B14R .22 LR Ammo Test

[Legionnaire]

I finally got to the range to run the Bergara B14R through its paces and test a variety of ammo. The first column on each page of targets was for fouling shots after switching ammo: five or ten rounds before shooting for groups. I ran a bore snake down the barrel when I changed brands, but not for every type within brand. I then shot four five-shot groups for record with each ammo, all shot at 50 yards. Here are the results:







I felt pretty confident in my shooting today. Good rest, pretty good conditions, so I think a fair representation of my shooting ability. I was surprised by the consistency and accuracy of the SK High Velocity Match and the RWS R50. Whatcha think?

 

[Legionnaire]

Guess I should include a picture of the gun. I shot unsuppressed.

 

[C-grunt]

That is dang impressive. The rifle shooting good is one thing, but you being able to hold concentration for all of those groups is another all together.

Great information.

 

[sparkyv]

Nice test, Legionnaire. I appreciate your shared data. Is this ammo still available?

RWS R50

 

[Walkalong]

Tenex didn't pan out numbers wise, but it passes the eye test, worth working with more.

Edit:

Whoops, wrong one, I meant Lapua Super Long Range, I wouldn't give up on it yet.

SK Rifle Match did better than it tends to do for me.

 

[Legionnaire]

@sparkyv, still being made, but out of stock most places. Midwest Gun Works shows it @ $22 per 50 rounds.

@Walkalong, several I want to shoot more of.

 

[Walkalong]

@sparkyv, still being made, but out of stock most places. Midwest Gun Works shows it @ $22 per 50 rounds.

@Walkalong, several I want to shoot more of.

How were conditions? I love to pick a quite calm evening to do ammo tests.

 

[Legionnaire]

Pretty good. Temps mid 50 when I started, 60ish a couple hours later; slightly overcast, good visibility. Prevailing wind was 7 mph; less than that actually as the range is sheltered, and it was blowing almost straight down range..

 

[Walkalong]

Pretty good. Temps mid 50 when I started, 60ish a couple hours later; slightly overcast, good visibility. Prevailing wind was 7 mph; less than that actually as the range is sheltered, and it was blowing almost straight down range..

Well there’s where a lot of that vertical came from

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

I’d really want one at a barrel length of around 22”. I can’t see the utility of so many versions and just 16.5” across all of them

 

[Walkalong]

I’d really want one at a barrel length of around 22”. I can’t see the utility of so many versions and just 16.5” across all of them

Vudoo offers long barrels, RimX prefits are offered in longer lengths. Pricey though

 

[Picher]

Nice shooting! Reminds me of my Rimfire Benchrest match ammo testing. Testing batches is great, but sometimes you find the right ammo for your rifle and that lot is all sold-out when you try to order it in quantity. It's a constant problem, unless you can obtain a "carload" of the stuff that shoots best in your rifle.

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

Holy Crap...that gun does not like those Federals or Eley Practice...

 

[Legionnaire]

@GE-Mini-Gun, got that right. Really demonstrates that there is a difference in ammo, and that an individual gun will shoot one type better than another.

 

[Walkalong]

We've all read about that as long as we've been into guns, but when you start actual doing it, it can be an eye opener, even though we "knew" that.

It's one thing to know, and another to prove it to yourself.

And of course all the folks who have done this with .22s for years/decades just grin and nod their heads at us.

 

[Bartojc]

I've been wanting to have a "pricision-ish" .22 for a while now. Threads like this feed the urge.

Since I've been reloading I've mostly been in the " that's good enough" crowd. Occasionally I stumble into something really good. This proves there really is a difference in ammo. Then of course you have to be able to "shoot the difference"
Good shooting and thanks for sharing.

-Jeff

 

[d2wing]

Thanks for posting. Another ammo That did fairly well for me in my CZ 452 Lux was Norma Tac 22. Your results are similar to mine.

 

[Bartojc]

I'm sure have all seen this, but if not I found this interesting for someone looking to get into more than just a .22

https://www.kiddinnovativedesign.com/AMMO-_ep_51-1.html

-Jeff

 

[Legionnaire]

Another ammo That did fairly well for me in my CZ 452 Lux was Norma Tac 22.

Norma Tac 22 showed some promise on a previous outing. However, I shot up the only box I had before this test.

 

[Poper]

Thanks for posting. Another ammo That did fairly well for me in my CZ 452 Lux was Norma Tac 22. Your results are similar to mine.

Norma TAC 22 shot so poorly in my Anschutz I gave the rest of the brick to my nephew. It grouped worse than Winchester White Box. (Gives me the willies just thinking about it.) Different rifles tend to like different ammos. I have a Tikka T1X that seems to shoot most ammo quite well but still has its "preferred flavors - SK Rifle Match being one as are Lapua Polar Biathlon and Eley Club . Go figure!

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

Years back (early/mid 90’s) my father and I were getting into a local rimfire shoot, we both had Ruger 10/22’s we fitted trigger and heavy barrels to and Remington 541’s…long story short, his (both) loved Winchester T-22 and I mean LOVED them…crazy accurate. Mine on the other hand totally different story…the 541 wanted Eley Tenex and the 10/22 RWS something or other, at the time both were around $7 box.

 

[WVRJ]

I just bought a B-14R identical to Legionnaire and my ammo testing is remarkably similar.Mine shot the SK orange box high velocity match really well except for an occasional flier.As a brand,Lapua is the best in mine as far as the match stuff goes.It doesn't have much of a taste for Eley,and I've tried several of their different types.CCI Green Tag was consistent,staying in the upper 3's and low 4's.The shocker of the evening this evening was the last group I shot that was a .415...with Federal Auto Match.If that lil Bergara will do that,it'll shoot almost anything good.They are very good shooting rifles,but my old Remington 541S that's been worked on a little bit shot the SK better than the Bergara.It has a 2-7 Nikon P-22 scope and I had a 12-42 Nightforce Competition on the Bergara.I also found that the B-14 does a lot better for me when I shoot it free recoil.The less contact I have with it the better.Kinda says something about my rimfire shooting skills.

 

[sparkyv]

I resemble that remark.

And of course all the folks who have done this with .22s for years/decades just grin and nod their heads at us.

I too, have only partially tested Norma Tac-22 in my CZs and BMR. I really want it to rise to the top, but we'll see...and now to complicate matters, the packaging has been changed recently, and despite the denial by Norma, many question if the ammo itself hasn't changed.

Oh yeah, now I'll have to add Norma Match-22 to the test list...the testing never ends, but that's what makes it fun!

Thanks for posting. Another ammo That did fairly well for me in my CZ 452 Lux was Norma Tac 22. Your results are similar to mine.

Norma Tac 22 showed some promise on a previous outing. However, I shot up the only box I had before this test.

 

[Walkalong]

I just bought a B-14R identical to Legionnaire and my ammo testing is remarkably similar…………….

……..I also found that the B-14 does a lot better for me when I shoot it free recoil.The less contact I have with it the better.Kinda says something about my rimfire shooting skills.

I wasn’t going to say that, but since we went there, where is your support hand? It’s real easy to flex the barrel if you get on it any little bit at all.

Also, is it recoiling straight back the same each time when you are holding it? Do you have the rear in a bind pulling the crosshairs where you want them? That won’t let recoil be consistent and straight back.

Shoulder pressure consistent even if we are recoiling straight back?

Just a couple of things to think about.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Thank You legionnaire. Nice shooting brother.
Might I add: SK Biathlon sport with a tad bit more velocity worked really well for the B14R too. Also, My B14R / BXR both seems to like a little more velocity that general Match. (Pic just to show I really have one, not bragging)