Eley Tenex and Match

[irishlad]

I finally broke down and bought some higher grade 22lr ammo. I bought 2 boxes each of Eley Tenex and Eley Match. Very curious to see how much better, if any, it is than the CCI SV and Norma Tac 22 I've been using. I understand different lots and brands shoot differently in each rifle. Hopefully for $85 it works well.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

A couple of my match-chamber rifles really shine with Tenex, others shoot just as well with SV and Norma.

Its good stuff if your gun can do its part.

 

[irishlad]

A couple of my match-chamber rifles really shine with Tenex, others shoot just as well with SV and Norma.

Its good stuff if you gun can do its part.

I'm really curious to see the difference at a 100 yards. SV and Norma shoot really good at 50 yards, not so much at a 100 yards.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have shot thousands of Eley Match and hundreds of Tenex. In my benchrest rifles, the Tenex hasn't proven to be worth the added cost. Many times you have to find a lot number that a rifle shoots well. Is either more accurate than CCI SV or Norma Tac? Generally, yes. A big thing you get is consistency. Sure, you can shoot some great groups with CCI or Norma, but you will also get more flyers which will ruin a group or worse a card in a match. Is either going to make a pinker into a benchrest gun? No.

 

[redneck2]

I bought a new CZ 453 Varminter and at the same time bought some quite expensive ammo with very high hopes. I was in a big rush to check out the new rifle and took it to the bench to wring it out. The “groups” looked more like shotgun patterns than rifle groups.

I made the mistake of not thoroughly cleaning the bore or shooting enough lower cost ammo to get the bore seasoned so I wasted the money I spent on high end ammo.

You didn’t specify what rifle you have

 

[LiveLife]

bought 2 boxes each of Eley Tenex and Eley Match. Very curious to see how much better ... than the CCI SV and Norma Tac 22

I made the mistake of not thoroughly cleaning the bore or shooting enough lower cost ammo to get the bore seasoned so I wasted the money I spent on high end ammo.

Good point.

During my 10,000+ round comparison testing and myth busting "Clean vs Dirty" threads, I found it would take my 10/22 and T/CR22 quite a bit of rounds after bore cleaning to get back to producing consistently smaller groups (For me about 80 rounds). So if you clean your barrel before each range session (I don't, just dry patch and bore brush only every 2000 rounds), I would take some cheaper ammunition and shoot enough til you dirty up the bore enough to produce more consistent groups.

Also, match rounds come lubed and many mention that enough rounds need to be shot to properly season the barrel with the lube before smaller groups are produced.

These are target groups after cleaning and notice the gradual reduction in group size of Aguila as round count increased and bore got dirtier (Ignore Federal 36 gr CPHP groups as they were typical regardless dirty or clean)

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Shooting past 75 and more into 100 to 200+ range is where I saw the difference in (using higher end / price consistent ammo) my B14R. Though ringing steel and blasting small clay pigeon pieces isn't clinical but its fun (especially at +150 to 200) and takes more skill than you think. (I use Tenex, old Rem. MATCH EPS, Eley target, Eley club, Aguila Comp and pistol match) If you'd like to try some older Match EPS again with bore cleaned, drop me a line.

 

[TonyAngel]

If you really want to see what high priced ammunition can do for you, first figure out how much you're willing to spend on a box of ammo, if you were going to stock up.

Then, call you're favorite distributor and find out how many lot numbers they have in the ammo that falls in your price range. Depending on how many lot numbers there are, order a box or 2 of each lot number and figure out which shoots best. When you arrive at that conclusion, order as much of that brand and lot number as you can afford.

I'd do my testing over a span of time and if possible, in differing weather conditions. Shooting precision rimfire matches can have you tearing your hair out.

In the end, what you're gonna be paying for is consistency.

 

[irishlad]

If you really want to see what high priced ammunition can do for you, first figure out how much you're willing to spend on a box of ammo, if you were going to stock up.

Then, call you're favorite distributor and find out how many lot numbers they have in the ammo that falls in your price range. Depending on how many lot numbers there are, order a box or 2 of each lot number and figure out which shoots best. When you arrive at that conclusion, order as much of that brand and lot number as you can afford.

I'd do my testing over a span of time and if possible, in differing weather conditions. Shooting precision rimfire matches can have you tearing your hair out.

In the end, what you're gonna be paying for is consistency.

x

I'm recreational shooter and jack rabbit hunter with my 22s (Ruger 10/22 LVT, with a CPC abbreviated upgrade, 10/22 with a Fedderson bull barrel, Brimstone trigger job and a Savage B22. This will most likely be the only time I purchase high end rimfire. I just wanted to see for myself how $20 a box shoots at a 100 yards. I understand the brand and lot might not shoot well in any of my rifles.

 

[George Dickel]

As has been mentioned, consistency is what you pay for with premium ammo. I used to shoot rimfire benchrest and if you wanted to compete well you had to use premium ammo. I have probably shot every brand of budget ammo made and they all had the same problem, fliers. Just one flier in a benchrest match will kill your score. The cost of premium ammo will kill your wallet also.

 

[TonyAngel]

x

I'm recreational shooter and jack rabbit hunter with my 22s (Ruger 10/22 LVT, with a CPC abbreviated upgrade, 10/22 with a Fedderson bull barrel, Brimstone trigger job and a Savage B22. This will most likely be the only time I purchase high end rimfire. I just wanted to see for myself how $20 a box shoots at a 100 yards. I understand the brand and lot might not shoot well in any of my rifles.

Cool. Yeah, I think everyone has that curiosity. Sort of an itch that you have to scratch. It's fine for printing groups just to see. You probably won't notice any benefits for hunting. Well, not enough to make the cost worth it.

These days, I shoot either federal auto match or Aguila for plinking and cci sv or Aguila sv for more precision.

 

[irishlad]

Here's what my B22 did with CCI and Tac 22, better with Tac 22. Ruger LVT with CCI SV.