Continued from post #32.
Finally! ... Again!
47 brands/weights/lots of 22LR ammunition comparison continues -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...nition-comparison.908102/page-2#post-12812234
"Houston, we have a problem"
KSA bull barrel thread protector coming loose during previous range test was addressed this time by removing the thread protector during range test.
Also, I ordered another rifle rest so will test on the next range trip (
35 lbs with integrated front weight).
Birchwood Casey Alpha shooting rest was ordered from Powder Valley to replace Caldwell Lead Sled Solo (That was
modified with roll of blue tape to immobilize the swing arm) and believe me, it is much more steady yet heavy shooting rest that allowed easy precise adjustment for row to row shooting of targets -
https://www.powdervalley.com/product/birchwood-casey-alpha-shooting-rest/
Instead of weight bags, front of Birchwood rest is solid metal (I believe cast iron) to result in combined weight of 35 lbs. Only issue I had was due to recoil absorbing extension and frame tube insertion of rear rest, I needed to move the scope mount back two picatinny rail slots to clearly visualize the field of view (Caldwell rest added less than 1/2 inch). Since I don't plan on shooting magnum rifle loads, I may remove this portion so don't have to move the scope mount for future range tests. Although it comes with Velcro strap to hold down barrel, it was not used.
Here's current testing platform and round count of components:
(I ordered two more
Viridian Seracs 6-24x50 but could not find the new 30mm medium rings for angled Magpul MOE X-22 stock so used Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24x50 with high rings I used for fullsize Ruger modular stock with flat top of stock for this range test)
10/22 receiver (Round count 7200) was mated to KSA 16.5" bull barrel using two .02" barrel shims and factory V block (Barrel round count 1200) -
Volquartsen Target Hammer kit trigger just over 2.0 lbs after
Patriot Precision Gun Works Enhanced Trigger Spring kit (Volquartsen trigger round count 3200) -
Power Custom Match bolt (Titanium firing pin/extractor) - Barrel free floated with
Magpul MOE X-22 stock -
Pike Arms red bolt buffer -
EGW 20 MOA scope rail
Range report:
KSA bull barrel/chamber was not cleaned (Not even Hoppes #9 solvent mopped and dry patched). I just pretended I continued the range test from previous session where 200 rounds were shot. 10 round rotary magazine was not clean as well.
BTW, every round of various ammunition was reliable with no duds.
NOTE: All ammunition fired were "boxed". Circles indicate POA. Center of POI was shifted to the left so I could continue seeing the POA even though the center of group was shot out (Benefit of using
1" grid target that allows you to estimate group size and trend POA/POI deviation, etc.). Ammunition was stored indoors where temperature average has been around 62-65F. Shooting was done in full shade with ammunition not exposed to sunlight. To prevent "cooking the round" in hot chamber, newly chambered round was fired as soon as crosshair was placed over POA.
In the "Real World" sense of plinking, there was no cool down of barrel. Groups were shot as soon as magazines were loaded and new targets mounted.
Sunny and 78F but windy with gusts that whipped the tree leaves wildly. Almost thought about cancelling the range test but I waited almost 4 months for the rain season to end so decided to continue with range test shooting during calmer moments. Shooting area was busy and had to wait for another shooter to finish but he did allow me to set up my shooting table and rest.
By the time I was able to shoot, it was already 3 PM Friday and I still had to do grocery shopping (My typical range session is 3-4 hours shooting several hundred rounds). Since I had to wait for wind to settle down, shooting session got extended so I decided to do comparison with ammunition I was most curious about comparing instead of going down the 47 brands/weights/lots list. (Remember? Due to KSA bull barrel thread protector coming lose, I am redoing the entire 47 brands/weights/lots comparison from scratch)
With the thread protector off, I zeroed the scope with Aguila 40 gr CPRN (30EK27 Aguila Prime). Top two 5 shot groups measured 3/8" center-to-center. Bottom left group measured 1" (Yeah, gust of wind) and bottom right group measured slightly over 1/2".
Top row: Three reference groups were shot with Aguila 40 gr CPRN (30EK27 Aguila Prime) measuring 5/8", 3/8" and 1/2"
Middle row: New CCI SV (D06DA01 40006 Rev G) with 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1.25" groups with increasing wind/gusts. Waited for wind to die down and slightly less than 1/2" was produced (I may repeat CCI SV groups when I do Mini Mag/Meat Eater group testing)
Bottom row: Norma Tac-22 (50R043) with distinct wet lubed lead bullet produced slightly smaller than 1" group. Waited for wind to die down and after 3/8" group, slightly smaller than 1" group was produced (I will repeat Tac-22 group later when wind is calm)
Target was finished with reference group of Aguila 40 gr CPRN that measured 3/4"
Top row: Top left reference group measured under 1" with diagonal drifting of holes so I checked the tightness of scope rings/mounts (They were all tight). New Aguila 40 gr Lead RN (16BM37) groups measured 1/2" and 1/4" (My first 1/4" 50 yard group!
)
Middle row: Old Aguila 40 gr Lead RN (310513067) groups measured 3/8", 5/8", and 3/8"
Bottom row: Aguila 40 gr Match Lead RN (10ED02) groups measured 5/8" and 3/8"
Target was finished with reference group of Aguila 40 gr CPRN that measured 1.25". Another group was shot to the left that measured 3/4"
Top row: Top left reference group measured 7/8" with second group measuring 5/8". Repeat old CCI SV groups measured 7/8" and repeat new CCI SV groups measured 1" (Wind gust?) and 1/2"
Middle row: ELEY Club 40 gr Lead RN (3114-30165) had dry lube on lead bullet and produced over an 1" followed by two 1/2" groups. RWS Target Rifle 40 gr Lead RN (56064) also had dry lube and produced 1", 3/8" and 5/8" groups.
Bottom row: Repeat Norma Tac-22 produced 5/8", 3/4", 5/8" and 1/2" groups.
Target was finished with reference group of Aguila 40 gr CPRN that measured 5/8". I noticed difference in muzzle report with higher than POA holes (Likely from "seasoning of barrel" from lubed rounds). Another group was shot to the right with more typical muzzle report that measured 7/8" and noticed center of group/POI had drifted back down.
And it was time for me to go grocery shopping.
On my next range trip, will try for longer than half day shooting session for continued old vs new comparison:
Old stock left over from 2019 (Lot # in parenthesis):
- Aguila 38 gr CPHP boxed (18FM33)
- Aguila 40 gr LRN boxed (310513067)
- Aguila 40 gr LRN Pistol Match boxed (10ED02)
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN boxed (29GL12 Eley Prime)
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN boxed (30EK27 Aguila Prime)
- Armscor 36 gr CPHP boxed (0731418)
- CCI SV 40 gr LRN boxed (40006 Rev D)
- Federal AutoMatch 40 gr LRN loose bulk 325 round (14A290)
- Federal Champion 40 gr LRN boxed (2FM056)
- Federal Field Pack 38 gr CPHP loose bulk 275 round (14P171)
- Federal Game-Shok 40 gr CPRN boxed (26F141)
- Federal Value 36 gr CPHP loose bulk 525 blue box (1SP181)
- Federal Value 36 gr CPHP loose bulk 550 red box (14E011)
- Federal Value 36 gr CPHP loose bulk 550 red box (16A092)
- Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr BPHP loose bulk 525 round (D13Z81233)
- Remington Thunderbolt 40 gr LRN loose bulk (E18HC1236)
- Winchester 36 gr CPHP loose bulk 555 round (1P862L)
- Winchester Xpert 36 gr LHP loose bulk 500 round (1PG61L)
New stock ammunition purchased from 2022-2023 (Lot # in parenthesis):
- Aguila 38 gr CPHP boxed (18FM33 ... Yes, same # as 2019 but this lot was bought in 2022)
- Aguila 38 gr CPHP loose bulk 250 round (08DP198)
- Aguila 40 gr LRN boxed (16BM37)
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN boxed (02DZ54)
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN loose bulk 250 round (15CN955)
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN loose bulk 500 round (09AL87)
- Blazer 38 gr LRN loose bulk 525 round (A03EE80)
- Blazer 40 gr LRN boxed (H21DA07)
- CCI SV 40 gr LRN boxed 50 round (D06DA01 40006 Rev G)
- CCI SV 40 gr LRN boxed 50 round (E19DA07 40006 Rev G)
- CCI SV 40 gr LRN boxed 100 round (40238 Rev E)
- CCI MiniMag 36 gr CPHP boxed 100 round (40237 Rev E)
- CCI MiniMag Meat Eater 36 gr CPHP boxed 300 round (42054 Rev A)
- ELEY Club 40 gr LRN boxed (3114-30165)
- Federal AutoMatch 40 gr LRN loose bulk 325 round (L101401)
- Federal AutoMatch 40 gr LRN loose bulk 325 round (L207P01)
- Federal AutoMatch 40 gr LRN loose bulk 325 round (Cannot read lot #)
- Federal Champion 40 gr LRN boxed (B09DA02)
- Federal Range Pack 40 gr LRN loose bulk 800 round (L201U03)
- Federal Value Pack 36 gr CPHP loose bulk 325 round (L331Q01)
- Federal Value Pack 36 gr CPHP loose bulk 525 round blue box (1GJ420)
- Norma Tac-22 40 gr LRN boxed (50R043)
- Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr BPHP loose bulk 525 round (G58420570)
- Remington Thunderbolt 40 gr LRN loose bulk (E28WB1234)
- RWS Target Rifle 40 gr LRN boxed (56064)
- Winchester 36 gr CPHP loose bulk 333 round (E129734)
- Winchester M-22 40 gr CPRN loose bulk 1000 round (2TH10M)
- Winchester Super-X 36 gr CPHP wooden boxed 500 round (2MH81M)
- Winchester Super-X 40 gr CPHP loose bulk 300 round (3SM20L)