What .22 LR should I test to see if my rifle likes it?

[clutch]

I have three rimfire rifles, a 10/22, a Marlin 925 and a Mossberg M44. I'd like to find ammo that they like and wonder what the list of usual suspects are to try for midrange cost shooting. Something above bulkpack and below the nose bleed match ammo.

Thanks,

Clutch

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

I own 3 Ruger 10/22, Savage MKII, Ruger single 6, Sig Mosquito, and a Walther P22. Mine like Fed bulk packs $20 per 550, CCI made Blazer ammo about $20 per 500, and CCI mini mag $7 per 100. The auto pistols like CCI minimag and blazer, and the Target 10/22 does best with Wolf Match $9 per 50. Now to answer your question. By small packs of all ammo made within your price restraints and see what your rifles like best!

 

[mrbro]

Wolf MT.

 

[Hondo 60]

I have a VERY picky Beretta Bobcat & it likes Fiocchi 40 gr High Velocity ammo.
Locally I get it for $2.69/box of 50.

Stay away from Winchester Wildcat.
It's so underpowered that my Marlin 60 won't cycle.

of course as always YMMV

 

[dewalt-2]

My rifles shoot well with Fed AutoMatch and Champion, CCI Blazer and Standard Velocity. That's the inexpensive end-accuracy gets better with the high end stuff.

 

[wally]

I've shot so much of the Federal bulk pack from Walmart in such a wide variety of .22LR pistols and rifles that if a gun don't work with it, I consider it broken.

If you want to shoot small groups the best bang for the buck is usually Wolf match or the Aguila match, but neither are quite as good as Eley.

The only two brands that have given me consistent trouble is Remington Thunderbolt, they changed something a few years ago and it went from good to heavily leading barrels in a few hundred rounds. The other is the Remington Golden Bullet bulk pack from Walmart -- too many duds, blown cases, and bullets that "fold" instead of climbing the feed ramp, not to mention the deformed rounds that won't even enter the magazine.

 

[smurf hunter]

I agree completely with Wally. Federal Walmart pack works incredible in my 10/22, esp considering the price. The bulk Rem seem to have 5-10% FTF/FTE or something stupid happen and they cost the same as the Federal.

CCI mini-mags are nice, but I only buy when on sale.

 

[22-rimfire]

My list of candidates would be: Federal Lightning #510B, CCI Mini Mags, CCI Standard Velocity, Wolf Match Target. When I test, I usually include some Remington Thunderbolts and Golden Bullets as a base line (misfires and all). If I have any CCI Blazers, I'll shoot some of those too.

 

[ball3006]

Both of my M44s...

would shoot ragged one hole groups at 25 yards with Federal Lightening, the cheap stuff, all day long. As for what to shot, try them all and see what shoots the most accurately.......chris3

 

[Heretic]

Try em all, let your gun sort em out.

 

[M-Cameron]

Eley Yellow and Orange box are on the more affordable end of the "target" spectrum.

ive also heard very good things about Wolf.

 

[NCsmitty]

There's a good chance that all your rifles will like something different, and you may compromise for the sake of economy.
I've had in excess of 30 different brands and types of 22LR to determine what my 3 22cal rifles liked, and each had their own preferences. Just keep buying and trying.



NCsmitty

 

[TonyAngel]

I've had good luck with Federal Auto Match for bulk type ammo, from both accuracy and functional perspectives. Well, it's accurate until it falls below super sonic. For semi serious shooting you can try Eley Sport ($3 a box), Aguila Match ($30 a brick), Federal Gold Medal Target ($4 a box), Wolf MT ($5 a box) on up.

 

[jpwilly]

+1 for Wolf MT

 

[Pete D.]

Test as many brands and types as you can afford to buy and have time to shoot.
Realistically, focus on brands that you can afford to buy and shoot on a regular basis but don't ignore the top shelf brands (might as well know as much as you can).
I, normally, test 12-15 types of .22 ammo when I acquire a new .22.
Pete

 

[Sport45]

Start with the cheapest stuff you can find and work your way up to acceptable accuracy. You might get lucky...

 

[wingman]

Aguila rifle match or Extra, both excellent in all my 22's/

 

[Art Eatman]

See Posts #10 and #15. All .22s seem to be different about ammo.

As far as "advice"? Buy only one box of 50 at a time and keep notes on paper--not in your head.

 

[Sako Shooter]

If it says "SK" on the box - be it HV, Subsonic or Match - it is good stuff in my experience at a moderate price.

 

[BeJaRa]

I have not had any success with any remington 22LR in many years so I just stay away.

 

[clutch]

I bought a box of Remington Target, CCI Standard Vel Target and I took a chance on some CCI Green tag. Ouch on that green tag, 14.99 for a box. Noticing the price tag looked like a pile of price tags I peeled each layer off, 14.99, 12.99, 10.99 and originally 9.99 . I hope it didn't get too old sitting in the store.

I'll have to order the Aguila, tenex and wolf suggestions.

Thanks,

Clutch

 

[Hocka Louis]

First, don't buy ANY of that crap, light, Box-Mart bulk milk-carton "333", 550 round, "555" type stuff. the buyer dictates the price and then the manufacturer cuts corners. It is junk. Cheap. Popular. Junk. Now if you use it please don't start swearing by it -- there is no point and you are only embarassing yourself.

Aquila used to make a hi-speed, low pressure, Eley-primed .22 Target ammo that sold through the DCM (CMP now -- I'm getting old). See if you can find this (Centurion/Aquila Golden Eagle Target, 40 Gr., 1,200 fps). Was $250 a case of 5,000 more than two years ago, delivered. Quite nice ammo for the price but not sure it is made anymore per se.

Federal AutoMatch. $159/3,250. Above those cheap milk-box average accuracies and 1,200 fps too. Federal's lower-end target ammo's are ALL worth testing a box of to see what you might want quantity of.

Armscor Precision Target .22. $200/5,000? Above those cheap milk-box average accuracies too.

Again, if you avoid those cheap milk-box ammos, and anything Winchester (AWFUL bullets) as a rule of thumb, you'll be better off. Actually, CCI Blazer, which can be had for well less than $200/5,000 is above milk-box average accuracy though I think they package some that way too.

 

[teetertotter]

May I suggest CCI SV. Accuracy in my CZ 452 at 100m is still 1.25 max. inches in 8 three shot groups. Just sighted in again 2 weeks ago for State Championship for last Sunday. CCI SV seems to perform well in a lot of different rifles for accuracy. It is a nice mid priced ammo. Good luck in your testing.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

First, don't buy ANY of that crap, light, Box-Mart bulk milk-carton "333", 550 round, "555" type stuff. the buyer dictates the price and then the manufacturer cuts corners. It is junk. Cheap. Popular. Junk. Now if you use it please don't start swearing by it -- there is no point and you are only embarrassing yourself.

Don't buy ANY? Those bulk packs have their place and it's not like they will hurt your gun. We all know those bulk packs are not the best, but the low price is perfect for casual plinking. It's even good for target practice if you keep in mind that the ammo isn't going to return match ammo results and run some higher quality stuff through now and then to really check your form. I also use the bulk packs extensively in my 22/45 pistol for steel target shooting at my club.

As far as midrange ammo goes, I'll add another vote for pretty much anything CCI. Standard velocity, Select or Green Tag for target shooting. SSI Subsonics or Mini Mags if you want to do some pest control. Some people love Stingers and Velocitors, but those are pushing a lot of energy for a .22 and tend to be hard on semi auto internals (Marlin specifically says no hyper velocity rounds) so I do not shoot them very much. Bolt guns should be fine though.

If your rifle will feed them (note: feed - you will still likely have to manually cycle the action after each shot), the CCI CB longs are fun low noise rounds.


Oh yeah, and the Blazer bulk boxes for plinking!

 

[CnRnut]

I've shot so much of the Federal bulk pack from Walmart in such a wide variety of .22LR pistols and rifles that if a gun don't work with it, I consider it broken.

Well said. All my rimfires MUST run Fed. Bulk!!!!!