(Old?) Tenex and Lapua ammo

[TRECustom]

I picked up a couple of boxes of Eley Benchrest Gold .22 lr, and a couple of boxes of Lapua Multi Match. Neither one shows up in Midway's inventory, and both have a light, grey colored coating on the bullets. I am guessing it is lead oxide, and that the ammo is old.

Will try them out in a Kimber 82 and a 10-22 T. Meantime, if anyone is familiar with these two loadings, I'm curious. They were fairly expensive and I didn't want to buy a bunch of it.

Thanks, Tom

 

[Shynloco]

TRECustom,
I've been told that the Eley Benchrest Gold hasn't been made in several years and neither has the Lapua Multi Match. I notice you are dwon in Texas so you might consider getting hold of Dan Killough at Killough Shooting Sports who is both an Eley Dealer and very very knowlegable about Eley and Rimfire ammo in general. In case you are unaware, he's right down your way in Texas and one heck of a nice guy to talk to. In case Dan doesn't know about the Lapua Multi Match, might consider giving Lester Bruno a call at Bruno's Shooting Supply in Phoenix who sell all the different Lapua Rimfire products and knows his stuff as well. Both have websites@

www.killoughshootingsports.com
www.brunoshooters.com

 

[TRECustom]

Shynloco, thanks for the info. I'll call one or both tomorrow.

My impression is that the Kimber 82 has the tightest chamber of my .22 rifles, so I tried chambering several rounds of both the Eley and the Lapua. The gray film on the bullets bothered me, but they both still feel slightly waxy, and both chambered smoothly, albeit a little tight. As soon as I can, I'll see how they shoot.

Thanks again, Tom

 

[Shynloco]

TRECustom,
You are certainly welcome on that info. And those Kimber 82's are certainly impressive and fun to shoot. I shoot with a couple of guys who got their's from CMP. As for that ammo, based upon your description of it and that "gray film", I'm not too sure I'd rely on it for ultimate accuracy even though it was made by very reputable firms. Given that the ammo is old as well, if I were shooting the 82 in competition, I'd get some current good stuff. BTW, I've seen the 82 shoot very decent groups using SK, Eley Black as well as Lapua Center X, although I'd try the Federal Ultra Match UM22 or Lapua Midas + for best/tightest groups at 50 yds. In any case, have fun with that Kimber. Thats just a very impressive rifle I'd love to have, but just can't afford it right now.

 

[in2deep]

That Benchrest Gold is probably over 10 years old but it will still shoot as good as anything made today. It looks raggedy but don't let that bother you it won't hurt a thing. If it's not too dear buy it all up you won't regret it. If there is alot of it for sale let me know I have some shooters looking for it.

 

[TRECustom]

2deep, I may see the guy this weekend in Houston. If so, I will pick up any that he has left. If he has a lot of it, I will let you know, and see if you can contact him. I don't know him personally.

Thanks for the input, Tom

 

[TRECustom]

While I was making the last reply, I called and talked to the owner of the ammo. He believes that the Eley is all spoken for, but has at least 8 bricks of the Lapua Multi Match available. I'm going to try to shoot some of the ammo tomorrow, and will post the results. It'll be my luck that the rifles will love the Eley since it's gone, and hate the Lapua because it's still available.

He will be at the Houston show this weekend, so I will visit with him some.

Tom

 

[TRECustom]

Finally made it to the range. Best I could get out of the Eley or the Lapua was 1" (2 moa) at 50 yds. Beautiful day, bright sun and 60 deg., but no joy. The Kimber shot 3 moa+ with both, and the 10-22T (scoped) barely shot 2 moa. The iron sights on the Kimber made the results a little iffy, but I have shot 1 moa with it using other ammo. The Eley Benchrest Gold wouldn't reliably cycle the 10-22, but the Lapua would.

I also tried some CCI Minimag, and some Remington Target. Both shot 3-4 moa in both rifles.

The best ammo in both rifles is RWS R-50 (at $18 per 50) and a very close 2nd is the SK Match for about $7.50 for 50 rds. Both will shoot as well as I can apparently, so the SK makes more sense. The RWS in the 10-22 T will consistently shoot 3/4 moa at 50 yds and sometimes will shoot 1/2 moa. The Kimber with iron can shoot 1 moa most of the time. The SK consistently groups 1/4 - 1/2 moa larger than the R-50. Both are easy minute of squirrel at 50 yds.

2deep, let me know if you're interested in the Lapua, and I'll see if I can get you in contact with the guy that has it. I should see him tomorrow.

Good shooting, Tom

 

[in2deep]

Thanks for the generous offer really appreciate it but my gun doesn't shoot the multi nearly as well as the Benchrest Gold. The BR Gold has won alot of matches over the years and I have seen guys shoot 250's in RBA which is like hitting 25 pencil erasers in a row at 50 yards.
The best ammo for non-competition shooting especially for the price is that S&K Rifle Match available online around $6./box and in a good rifle it can shoot literally one-hole 10 shot raggedy groups at 100 yds. when you read the wind right they do it every match around here. Even the less expensive S&K standard shoots very well and we had a guy win a 100 yard target with it holding the 10 ring in a breeze but alot of guns won't shoot it that good it's all about what ammo your gun prefers not the price of the ammo. My gun hates that $25. Lapua just won't shoot it.

If your not doing full on benchrest competition with a custom benchrest rifle there is no sense in buying expensive ammo....heck at 100 yards you can't shoot $18. Eley any better than that SK Rifle Match as long as your rifle likes it.