Custom 10/22, 21 brands of 22lr, 50 yards, 3 shot group test.

[Orion8472]

I tested out my custom 10/22 with 21 different brands of 22lr [listed below] just to see which brands it would do best with. Has a 16" Clerke bull barrel [with Levang Linear Comp threaded on and off], Free Floated, Volquartsen trigger.

Here is the rifle:




Here are the targets. The dots are 1". 50 yards, 3 shot groups. Reticle centered at the center of the dots.

First target is without the comp:



Second target is with comp on:




Key:
1. CCI Blazer
2. Winchester T22 40gr.
3. Norma USA TAC-22
4. Aguila Super Extra 40gr.
5. American Eagle 40gr.
6. Eley Match Semi Auto [Round Nose, Special Lubricant]
7. Fiocchi M320 Match
8. CCI Standard Velocity
9. Federal Premium Gold Medal
10. Eley Standard
11. Lapua Speed Ace
12. Golden Eagle Target
13. Lapua Super Club
14. Golden Eagle Match Rifle
15. Lapua Hollow Point

Third target has "without comp" on top [above line], "with comp" on bottom [below line]:



Key:
A. Wolf Target Match 40gr.
B. Lapua Midas L
C. Standard Plus [JAGD-UND Super-Munitions GMBH, Made In Germany].
D. Centurion 38gr. HP
E. Fiocchi Biathlon SM340
F. Lapua Master M

 

[TBH]

Wow! Looks to me like Lapua is worth the money.

 

[Orion8472]

Yes, that was what I was thinking as well. Unfortunate, since Lapua is quite expensive. But it is nice to see my rifle do well. Not quite as tight of groups as I would expect for a setup like I have, but that's about as good as it gets.

Update: On the second image, Number 4 had one of the three shots go just off the board. On the lower part of the last image, B and F had two round through one hole.

 

[kitsapshooter]

Was the rifle rested?

 

[rcmodel]

Looks like you should lose the comp and shoot CCI Standard velocity.

Group #8 without the comp is the best one there!

rc

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Lapua certainly is good stuff. I find Center X to be nearly as good or many times equal to Midas at half the price.

 

[WardenWolf]

+1 on RCModel. I, too, noticed that the CCI shot the best overall. The Wolf wasn't too shabby, either. Definitely don't bother with the Lapua. Stick to CCI and Wolf.

I still have yet to shoot my 10/22 since upgrading it, but I'm hoping to see similar results. I went with a similar Boyd's Evolution stock, but in blue, as the original rifle was stainless and blue and silver go well together. The barrel is an ER Shaw straight-fluted stainless bull barrel and I replaced the hammer and sear with a Power Custom titanium drop-in kit. It's a very smooth pull to release now. No jerky movements.

The rifle passes all function tests and the extractor seems to have no problems grabbing unfired rounds, so I'm hopeful this thing will be a tack driver.

Sorry about the mess. It was taken in my former housemate's messy basement:



Now if someone will just showcase a 10/22 with 21 different brands of parts installed. ;-)

 

[bamajoey]

Some of those groups look really good.

I have found when shooting several different ammo, I get a better idea of what each ammo will do if I shoot 5 shot groups and pull a patch between each group. Then I shoot several rounds to re-season the barrel. Shooting 3 shots then changing ammo, the next ammo will be using the lube from previous ammo.

 

[rodregier]

"Rifleman's Guide To Rimfire Ammunition"

Clark Magnuson wrote in a review - "He tests 90 types of 22 long rifle ammo, 5 types of shorts, 19 types WMR ammo, one type of 17 Aguila, 3 types of 17M2, 8 types of 17HRM, a chapter on chambers, and a chapter on barrel tuners."

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NJKFM6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[jonnyc]

I have a 'similar' 10/22 that just loves the CCI Standard. I've decided to stop searching and just shoot it now.

 

[Orion8472]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Yes, the rifle was on a sturdy bench with elevation and windage adjustments.

The Lapua did the very best [as seen in the last image at the bottom F]. However, it would be unlikely that I would find that round and would certainly be far more expensive than I'd care to buy a lot of.

I think the CCI Standard should be the load for this rifle. Now,. . . . . . if I could only find a supply of it! Only have a few of those left.

 

[HankB]

Just as an FYI . . . when I'm accuracy testing my custom 10/22, I'll shoot a couple of "fouling" shots of each new type of ammo before I shoot the group; different lubes from different brands will sometimes throw the first shot or two from new ammo slightly out of the group.

 

[ford8nr]

When I ammo tested for my 10/22 LVT and Kimber 82G I went to shooting 10 round groups of the 5 best brands to see the biggest overall deviation. Some would shoot 5 or 6 rounds into 1 hole then 2 or 3 close. CCI STD is my standard velocity go to round except for indoor 4pos competition then it's Wolf Match in the 82G. Military Shooters online has/had CCI STD for $39/brick limit 4. Just ordered some this past week.

 

[Orion8472]

I could have done some "fouling shots", but didn't have many of each to start with. It was an informal test for sure, but I think it still showed an interesting output for the way I did it. If I had a lot of each, I would have done it a bit differently. Just didn't have a choice.

 

[BCRider]

From the looks of the second target I'd also suggest that the comp isn't so much a comp as it is an accelerator or recoil booster. In the pictures I found it odd that the comp's holes point forward since that means the exhaust gases are still providing normal recoil instead of pushing out to the sides or top to cancel out the recoil. The idea that this comp is pointed the wrong way might suggest why the patterns in the second target are all higher due to MORE recoil instead of less.... not that .22 has much recoil anyway.

In any event it's pretty obvious that this particular style of comp is introducing turbulence to the bullet's path and opening up the groups.

Going by the "pure" results of the first target the basic and pretty cheap AE 40gn used for #5 is no slouch either. And assuming that #3 has two rounds through one hole like it looks it seems that the Norma ammo is the only truly match target specific ammo that this barrel likes. You're lucky that the barrel likes two types which are typically cheaper to buy and easier to find... when there's no panic buying going on.

If you're intent on using a comp it would seem that you will want to be looking for a different brand or at least a different model.

 

[d2wing]

Great post thanks.

 

[Orion8472]

BCRider, the Levang is meant to throw the sound out front of the shooter [mostly for .223 rounds], but I was just using it for looks [though I'm not sure if the looks are exactly what I may want at this point.

I might be turning it down for use as a thread protector.

The bottom F group, with the comp on, could have been a "lucky shots" kind of thing, but I think that CCI Standard will be what I will look for as a brand for this rifle. Unfortunately, the best prices I'm seeing on gunbroker is 1,000 at ~ $105, + $25 shipping. Not that good of prices. The 40gr American Eagle [top target, #5] did quite well, just would need to have an adjustment to the scope.......so you are correct about that as well.

 

[BCRider]

BCRider, the Levang is meant to throw the sound out front of the shooter [mostly for .223 rounds],.....

As someone that REALLY hates being benched next to any AR shooters I can appreciate the value of such a device....

By the way Orion, I forgot to say that you've got a very nice looking and nicely selected custom build there. Very exotic looking while still being very functional.

 

[Orion8472]

Thank you sir! I decided to use the image of it that also included my very nice Mark II that I did up the same way [grey laminate wood and Tungsten Cerakote].

 

[Skylerbone]

I don't mean to be out of line, nor do I have the price tag of the build to judge by but I would expect better accuracy than that at 50 yds rested. It looks nice and all but am I missing something?

Rule of thumb I learned about .22 seasoning is clean then shoot 1 round per inch of barrel before shooting groups.

 

[Orion8472]

You are not all that "out of line". Yes, for a build like mine, I would think it WOULD do better than what it did.

 

[Skylerbone]

Where I was headed with the previous post was that perhaps there are some tuning points to zero in on. You have a fair number of excellent ammo choices, all of which ought to be capable of at least .7s or better even if your rifle doesn't prefer them.

I feel an inquiry at RFC would net a few tips to halve group size in short order because you've certainly got the bones of a lights out shooter but something beyond ammo is hampering performance IMO.

 

[tuj]

I hate to tell you this... but 3-shot groups don't mean very much statistically. Five or 10-shot groups are much better. It doesn't make sense to adjust your POA ever 3 rounds; that just introduces more error.

Now, it looks to me like you have a rifle that won't shoot. I have had this experience too. First, leave the comp off for now. Check the crown of the barrel for any nicks. Use a magnifying glass if you can. Then clean the rifle, shoot 50 rounds of your favorite ammo for fun, clean again briefly, and shoot 5 fouling shots. Then start shooting your groups. That will help 'season' the barrel before you go for accuracy.

Next, check the torque on the action screws. Play with them using a torque screwdriver. You may find that you need to increase the torque.

Always check your scope mount and make sure it is tight, both the bases and the rings. Check your rest to be level and make sure there is no wobble.

 

[Orion8472]

Again, I had a very limited number of these rounds. Only have a few left of each. The odds of having enough for a more precise test is considerably low.

I think that I will just be on the lookout for CCI Standard and just go with them.

Also, POA was the same for each shot [center of the dot].

 

[ColtPythonElite]

The question is....what is your goal with the rifle? Competitive bench shooting or just having the best plinker you can have for your budget.....I would guess plinker. If that's the case, you can probably tune the rifle and yourself with something like CCI to out shoot the average 10/22 toter you are likely to encounter.

If it's benchrest, you likely have the wrong gun unless you are shooting against a bunch of other 10/22 rifles.