Test range waist of money ?

[Westex]

How many really think they are benefiting from spending money on testing ? Really 22 LR consistance is all about barrel harmonics which will be different when in a stock with different torques and so on ! I know ammo needs to match up with these harmonics also . Plus tuners and all the different variables . Just seems like a waist of money ! As high as ammo has gotten and even high dollar ammo is sometimes less consistent as cheaper ! Just wonder how many shooters have went to test centers are winning ?

 

[TRSR8]

Quite a few…..lots of misconceptions here.
You asking a question or stating you’re personal viewpoint?

 

[CharlieNC]

What is a more cost efficient process to find a lot that shoots well?

 

[coldboreshot]

The pursuit of perfection requires research and developement in the form of testing and comes with some form of financial expenditure. So ig I read your post correctly, its likr saying Tennis means buying just any racquet off the rack and expext to win the US Open or, in Golf, buying any club and expect to win the Masters. The costs of testing and load development is no different than the spending of additional funds for Tennis or Golf lessons for proficiency.

 

[John1945]

Nope, don't spend your time or money testing. Keep buying blind and hoping. How many buying blind and in small numbers are winning?

 

[Stugots]

And hope is not a strategy...

 

[grauhanen]

Testing at testing facilities need not be thought of as a waste of money. The testing fee is $50, hardly a significant amount compared to a case of ammo.

Testing at facilities isn't required to win. But because it's so quick and easy to test six or more different lots to see if one is more consistent than another, it's often a choice readily made especially when ammo availability elsewhere is not always good.

 

[jelenko]

high dollar ammo is sometimes less consistent as cheaper

Exactly! Only by testing will you find out.
If you're comfortable your test set up is as good as the test centers AND you know how to buy lots of what ever ammo tests good in your rifle - go for it.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

How many really think they are benefiting from spending money on testing ? Really 22 LR consistance is all about barrel harmonics which will be different when in a stock with different torques and so on ! I know ammo needs to match up with these harmonics also . Plus tuners and all the different variables . Just seems like a waist of money ! As high as ammo has gotten and even high dollar ammo is sometimes less consistent as cheaper ! Just wonder how many shooters have went to test centers are winning ?

Here is where you are mistaken, you don't match ammo to the barrel harmonics, you tune the barrel/rifle combination for the best bullet exit point. then from there it is much easier to weed out lots that don't shoot as well as another. then you pick the best shooting lot.
if you think you need to match up the harmonics/tune for each ammo you're in for some problems finding good ammo.

Lee

 

[Frankr]

I’ll add if through the Lapua test center not only did you get a lot that shoots in your Rifle but most that I know of the price they paid for the case was a substantial savings over what I have paid buying blind. I have bought a few lot of M+ that didn’t shoot too well and that was a big waste of money.
I personally haven’t tested due to wait times but if you seen the price of ammo lately you certainly don’t want to buy anything that doesn’t shoot well at that price.

 

[BowChamp]

I don't think Test Centers are a waste of time, they're simply another option for getting ammo.

I've never been to a test center and have only bought my ammo blind in small quantities. The down side to this is when I do find good ammo I never have much of it.

Over the last 12 months I've probably shot over 80 different lot #'s of ammo and with decent results. I can't begin to count the number of ARA Outdoor Unlimited matches I've shot with ammo I'd never shot before the day of the match.

I tuned my rifle a couple years ago and haven't changed it since.

Jerry

 

[PWNolan]

I certainly don't think testing at one of the test centers is a waste of money or time. A lot of people are doing it and it works for them. For me it's impractical. I don't want to ship my guns (maybe someday) and it's difficult (and expensive) for me travel to one of the test centers to test and buy one case of ammo that'll be gone in one season. Maybe that'll change at some point but for now I buy all my Lapua blind by the case. Yeah, I know, I'm not exactly lighting the ARA UL world on fire but I think I do ok for a fairly new guy. I've had several different lots of Midas+ and Center-X that do pretty well. I could easily sell of what I don't want but I haven't because even the stuff that didn't seem to test very well early on has done pretty well when nothing else was working. If I do get a lot that doesn't seem match worthy I have plenty of other rifles that it'll work nicely in

 

[ddkearney]

I've tested in person 3 times at Mesa recently.
They can test your rifle in a 1-piece rest setup, just like what you would use in an ARA match.
Just take it in a clean, match-ready state. I haven't been disappointed yet.
Of course, if you're sending your barreled receiver in, then maybe your concerns about stock torque might be an issue, but probably not high on the 'not worth it' list.
Don

 

[Westex]

Did not Know they would test in one piece rest set up ! I only watched videos of them them in a vise with barreled action clamped in and that just seems like it would not give you accurate data.

 

[TRSR8]

One major point here, as of yet not addressed.
The age old fallacy that $6/ box ammo shoots along side of true match,
Let us remember, all of the true advantages of match ammo are realized when using equipment that is able to perform as well as a shooter skillset at an acceptable level as well. Reading that first post…..not entirely unique, usually boils down to one/ the other/ both if I had to guess.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Did not Know they would test in one piece rest set up ! I only watched videos of them them in a vise with barreled action clamped in and that just seems like it would not give you accurate data.

Yup and you can use your own top too
I used my top and bungee to test at Mesa recently

Lee

 

[VLNBYR]

Did not Know they would test in one piece rest set up ! I only watched videos of them them in a vise with barreled action clamped in and that just seems like it would not give you accurate data.

You're not testing the rifle just selecting a lot of ammo.

 

[True Grit]

I'm testing the rifle to see if it's worthwhile to even mess with. Then I'll worry about what lot of ammo shoots best. Some guns just aren't accurate enough to be competitive in factory class and the gun on the left was one of those.