22 LR Bullet Sorting

[Nick Caprinolo]

I recently started shooting rimfire. Seems I get a lot of flyers in most brands of ammo I have tried. Last week I took the time to measure rim thickness. I had three bricks of different brands of ammo and sorted each brick. I sorted them at .005. Each brand came in at three different thicknesses with maybe 20 or so that were widely different. Those that didn't fall into one of the groups will be used to dirty the barrel before each session.

Went to the range and shot them as sorted. What I discovered is that my groups tightened considerably and very few 5 shot groups that were beyond 3/8 inch. Of course point of impact varied between different brands but that was to be expected. the process is tedious and time consuming, but well worth it.

Test was conducted using a Anschutz Mod 54 Super Match rifle at 25 yards.

 

[NV_Dmax]

Hey Nick,
What sorting tool did you use? I’m contemplating sorting as I cannot seem to keep that 1 flyer away. As you can see this was a random 8 in a mini Palma match and the only points I dropped all day. I was shooting over a wind flag and there wasn’t anything that came up from the right to left all day.

 

[biggun2869]

I have a Neil Jones tool and it is very quick and easy to use. You can also use a 6BR case and calipers. But the tool is the way to go. I have a buddy that has a setup that uses a dial indicator but it is soooo slow

 

[Lesloan]

Hey Nick,
What sorting tool did you use? I’m contemplating sorting as I cannot seem to keep that 1 flyer away. As you can see this was a random 8 in a mini Palma match and the only points I dropped all day. I was shooting over a wind flag and there wasn’t anything that came up from the right to left all day.

If you have a caliper you don't need a special tool. Take a .223 Rem. case and trim it to make sure it's square, then measure it's length. Insert a .22 LR round into the .223 case and measure it again. Subtract the case length. The difference is the rim thickness.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I have a very simple Hornady rim gauge tool. with a very accurate caliper, don't remember the brand. I do check the caliper zero frequently, although it always zeros when I do check it. This is fast and easy to operate. When we order Chinese take out, I saved a bunch of the soup containers to use as storage in my gun room. They make handy sorting cups. Any thing over .005 on either side of the center measurement is used for other purposes. You'd be surprised at how far out some of them are. No wonder there are flyers in every box.

By the way, there is an interesting piece of information here. Pay attention to what it says on sub-sonic loads and why it seems to be more accuracy for target shooting. I found it to be right on, for my rifle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_Long_Rifle

 

[gkgeiger]

I recently started shooting rimfire. Seems I get a lot of flyers in most brands of ammo I have tried. Last week I took the time to measure rim thickness. I had three bricks of different brands of ammo and sorted each brick. I sorted them at .005. Each brand came in at three different thicknesses with maybe 20 or so that were widely different. Those that didn't fall into one of the groups will be used to dirty the barrel before each session.

Went to the range and shot them as sorted. What I discovered is that my groups tightened considerably and very few 5 shot groups that were beyond 3/8 inch. Of course point of impact varied between different brands but that was to be expected. the process is tedious and time consuming, but well worth it.

Test was conducted using a Anschutz Mod 54 Super Match rifle at 25 yards.

I understand what and why you are doing this but I haven't read anything about what is the optimum thickness. Do thicker rim measurements work better or is it the opposite? Thanks,

 

[dellet]

I bought a gauge with dial indicator and then basically made a double ended chamber gauge.

One end is deep so that the cartridge rests on the rim, the other is shallow so the cartridge rests on the ogive.

After sorting by rim, I can sort seated depth.

I started this with 22 shorts because of lack of choice and it really helped on target.

The other thing with shorts is the lower velocity, under 1000 fps. down where the air gun folks shoot staying completely out of the trans-sonic turbulence.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I understand what and why you are doing this but I haven't read anything about what is the optimum thickness. Do thicker rim measurements work better or is it the opposite? Thanks,

the idea of this exercise is to sort according to rim thickness. SAAMI specs are .043. For me this is speculative and the actual number will depend on the equipment used to measure them. For me the center of all the ammo I tested was .0385. Therefor, anything .005 on either side was acceptable and placed in separate containers. I placed all others, in one separate container, to use as fouling or plinking. This usually resulted in 20 or so out of my spec per brick. The difference between the three acceptable groups, was point of impact, which changed slightly, as one would expect.

 

[biggun2869]

Just go online and see a Neil Jones tool in action! WTF why does everyone make a small thing a big thing

 

[gkgeiger]

I checked 2 boxes of 2 different lots of SK Rifle Match and 1 box of Center X and found .0015 difference between them all. Not sure I’m going to take the time to do that again.

 

[group therapy]

I recently started shooting rimfire. Seems I get a lot of flyers in most brands of ammo I have tried. Last week I took the time to measure rim thickness. I had three bricks of different brands of ammo and sorted each brick. I sorted them at .005. Each brand came in at three different thicknesses with maybe 20 or so that were widely different. Those that didn't fall into one of the groups will be used to dirty the barrel before each session.

Went to the range and shot them as sorted. What I discovered is that my groups tightened considerably and very few 5 shot groups that were beyond 3/8 inch. Of course point of impact varied between different brands but that was to be expected. the process is tedious and time consuming, but well worth it.

Test was conducted using a Anschutz Mod 54 Super Match rifle at 25 yards.

you can also weigh each round and separate them into sub groups. when I first started shooting 22's I would weigh them first then separate them by rim thickness. I could use walmart ammo and shoot with the guys using 10$/box ammo(20$ a box now). it would trip them out when I would use cheap stuff and outshoot them. good luck again sir( my dad has fallen in love with the shade tree I got from you btw, lol)

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

you can also weigh each round and separate them into sub groups. when I first started shooting 22's I would weigh them first then separate them by rim thickness. I could use walmart ammo and shoot with the guys using 10$/box ammo(20$ a box now). it would trip them out when I would use cheap stuff and outshoot them. good luck again sir( my dad has fallen in love with the shade tree I got from you btw, lol)

I will try that weight idea. I was thinking about but didn't know if it might make a difference.

Glad your Dad is getting good use out of it. They are nice rests, but when I bought the Seb, I had no use for it. If only we would buy the best in the beginning, think of how much time and money we could save. this month I bought a CZ 457 MTR Beautiful rifle and shoots good too. Then I found a Anschutz mod 54 Super Match. It is crazy accurate. So I now own two rim fire rifles in one month. The month isn't over yet.

 

[Outrider27]

Been sorting by rim thickness with a snap type gage designed for the purpose that uses a Mitutoyo dial indicator, so it's real fast. I sort at about 0.003" for my groupings, but that's just me. It makes a big difference in accuracy with bulk ammo brands.

Two thoughts, based on sorting thousands: first, the greater the rim thickness, the smaller the group sizes - anything in the .039+" - .042" pile is great (I didn't discover that on my own, I just verified what I had read in an article that covered ways to improve 22RF accuracy). Second, match grade ammo tends to have rims on the thicker side and be very consistent (small) in thickness range, so I quit sorting match grade ammo purchases long ago. Hope this is useful.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I wonder if sorting makes a real difference in the everyday rimfire rifle. The two I have used sorting, have match grade chambers and are very particular to rim size, in that some ammo does not want to chamber, without a hard push on the bolt. I have never experienced this with the other rimfire rifles I own. They chamber anything with ease.

 

[redrockranger]

I recently started shooting rimfire. Seems I get a lot of flyers in most brands of ammo I have tried. Last week I took the time to measure rim thickness. I had three bricks of different brands of ammo and sorted each brick. I sorted them at .005. Each brand came in at three different thicknesses with maybe 20 or so that were widely different. Those that didn't fall into one of the groups will be used to dirty the barrel before each session.

Went to the range and shot them as sorted. What I discovered is that my groups tightened considerably and very few 5 shot groups that were beyond 3/8 inch. Of course point of impact varied between different brands but that was to be expected. the process is tedious and time consuming, but well worth it.

Test was conducted using a Anschutz Mod 54 Super Match rifle at 25 yards.

Try shooting your group at 50 Yds, with that sorted ammo. Most informal competition is @ 50 yds. The best way to sort rimfire ammo is with your wallet. Price most of the time is more accurate . You might have to test lots to find the best your rifle likes.

 

[dellet]

Since you can't control headspace and jump/jam with rimfire ammo, you have to sort for it. It's largely trial and error but with good records patterns start to show has been my experience. I won't say that there is as much improvement as handloads for an off the shelf centerfire, but there is noticeable improvement past just eliminating flyers.

 

[Outrider27]

I wonder if sorting makes a real difference in the everyday rimfire rifle. The two I have used sorting, have match grade chambers and are very particular to rim size, in that some ammo does not want to chamber, without a hard push on the bolt. I have never experienced this with the other rimfire rifles I own. They chamber anything with ease.

I can verify that sorting by rim thickness makes a difference in everyday 22RF rifles. I first tried in on a Ruger 10-22; it doesn't get much more everyday than that. It has also worked fine when the sorted ammo was used in various bolt guns. I couldn't tell you how much difference it makes in match rifles, as my only match rifle is a Win 52, and I went straight to match grade ammo in that; we'll have to try some sorted bulk stuff in that little beast to see, lol.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

At the range yesterday. This target was shot at 25 yards from my new to me Anschutz mod 54 Super Match. Ammo was Wolf Target match and was sorted according to rim thickness. These are 5 shot groups. Note the second group from the right.

Wolf Target Match Ammo, found on Ammo Seek at $65.00 a brick. I have tried a lot of different brands and found this to be the best so far. Funny it is currently being manufactured in England by Eley and is stpamed with an E on the base.

 

[USMCDOC]

View attachment 1193138 At the range yesterday. This target was shot at 25 yards from my new to me Anschutz mod 54 Super Match.

Need to try it at 100

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

This is the setup I used, so there was no pilot error involved. Anschutz 54 supper match with 6 X 18 Bushnell scope. Not in keeping with the rifle but I had it on hand.