Question for the .22 LR match shooters

[gspn]

For those of you who shoot in competitions…what ammo do you use?

I ask this because I have seen match grade ammo on the shelves consistently throughout this ammo panic. It would seem that the panic wouldn't have impacted actual shooting match participants very much…or perhaps it only impacted those who use lower quality ammo to shoot their matches.

So what say you…use match ammo in competitions or bulk ammo?

 

[SpentCasing]

Believe it or not, the match stuff from Wolf in 22LR is REALLY good.

 

[redneck2]

Wolf Match shoots .2 @ 50 yards from my CZ 453 Varminter.

Just depends on what your rifle likes. I tried some other that was 3x the price and it did worse. Every rifle is a law unto itself, perhaps more so than center fire.

 

[md2lgyk]

When I was heavily into NRA bullseye pistol competition, I shot Eley ammo in the .22 portion of the matches.

 

[Bailey Boat]

I agree with Redneck, you need to shoot as many different brands and types of ammo as possible until you stumble onto that "magic bullet" that your rifle likes more than any other. Once you find that bullet buy as much of the same lot number as you can get or afford. And keep records or you'll forget and then have to do all of that shooting/testing all over again.....

 

[wally]

or you'll forget and then have to do all of that shooting/testing all over again.....

You say it as if would be a bad thing

 

[Mike OTDP]

I shoot RWS Target Rifle, but the better grades of Eley, CCI, and Lapua are popular.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Lapua Center X

 

[HighExpert]

CCI sv

 

[Vikingsoftpaw]

I've used CCI Green Tag, RWS Subsonics and put away a couple of bricks of Federal Olympic Match.

The reason you see it on shelves is that is it fairly expensive. It's over 2.5x the price of bulk fodder people use as blasting ammo...

 

[Constrictor]

I use standard velocity cci for matches.

 

[bannockburn]

I have tried quite a bit of match grade .22 target ammunition and the one that does it for me is Wolf Match Target.

 

[Calibre44]

I've found this to be the best .22LR ammo I have used - it lubricates the barrel as well.
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[browningguy]

I shoot RWS Target Rifle in my .22 rifle and Eley Match Extra in my pistols.

 

[ford8nr]

RWS Target was my 'go to' ammo for indoor 4 position. SK+ shot about the same and now I'm shooting Agulia Golden Eagle Target...glad it shoots good since I picked up a case of it this summer. The bulk ammo shoots OK but I have never seen a gun that won't shoot a 'target grade' ammo better. Most indoor people in my area shoot Wolf Target and the benchrest shooters shoot even higher grade ammo. In the old world of $15-25 brick bulk packs, I was shooting $50-60 brick target ammo and was at the lower end of 'good' ammo. I know people will rave about the great groups you can shoot with floor sweepings, but after 40 years of shooting .22's competitivly I've NEVER seen it. I'm not saying you can't shoot decent groups...just not GREAT groups. That being said I shot a perfect round of silouette this year in a season record time and my wife shot and perfect round even though it was QUITE a bit slower , using Remington Golden Bullets...but ANY hit on the target that knocked it down counted...not precision shooting.

 

[ford8nr]

Here's a comparison of bulk and 'target ammo'

 

[Slamfire]

Eley Match EPS Black Box

100 yard targets, shot in conventional prone matches, with sling.

 

[dagger dog]

Some of the Aguila is Eley primed, I've had good luck with the Super Extra standard velocity line, in 40 solid and 36 grain HP out of a Wlyde chambered 10-22 HB.

CCI Green Tag is what my 3rd Model Woodsman , and my Ruger MKII 6 7/8 like , and my old H&R 999 Sportsman likes Remington 40 Gr Subsonic.

 

[Drue]

I shoot (at) smallbore silhouette. I use Eley Club. Other shooters that I know use SK Standard Plus (= Wolf Match Target) and SK Rifle Match (= Wolf Match Extra). Some use Lapua Center X.

Drue

 

[Cee Zee]

It depends on how much I want to win and how much I'm willing to pay to win. Not always of course but I've found that the best ammo generally is the real expensive stuff but you still have to pick which brand and type is best for your particular weapon. I can do well with Wolf but I do better with EPS Black and still better with Federal Gold Medal UltraMatch although I think they have quit making it (of course). The Federal has been the most consistently good ammo I've ever shot. I've won most of the contests I've won with Wolf though. But I don't think Wolf is as good as it was a few years ago.

For practice and occasional informal contests I'll shoot CCI SV. It's consistent and pretty accurate. But not like more expensive brands. Oh and I've only ever found one rifle that liked Tenex better than other ammo. And it's the most expensive ammo I've ever shot. Go figure. Maybe I just need upper class firearms instead of that peasant stuff I shoot.

Generally anything made my Eley is going to be good though. But some kinds are better than others of course. Same goes for CCI. You really just will never know what works well in your particular firearm until you try different stuff. And the real top notch shooters will of course look for a particular lot# for their favorite stuff. They'll test several lots and buy a pallet of the stuff they really like. It takes a LOT of money to be a top notch shooter. If I had the money I'd invest in the equipment and go on the bench rest circuit. But I don't. I can afford to find out what my guns like though. I just can't afford to shoot what they like real often.

One more thing. Practice will make your groups shrink faster than good ammo. But you have to use decent ammo to practice. I've spent thousands of dollars in a year getting to where I thought I could shoot decent. I'd be spending a lot more now if I could find what I want. I'm building up my .223 bolt action, long range varmint gun now. At least I can find some ammo for it. Got new glass for it for Christmas. I hope to take up some medium distance competition shooting next summer.