The last time I purchased CCI Blazer .22 long rifle ....

[Danny Creasy]

ammunition, I paid $79 for a 5000 round case. With shipping, it still came in under a hundred bucks. That lot was surprisingly accurate, and I shot it for several years in local fun matches and the occasional CMP Sporter match. That case ran dry about the time the shortage started.

So, last month, I was at Larry's in Huntsville, Alabama and they actually had a bunch of .22 LR in stock. The prices were "ouchy", as you might expect. I was aware that Blazer was different nowadays, but I said to myself, "What the heck," and sprang for a brick at $39.95.

I was looking for a shooting project this morning and decided to take my recently re-scoped CZ 452 Varmint out for a test drive with this "cheap" ammo. The Varmint had wound up with my 20+ year old Weaver V-16 mounted in some Warne rings.



The groups were spotty. Disappointing at first, but after the bore seasoned to the ammunition, there did seem to be some promise. I thought, "I bet this combo wouldn't even break 200 on the USBR target." The Green Monster is an excellent performance indicator. So thusly challenged, I plodded down to the 50 yard berm and pinned a fresh card up on the backer.

http://vid47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/sheffieldshootr/IMG_0487_zps3c6f7iol.mp4

Well, I started shooting and tried to remember to pause when the 5 to 10 mile an hour winds picked up. After scoring the target, I discovered I had been wrong in my prediction. We posted a 205-4X! This is solid "knock around" ammo. The flyer count was not surprising for low priced ammunition, but the X count was shocking. I usually only get 4 Xs on the Green Monster when I post scores in the 230s.

 

[ford8nr]

I LOVE my 452 Varmint. I've always wanted to try some blazer. Right now my go to ammo is Agulia Golden Eagle Target since I have a case of it in the ammo vault.

 

[viking499]

I picked up a brick of Blazer awhile back. Hope it does as good as yours.

 

[Danny Creasy]

Well done on the Golden Eagle, ford. I like Aguila Standard Velocity for our 50 and 25 yard local silhouette matches. My CZ sporters group about the same with the Aguila SV as this Blazer. The Aguila SV is much slower than the Blazer, but it is fine for these local fun matches.

viking, I hope your CCI Blazer is a winner.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

From my understanding, the bulk box Blazer is not the same as 50 rd box Blazer. The 50 rd box is said to be the better...I bought a couple of cases of it a couple of years ago. It is one of the better grouping budget rounds out of my fleet of CZ's.

 

[viking499]

CCI SV has been good to me so far. Hope the Blazer is too.

Saw a brick of Norma TAC tonight at the LGS. Though I would pick it up and give some a try since I have read some good things about it lately, but they wanted $69.99 a brick......had to pass at that price.......

 

[Danny Creasy]

I have read that as well, CPE. Actually, back in the early aughts when I purchased my aforementioned case of CCI Blazer, the boxed ammo was said to be the very same cartridge as Federal Champion. It just had a different head stamp. Indeed, side by side, the two looked identical and would often group the same, chronograph the same, and shoot to the same point of aim.

These latest boxed rounds look somewhat like CCI Standard Velocity with a darker shade of lube than my old stuff. I like 'em though, and plan on obtaining more at a future date.

 

[Danny Creasy]

viking, I haven't had any CCI SV since the shortage began. I miss that round for use in my S&W 41.

 

[Cee Zee]

From my understanding, the bulk box Blazer is not the same as 50 rd box Blazer. The 50 rd box is said to be the better

I bought a lot of both bulk Blazer and the 50 round box Blazer in the time between the two panic periods. I never noticed any difference between the two during that time. I usually bought the bulk because I got a few extra rounds. It was my plinking ammo during that time because I was buying it for $12-$13 a brick. I still have some of the 50 round box stuff. Not much. I think I have 2 boxes now. But I've shot a lot of it since the panic because I had a good bit of it when the panic started. I don't remember the bulk stuff being worse than what I still have. Maybe if I did more target shooting with that ammo I'd know for sure but mostly I shot it through my semi-autos just plinking.

 

[Danny Creasy]

I have picked up several boxes of American Eagle at Dicks over the last few months. Locally, they would let a customer purchase three 40 round boxes at a non-scalper price of $2.89 per box. I still haven't tried it. Usually, I don't care for plated .22 LR. Any of you folks tried that in a CZ or sumpin else?

 

[viking499]

Is it the red box 40 grain stuff?

When my son was shooting 4-H, that was what almost everyone used. His Trainer loves it.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Wow, I might have to go out looking for Blazer again. Been a long time since I've even seen a box outside of my stash. I agree, it is my absolute go-to 22LR for almost everything. More than accurate enough for the price and reliable. I've only had a few duds in several bricks worth of it.

 

[jrdolall]

I have had excellent results over the years using Blazer ammo. From plinking to squirrel hunting it has been the best "budget" ammo I can remember using. In a normal world my 22 stash would be 90% CCI, from Blazer to Stingers to Mini Mags. I have a couple of guns that love Stingers. I also do not recall any difference in the 50 round ammo and the bulk. Maybe it is different but I certainly can't compare the two now. I have a few 50 round boxes but haven't seen bulk for a while.
What do they do differently from the other 22 manufacturers that makes their "bulk" ammo more dependable/accurate? QC? Newer equipment? Maybe someone has a definitive answer to uphold my personal experience.

 

[Danny Creasy]

viking499 asked, "Is it the red box 40 grain stuff?"

Yes and no, it comes in the red boxes, but it is 38 grain hollow point. Now that you mention it, I remember helping with a 4H outdoor event a few years ago and we were indeed issued the 40 grain American Eagle to teach the youngsters to shoot with.

 

[mdauben]

viking, I haven't had any CCI SV since the shortage began. I miss that round for use in my S&W 41.

I just picked up a brick of CCI SV a couple weeks ago at my FLGS. It was going for $50 a brick but this was the first time I've seen it in person for years. Hopefully it will be easier to find now.

 

[dvdcrr]

What do you all think of Fed Automatch 325 pack

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have shot several cases of Automatch through my CZ's. I find them and the Blazer to be about the same as far as groups go....pretty darn good for bulk....I miss the days of buying it for under 11 bucks a box shipped.

 

[Danny Creasy]

Several of my friends use it in the less accuracy-demanding of our local matches. I have seen it shoot well and function reliably in 10/22s, CZ bolt guns, Savage Mark IIs, and one old retired cop's Marlin 39.

 

[WestKentucky]

That's a sweet setup, and I really like the target. It's one I have never given much thought to. That will be changing.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

The green monster is the most challenging .22 br target, IMO.....I prefer shooting it.

 

[Cee Zee]

Blazer works great in about all my guns within it's limits. It's not the most accurate ammo around. CCI SV is more accurate by a good bit. Both are nearly impossible to find but I did just miss some SV about a month ago. I still have a good stash of it from before the panic though. But the Blazer doesn't do great things in my CZ 453 or anything. It's good but certainly not great. It's not in the same class as Eley Match ammo or something really good.

 

[Danny Creasy]

Cee Zee, wrote, "It's not in the same class as Eley Match ammo or something really good."

True Dat! I sprang for Eley Match to use in a recent sporter match of ours. It delivered this much tighter USBR target in the benchrest phase of the match. I was shooting it in my CZ 452 American that day, and we took first place.



Interesting observation - the Eley Match is only about 25% to 35% higher priced than pre-crisis, while the Blazer is 200% to 400% higher. It still costs less, but this supports the view of many other shooters these days. "If I'm gonna pay that kind of money for .22 long rifle ammunition, I'm going to go ahead and get top quality."

 

[ford8nr]

I bought 3 bricks of Fed Auto match about a year ago. I test fired them against 4 other brands at 50yds. Every other brand, including Rem Golden bullets was under an inch. Auto Match was over 2". I contacted Federal and they asked me to return them and sent UPS to pick them up. I was refunded my cost plus extra for my inconvenience. My guess was bad QC during the shortage. Somewhere I have a pic of the test target. And to think I almost bought a 3250 rd case before test firing

 

[Danny Creasy]

Dodged a bullet - Pun intended.

 

[CaliCoastie]

i have friends that like blazer, my guns dont seem to though. looks like some fun!