Range Test #8 - 50 yard testing with taped receiver (Round count around 2700):
For range test #8, temporary cardboard piece on top of the shim from range test #7 was replaced with another piece of plastic held with electrical tape. To tighten the play at the back of the receiver, electrical tape was applied at the back. It was a snug fit, but with proper alignment, dropped right in with a little encouragement.
Barrel was cleaned with Hoppes #9 solvent and slight gunk build up at muzzle crown was cleared and dry patches pushed through. Bore was clean without any leading (This barrel has yet to see a bore brush)
Left target (50 yard testing):
- Federal 40 gr CPHP Walmart 550 round bulk red box - Groups, rather shotgun patterns were all over the place with flyers. Hmmmmm ...
Right target (50 yard testing):
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN - 10 round groups were more encouraging. 5 round groups were shot from the same magazine so combine them for 10 round group.
Left target (50 yard testing):
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Surprising groups.
Right target (50 yard testing):
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Then the groups opened up
- Federal 40 gr LRN Auto Match - Not too bad group
- Remington 40 gr LRN Thunderbolt - Definitely higher velocity pop
I wanted to try something and removed the second piece of plastic on top of the shim.
Left target (50 yard testing):
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Just with the shim and electrical tape over back of receiver produced very small clusters.
Right target (50 yard testing):
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Then the groups opened up
Left target (50 yard testing):
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Some promising groups
Right target (50 yard testing) - Decided to finish up the shooting session with 10 shot groups to include Auto Match and Thunderbolt:
- Aguila 40 gr CPRN - Both groups started out tight then groups opened up
- Federal 40 gr LRN Auto Match - Second group is the smallest I have gotten with Auto Match so far at 50 yards
- Remington 40 gr LRN Thunderbolt - Second group is the smallest I have gotten with Thunderbolt with flyer at 2 o'clock
In hindsight, I should have shot some confirming groups with Federal 36 gr CPHP Walmart 550 in the middle and at the end of the range session. Oh well, next time.
I never expected Aguila to outshine pretty much all other ammo in all of my .22 firearms, except for CCI SV.
Well, I guess depending on which rounds you happened to grab out of the loose bulk boxes, for range test #8, Auto Match and Thunderbolt produced the smallest 50 yard 10 round groups with Aguila producing some promising small groups. Of course, they are the "smallest" groups I got for this range test but since this is a "real world" testing, I am posting all the groups shot.
Summary (Round count around 2960):
I may modify the shim for range test #9 but will definitely keep the electrical tape on the back of the receiver. I am happy about 50 yard Auto Match 1" 10 round group and Thunderbolt sub 1" 9 round group with one flyer.
So far, I am encouraged with the progress made with this essentially stock 10/22 (Bought for 25-50 yard plinking with minute of soda can) and look forward to further testing with higher end ammo in upcoming range tests. And I am happy to report that during the 2960 round testing, with the exception of occasional Winchester M22 misfires, all the other brand/model ammunition tested reliably fired including the dreaded Thunderbolt.
And the barrel only cleaned with Hoppes #9 solvent 3 times with dry patches (Actually Kleenex Viva paper towel) WITHOUT bore brush remains shiny clean without any leading.