Federal Ultra Match
- Thread starter Topwater
- Start date
It's been a couple years since I last bought the UM and and still have a couple hundred rounds left and using it sparingly as it has performed best in my guns over all others including Lapua's. I've tried to pick up more since then but it's been shown as out of stock and at Bruno Shooters Supply, it is still listed but out of stock. Because they still list as out of stock, I've not been sure it's actually been discontinued by Federal as I haven't seen anything official . . .??? Though UM is not shown on Federal's website, so that's saying they're not in production at this time.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Ive seen plenty at academy. Nobody goes there to buy $6/box ammo they buy the golden buckets
I just happened across a thread at Rimfirecentral.com that explained what I've been wondering about concerning Federal discontinuing this Ultra Match line. Until now, I didn't realize that Federal was importing it from Germany and apparently it was a relabled production for Federal by RWS. At Rimfirecentral.com a poster pointed out that Ultra Match is essentially the very same as RWS R50. So, I went to my database and looked at the numbers for the Ultra Match and RWS R50 that I've fired and sure enough, all the numbers were in line with each other. So, since I can't get any more Ultra Match, I plan on using RWS R50 in it's place as it has performed as well in my gun as Ultra Match has.
Last edited:
No. . . it's not (though the published MV of 1080 fps is close to the same). It's not made in Germany like the Ultra Match as been. It's made in the US and isn't made near as well. You might expect to get ES's between 50 and 70 fps vs mid 20's for UM or R50
https://forum.snipershide.com/threads/rprr-ammo-testing.6955205/#post-7952981
That is 711B, a target load and IMO a long way down the food chain from what I have read about UM22. I have shot the 711B and not even as good as the old Wolf Target and on par with Eley Target in my Challenge Edition or a 40X. Haven't tried it in my Vudoo yet.
Heard that too over there but tried some R50 and it shot much worse than the UM. Velocity different also. R50 was slower.
My new (to me) 1710 came with a few boxes of Ultramatch that it was supposed to shoot well. The rifle loved it and I figured I would buy some more. Had never used Ultramatch. Found out that it was unobtainable. Tried center-x, team, Midas+, and Some older Sk+. Gentleman at Champions Choice recommended that I try SK Rifle Match prior to expensive RWS or Eley. The rifle match came just short of duplicating the Ultramatch performance. Shot a 10 shot .4ish” 50y group in the wind with a minor flyer that opened up what would have been in the .3’s.
In my case, I wouldn't say there was a velocity difference. For example out of an RPRR's factory barrel I averaged 1093 fps for UM and 1108 fps for R50 (virtually no difference in terms of 22LR ammo). And when I ran them through a Shaw SS barrel of the same length UM averaged 1128 fps and R50 averaged 1136 fps (again, virtually no difference).
Given that when it comes to 22LR ammo, differences from one lot to another can be substantial. . . even among the best of Lapua or Eley. So, I wonder if this is the case in your experience as you've stated???
Possible. I shot it through my 18" Vudoo and my lots of UM were in the 1106-1115fps range. The R50 was down near 1060fps. Maybe just a bad lot.
BTW: Both barrels I mentioned were also 18".
Note too that my measurements were done with a Magnetospeed V3
doclu60
Silver $$ Contributor
Interesting that all of the posts above are only talking about brands, and not lots. UM22 from what I have heard is discontinued. Before it was, cost was way up there. Pretty sure all the deals people got on it was when it was known it was going to be gone by distributors. Around $15 to $17 a box was considered a good price back several years ago on UM22. It is/was the same as RWS R50.
Now, a little info for 'brand' shooters. If you want really good shooting ammo, forget 'brands'. Pick whatever brand you want, best to pick more than one, and order test lot bricks. For those that 'brand' shoot, one box per lot should be enough. One brick gives you 10 lots to test. Three different 'brands' gives you 30 lots to shoot. Test them, if you really want to get good performance. I have only been here (this forum) for a very short amount of time, but I see some of the same misinformed 'brand' shooting opinions on other boards.
A certain 'brand' only goes so far. Are you guys shooting a rifle that is chambered for a certain 'brand'? I doubt it. Lot testing with several different brands, and different variations within those brands, tells you what your rifle really likes. Find a good lot, whether you think it's a 'brand' you 'feel' is good or not, then buy as much of that lot as your budget allows.
No one I know that competes at a certain level, unless their barrel is chambered for a certain brand, does anything different to find best results for a certain barrel. Barrels, for the most part shoot lots good, not 'brands'. I have several barrels that shoot certain lots of a couple of different brands better than other lots of the the same brands. If your barrel is chambered for a certain brand, then the changes in brand may not work. From the posts I have seen here, that specific brand chamber most likely isn't the case.
Don't leave accuracy on the table by thinking 'brands' make any difference unless your barrel is chambered for such brand. I seriously doubt any factory barrel is chambered for a certain brand, save for Annies which (in general) do like RWS.
My point, brands have little to do with what a rifle shoots good unless it's custom chambered for a certain brand. Lot testing gives the best results, NOT brand testing.
Now, a little info for 'brand' shooters. If you want really good shooting ammo, forget 'brands'. Pick whatever brand you want, best to pick more than one, and order test lot bricks. For those that 'brand' shoot, one box per lot should be enough. One brick gives you 10 lots to test. Three different 'brands' gives you 30 lots to shoot. Test them, if you really want to get good performance. I have only been here (this forum) for a very short amount of time, but I see some of the same misinformed 'brand' shooting opinions on other boards.
A certain 'brand' only goes so far. Are you guys shooting a rifle that is chambered for a certain 'brand'? I doubt it. Lot testing with several different brands, and different variations within those brands, tells you what your rifle really likes. Find a good lot, whether you think it's a 'brand' you 'feel' is good or not, then buy as much of that lot as your budget allows.
No one I know that competes at a certain level, unless their barrel is chambered for a certain brand, does anything different to find best results for a certain barrel. Barrels, for the most part shoot lots good, not 'brands'. I have several barrels that shoot certain lots of a couple of different brands better than other lots of the the same brands. If your barrel is chambered for a certain brand, then the changes in brand may not work. From the posts I have seen here, that specific brand chamber most likely isn't the case.
Don't leave accuracy on the table by thinking 'brands' make any difference unless your barrel is chambered for such brand. I seriously doubt any factory barrel is chambered for a certain brand, save for Annies which (in general) do like RWS.
My point, brands have little to do with what a rifle shoots good unless it's custom chambered for a certain brand. Lot testing gives the best results, NOT brand testing.
So are you saying that I should buy/test different lots?
This wasn't about brand selection for accuracy. This (or what I was talking about) was about information regarding where Federal got their UM cartridges, that it is apparent that Federal had a deal with RWS to rebrand their R50 line for Federal. Beside the UM boxes saying that it was imported from Germany, other "evidence" supported this conclusion (being the virtually the same published MV's and well as the chrono MV's that I recorded); as well as some people's reports that this was the case. But . . . if someone IS a "brand" shooter and wanted to get essentially the same ammo, they can look to the R50 as a UM twin and even lot test it if they're so inclined (as I like to do
).So I agree that to get the best accuracy and consistency, lot testing for one's particular barrel IS the best way to go. For some people though, that just isn't practical or expedient.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.