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Posted: 1/13/2012 9:32:15 AM EDT
| ok so I got a 10 22 a month ago, and I have never really shot .22 before this, but what is the skinny on all of these different .22 ammo. there is 22 stingers minimags ect ect what is the difference between all of this ammo? specifically what is the difference with mini mag and how do i know what all my .22 can or cannot shoot, I dont want to pick up the wrong ammo. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the response, I want to turn it into a target rifle, I have a kidd barrel picked out that I want (have not gotten around to getting it yet) but thats the one I have picked out at least. So most of the match ammo is about the same? No, the ammo is NOT the same. As was pointed out, each rifle will have its favorites. This is due to some technical stuff and we could write a book on that. Actually, others already have done that. The short of it has to do with factors like chamber size and other dimensions in the barrel like its stiffness and harmonics. Again, we could get really technical here that is why people will just tell you to try different ammo until you find the combination that works best in your rifle. One ammo many will tell you to stay away from is the Stingers. They have a case that is longer than a normal .22 LR and don't fit right in the chambering of some rifles. Actually there are barrels that are custom chambered just for these. The ammo is the same, each loading will be just a bit different, even within a brand. One time before the Olympics the US team went to the factory in Europe and actually tested ammo from various batches from the same factory. Then, when they found the best performing batch they ordered millions of rounds of it so the team could practice with the exact same ammo they would use in competition. So, its NOT all the same. But then if you are just going to go out and pop some tin cans none of this will matter anyway. So, decide what you want to do, find the ammo that meets that need, then stock up on it. I have a couple of brands that my rifles like and I buy bulk batches of it, several thousands of rounds at a time from the same lots if possible. CCI is generally good for "affordable" ammo. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the response, I want to turn it into a target rifle, I have a kidd barrel picked out that I want (have not gotten around to getting it yet) but thats the one I have picked out at least. So most of the match ammo is about the same? Try Wolf MT, my Green Mountain barrel shoot tiny groups with it. Do not shoot CCI Stingers out of a match chamber. |
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If the rifle is new, I would suggest running some Mini-Mags out of it first to loosen it up some. The Mini-Mags have more power than some of the bulk ammo and will help cycle a new action. Then the bulk ammo, like the 550rd packs of Federal are good for plinking. Ammo that shoots good in the factory barrel may or may not shoot well out of the Kidd barrel. Like posted, 22's are just as finiky as any other caliber..and maybe more-so.
CCI also makes some called Velocitor. It's a compromise between Stinger and Mini-Mag. I use it for hunting as well as the mini's. |
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ok so I got a 10 22 a month ago, and I have never really shot .22 before this, but what is the skinny on all of these different .22 ammo. there is 22 stingers minimags ect ect what is the difference between all of this ammo? specifically what is the difference with mini mag and how do i know what all my .22 can or cannot shoot, I dont want to pick up the wrong ammo. I recommend buying a pack of each type of ammo and trying it out. Make sure that you pay attention to the bullet weight. You can get CCI Minimags in 36gr and 40gr. My guns shoot the 40gr much more accurately then the 36gr. I also recommend looking at standard velocity ammo. The high velocity stuff that I have shot is not as accurate in my guns. I did some reading on ballistics and there is some fascinating physics that explains why that ammo is not as accurate. Don't worry about all that though. The companies wouldn't make it if there weren't people that wanted it and guns that could use it well. It will be a little investment to buy all these types of ammo, but in the end you will know which one is best. Then you can stock up on lots of that type and burn the rest plinking at the range. Try 40g CCI Blazer, 40gr CCI Minimag, and Winchester M-22(40gr) to start. Just make sure to keep a note book on your range conditions so that you can compare later. |
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Alright so go through the typical drill to find out that favorite brand my 22 will like, thanks for the info guys, have one last question as I will be picking up a match barrel soon do those suggestions still stick in terms of the mini mags and such? Are mini mags "match" ammo?
Is there a recommended list of match ammo to try and does somebody have the title of the book that was written about .22's? |
| Minimags are not "match" ammo. When the companies put "match" on it, it is supposed to mean that there are stricter tolerances on the manufacturing process. This means that the rounds are closer to being identical than a standard production lot, which in turn means that they are supposed to be more accurate. That is why they are more expensive. Whatever you find works best for your current gun may not be what is best in the new barrel. The new barrel will have many different characteristics that will effect accuracy. I suspect that 40gr CCI Minimags will work well for you in both situations. |
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Pretty much no .22 made by Remington, Winchester or Federal is "match" ammo, despite what the box says. Some may shoot very well in one rifle or another, and may be as good as a given rifle can shoot, but they don't stack up against Lapua,RWS,SK and Eley .22 ammo.
CCI top end stuff comes close. |
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I agree with this in the technical sense of the word. As none of the US made or branded match ammo will compare with quality foreign made counterparts. And at ranges to 50 yards, subsonic ammo will generally be more accurate.
Pretty much no .22 made by Remington, Winchester or Federal is "match" ammo, despite what the box says. Some may shoot very well in one rifle or another, and may be as good as a given rifle can shoot, but they don't stack up against Lapua,RWS,SK and Eley .22 ammo. CCI top end stuff comes close. With that said there are some qualitative differences, even within the same brand, lube and bullet weight. Winchester T22 "match" for example is not consistent with the traditional "match" ammo definition as it is supersonic (around 1190 fps in my 24" barrel and around 1175 fps in my 16.5" barrel). In comparison the bulk 555/333 and Xpert bulk rounds are not much faster and are not much less accurate, especially at 25 and 50 yards. However there are three significant differences: 1) the velocity is more consistent with the T22 ammo (SD in the 10-12 for range compared to SD in the 20-30 fps range, 2) that difference in consistency really starts to show up in group size at ranges of >50 yards, and 3) the Win bulk loads demonstrate far more flyers than the T22. So, while I can get some very good 5 shot groups with the win bulk ammo (I had a much tighter than average .372" 5 shot group at 50 yds yesterday with Win Xpert) they are the exception and at longer ranges out to 100-125 yards or over a series of 10 five shot groups at 50 yards the greater consistency in the T22 shows up. So what you shoot will depend in large part on your rifle, the ranges you will shoot at and the level of accuracy you need. If you are plinking at 25 yards almost any round will be accurate enough. If you are shooting 4-6" plates at 50-100 yards again almost any bulk ammo will be fine. If you are a bench rest shooter looking for minimum groups at 50 yards or a target shooter than expensive euro match ammo will be the way to go. In the middle, however shooting at longer ranges at smaller targets or plates is where you may want to try some of the US branded "match" rounds. |
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As others have mentioned, each 10/22 may have different results with different various ammo... which is why you should try a large variety and see what works best through your particular set up.
You mention adding a Kidd barrel to your rifle (great choice BTW!), and that you will be concentrating on accuracy... The main difference between "bulk box" and "target grade" ammo... quality control and CONSISTANCY. For example; once a target shooter has run numerous brands of ammo through a new barrel to see which performs the best (most consistent with tightest groups), they will often go so far as to purchase up as much ammo as possible from the same batch # in hopes of maintaining that consistancy. Even a known high quality rimfire ammo may vary in performance between batches! Just because you shot better/tighter groups with your last box of Federal Match vs. Eley doesnt mean that the next two boxes (of the same two ammo's) will perform the same. The bulk box ammo's are wildly inconsistant IMO Also as previously stated, I would suggest you avoid high velocity ammo if looking for consistant accuracy, as these types of ammo have an even larger variation in consistancy when compaired to standard velocity ammo. In general, I have had great results with Wolf Match ammo and found it to be reliably consistent (considering its modest price range compared other true "match grade" ammo...nominated "best bang for the buck") through all of my .22LR guns. I'd also agree that step 1 should be to get your hands on a box or 2 of each ammo available (within your price range) and plan on spending a few days doing tests to see which performs best for you and your rifle! 
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My 10/22 hates Federal, loves CCI Blazers, Blazers shoot just as tight of groups as CCI minimags, but before I changed from the stock barrel to a Beyer Lightweight Match barrel my stock barrel would shoot federals better. You're just going to have to try different brands. Every barrels is different.
If you're looking for accuracy, I'd start with some trigger work before a barrel. Just my opinion. |
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