22 LR Question

DoubleLungRage

DoubleLungRage

Well-known member
Or questions.

Like everyone else I have had 22's all my life, but never got into "precision" stuff with them. I just used them for snakes, tree rats, plinking, etc. Well a few weeks ago I bought a really nice Savage Mark II and this thing really has the potential to be a shooter. I bought about 12-13 different types of ammo to try and have been doing some testing.

1. I bought 4-5 different kinds of SK and I noticed that some of them even though they aren't labeled as subsonic are VERY VERY quiet and hit very low. Is this normal for SK stuff? I checked their web site and it seems that even their HV stuff is really slow.

2. What's the deal with the lube on them? They are SOAKED in lube.

3. I notice that none of their stuff is copper plated and everything that I have in other brands labeled for "hunting" is?
 
Your most accurate ammo is going to start below 1000fps, as the small unstable round bullet is going to get affected by moving through the transonic area. Best to start them below this and let them fly. I think a 40-45gr starting at 950 is still going near 850 at 100yd.

The copper is just a wash on 22lr, not plated or a jacket like "bullets". The most accurate ammo is not copper washed. The copper coating sells hunting ammo.

All 22lr is lubed, because its basically a black powder round and engages rifling as such. Some are wax (like cci Aguila) and some are oiled (match ammo).
 
Are they SK pistol? they will be subsonic. Which subsonic is certainly ok. If they shoot, they shoot. Just know your dope. Beside subs don't have to endure the transsonic pass.
 
10ring1 said:
Are they SK pistol? they will be subsonic. Which subsonic is certainly ok. If they shoot, they shoot. Just know your dope. Beside subs don't have to endure the transsonic pass.
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One box is.

All of the SK seem to group well at 50 yards.


The only thing I don't like about the rifle is the trigger. It has an accutrigger. Thought about a rifle basix?
 
Norma Tac-22 Subs shoot and cycle great from my mildly modded 10-22. The Norma rounds are oiled as well and not copper washed.

Agree (in most cases) that slower is more accurate. But then I have 22’s that perform awesomely with mini mags and Aguila high velocity rounds.

One thing to remember when testing 22 ammo is to shoot quite a few rounds before you call them “inaccurate”. It seems like 22 barrels need to foul up with the round you’re testing before they settle in.
 
hunt0168 said:
Norma Tac-22 Subs shoot and cycle great from my mildly modded 10-22. The Norma rounds are oiled as well and not copper washed.

Agree (in most cases) that slower is more accurate. But then I have 22’s that perform awesomely with mini mags and Aguila high velocity rounds.

One thing to remember when testing 22 ammo is to shoot quite a few rounds before you call them “inaccurate”. It seems like 22 barrels need to foul up with the round you’re testing before they settle in.
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All the Norma stuff was out of stock whenever I made my order, but all of their 22 ammo is on my list.
 
If you really want to see what it will do, try some Eley Match, or Lapua…wax is normal for 22 match ammo. The statement about fouling is true..maybe 10-20rds after cleaning between different ammo types.
Killough Shooting Sports, or Creedmoor Sports if you want to order some good match ammo…Rimfire ammo is also lot specific, 1 lot of 1 type might be awesome and another lot of the same might be so-so.
 
hunt0168 said:
Norma Tac-22 Subs shoot and cycle great from my mildly modded 10-22. The Norma rounds are oiled as well and not copper washed.

Agree (in most cases) that slower is more accurate. But then I have 22’s that perform awesomely with mini mags and Aguila high velocity rounds.

One thing to remember when testing 22 ammo is to shoot quite a few rounds before you call them “inaccurate”. It seems like 22 barrels need to foul up with the round you’re testing before they settle in.
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Oh theres definitely exceptions! I have a marlin bolt that shoots HV mini magHP MOA at 100 stock with a 6lb trigger. But that's not normal at all. It does mean however that a squirrel is in serious trouble if I have a solid rest. I was testing hunting ammo and unbelievably it started putting these in dang near the same hole at 50yd, so i had to take it out farther ya know... For science.
 
Sub sonic is anything under 1125 fps, slight variation for atmospheric and altitude. Most of your standard velocity 22LR is just below 1100 fps. Match ammo 1070 ish. When I shoot 100 yard competition (open/scoped) I can't afford the Eley, Lapua, Sk, match ammo(12-20$ per 50) I use Black Box Norma tac22. The main issue is the barrel warm up/sighters, often 10+ to warm a barrel after a match/target break. And sighters maybe 15+. Rim thickness (headspace) and actual cartridge weight is how I sort ammo for a match.
 
BBK said:
Oh theres definitely exceptions! I have a marlin bolt that shoots HV mini magHP MOA at 100 stock with a 6lb trigger. But that's not normal at all. It does mean however that a squirrel is in serious trouble if I have a solid rest. I was testing hunting ammo and unbelievably it started putting these in dang near the same hole at 50yd, so i had to take it out farther ya know... For science.
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At the end of the day, I bought this rifle to by my new squirrel gun. However, I figured I'd see what it will do with some quality target ammo too.
 
greengt88 said:
Rimfire ammo is also lot specific, 1 lot of 1 type might be awesome and another lot of the same might be so-so.
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Had a friend that was lucky in that he had a Mod 52 that loved plain old Win. Super Speed. Mine loved CCI Green Tag best and wasn't all that bad with Rem. standard velocity. Lot less expensive than Eley and the other more expensive stuff.

GC said:
I love the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. It has to be the single most useful cartridge in existence.
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Ammo manufacturers have multiple machines, Lots could be a mix of ammo from several machines or off one machine. Even if from one machine and tested to a performance standard from in house rifles. The ammo lot is not QC checked(accuracy) in YOUR rifle. Testing facilities have found BAD(poor accuracy) lots even in expensive match ammo. Powder/primer compound, rim foundation, lead composition all contribute to variables in finished ammo. Lot numbers likely more to do with lawyers/bean counting than a performance standard.
 
DIProducts has some nice upgrade items for Savages…I’d recommend their bottom metal if no other reason than accurate action screw torque…I found my Mark II screws would loosen over time and accuracy would decline.
 
I shoot CCI Segmented 40gr @ 1050 fps for woodchucks and have killed them out to 125 yards. They are very quiet in the open fields.
The Segmented 710 fps are excellent out past 50 yards tree rats and coons
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i have a savage B 22 precision in 22lr, i shoot it suppressed. these are the groups i shot with it at 25 and 50 yards with some different ammo, hope this helps.

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May of last year I had surgery on my hands for carpal tunnel and trigger finger release. I was going kind of crazy not being able to do much so I grabbed my 10/22 and locked it in my tripod in the backyard. Grabbed a bunch of ammo from the stockpile and started shooting some targets. I could only get 40 yards, but the old girl did pretty good with Aguila bulk pack solid points. Don’t remember offhand exactly which ones though? Just something I grabbed to pull the trigger and go bang!… 40 yards, 10 shot group, 2 bad hands! :LOL:
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