22 match ammo

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Aug 14, 2016
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Great Falls MT
I built out my 10/22 as a training rig. She does pretty good at a hundo with standard velocity CCI and bulk ammo.
But I want to order some actual match ammo. I understand the lot to lot and each gun is different. But is there a brand and type that does consistently better than most? Sure is fun to shoot this thing at 2-300 yards! Man you really know when you flitch or fail on follow through!
 
Not all, but some 22’s are finicky. Most people prefer subsonic ammo so you dont have to worry about the transsonic area. Center x or Lapua stuff is pretty standard midas+, etc. some lots of skmatch are quite good (they come off the same production as lapua, just sorted by weight or something), but theres more variation between lots.
 
I did a test in my Ruger precision recently. CCI, SK match, RWS (I think) and Eley Match. The Eley was the most expensive and shot the worst by quite a bit.

My suggestion is buy a box of a few different brands and see what your gun likes.


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You can lot test, my B14R seems to really like the SK rifle match, even over Eley and Lapua center X.
 
With the 4 CZ 457’s we’ve had, all have shot well with SK Standard Plus.
Lot to lot hasn’t really been an issue.
Probable the cheapest “match” ammo around.

I haven't tried a ton of different stuff by SK standard plus is best in my CZ 455 too. Eley shot awful.
 
I recently lot tested (5) lots of SK. (2) of standard plus and (3) of the rifle match in my vudoo.

Shooting 20 round groups at 100yd there wasn’t a lot of difference, in group size or SD’s between any of them. One lot of standard shot beat, one lot of standard shot the worst. The rifle match all shot about the same. 5 shots groups can fool you.

Center-x is basically just the “better” lots of rifle match, at much higher price.
 

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I shoot Bulls Eye Pistol every week in competition. When I started years ago I bought 14 or 15 different brands/loads of match pistol ammo. I bench rested the pistol and shot all of them for the best groups. There were 2 that were the best. Aguila Match Pistol and Eley Match Pistol. There was virtually no difference and I chose Aguila because it was about 1/3 less money. Rifle ammo is different because of the longer barrel length.
Today I still shoot Aguila when I can get it, if not I shoot any MATCH ammo, it is certainly better than the cheap stuff.
 
Boy that SK is tough to find. I did find some and plan to buy some on payday.
Training with a 22 just seems more practical than a 223.

Got dang is there a trick to cleaning a 22 can? Not to go off topic but after maybe 500 rounds my Griffin Checkmate baffles are really dirty. Think I've had them in the ultra sonic for two hours. Pulled them and wire brushed most of the crud off. Then threw them back in.

Think the next 22 can I'll get will be an enclosed can. If I can't see the filth it must not be there
 
I’ll agree on the 22 training.

Learning to build positions on the clock has helped me tremendously in the field.
Specifically when adapting to difficult situations. And it’s cheaper than a 223. With less noise.

Learning to manage recoil better is the only drawback to a 22LR. I definitely cheat in that regard with a 22LR and get away with it.

I’m not suppressed but couldn’t imagine the filth. 22LR is dirty.
 
Center-x is basically just the “better” lots of rifle match, at much higher price
This is true across the board for sk ammo. I dont recall if it was center x or midas plus, then sk match, then sk+, it is literally the same production line at the same time—they just weight-sort them so the most consistent stuff goes to the premium ammo, and on down the line…but if they happen to be real consistent and they have orders for sk+ to fill, you’re going to get sk+ ammo that is literally the same as the premium stuff, just in a different package. You just cant count on it, whereas you can count on the centerx/Midas+ to be very consistent. It is truth to say, if you find a lot# of sk+ that shoots well BUY IT ALL. Just dont count on the next lot to be as good.
 
22 ammo accuracy is a funny thing. More expensive ammo is more consistent in powder charge and priming, but there’s no way around shooting a lot of different brands, and there’s no denying some lots are slightly more accurate than others. For plinking it probably doesn’t matter. I had a silhouette light rifle that shot stupid cheap Winchester Wildcat ammo well enough that’s what I used in matches. lol

In many ways this is the golden age of 22 lr - it’s amazing to buy off the shelf components that will beat the very best rifles from a few decades ago.
 
The only .22 match ammo I will not use is Remington, it is crap! I bought some several times (thats all I could get) and had at least 15% squibs, sometimes 20%.
 
Boy that SK is tough to find. I did find some and plan to buy some on payday.
Training with a 22 just seems more practical than a 223.

Got dang is there a trick to cleaning a 22 can? Not to go off topic but after maybe 500 rounds my Griffin Checkmate baffles are really dirty. Think I've had them in the ultra sonic for two hours. Pulled them and wire brushed most of the crud off. Then threw them back in.

Think the next 22 can I'll get will be an enclosed can. If I can't see the filth it must not be there
If your shooting volume, and for accuracy. The 22 suppressor is best left off.


What realistically are you looking for in match ammo?

Typically from what Iv seen accuracy is more dependent on lot than grade of ammo.

Where I notice a difference is with velocity deviation. Iv never seen cheap ammo, even if it shot lights out at 50 yards, have a stable enough velocity to be a viable long range, 300+, ammo lot. Most of the nice stuff, Lapua long range, Eley match and the like have very consistent SD .

What you’re doing will dictate what you need. If you need to shoot 300 yards, and have accuracy you’re going to have to experiment. If you need to shoot to 100 and need accuracy you can likely find whatever shoots well and buy a lot of it in that lot.

If you’re shooting a factory 10/22 I wouldn’t be spending more than 8 bucks for 50. I’d start with Eley target and sk standard plus. You might even get cci shooting well.
 
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The only .22 match ammo I will not use is Remington, it is crap! I bought some several times (thats all I could get) and had at least 15% squibs, sometimes 20%.
It’s too bad whoever bought the ammo plant say they care, but just keep turning out crappy primers and ammo. They care about making a buck sucking the last bit of value out of the name and that’s about it.
 
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