60gr Aguila

[ColWhitecakes]

Has anyone had any experience with this ammo as far as accuracy testing? I found some info, but it is mostly concerning penetration, which is not my main concern. Seems a lil long of a projectile to stabilize in the average 1:16 twist .22 barrel. Maybe it will do well in an AR with a conversion kit. I just recently came across it online and would like to try it myself, but would like to hear some more reviews before I sink the dough in to ordering a brick as it is not available locally.

 

[Shynloco]

Just learned something new the other day regarding the 60 Gr Aguila bullet. It takes a 1:9 twist barrel, yes thats in a Rimfire Rifle and that Lilja makes that barrel which will cost you a pretty penny. I have no idea who else makes that twist barrel in rimfire, but consider the rifle you want to try it in and consider a Lilja rimfire barrel (1:9 twist) goes for something around $330. Those 60 gr bullets will not work in a 1:15 - 1:18 twist that most rimfire rifles sold commercially have. Hope that gives you some direction on those bullets.

 

[cmillard]

pac nor and green mountain also make a 9" twist for the 60 SSS rounds. i have shot them out of several factory rifles and the performace was mediocre. some of the rifles would stabalize the bullets at 25 yards, but the marlin model 60 would keyhole them. all rifles had advertised 16" twists. very dirty round and stinky haven't shot them out of a 9" twist though

 

[Shynloco]

Cole,
Thx for the additional info on makers of the barrel to accomodate accuracy using those 60gr Aguila's. From checking out pricing, it appears those two manufacturers make the barrels for the 10-22's and you can add Volquarzen to the list as another supplier for 10/22 barrels. But what I found head-scratching that those other manufacturers make "drop in" barrels (1:6 - 1:9 twists) that cost even more ($100) than the Lilja screw ins. And what started my journey into all this new found information on the 60 gr Aguilas was someone was actually considering using a Savage MKII action (bolt gun and not semi auto) and putting a Lilja barrel on it for use in competition at 100 yds. Now go figure, you buy a Savage Action Rifle MKII (and I own two of them for fun shooting, but have the Anschutz for more serious fun) for $300+ with a barrel that is pressed and pinned, take it to a Gunsmith to have them adapt the receiver to a screw in Lilja that cost $330 (where are you going to find a Gunsmith who'd do that, never mind the $500 cost to have it done) and all that to find out if your rifle will shoot the 60 gr Aguilas at 100 yds when competiting against custom rigs at 100 yds??? Am I missing something here?

 

[cmillard]

i have shot green mountain barrels on 2 rifles that i rebarreled for a couple buddies of mine. although they were not the 9" twist, those barrels shot OUTSTANDING groups with wolf match extra. i will be putting on a 16.5" KIDD barrel and will be trying some of the 60 sss eventually.

 

[MrMajestic]

I run a 9tw Volquartson on my 10/22 and the SSS's are inconsistent. I have not tried segregating by rim thickness yet which may improve their performance. The barrel really shines with Eley Match EPS so that's what gets shot most. When shooting the SSS make sure you keep up with the carbon ring that forms in the chamber due to the shorter case used.

 

[ColWhitecakes]

Thanks for the info. I dont think sinking that kind of cash in to a rifle in hopes it shot these would be anything I would care for, either. However, as I mentioned earlier, these may be idea for an AR rifle with a drop-in .22lr conversion, as the 1:9 twist barrel is already factored in. I've been tempted to get one of those anyway, in lieu of buying a complete rifle, for use in rimfire-type tactical matches. It might make an excellent combo.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

When this ammo first came out we got it at our local PX in Drum and they sold it real cheap right next to the SK match ammo. I did an accuracy comparison in my Kimber 82G rifle at 100 yards. I took pictures but they are on my phone and I am were there is no signal at all for the foresee able future. We had days at the range there were there was absolutely no wind, I loved those days, which is when I tested the SSS loads. My Kimber can shoot inch and on lucky days sub inch groups at 200 yards when the wind lets me so this rifle was plenty accurate. The load would hold sub inch in this rifle out to about 35 yards before it opened up drastically. At 50 yards it was 2-2.5 at 75 it was 3.5-4.5 and at 100 it was a 6 inch group compared to SK and wolf shooting sub half inch. I stopped testing it at 100 yards and saved the rest for a friend that walk hunts squirrels with an old revolver as he walks right up to the squirrels to get them. I will say however out of the loooonnnnggggg barrel the 82G has the round was absolutely quite. We shot it in the neighborhood were my squirrel hunting friend lives as he didn't believe me on the noise out of the long barrel. If you are looking for noise reduction in a 22lr CCI just came out with a new load that is standard weight just really slow. I can't wait to get home and try it in my MKII suppressed!

 

[cmillard]

.22lr ammo in a standard ar barreled upper does not work too well. unless you have a dedicated .22 lr upper. the bore diameters are different and the .22lr bullet will foul the barrel very quickly

 

[ColWhitecakes]

yep, I've heard the same thing regarding the standard AR barrel. Thought perhaps the extra length would make up for some of the deficiencies. The length definitely looks right for the twist, anyway.

 

[Tango51]

I shoot it in a AR-7 type Henry with a laser sight. It will kill alligators at 50-60 yds easy enough. Seems accuracy falls off much past that.
They also seem to be more dirty than other 22 rounds.

 

[MrMajestic]

They also seem to be more dirty than other 22 rounds.

Amen!

 

[Outrider27]

I have done extensive accuracy testing with the 60gr SSS round in a number of rifles, one a purpose built 10/22 with a 1 in 9 twist Volquartsen barrel. Accuracy in 1 in 16 twist rifles (there were several in the test, all testing done at 50 yards) ranged from poor (1.55" 5 shot group average from a target rifle that detested it) to .492" average at 50 yards for the surprise rifle in the 1 in 16 group that didn't really seem bothered too much by it. The other rifles, while not as bothered as the bull barreled target rifle, hardly could be considered accurate; group size hovered around .75" at 50 yards. Basically, we proved what the rumors have said for normal twist rate .22 rifles - once in awhile you find one that tolerates the 60gr SSS round (although there will be an occasional unexplained flyer opening up a 5 shot group), most don't like it much, and a few, like the target rifle in the test, detest it and pattern rather than group.

With the 1 in 9 twist barrel it was not difficult to shoot .46" average size groups at 50 yards, and group variation (the difference in group size between the largest of 5, 5 shot groups and the smallest) was quite small, on the order of .06". We have not done extensive testing at ranges beyond 50 yards, but that limited testing has verified that shooting that round in 1 in 16 twist rifles at ranges longer 50 yards is a waste of money, even in the rifle that tolerated it, and the accuracy with the 1 in 9 twist rifle fell off after 50 yards, as mentioned in a couple of posts above. Also, as mentioned in a post above, watch out for the carbon ring, since the cartridge brass is about .22 short length.

Our final opinion is that the 60gr Aguila SSS round is a very satisfactory niche cartridge if you build a 1 in 9 twist rifle for it (10/22 Rugers are the easiest home project) and are looking to shoot a surpressed .22 rifle at ranges under 55 yards. If it's not surpressed and has a 1 in 16" twist or you desire to shoot it at ranges over about 55 yards, surpressed or not, stick with conventional std. velocity or subsonic rounds in the 35 - 40 grain weight range and a 1 in 16 twist. Oh, yeah, the one in 9 twist barrels don't get along real well with some 38 to 40 grain high velocity, standard velocity or subsonic ammo, although, in general, the 1 in 9 twist barrels are MUCH more tolerant of bullet weights in the "normal" range (35 - 40 grains) than 1 in 16 barrels are of the 60 grain round.

 

[ColWhitecakes]

I guess folk's results with this are as I expected. It's quite a novel round, But I dont think it is worth my time. I mitght try a box if I ever come across it local, but it doesn't sound like its worth me ordering. Thanks all!

 

[cmillard]

if only wolf would make a 60 grain load similar to the aguila SSS load, but to the wolf exacting specs as in their wolf match extra

 

[ColWhitecakes]

I read, and have been told by several, that the Wolf was anywhere from "good stuff" to "the best there is". I'm certainly in no position to question that, and my rifle is by no means a match-burner, but it absolutely HATES the stuff. I tried on box of the Match Extra (i think thats what its called), and to say it "patterned" would be an insult to shotguns! Its always struck me has odd the way a cartridge as seemingly basic ( not that it is) as a .22lr can be so particular from one rifle to the next. Of everything I've tried, and that's been a fair bit, it shots one of the cheapest, Remington Thunderbolt, the best! I've only been interested in rimfire matches, and on the low end side of things, for a short while; but, I can see myself getting hooked on it like F-TR very easily. lol

 

[rlandrum]

I tried running a few of them through my Savage .22, but they were all over the place. CCI Standard Velocity works great to 100 in my Savage. That CCI Green Match wasn't any better at twice the price. The Winchester Sub-sonic worked better, but it's impossible to find.

 

[danang]

I use them in my Remington bolt standard twist rifle for 15 pound and up feral cats and armadillos. Works like a charm for those critters.

 

[jefats]

Tried some in my H&R M12 match rifle and it was all over the place. Might do OK in a pistol or revolver where you keep it to short distances.