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There was a recent thread titled, "Cheap Ammo, What's the Point" that received a lot of posts and it got me thinking. So today I went out with the intention of seeing if there is a point. As some may already know most cheap, bulk ammo is high velocity and some of its inaccuracy is attributed to the fact that it transitions thru the sound barrier (goes subsonic) before it travels 50 yds. Well some quick calculations show that its actually around 46 yds +/- environmental conditions.
So I set up targets @ 40 yds to test the grouping of 4 different inexpensive ammos. This testing is short on data, no control groups and is not meant to be the definitive test on the grouping of this ammo. Consider it anecdotal. I used two different known good shooting rifles. A CZ Ultralux and a Savage MKII BTVS. Both rifles are capable of sub moa groups @ 50 yds with Wolf Match Target ammo.
The ammo selected was Federal Automatch 40 gr, round nose, 1200fps. American Eagle 38gr, hollow point, 1260fps. CCI Blazer 40gr, round nose, 1235fps. Aguila Match Target 40 gr, round nose, 1100fps. Tha Aquila may be a little fast depending on which information we chose to believe. One website says its 1200fps. It is certainly louder than standard velocity ammo but since I don't have a chronograph I am unsure of its actual velocity. It is the most expensive ammo in this test @ $3/50 but certainly not Match Grade.
I have used all this ammo before @ 50yds and none of it shot what I could call good groups out of these rifles. An occasional 3/4" group with the Federal AutoMatch but the norm was about 1" with the CZ. The other ammo brands grouped about the same or worse. The Aguila normally had 1-2 fliers out of 5 that ruined the group.
The results of the test with the CZ:
1. Federal Automatch groups were 5/8" and 3/4"
2. American Eagle groups 3/4"
3. CCI Blazer group was 7/16"
4. Aguila Match Target group was 1/4"
The results of the test with the Savage:
1. Federal Automatch groups were 1/2" and 2 1/4". This large group was caused by what were clearly different powder loads in the 5 shots. I clearly heard a different report with each shot.
2. American Eagle groups were 3/4" and 7/8".
3. CCI Blazer groups were 1 1/8" and 1 1/4". Its clear that this rifle does not like this ammo.
4. Aguila Match Target group was 9/16"
It should be noted that the Savage is very, very picky about ammo and really only shoots match grade ammo well.
So what I learned here is that shooting bulk (inexpensive ammo) at less than 50yds can produce some acceptable groups if acceptable is 3/4". Based on my experience with shooting this same ammo @ 50yds I believe that the transition thru the sound barrier does have some effect on accuracy. I leave it to the experts to determine out how much. The best improvement in the ammo was with the Aguila, expecially in the Savage as previously @ 50 yds it basically looked like a shotgun pattern.
All shots were made from a homemade bench with a Caldwell Rock Benchrest front rest and rear bag rest. Both rifles with 20X scopes.
So take this for what you feel its worth. At least I had fun doing it. Targets are attached.
So I set up targets @ 40 yds to test the grouping of 4 different inexpensive ammos. This testing is short on data, no control groups and is not meant to be the definitive test on the grouping of this ammo. Consider it anecdotal. I used two different known good shooting rifles. A CZ Ultralux and a Savage MKII BTVS. Both rifles are capable of sub moa groups @ 50 yds with Wolf Match Target ammo.
The ammo selected was Federal Automatch 40 gr, round nose, 1200fps. American Eagle 38gr, hollow point, 1260fps. CCI Blazer 40gr, round nose, 1235fps. Aguila Match Target 40 gr, round nose, 1100fps. Tha Aquila may be a little fast depending on which information we chose to believe. One website says its 1200fps. It is certainly louder than standard velocity ammo but since I don't have a chronograph I am unsure of its actual velocity. It is the most expensive ammo in this test @ $3/50 but certainly not Match Grade.
I have used all this ammo before @ 50yds and none of it shot what I could call good groups out of these rifles. An occasional 3/4" group with the Federal AutoMatch but the norm was about 1" with the CZ. The other ammo brands grouped about the same or worse. The Aguila normally had 1-2 fliers out of 5 that ruined the group.
The results of the test with the CZ:
1. Federal Automatch groups were 5/8" and 3/4"
2. American Eagle groups 3/4"
3. CCI Blazer group was 7/16"
4. Aguila Match Target group was 1/4"
The results of the test with the Savage:
1. Federal Automatch groups were 1/2" and 2 1/4". This large group was caused by what were clearly different powder loads in the 5 shots. I clearly heard a different report with each shot.
2. American Eagle groups were 3/4" and 7/8".
3. CCI Blazer groups were 1 1/8" and 1 1/4". Its clear that this rifle does not like this ammo.
4. Aguila Match Target group was 9/16"
It should be noted that the Savage is very, very picky about ammo and really only shoots match grade ammo well.
So what I learned here is that shooting bulk (inexpensive ammo) at less than 50yds can produce some acceptable groups if acceptable is 3/4". Based on my experience with shooting this same ammo @ 50yds I believe that the transition thru the sound barrier does have some effect on accuracy. I leave it to the experts to determine out how much. The best improvement in the ammo was with the Aguila, expecially in the Savage as previously @ 50 yds it basically looked like a shotgun pattern.
All shots were made from a homemade bench with a Caldwell Rock Benchrest front rest and rear bag rest. Both rifles with 20X scopes.
So take this for what you feel its worth. At least I had fun doing it. Targets are attached.
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