk packs) I try to buy boxes from the same lot in hopes getting consistent ammo. I don't shoot expensive .22LR match ammo. In my experience Remington ammo is not nearly as bad as it sounds on the internet. I shoot what I can buy locally. Price is a factor after performance and availability. However price difference in bulk packs is minimal in the cost of a range trip. I essentially buy the cheapest bulk pack that is adequate for my use.

Thanks WNTFW on the insight for bulk ammo. Will consider. I am headed to the LGS to pick up a brick or two this weekend. See what they have.

 

[WNTFW]

Defiant Dad,
Look at the weight and nose shape of the bullet. Also look at the lead vs copper aspect. These are places you might see trends in what you get results with. Also bullet lube on .22lrs are another variable. Some have bullets loose in the case and some are rock solid. For example one person suggest Marlin 60 work better with copper .22lr and they may be on to something.

I have had some outstanding results with Remington Golden Bullets. Lately I have been using Fedral 510B. Why? Because RGB's went up and I discovered the Fed 510B's by chance. I think the 510's are = or have a slight edge and are cheaper. (out of 1 rifle)

You get conflicting opinions on .22lr procedures. One is that you can't jump from one ammo to another without fouling up your results. If you jump around on ammo & are not getting conclusive results that may the problem. Write down the info on the target as later you may get confused what was what.

I am not familiar with the 597. Check out Rimfire Central it is a great site focused mainly on .22lr and broken down sensibly for such.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=218

 

[DefiantDad]

OK many thanks!

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I used to use CCI Stingers all the time then I found the CCI Minmags tightened up the groups from my Marlins. I also like Federal Automatch. Your mileage may vary.

For me there is notably more report and yes even "recoil" with the Stingers. I do like using them in the 22lr conversion for my 1911.

 

[stubbicatt]

I typically go to the Sportsmans Warehouse nearby and buy the Federal bulk pack 40 grain fodder. It shoots very well and is relatively inexpensive.

I prefer the CCI but it is more expensive typically. I have found that the limitations on accuracy based on the style of shooting which I do is not the rifle, it is not the ammo, it is me! So to shoot the high dollar Eley Tenex would simply be wasted on me.

I hope you have many smiles out of your new rifle.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

For targets, pick up some CCI standard velocity or green tag. .22 target rounds are all subsonic.

For critters, CCI minimags or stingers will be the ticket. High velocity hollow point.

Also, consider adding a Volquartzen hammer to the rifle, it's about a 2.5# pull in my 597.

 

[DefiantDad]

OK thanks; yes I am getting the hammer and the extractor.

 

[PO2Hammer]

For accuracy and top speed CCI Velocitors should be considered.
It's the most accurate in both of my .22 rifles and has real power - 1,388 fps from my 16" CZ Scout, the fastest for any 40 grain load.

 

[Pulsar]

my 597 loves everything
shorts have a quieter report - but you have to cycle them yourself as they will not feed properly.
the Volquartzen parts are a must

also try subsonics, they feed and are quite
I use them for hunting.

 

[toivo]

Federal 510 (or the Wal-Mart 510B) is great .22LR ammo: good performance and reasonable price. If it works in your 597, buy a bunch and don't look back. But some semi-autos like a round with a little more oomph. In that case, try Federal AutoMatch or CCI Mini-Mags.

Stingers might be a little too hot, both for accuracy and for the life of your bolt buffer. But bolt buffers are easily replaceable, so I wouldn't worry too much on that score.

 

[DefiantDad]

What's a bolt buffer? Is that like the buffer tube in the AR? I didn't notice I have one (or you mean the springs on the guide rods?)

Right now looks like I might be shopping for CCI Standard and High Velocity 22LR.

Question: Are these just plinking rounds or what? I am not familiar with any of this ammo. Can use for critters? What range? 50? 100 yards?

Thanks.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Best accurate high muzzle energy rounds, CCI Stingers?

The only honest answer to this one is, "Ask the gun."

Every gun is a law into itself. What shoots well in one rifle may shoot poorly in another, and vice versa. So get small samples (50 to 100 rounds) of several high velocity loads and try them all out.

I hear about 17 HMR, 22 WMR, etc... none of these are compatible with my 22LR right? The only caliber I should be using is 22 Long Rifle, yes?

Correct. None of those other cartridges will even chamber in your rifle.

What about Short Rifle, etc. (sort of like asking if I can shoot .38 Special out of a .357).

There is no such thing as .22 Short Rifle. The standard .22 rimfires are Short, Long and Long Rifle.

The Long Rifles are the cheapest, and most development work has gone into them -- they are almost always best.

Longs are poor performers in most rifles -- they are badly balanced ballistically. And you probably can't find them at your local gun store.

Shorts can be fired in a .22 Long Rifle chamber (but may not work through the action.) They are more expensive than .22 Long Rifle, because so few of them are sold these days.

 

[toivo]

What's a bolt buffer?

Part #5 in this diagram. It just cushions the rear of the receiver from having the bolt slam into it when the action cycles.

http://www.brownells.com/schematics/Remington-/Model-597-597-Magnum-sid83.aspx#r5sid83

I would call the 510 and AutoMatch a plinking or target round. For critters, the Mini-Mag is available in a hollowpoint.

 

[Radagast]

I will second what Vern said about longs. Longs are sold as subsonic rounds for close range pest control.
Last week I fired 28 grain Winchester .22 LongZ ammo through my CZ452. Vertical stringing lead to four inch by 1.5 inch patterns at 50m.
I then fired CCI 40 grain Quiet .22lr. groups at 50 meters were consistently within an inch for five shots.
I took my ear muffs off and fired one round of each. On the indoor range neither was uncomfortable to shoot, the difference in noise was marginal.

so as a subsonic round I do not recommend the .22 long.

FWIW my standard target round is the .22lr CCI standard velocity. I find it to be consistently accurate and reliable in a variety of guns.
I don't have any experience with the Mini-mag or equivalent rounds. I have a .22 magnum and a .17 HMR for those jobs requiring more velocity.

 

[targetshooter22]

Not much to add that hasn't been said already... Other than on another forum dedicated to rimfires, I see a lot of success with CCI Mini Mags. Of course it depends on the rifle and buying one of everything is a really good start.

 

[WNTFW]

Regarding the Feds 510 vs Automatch. Both are 40 grain solids. The 510 rates at 1240 and the Automatch at 1200 for MV. So in the little more oomph category the Automatch would lose. Not a whole lot of difference and seeing actual chrono #'s from your rifle might show less of a gap.

Another good round was CCI Blazers it shot tight groups & chronoed well, except it had some 50-80 fps off rounds and bad fliers. If you can call your shots & ignore the fliers it would be good provided it worked in your rifle.

We don't normally chrono .22lr rounds. My friend just was chronoing CF round and we shot some bulk stuff to see what #'s were.

I just bought some Rem GB's @ $10 for 225 and Some 510B @ $17.70 for 500.

As you can tell from the response it is a shoot & see what you get game. That is part of the fun.

 

[DefiantDad]

OK - let's see what happens with this rifle. Thanks for all the responses.