Rimfire Ammo Question

[Longtrain]

I mainly shoot CF, and have recently started to shoot more RF. Generally, knocking down plates, ringing gongs and occasionally shoot for group to test accuracy.

I have a CZ452 Varmint, with a good trigger kit, having gone through all the normal brands of 40 grain ammo, CCI std, Green Tag, various Winchester, Remington, Eley Standard, SK Longrange, Augilia, SK STD Plus, Federal Match, etc. At 50 yards most shoot under and inch and a few better, none consistently under 1/2”, which is what I would like.

So, I picked up a brick of Augilia Competition Match w/ Eley Priming and Wolf Match Extra. The Augilia did well, under a 1/2” with a flier out to 3/4”, the Wolf was amazing, with no hard work on my part, it consistently shot well under 1/2” with some approaching 1/4”! Why? What makes this so much better then other RF ammo? A buddy suggested I weight each round, grouping them together, like weighing CF cases, that’s not going to happen. I shot the Wolf out to 100 yards and it did well, but the wind really picked up so, testing was flawed IMO.

 

[flatlander]

You probably bought a lot# of the Wolf that your rifle liked. You can spend $$$$ out the wazoo buying individual boxes of various brands & grades of 22RF ammo - up to and including top-of-the-line, $20+/box match grade stuff - and never find anything that really impresses unless you just get lucky. The way to work it is to buy several lots of a few brands/grades of ammo in the price range you're interested in, and test those lots against each other. I primarily shoot SK & Lapua, and back in 2016 when I built my first precision repeater on a Stiller 2500XR action with a Krieger bbl chambered with my match EPS reamer, I tested around a dozen lots of SK Rifle Match before finding one specific lot that shot really well - good enough to convince me to buy a couple of cases (10,000rds) of it. Lapua Center-X was about the same - didn't buy in quantity until after I'd tested a bunch of it here at home, and then finally sent a Vudoo V-22 bbl'd action out to the Lapua Test Center in Mesa, Az to have them test it. In this case, there was a lot# of Center-X that out-shot all the lots of Midas+ they had in stock at the time, and again, I bought two cases of it. I don't know if this applies on an across the board basis, but in my assortment of custom barreled rifles, when I find a lot that shoots really well in one, it generally shoots as well in all of them. This applies to a couple of CZ457s that I've rebarreled with Shilen blanks, Rem 40X/XB repeaters, the above mentioned Stiller, and all three of the V-22s I have. All but one of these rifles have bbls chambered with the same EPS reamer, the exception being a Bartlein barreled V-22 action that the folks at VGW chambered with Mike Bush's RAVAGE reamer - which was designed to be optimal with SK/Lapua ammo.

 

[rkittine]

When I buy Rim Fire Ammo, I order a few boxes each of the brands and grades that I know my RF BR guns like to eat, but only of those that the supplier (Clint will send you his inventory list and a list of inventory from his suppliers) that have a considerable amount of back up inventory in stock. Then off to the range, shot some test targets and order as much as you can afford of the brand, grade AND LOT number that you liked.

Bob

 

[MarkS]

Longtrain,
I have a lot of Wolf ME that out shoots any ammo I have shot, Eley Tennex, Match, Center X, Midas+, Midas PB
Wolf ammo is made by Eley. Eley Target is the same as Wolf Match Target and Eley Club is the same as Wolf Match Extra. That is the beast of Rimfire.

Mark

 

[Longtrain]

Thanks for all the input, it’s appreciated.

 

[shutinlead]

LT,
I shoot some long range gong matches with a vintage single shots. One's an original Winder Low Wall that I put a RKS gaintwist barrel on and cut the chamber with a Lilja match reamer. I tried all the different brands (what you mentioned and then some -Lapua match, Center-X and Midas+) and different lots of said brands, surprisingly it's favorite is the newer Wolf Match extra, and of the 3 different lots of the stuff I have - at it's worst, the performance is noticeably better than any other brand I've tried. I don't believe I've shot it for a group at 50 yards, at a 100 it stays below an inch fairly consistently. (I don't weigh and sort my ammo either) I shoot quite a bit at 400 yards and when the wind gods are smiling and allow me to read the wind right, keeps ten shots on a 12" plate. (I know that doesn't sound that terrific speaking of MOA but try it) Now to say that all my 22's like the stuff, Nope! two other rifles I've recently built don't care a lick for the stuff, similar procedures and components but the moon and stars weren't lined up the same when things were going together? They are a finicky beast.
Greg

 

[1911nut]

I didn’t like my CZ 452 Silhouette even after I bedded it and got the after market sear and the trigger a perfect 8 oz. 1/2” groups at 50 were uncommon with any ammo.
Then I tried a lot of Black box that my bench gun didn’t like, on a bench, bipod, rear bag and 1/4” 5 shot groups at 50 became common. I couldn’t believe it so I shot several groups and it’s held up.
I like that CZ now.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I have NO problem shooting, Sub 1/2" 50 Yard groups with, most SK / Lapua Ammo, in my Green Mountain Ruger, 10/22 barrel.
All Std. Velocity (Sub 1100 FPS ) SK Pistol Match, SK +, SK Long Range and Wolf Match Extra ( Now made by Lapua / SK ) shoot about, the same, "awesome" ! ).
SORRY for, "hoarding" Guys, but earlier in the Spring, I was overrun, by Sage Rats !

 

[bubba15]

What is considered good for a 100 yd grouping of 5 shots?

 

[dgeesaman]

What is considered good for a 100 yd grouping of 5 shots?

Outdoors? Under 3/4 inch is not easy. 1/2” is outstanding.

The best solution for rimfire accuracy is controlled environment lot testing. Wind-free tunnel, barrel or action clamped to a solid foundation, match grade ammo. I’m headed to Lapua Ohio next week for a test session. The caveat is you need to buy a case of ammo minimum and it’s Center-X or Midas+. Most folks don’t opt for this with sporters.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

I have a Sako P94S in a Range stock that is fairly picky to get sub MOA. I found that I need to commit enough ammo to get the lube in the barrel consistent. 5 shot groups at 100 yards in calm(ish) conditions 2 groups minimum 3 groups is better. That gives you a few rounds left in the box to test again at a different distance.

Some ammo like Eley Tenex comes in different lots with different velocities. They have the same bullet lube but the velocity varies. My rifle didn't get to .5 in groups at a 100 yards till I tried 1078 fps after large groups with 1058 and 1068.

After selecting your ammo, adding a barrel tuner can shrink the group size a bit.

 

[lawman29]

To add to some of the experiences provided. With regards to testing and distance. Rim fire matches are generally shot at 50 feet, 50 yards and 100 yards (with some comps at 100+). An ammo that shoots the best at 50 feet might not be the same one that shoots at 50 yards or 100 yards etc. I have found that to be true Midas+ at 50 feet & 50 yards, RWS R100 at 100 yards and over for my Remington 40xb. My other 22s also are specific to what they like to eat. You need a wind flag to test and should really try to test with very little... A poster mentioned lube...I don't clean much and if you do you can't test until you've re-lubed the barrel with several rounds down range... Then the question comes do I clean between different ammo because of the "magic" lube each one has And down the rabbit hole you go A few examples including unobtainium…

 

[Ned Ludd]

I have a CZ455 Varmint Precision Trainer I bought a couple years back. I didn't care for the precision with the factory barrel, so I had GA Precision chamber a new 3-groove Benchmark 24" barrel with the Lilja match reamer. I also adjusted the trigger. After the mods, I shot a few groups with the various types of ammo I had on hand, Eley, Lapua, Wolf, SK, etc. It seemed to prefer the Eley offerings the best, particularly Tenex.

With that info in hand, I searched through the various Lots of Eley Tenex available through Killoughs. I was specifically looking for Lots that A) covered a velocity range from approximately 1040-1090 fps (manufacturer's box velocity value), and B) were available in sufficient quantity that a particular Lot wasn't likely to be all gone by the time I finished the testing. I ended up with 9 different Lots having (box) velocities ranging from 1041 to 1091 fps, having an approximately 5 to 7 fps velocity increment between the value provided for each successive Lot.

I shot 4x5-shots groups with each ammo for precision, and also fired an additional 10-shots for velocity. Two of the Lots shots grouped noticeably better than the rest, giving average groups spreads for the 4 groups of 0.31" and 0.33" (c-to-c, OnTarget). The better of the two Lots averaged 1050 fps, with an ES/SD of 11fps/4fps, which also happened to be the lowest of all the Lots tested. Surprisingly, only one Lot out of nine had a measured velocity that was noticeably different from the box value; the two values for that Lot differed by 34 fps. The other 8 Lots had measured velocities within 5 fps (or less) of the box value. As you might imagine, I ended up buying quite a bit of the specific Lot that proved to group the best in my hands.

Testing this way is one approach to find ammo that shoots well in your setup. Alternatively, there are ammunition manufacturers that will test your rifle for you (for a fee), and cover an even much wider sample of different Lots of ammunition, as well as different types of ammunition they manufacture, than I was able to do on my own. With the Lot-to-Lot variance in rimfire ammo, just tryng a single box of something like Eley Match, Lapua Midas, or Eley Tenex, for example, may not provide the best precision if the particular Lot that you purchased doesn't happen to agree with your rifle/setup. So it may be worth doing just such a single-box test with various brands of ammunition first to see if you can narrow things down to a certain brand and specific type of ammunition. Then, you could test a few different Lots of that specific brand/type to see if you can improve the precision even a little more. Unlike centerfire cartridges where you can adjust charge weight and seating depth to tune a load in to your rifle, a rimfire setup is at the mercy of the commercial ammunition that is available. In order to find the best precision, you have to do a significant amount of testing.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I recently bought a CZ 457 MTR. This is my first foray, into a supposedly, precision rimfire rifle. In the two range outings so far, I have put 500 rounds down the tube.

I have tried ten different brands of ammo. I am finding that they all seem to group well enough, but most will still produce flyers, even with the most expensive Lapua and Eley ammo. While I have not settled on a particular brand as yet, it seems that the RWS Target Rifle, is the most consistent so far.

So far, I have used a Cabella front rest and a Seb rear bag. I will be installing a Sinclair 3 inch adapter to the fore end of the stock today and tomorrow I will be using a Seb Neo front rest. Also have a Weaver T36 XR scope mounted on it. I am hoping this will improve consistency, as with the Cabella rest, I had trouble keeping the rifle in verticle alignment. Of course with these improvements, I suspect I will have to redo bullet testing, as the rifle will be rock steady, in the rest.

The only modification I have made to the rifle was a change in the trigger spring. It now measures 9 oz. I like the simplicity of this trigger and it breaks flawlessly.

 

[1911nut]

I recently bought a CZ 457 MTR. This is my first foray, into a supposedly, precision rimfire rifle. In the two range outings so far, I have put 500 rounds down the tube.

I have tried ten different brands of ammo. I am finding that they all seem to group well enough, but most will still produce flyers, even with the most expensive Lapua and Eley ammo. While I have not settled on a particular brand as yet, it seems that the RWS Target Rifle, is the most consistent so far.

So far, I have used a Cabella front rest and a Seb rear bag. I will be installing a Sinclair 3 inch adapter to the fore end of the stock today and tomorrow I will be using a Seb Neo front rest. Also have a Weaver T36 XR scope mounted on it. I am hoping this will improve consistency, as with the Cabella rest, I had trouble keeping the rifle in verticle alignment. Of course with these improvements, I suspect I will have to redo bullet testing, as the rifle will be rock steady, in the rest.

The only modification I have made to the rifle was a change in the trigger spring. It now measures 9 oz. I like the simplicity of this trigger and it breaks flawlessly.

my experience with a few rifles is that the high end ammo, black box, tenex, center x, midas typically don’t throw flyers, though group size can vary greatly. My flyers are the gun, the bench setup and often me.

 

[VLNBYR]

That CZ is a step in the right direction but nowhere close to being a precision rifle. Your testing results are going to vary.

 

[Polaris13]

My CZ 455 is the most finicky firearm I own. It liked one brand of ammo when the action was in a wood stock, then it liked different ammo when I put it in a Masterpiece Arms Chassis. It's current favorites:
SK Rifle Match red black box
Norma 40 grain 1100 fps

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Shot my first 100 yard match, the BIL used his 40x I used his H&R 12. 36x Sightron he had Federal match for both rifles. I shot 969 for 2nd place medal. A lot of fun and good to have to concentrate and have pressure for over an hour of shooting, always makes a hunting situation seem "slower".

 

[jps2486]

I've tried them all in my CZ452 and various Anschutz rifles. SK Rifle Match seems to work as well as any.