Lapua Midas versus CenterX

[james]

Looking for opinions and experience with Lapua Midas and Lapua Center X ammunition. I participate in local benchrest matches with my Anschutz 64SBR and my custom Suhl (Anschutz in factory and Suhl in open class). I have been using Center X (same lot number) in both these guns with good success. I have been thinking about trying some Midas and see how it compares with the Center X. I can purchase the Center X for around $11 a box versus the Midas at $15 a box. A local competitor informed me last weekend (he has a very good custom gun) that he had been shooting Center X and doing very well however when he switched to Midas he noticed a significant improvement. I know Lot numbers can make a big difference. Would appreciate any thoughts on comparing the Center X to Midas.

Thanks much!

 

[dgeesaman]

Midas+ are the lots of Center-X that shot better on average in their factory test rifles, so I’m told.

If you were buying bulk ammo for a group of rifles, then Midas+ should perform better. For one rifle, I wouldn’t expect that.

I think lot numbers mean more to a single rifle. I’m going to Lapua for lot testing this Friday and I will include both Midas+ and Center-X. I’ll let you know how that goes.

 

[marazzi59]

Rimfires like what they like, you have to test fire to verify. Thats the only way

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Looking for opinions and experience with Lapua Midas and Lapua Center X ammunition. I participate in local benchrest matches with my Anschutz 64SBR and my custom Suhl (Anschutz in factory and Suhl in open class). I have been using Center X (same lot number) in both these guns with good success. I have been thinking about trying some Midas and see how it compares with the Center X. I can purchase the Center X for around $11 a box versus the Midas at $15 a box. A local competitor informed me last weekend (he has a very good custom gun) that he had been shooting Center X and doing very well however when he switched to Midas he noticed a significant improvement. I know Lot numbers can make a big difference. Would appreciate any thoughts on comparing the Center X to Midas.

Thanks much!

Lot testing be it CX or Midas+ is the only way to find what shoots good in your rifles.

I was told several years ago that the most noticeable difference is CX will have a flyer

Lee

 

[MarkS]

Looking for opinions and experience with Lapua Midas and Lapua Center X ammunition. I participate in local benchrest matches with my Anschutz 64SBR and my custom Suhl (Anschutz in factory and Suhl in open class). I have been using Center X (same lot number) in both these guns with good success. I have been thinking about trying some Midas and see how it compares with the Center X. I can purchase the Center X for around $11 a box versus the Midas at $15 a box. A local competitor informed me last weekend (he has a very good custom gun) that he had been shooting Center X and doing very well however when he switched to Midas he noticed a significant improvement. I know Lot numbers can make a big difference. Would appreciate any thoughts on comparing the Center X to Midas.

Thanks much!

Midas should out shoot CenterX, but every gun is different. I am shooting a Lot of Wolf Match extra, that will out shoot anything, I have ever shot, CenterX, Midas, Eley match, Tennex all of it.
Good luck
Mark

 

[davidjoe]

Mark S’ opinion on .22 ammo has been spot on for me.

 

[NV_Dmax]

I brought my Vudoo to the testing center in Mesa and Midas + shot better than the Center X. Neither of them shot good enough to warrant the purchase of any quantity. I still shoot SK Pistol match much better than any of the lots tested by Lapua.

 

[BenPerfected]

In my RF experience, it is mostly about the lot than the box the ammo is packaged in.
Ben

 

[biggun2869]

I have 3 different lot #s of Wolf MT and they all shoot OK although some a little better than others. Sometimes the reverse happens though-Stiller rec&rock creek bbl so I have a little to say about it. I will admit that two of my friends are stuck on center X and I really like to outdo them.
They both have heavy guns and I have a sporter, come here kitty!

 

[ScottElliott]

This past Sunday I sighted in a new rifle and did some testing. I had a box of Center-X and Midas. This particular lot of Center-X shot considerably better than the Midas. However, in my experience more times than not Midas will shoot better. On this day I also tested Eley Match and Tenex. This particular batch of Match produced better results than Tenex. Lot testing is essential if you are looking for optimal precision.

 

[skeetlee]

i really like the SK long range match. The long range badging is simply that, badging. doesnt mean anything. Shoots great in both my RimX/Shilen builds lee

 

[gkgeiger]

I'm going to Lapua Ohio in the near future. I have tried one lot of CX and a couple of lots of SK rifle match and the SK is working better. I'm going to take some SK with me and see what happens.

 

[james]

Great information - thanks!

 

[james]

As I mentioned earlier the Center X has worked well for me with an occasional flier. I always use wind flags, a SEB mini front rest and a good rear bag so I'm thinking my occasional flier maybe be ammo related. If the flier is ammo induced I'm hoping the Midas might be a tad more consistent.

 

[J.J. Coe]

Both can produce favorable results with some lot testing. I will buy 1 or 2 boxes(usually 2)of 5 different lots of center X. Most of the time I find 1 that stand out and buy a case. I haven't felt the need to pay more for Midas when I can find decent Center X.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Both can produce favorable results with some lot testing. I will buy 1 or 2 boxes(usually 2)of 5 different lots of center X. Most of the time I find 1 that stand out and buy a case. I haven't felt the need to pay more for Midas when I can find decent Center X.View attachment 1191401

Good shooting, bull 18 & 23 are examples of what I mentioned about CX having flyers. really good lots of CX will have very few, but there are in the boxes and will pop out anytime they want too!

Lee

 

[1911nut]

Good shooting, bull 18 & 23 are examples of what I mentioned about CX having flyers. really good lots of CX will have very few, but there are in the boxes and will pop out anytime they want too!

Lee

Lee, I mentioned to you previously I’ve been sorting Center X with the seemingly now discontinued Neco Rim to Ogive gauge. I’ve sorted about 1500 rounds in 4 lots. Early on I saw smaller groups with sorted to same length compared to unsorted. The best lots in my 40x sorted about 90% “on the gauge” at 25-26. The few outside these were foulers. One recent lot sorted on the gauge from 22 to 32. No single length was more than 20% which describes the variation. Even when I shot the rounds that sorted at 26-27 they wouldn’t group.
I suspect if Lapua loaded ammo with that extreme spread in rim to ogive length there were likely other things that didn’t go right.

Two lots of Midas didn’t shoot as well as the best lot of Center x sorted to the same length in my gun.

Art

 

[J.J. Coe]

Good shooting, bull 18 & 23 are examples of what I mentioned about CX having flyers. really good lots of CX will have very few, but there are in the boxes and will pop out anytime they want too!

Lee

Thanks Lee, I blame those 2 on shooter error. I shoot from the bottom to the top and got caught playing chase in a tall wind. Those 2 definitely got my attention though.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Lee, I mentioned to you previously I’ve been sorting Center X with the seemingly now discontinued Neco Rim to Ogive gauge. I’ve sorted about 1500 rounds in 4 lots. Early on I saw smaller groups with sorted to same length compared to unsorted. The best lots in my 40x sorted about 90% “on the gauge” at 25-26. The few outside these were foulers. One recent lot sorted on the gauge from 22 to 32. No single length was more than 20% which describes the variation. Even when I shot the rounds that sorted at 26-27 they wouldn’t group.
I suspect if Lapua loaded ammo with that extreme spread in rim to ogive length there were likely other things that didn’t go right.

Two lots of Midas didn’t shoot as well as the best lot of Center x sorted to the same length in my gun.

Art

Hi Art,

I seen and have some lots that had less then .002 difference in length. and as you seen some that are all over the place. the way my barrels are setup the ideal OAL is .725 - .730 measured as my gauge is setup.
what dial indicator are you using, I switched the original for a digital Mitutoyo that reads 0.0000 way more consistent in readings.
are you still using that tuner?

Lee

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Thanks Lee, I blame those 2 on shooter error. I shoot from the bottom to the top and got caught playing chase in a tall wind. Those 2 definitely got my attention though.

J.J, must have been some freak switch as you had a very good read. I still think you had what I call the CX blues, as you had a low and then high shot.

in any case great shooting. I shoot the same target in matches here.

Lee