Ammo and .22lr rifles

[DeanC]

Can someone explain to me how rimfire rifles can be so finicky when it comes to ammo?

While I was shooting the MK-II BV yesterday, I tried 4 different kinds of ammo: CCI SV, Wolf Match Extra, SK Rifle Match and Eley Target. At 100 yards and shooting 5 round groups, the best I could do with the CCI was 1.5-2in groups and penny sized with the Wolf. The Eley and the SK were all over the damn place though. Two rounds almost touching, next couple close to each other but a good 3-4in away from the first two. What the heck is going on? I keep hearing things like "conditioning the barrel to the ammo lube", or do clean the barrel between ammo types/don't clean the barrel between ammo types, only clean the chamber, etc. Any wisdom you all can provide is greatly appreciated.

Dean


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[Izzy43]

Can someone explain to me how rimfire rifles can be so finicky when it comes to ammo?

While I was shooting the MK-II BV yesterday, I tried 4 different kinds of ammo: CCI SV, Wolf Match Extra, SK Rifle Match and Eley Target. At 100 yards and shooting 5 round groups, the best I could do with the CCI was 1.5-2in groups and penny sized with the Wolf. The Eley and the SK were all over the damn place though. Two rounds almost touching, next couple close to each other but a good 3-4in away from the first two. What the heck is going on? I keep hearing things like "conditioning the barrel to the ammo lube", or do clean the barrel between ammo types/don't clean the barrel between ammo types, only clean the chamber, etc. Any wisdom you all can provide is greatly appreciated.

Dean


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Ah, you have asked the question that has puzzled the rimfire community since the dawn of rimfire rifles and ammo. It seems every rimfire rifle tends to like a particular ammo and not like some others. Here is some of my experiences.

I have found thru lots of ammo testing that Wolf Match Target/SK Std+ ammo shoots best in most of my rimfire rifles and don't even bother with High Velocity ammo as the accuracy that I want is never there. I only shoot paper targets in casual competition but if the rifle/ammo won't shoot MOA then I try different subsonic ammo and if that doesn't improve the accuracy I sell the rifle. Some different ammos shoot a little better or a lot worse but the Wolf and SK Std+ are acceptable or very accurate in 6 different rifles.

In my testing I found that you must either clean the bore between different types of ammo and shoot 10 fouling shoots with the new ammo or not clean and shoot 25-50 rounds to re-season the bore with the different lube on the ammo. I prefer to clean and save the ammo.

There is just no way to get a particular rifle to shoot a particular ammo accurately, it either does or doesn't.

I suggest you try some Wolf MT or SK Std+ (actually its the same ammo under different brands). Its the only ammo I have found that will shoot to my requirements in my MK II BTVS. We just have to spend the $$ on ammo to get good accuracy. Its the same in the centerfire world, for great accuracy they use Match ammo.

[vintagearms]

I speaking with a couple of rimfire compeditors, they usually recommend only cleaning every 500 rounds. This guy makes a few tools for the rimfire guys that is supposed to help.

http://pacotools.com/tool_discriptions

[Izzy43]

Go to rimfirecentral.com, register and search the "22 ammo" forum for "Paco" and read a lot of interesting info on that tool. I have a similiar tool made by Drock. Be careful pounding on those bullets. If you get one of the tools get an arbor press (small one) from Harbor Freight. Don't ask how I know.

[covingtonhouse]

If you can find it, RWS R50 shoots very well out of my MK II BV. It also likes Eley Tenex, Federal UM22, and Lapua Midas+. Top end ammos all..... SK std+ also shoots well at a way lower price. Try out as many stsndard velocity ammos as possible, and when you find some that works well, buy a bunch. I've also had some good results with some of the subsonic hollowpoint varieties

[BigPimping]

They all have their distinct likes and dislikes for what they digest. My 10/22 prefers CCI Blazers.

[Army]

It also depends on the lot#. One batch of ammo may shoot tiny little groups, the next lot is all over the hillside.

I've shot top dollar ultra-match ammo that would just about hit a man at 50yds, then follow up with Remington super-ultra crap, $0.50 a brick ammo that would shoot the legendary gnats butt off. Next week it would all change again.

If the ammo is consistant 1 inch-ish at 100yds, I'll keep it and buy more. This is good enough to keep me on the 4" steel at 300 and 400yds, and on any ground squirrel out to 200yds.

[DeanC]

If the ammo is consistant 1 inch-ish at 100yds, I'll keep it and buy more. This is good enough to keep me on the 4" steel at 300 and 400yds, and on any ground squirrel out to 200yds.

Agreed. The nice UPS man should be leaving 500 rounds of the Wolf Match Extra on my doorstep tomorrow.