Lot Numbers

[Zonkers]

Do you purchase rimfire ammo from vendors that don’t list lot numbers that are in stock or do you purchase what’s available and go with it?

I’m new to lot testing and usually shoot by the brand. Trying to buy ammo by the lot seems like it could be a game in its self.

 

[Williwaw]

Trying to buy ammo by the lot seems like it could be a game in its self.

True statement. And what guys are doing may be a product of necessity rather than choice. I buy multiple cases at once w/o testing. Just my situation.

 

[7315br]

Do you purchase rimfire ammo from vendors that don’t list lot numbers that are in stock or do you purchase what’s available and go with it?

I’m new to lot testing and usually shoot by the brand. Trying to buy ammo by the lot seems like it could be a game in its self.

I'm new to Rimfire br myself. I've now spent a ton on different lot numbers...and just did it again. I don't see an alternative If one is half serious about this game.

Today I just got in three different lots of Lapua X-Act from Whidden. Each brick was $360. I'm currently shooting some very accurate Midas + but convinced myself I needed to try the X-Act (although I've heard varying degrees of how good it really is). "Pays your money...and takes your chances"...lol!!

Whidden does a great job on packing and shipping, First class service.

 

[MUP]

In today's climate it's very hard to choose specifically by lot # anymore. I usually try to order by lot #, but most times it's not available at the time of order, and, if you dilly around trying to find out, you could lose out on getting any at all, bc it goes so fast now. I order, take my chances, and sell if it doesn't perform in my rifles, bc it may well perform in someone else's.

 

[linebaugh]

I order in case lots of what I can get. Been burned and have had good success. I have 2 unopened cases waiting to see if I hit the lottery or not. It sucks right now for sure.

 

[Zonkers]

I don’t think I ever sold ammo before. It kinda goes against my beliefs but if the lot is not performing, either I plink around with expensive ammo or sell it.

If not selling to someone you know, how do you typically sell it.

 

[CharlieNC]

Unless you send your rifle to a test center to find a good lot, it's difficult to coordinate testing/buying yourself. But there are several dealers who sell Eley from which you can buy a few test boxes, screen, and order a reasonable quantity. To me, this has been a better scenario than blindly buying Lapua or other brands.

 

[shoot4fun]

Maybe my approach is all wrong but I purchase ammo according to the speed instead of the actual lot number. I have found what works best in my rifles and always contact the vendor when the brand and type I use comes in stock to see what speed they have. I mostly shoot all Lapua so it's a constant search for anything that may come available.

 

[grauhanen]

The "lot speed" is irrelevant to performance. Two lots of different "speeds" can both shoot very well. Two lots of the same "speed" can shoot very differently, one well and the other poorly.

 

[TRSR8]

Maybe my approach is all wrong but I purchase ammo according to the speed instead of the actual lot number. I have found what works best in my rifles and always contact the vendor when the brand and type I use comes in stock to see what speed they have. I mostly shoot all Lapua so it's a constant search for anything that may come available.

Zero correlation between lot quality and speed.

 

[TRSR8]

Do you purchase rimfire ammo from vendors that don’t list lot numbers that are in stock or do you purchase what’s available and go with it?

I’m new to lot testing and usually shoot by the brand. Trying to buy ammo by the lot seems like it could be a game in its self.

Well if you’re shooting in competition you have two choices essentially, ELEY and Lapua.
There is some good ELEY out there but you need, and actually can, lot test it.
Lapua, short of test centers, is a blind buy. Good news is if it is not good in your guns it’s an easy sell.

 

[StuNY]

Even though I shoot Lapua ordered through test center (and recommend this to all the guys I build guns for), for those that can't do that I recommend lot testing Tenex. I find I can order 2 boxes of 10 different lots, test the lots the weekend after I receive them and then order a case of best shooting lot pretty successfully. The key is making sure the lots you test have 3+ cases of ammo in stock. I find a well selected lot of Tenex can compete very well against a blind lot of Lapua- and as we saw in our match last weekend sometimes even against a bunch of guns with test center Midas+ haha!

 

[shoot4fun]

The "lot speed" is irrelevant to performance. Two lots of different "speeds" can both shoot very well. Two lots of the same "speed" can shoot very differently, one well and the other poorly.

Don't say that too loudly. I don't want my rifles to hear!
So far this "theory" has worked for me. Same with my Vudoo on tuner. I don't have a tuner on it other than my YHM Stinger has it tuned very well (it does shoot much tighter with the suppressor on) and, though I see it is a solid no-no, that barrel is threaded at the muzzle.
Spout your witchcraft and superstitions (and there are some things I have seen that do work) but just as each lot is different so is each rifle. The best thing one can do is FAFO for themselves.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Just so I understand this is about the lot speed not the particular lot number as in the last 4 numbers on the box?

Lee

 

[shoot4fun]

Just so I understand this is about the lot speed not the particular lot number as in the last 4 numbers on the box?

Lee

On Lapua the lot speed is noted in MPS instead of FPS and the first two digits denote.
The trick is to add a 3 infant of those two digits.
So, it the first two digits are 36 the actual "speed" is 336 MPS which is easily converted by our friend google to 1102.3 FPS. Depending on your barrel don't expect that to be gospel, as my 20" Vudoo is faster than my 22" Anschutz.
I notice that Eley is putting a velocity number in FPS on their Tenex now. Maybe it has been there for a while and I just noticed it.
Disclaimer: I'm sure one of the rimfire whiz kids will tell me I have no idea what I am talking about.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

On Lapua the lot speed is noted in MPS instead of FPS and the first two digits denote.
The trick is to add a 3 infant of those two digits.
So, it the first two digits are 36 the actual "speed" is 336 MPS which is easily converted by our friend google to 1102.3 FPS. Depending on your barrel don't expect that to be gospel, as my 20" Vudoo is faster than my 22" Anschutz.
I notice that Eley is putting a velocity number in FPS on their Tenex now. Maybe it has been there for a while and I just noticed it.
Disclaimer: I'm sure one of the rimfire whiz kids will tell me I have no idea what I am talking about.

Yes, I know about adding a 3 in front of the first two digits of the lot number as for example 26+=326 mps.
my question was the OP asked about lot numbers, and it seems everyone is talking about the speed of a lot.
so, it is about lot speeds not the lot number in itself.
I have Lapua long range that the box speed says it is 334 mps/1095fps a 10-shot string never had any shot go about 1070 out of a 28" BM barrel so much for box listed speeds!

Lee

 

[shoot4fun]

Yes, I know about adding a 3 in front of the first two digits of the lot number as for example 26+=326 mps.
my question was the OP asked about lot numbers, and it seems everyone is talking about the speed of a lot.
so, it is about lot speeds not the lot number in itself.
I have Lapua long range that the box speed says it is 334 mps/1095fps a 10-shot string never had any shot go about 1070 out of a 28" BM barrel so much for box listed speeds!

Lee

Zero correlation between lot quality and speed.

As you see by this comment by I take it that one should buy both speed and lot number alike.
If your barrel is happy with ammo noted as 34 speed and seems to be with other lots of the same speed then don't worry that it doesn't go over 1070. Your barrel and that barrel's length have a great bearing on that number. It seems that with a centerfire barrel there is almost always a substantial velocity gain when going from 20" to 28" but opposite with rimfire ammo.

 

[shooterk]

Went through lot testing when I jumped into the RF game. Bought up all I could find. Eley & Lapua shot best, very suprised by lot variations. Found a couple bricks of Center X that shot well. A few months later my number came up @ the Lapua Performance Center in Mesa. Found a lot of Center X that shot knots in my primary rifle, better than the four lots of Midas tested. It shoots good in all my rifles. There is a velocity variance between barrels (Muller,Shilen,Anschutz) of 10 to 20 fps.
Wish I could have bought two cases, 5000 rounds really doesnt last that long.

 

[grauhanen]

Spout your witchcraft and superstitions (and there are some things I have seen that do work) but just as each lot is different so is each rifle.

It's an old wives tale that lot speed matters. Regardless of it's rated "speed" a good lot is a good lot in good rifles. Ammo quality is independent of velocity.

Shoot when it's warmer and the ammo will be a little faster. When it's cooler it will be a little slower. If it's good ammo the results will be good in both circumstances.

 

[shoot4fun]

It's an old wives tale that lot speed matters. Regardless of it's rated "speed" a good lot is a good lot in good rifles. Ammo quality is independent of velocity.

Shoot when it's warmer and the ammo will be a little faster. When it's cooler it will be a little slower. If it's good ammo the results will be good in both circumstances.

And tuners on rimfire rifles are just to make others think you know something.