Ammo Selection Starting Out

[archerforkids]

I am leaning towards putting together a 22 to play a little NRL22 or possibly some PRS22. CZ 457 looks to be a best bang for dollar starting rifle with a few mods.
I am seeing ammo north of $20.00 per 50 down to what I am used to with CCI target loads. Where would you start to keep from wasting to much time and money finding a good round? I thought maybe get online and find 1 supplier that had a good variety to choose from and bring in about 10 species too just see where we land.
Any help appreciated.

 

[MUP]

For the CZ I would likely start with SK, maybe some SKSP or SKLR to see if it did well for starters.

 

[Hozzie]

I agree, SK is probably a good start. I have always seemed to have the best luck with SK Pistol Match (not Pistol Match Special). At the end of the day, any of the types could shoot best depending on the gun, but for the price/value scenario, SK is a good starting point.

 

[archerforkids]

You guys are appreciated

 

[BradY]

I have a great lot of cci std velocity that works really well in my CZ 457. But SK works well I just hate the lubricant it gets everywhere and dirt and dust sticks to it like mad. Eley match also shoots in mine. I’m using RWS subsonic hollow point for hunting currently

 

[dgeesaman]

$20+ boxes of ammo will buy you nothing here. I agree with SK it generally shoots pretty well in most rifles and it doesn’t cost a fortune. I’ve also had Norma that’s punched well above its price point.

Nobody has figured out rimfire ammo production that is dead consistent day after day and also shoots well in all or even most rifles. Charging $35/box and making the cartons a shiny gold color doesn’t mean they solved that.

So when you buy match ammo, what you’re really buying is good ammo that has been manufactured and kept separated by lot number. (There other quality control differences but what matters to us shooters is the lot tracking). The higher cost usually results in consistency from shot to shot within the lot, such that if that lot and your rifle get along really well, the whole case will shoot very accurately with great consistency. Unfortunately lot to lot variances remain pretty large when it comes to accuracy on the target.

When you want to get into match ammo, realize that you need to test lots and that it makes little sense to buy less than a few bricks to a couple cases when you find a good lot. Also know that ammo may only shoot well with that one barrel.

 

[CharlieNC]

You have a good plan and could probably get by with five midgrade brands at $15-17 per box as the initial screening from which to focus. This will provide a solid basis for future reference. Cheaper risks frustration and indecision.

 

[jpjulian]

My new 457MTR shoots SK Match really well. SK Long range very well. Standard+ is close to Match, almost identical at 50 yards but has the occasional flyer. Eley Match and Team also shoot well. The kicker is Center-X. I have one lot that's superb in my Win 52D but sucks pond water in the 457. A more recent lot is excellent in the 457. Jekyll & Hyde performance. I think you'd be happy starting with SK Match.

 

[Fuj]

My 457 did not like the lot # I had of SK. Wolf Match Extra, which I
found cheap shot the same for less money. Eley Team was the worst
of what I shot for it's lot #, and the Eley Match shot real good.....Ya' have
to buy something and shoot it, and hope more of the same lot is around
if it shoots good. RWS-50 for the higher dollar is what mine shoots best.
Eley Tenex a close second, but that's my rifle......

 

[Liven The Dream]

457 with 20 and 24' Lilja Barrels love SK std. plus. They will shot Tac22 fair.
at 100 yards Ely Match is VG.
My 20" Rifle will shot Tac22 good at 100 ?????
CCI Std, 12 ga. Blaster even with a Rim Gauge ?

I see lots of SK available at different places ! Shop wise and save !!

 

[archerforkids]

This has been very enlightening. Thank yall

 

[MarkS]

I am leaning towards putting together a 22 to play a little NRL22 or possibly some PRS22. CZ 457 looks to be a best bang for dollar starting rifle with a few mods.
I am seeing ammo north of $20.00 per 50 down to what I am used to with CCI target loads. Where would you start to keep from wasting to much time and money finding a good round? I thought maybe get online and find 1 supplier that had a good variety to choose from and bring in about 10 species too just see where we land.
Any hel

The lower priced ammo may not make it for longer ranges

The lower end ammo may not shoot well at the longer range's. I have gone thru a lot of ammo. I use Norma Tac22 and Eley Contact for everyday shooting. SK Long Range for matches. Contact shoots way about it's price, $5.25/box at Killough's.
Your CCI may do fine out to 200yds, not so much passed that. try Eley Contact, Club and the SK line of ammo. Find ammo for everyday shooting and good match ammo.

 

[JSH]

Imho testing is the only way to find what yours likes.
I would not go down the path of anything that is not available.
TAC22 was a well kept secret for a long while. I just figured it was a catchy name for selling purposes.
Test at the furthest distance you plan on, then come back to a shorter range.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Last week I was shooting claybirds with Tac22 at 325 yards very consistently using my Bergara BMR.
My CZ457 Varmint shoots Tac22 a tad better.

 

[searcher]

If you are new to rimfire accuracy shooting, it is worth mentioning that when you seek out ammo to try - be sure you can get more of the same lot of each type you try. Otherwise, you may not be able to replicate the accuracy you first obtained. Also pay attention to the velocity marked on the box in case you can't get any more. It might help as a short cut to get you in the right direction for replacement ammo if a different lot is what you must buy.

 

[K22]

I am new to the rimfire target shooting game. I am strictly a recreational shooter. I added rimfire to my shooting last year to get more cost-effective trigger time.

I purchases a Tikka T1X, and I like it very much. I added the aftermarket vertical pistol grip which made a huge difference in my ability to shoot it accurately. I also adjusted the comb height with vet wrap. I shoot off a Harris bipod with a rear rest at 50 yards.

I have been using CCI Standard Velocity the entire time. In order to eliminate the frustration of flyers (I am getting about 3 to 1.5% depending on lot), I allow myself an "ammo alibi" on any shot outside the bull (1 1/2") on the A17 target I am using. I shoot 10 - 3 shot strings on the target for a 30-shot match. I like scoring my shooting so I can assess my performance. The target has 11 bulls. I use the center bull for "ammo alibis". I am having a ball shooting this course of fire!

I got into rimfire shooting as a cost-effective addition to my shooting. Therefore, I rationalize my approach of allowing "ammo alibis" to keep the costs low, have fun and not get frustrated with obvious ammo flyers.

 

[dgeesaman]

I got into rimfire shooting as a cost-effective addition to my shooting. Therefore, I rationalize my approach of allowing "ammo alibis" to keep the costs low, have fun and not get frustrated with obvious ammo flyers.

I believe it’s the N50 target that has a rule where if the shot misses the box around the bullseye, it is not counted regardless of the shooters intent and that this rule hails from the days of longer ago when all rimfire ammo had some ‘off’ rounds. The rule, while used very infrequently these days, remains.

David

 

[K22]

I believe it’s the N50 target that has a rule where if the shot misses the box around the bullseye, it is not counted regardless of the shooters intent and that this rule hails from the days of longer ago when all rimfire ammo had some ‘off’ rounds. The rule, while used very infrequently these days, remains.

David

Thanks for the info. That's really interesting and I like it.

Given the very solid rest I am using, albeit with a bipod and rear rest, when one flies off that 1 1/2" bull at 50 yards I am convinced, it is that ammo. I score edgers but when they are completely off the bull, I allow myself an alibi. To date after shooting hundreds of rounds, while not many, almost all the alibis are a 9 or 10.

Also, a fellow shooter gave me a tip to roll the CCI Standard Vel bullet gently between my thumb and index finger to smooth out and uniform the lube, especially the nose where often there is an accumulation at the tip. I do not if this has any real merit, but I seem to have a lot less flyers doing this. However, I haven't tested this long enough to say for certain if this helps.

 

[dgeesaman]

I know a shooter who shot Olympic 3P and she was top world ranked shooter and she missed making the US Olympic team because her ammo dropped a six in kneeling (nobody shoots sixes in kneeling!). So while the ammo is much much better overall, there are always times when that crap happens and ruins a match (or an Olympics).

 

[davidjoe]

Precision slow fire rimfire matches are won on the ammo you pick. I must be schizophrenic because every month, about two weeks apart, I vacillate between trying to punch the wind in the mouth 1,000 yards away with a black sheep approach, to finding better results using every second on the clock to shoot 20x4 cards of blue-blood subsonic rounds, studying the wind at 50 yards.

I wish it were possible to win because the rifle, rest or scope is better, the big one and done purchases.

Nope, you’re going to have to shell out for the good ammo each and every match.

How much difference does something like Lapua Midas realistically make? Even at a club match, if it’s there, and the targets look anything like this, then it’s going to win. Part of this is because anyone paying for it also has a good gun.

And then there is X-Act made by Lapua, I have never splurged on it, and now it cannot be found. We are going to soon see the finest .22 LR bullets cross One Dollar a piece.