.22 rifle accuracy... Bullet recomendations

[JCalhoun]

For small game the 36gr HP Mini-Mag is my favorite. However, the 40gr solid Mini-Mag is not accurate at all.

[lscraig1968]

My .22 squirrel rig shoots regular Federal 40 grn round nose really well.

[BoilerUP]

I bought my wife a brand new 10/22 for Christmas last year, and dropped it into a pink Hogue stock.

With a Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 optic and shooting from a Caldwell Rock Jr rest, Federal Automatch gave me easily <1" and close to 0.5" 10-shot groups at 50yd with CCI SV not terribly far behind.

I was VERY impressed.

[Howie]

CCI Blazer shoots 1" groups at 100Y typically on most days from my Savage.

I was going to say the same thing only with my 10/22. The target on the right was my 10/22 with CCI Blazer at 100 yards. You can see my thumb for sizing in the upper left. The left was my Savage .223 before getting it dialed in with some better ammo.

[texasgunclass]

+1 on the mini mags hp, ditch the high rings, and the barrel band you don't need it. make sure the barrel is free floated, that it does not touch the stock.and you can add a pressure pad, two pices about 1/2" * 1/2" of bicycle inner tube right after the v-block

[squirrelsniper]

Every 22LR has it's own preferences and they're very hard to predict, but based on my experience with dozens of 22LRs and many thousands of rounds of ammo, here's a few types of ammo that seem to shoot well in "most" rifles.

CCI Mini-Mag HP 36gr - It's my favorite for hunting too.

Winchester Power Point (not DynaPoint) - It seems like every time I run into a rifle that doesn't like Mini-Mag HPs, for some reason they love Power Points.

SK Standard Plus / Wolf Match Target - Standard Plus and Match Target are the same stuff, so maybe it's just coincidence that I usually have slightly better results with the SK-boxed stuff.

I've never been lucky enough to find a rifle that would shoot hyper-velocity ammo as well as it did standard and/or high velocity ammo, but, of the hyper stuff I've had the best results with CCI Velocitor.

[handirifle]

I agree on the rings. Lose the rings. You want solid consistent cheek weld, that you wont get with those rings.

[Nandy]

I apologize for not checking this thread in a while, now that deer season is over I came here to see what you guys suggested. This past weekend I went back to the lease to try other bullets and try some of the other old bullets I had. Go figure, I got the best groups with the cheapest bullets I had which I have had for long time put away... go figure, I have about 400 left, hopefully I can find them again but I have not seen that package in walmart in quite some time. I can't recall at this moment (im at the office) but I think they are federal.

+1 on the mini mags hp, ditch the high rings, and the barrel band you don't need it. make sure the barrel is free floated, that it does not touch the stock.and you can add a pressure pad, two pices about 1/2" * 1/2" of bicycle inner tube right after the v-block

I have the barrel free floating and did the pressure pad thing (18 in/lbs) and it did improved. I started working the trigger (not completely done yet) and I dropped it to 2.5 lbs. I still have to smooth some areas and work on the springs. We shall see. I will try to check it by the end of this month. I wanted to go earlier but my second vehicle broke down tuesday... I have 2 broke down vehicles so I am not risking the third one on making long trips to the lease... Might have to go to the indoors range close home but that might not be the best test as it is 25 yards only... I might end up getting rid of the high mounts if I can find a weaver 1 piece for this rifle. That way I can take the scope off and on with my leupold qrw rings depending on what I feel I want to shoot like. We shall see...

Thanks everyone!!!!

[JCalhoun]

An indoor range even at 25 yards can be helpful since it takes the wind and weather out of the testing.

A gun liking the cheap stuff is wonderful. I had a .357 lever action a few years that shot the CCI Blazer aluminum ammo way better than anything else.

[nova1194]

I have tried quite a few different types in my 10/22 and 2 stand out above the rest, Winchester 40 gr power point, the box looks like regular wild cat stuff at first glance but it says power point on the corner of the box and has PP in the model number, the other is Aguila SSS for sniper sub sonic, it has a very heavy bullet and really does the job on rabbits and squirrel's.

Mike

[Tempest]

I posted this on another forum, some may find this interesting. Spent some time w/ my Magnetospeed. Rifle is a Savage TRR-SR which is basically a MKII action. ES is the spread of velocity from high to low in FPS


CCI Blazer suppressed: (did not effect velocity on average)


Avg 1229

ES 54

2 1 1223 ft/sec
2 2 1218 ft/sec
2 3 1250 ft/sec
2 4 1237 ft/sec
2 5 1196 ft/sec
2 6 1246 ft/sec
2 7 1234 ft/sec



Eley Match:

1060
1071
1041 Avg 1060 / ES 30
1062
1067

Lapua Center X:

1077
1071
1060 Avg 1062 / ES 25 (Note * TRR shot most accurate group at 100 yards so far w/ this ammo)
1053
1032

CCI SV:

1046
1040
1049 Avg 1047 / ES 22
1039
1061

Federal bulk HV:

1233
1233
1257 Avg 1241 / ES 24
1238
1245


CCI Blazer:

1238
1220
1236 Avg 1230 / ES 25 (These were in a box I typically sort weighed rounds. I forget if I did or not. Might explain the lower ES than above)
1216
1241

Remington Thunderbolt:

1198
1138
1213 Avg 1184 / ES 94 (Very dirty and cheap)
1143
1232

CCI Mini Mag:

1260
1243
1242 Avg 1256 / ES 32
1262
1274

Centurion:

1236
1222
1242 Avg 1242 / ES 52
1240
1274


Pretty much confirms that CCI Blazer is pretty darn consistent for bulk HV ammo. Looks like Federal is also but for some reason does not group as good in rifle as Blazer. The velocity on the match grade subsonics were all close. The ES on the Lapua and the CCI SV are close but the Lapua has been way more accurate in my rifle.

The Remington plain sucks but I knew that. It's good/cheap ammo. Will test some more down the road.

[Tempest]

Did a few more the other day.

CCI Stinger:

Avg 1483 (high 1502)
SD 13
ES 38

CCI Velocitor:

Avg 1276 (high 1313)
SD 31
ES 73

CCI Mini Mag:

Avg 1251
SD 15
ES 52

RWS HV Match:

Avg 1205
SD 25
ES 69