Thoughts on my 100 yard grouping with Ruger 10/22

[newbie4help]

This was with a BSA 3-9 * 40mm .22 scope, from 100 yards at outdoor range. I was using the full 9 magnification. I have horrible visual acuity so using the stock iron sights from that distance is out of the question for me. Everything but the scope is stock on the ruger, except the first 25 rounds were from a butler creek banana magazine - the rest were from the two stock ruger magazines, for a total of 45 rounds. I had the rifle set on sand bags I bought from Walmart.

I just bought this scope yesterday, and this was my first time taking it out. Also my first time shooting this far with my .22.

There was a wind coming from right to left while I was shooting - I was aiming about 6 inches directly to the right of the bullseye, and what you see is the result. To give a sense of scale, my hand without fingers spread can cover about 95% of those holes. The few outliers are from when I was trying to get elevation/windage correct.

Any tips on making these groups tighter at this distance with that rifle and scope? Thanks!
At 50 yards, the bullseye area was a ragged hole about the size of an orange, and the wind seemed much less of a factor.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

sorry, missed the last part.. seems kinda on par for a 22lr, it is a pretty limited cartridge at 100 yards

 

[Clayne_b]

I shoot a lot at 100+ with my .22lr, and ammo makes all the difference! The biggest thing i have noticed as far as shooting small groups at longer ranges is shooting consistently. I use a level so i don't tilt left or right from shot to shot. A little bit makes a big difference at longer ranges, also consistent recoil. if one shot your holding the gun tight and the next you are more loose on the gun the loose shot will be higher.

Over all I think your off to a good start! Aim Small Miss Small...

 

[newbie4help]

Would high-end ammo make a difference?

edit: just saw response above - thanks!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

It's about what I would expect out of an average stock 10/22 on a windy day.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Generally, the more you spend on ammo, the better it groups. Of course, you have to do the homework and find out what your rifle likes.

 

[newbie4help]

I agree .22lr is pretty limited by design, but I have seen youtube videos where people consistently put holes on paper with a ruger 10/22 at 400 yards! I think that is true marksmanship, and much more challenging than doing something like that with a more expensive, high-caliber rifle.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Don't believe everything your see and read on the internet...LOL.

 

[Robert101]

I too just last week shot my new 10/22 outdoors at 100 yards. My groups were not any better. I was shooting from a cardboard box for a front rest. I think we could do much better with a bipod and wind adjusted scope. I hope to at least bring my groups down to 2" at 100 yards. That same day I grouped 2.25" at 220 yards with my LR308. keep shooting and concentrate on trigger control.....

 

[Old Dog Man]

Ruger groups

You should get better groups than that, try different brands of ammo, what ever you can find. If it dosen't shoot any better, take it out of the stock and see if the barrel is loose in the reciever. Remove the two screws holding the barrel in reciever, if you can pull the barrel out by hand it's too loose. Dependind on how loose it is you may have to have the barrel fit knurrled so it will fit tighter. If it's not real loose thread locker lock tight may do the trick. I've seen a number of the 10/22's that had loose barrels. Al

 

[Red Cent]

I would start at 25 yards and see what ammo gets the best group. Too many factors in 100 yard groups. Once you get a 1/4" group, try the 50 yard, and then the 100.

Factory 10-22 should produce 1" @ 25 yards, 2+" @ 50 yards, and your group at a hundred.

You have the most tinkerable 22 around. Let me count the ways to..............

Not mine. You could build this.

 

[Tempest 455]

Ditto on ammo. I spent a few hours one day at the range (100 yards) with various .22 LR ammo and noticed some VERY significant differences.

I was using a Marlin 60 and shot both subsonic and supersonic ammo. Most of the bulk stuff sucks with the exception of CCI Blazer. Federal is not bad but not as good.

From there, you can experiment with various CCI brands (Velocitor, Stinger, Green Tag, Mini Mag etc.) keep in mind, they all will have different FPS and drop. Once you find one that groups well, stick with it and adjust your scope to that ammo.

In my Savage bolt action, I have found CCI Green Tag and Eley Tenex to be the most accurate at 100 yards but they are not cheap for .22 ammo.

 

[rcmodel]

Three things I would do.
#1 Take the action out of the stock and see if the two barrel clamp bolts are tight.

#2 Buy one box of every kind of ammo you can find (except hyper-Velocity like CCI Stinger) and benchrest test each one at 50 Yards on a calm day.

#3 Don't shoot 100 yards in the wind with a .22.

Ammo makes a heck of a difference.
And the most expensive is not necessarily going to be the most accurate in your rifle.
You have to test it to find it.




rc

 

[sgtstryker]

Ditto on #3 above..

 

[tech30528]

My 10 22 loves CCI AR Tactical, less than $100 for 1500 rounds with a dry box from Cabelas. I also recommend attending an Appleseed or three

 

[Slamfire]

This is a good shooter’s target at Camp Perry 2010 small bore. The string was at 100 yards prone, with iron sights.

The best shooters regularly shoot 100’s with high X counts at 100 yards, but the best shooters are outstanding wind dopers.



A five mile per hour wind change will blow the bullet into the nine ring, and a 5 mph wind change is hard to detect.

Your group is good for a Ruger 10/22. The average 10/22 has a big chamber, my factory barrel I could wobble an unfired round in the chamber by pressing on the rim. Match chambers are tight, often engraving the bullet in the throat.

Ruger 10/22’s with match barrels are capable of match grade accuracy.

You will find that match ammunition, and I am talking about Eley, RWS, SK match, makes a huge difference on paper with a good barrel.

I chronographed some ammunition in my Anschutz Match rifle. The Remington “target ammunition” shot poorly. CCI green tag was a little better. I have shot many perfect scores with Wolf Match and SK Rifle match. It is possible that the low SD’s and ES you get with match ammunition are a indication of the care and high quality control put into their manufacture.

It is not cheap.

[SIZE="3"]Anschutz  Super Match 26" barrel 
					
Remington 22 "Target" Standard Velocity RN	
	 	 			
	14 Mar 2012 T =  65 °F		
					
Ave Vel =	1101				
Std Dev =	28				
ES =	133				
High =	1160				
Low =	1027				
N =	20				
					
					
CCI Green Tag				
	 	 			
	14 Mar 2012 T =  65 °F		
					
Ave Vel =	1087				 
Std Dev =	23				 
ES =	91				
High =	1139				
Low =	1048				
N =	10				
					
					
Wolf Extra Match lot 14144/22574		
	 	 			
	14 Mar 2012 T =  65 °F		
					
Ave Vel =	1014				
Std Dev =	9				
ES =	36.1				
High =	1032				
Low =	995.9				
N =	14				
					
					
SK Standard Plus lot 06544/21242		
	 	 			
	14 Mar 2012 T =  72 °F		
					
Ave Vel =	1035				
Std Dev =	9				
ES =	30				
High =	1043				
Low =	1013				
N =	10	[/SIZE]

I shot this “bragging” target in competition with Wolf Extra Match at 100 yards.

 

[PapaG]

Find the right ammo and if everything is all right with the gun you should be able to hold four or so inches on a calm day. My sporter will do slightly better and my Target will get a moa with top dollar match. Both have Power hammers and spring kits, decent scopes and the aftermarket barrel attaching clamp. All else stock.

 

[greyling22]

you might also try pulling the barrel band off and shooting some groups. It helped mine. But the ammo makes the groups.

 

[ford8nr]

10/22 grouping

One of the best sources for 10/22 accuracy is www.theworks1022.com It's probably the best $20 you can spend on the book or downloaded version. If your shooting a regular sporter the best thing you can do is trigger work. The factory trigger probably runs over 7# trigger pull, my 10/22 target is under 4#, my CZ452 is 3# and my Win 52 is 2-1/2#. You will have a real hard time shooting any decent groups with a 7+ # trigger that has A LOT of creep and overtravel. I found match grade ammo doesn't shoot good in either MY standard 10/22 or my 10/22 Target model. Experiment with different brands. Buy a box of each in different brands, 50 rounds will tell you if it groups. like others have said, I'd test ammo at 25yds to minimize other factors. At 25 yds you should have close to a ragged hole group. 10/22's are the easiest gun to modify - FIRST thing I'd look at is the trigger. 2" 100 yard groups off a bag in calm wind should be do able.

 

[theautobahn]

+1 to trying different ammo.

When I'm bored, I buy a box of something new for my wife's 77/22 and see if I can get it to shoot better than the Fed Lightning that it loves. It shoots stingers into groups your size at 50 yards but will group the Lightning into very tight groups (as long as I do my part). I've probably tried 15-20 different rounds through it with varying results (group size, POA/POI variances, vertical / horizontal stringing, etc.).

And then the standard stuff - make sure the guns clean. Make sure the ring / bases screws are all tight. Make sure your rest is consistent (and hopefully I don't have to say this but don't rest the barrel on the bags, make sure only the forend is in contact).

 

[ford8nr]

100 yd shooting

sorry, missed the last part.. seems kinda on par for a 22lr, it is a pretty limited cartridge at 100 yards

I shoot an outdoor steel silohette league and we shoot steel out to 110yds OFFHAND without support. I went 3 of 5 last week on the 110yd RAMS. It gets challenging with a cross wind but it can be done. Off a bench and bag I can knock them down all day long.

 

[TurtlePhish]

Dunno how your trigger pull is, but squeeze slowly, don't jerk it. Also, make sure you pull the stock into your shoulder the same way every shot.

 

[dak0ta]

Should the V-block on the stock 10/22 be as tight as possible or does it depend?

 

[Bozoni]

My 10/22 loves Federal Lightning and Aguila Subsonic.

 

[Red Cent]

DakOta. No, not tight as possible. You are cranking into aluminum. The barrel clamp/v-block should be 28in/lbs on both allen screws. I do each a little at a time.