My ammo findings... CCI vs. Federal

sean eady · #1 02-05-2011, 06:33 PM

After google convinced me that walmart federal 550 bulk shot good and was accurate , this is what I found with my time at the range today. On the left is 10rnds of CCI Mini Mag at 100yds. On the Right is 10rnds of federal at 100 yds.Both were shot back to back. Needless to say CCI is all I will be buying from now on. I must admit the federal had no issues feeding at all , but accuracy in my opinion is terrible.

Here is the range

industrialfish · #2 02-05-2011, 06:35 PM

Is that the 36gr HP or 40gr?

Dragon88 · #3 02-05-2011, 06:41 PM

What is the cost of 10 rounds of each? That is the missing factor here.

industrialfish · #4 02-05-2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragon88

What is the cost of 10 rounds of each? That is the missing factor here.

CCI should be abut $.65 for 10 rounds. Federal bulk would be be less. maybe $.20 for 10 rounds.

Bflaker · #5 02-05-2011, 07:02 PM

The federal 550 at walmart is 3.4 cents per round and the CCI is 6.5 cents per round. That's almost double the price.

sean eady · #6 02-05-2011, 07:07 PM

Sorry about that.... I guess a little info would be helpful huh? The CCI was 36 grain hollow point as was the federal. The velocity of the CCI is 1260. Federal 1260. So specs of the ammo are identical. Price was $.70 per 10 rnds of CCI. $.35 per 10rnds of Federal.

industrialfish · #7 02-05-2011, 07:19 PM

Good info. I normal get the 36gr CCI for my P22 but opted for the 40gr for the 15-22 as they are supposed to be slightly more accurate for target vs slightly more stopping power for varmints.

Skunkhome · #8 02-05-2011, 07:31 PM

What is the size of the spread on those targets. It is very hard to tell with no reference.

Hobie1 · #9 02-05-2011, 08:42 PM

I bought a bunch of the Fed.550 bulk. I'm glad I didn't buy more. Even at 50' the difference between it and the CCI mini-mags and SV is remarkable. I can cut out the center with CCI, the Fed. looks more like a shotgun spread. I measured the rims on a bunch of the Fed. stuff and it was all over the place thickness wise. Even after sorting out several batches and shooting them the accuracy still sucked. The CCI was very consistent on the other hand and it showed on the targets. It comes down to this for me: do I want make noise and spray and pray? Or do I want the rounds to go where I aim them and pay more for that?
Just depends on the situation.

Hobie BTW Sean, that was pretty grouping at 100 yards for the CCI.
Here's Bill the Cat that posed for the picture at 50'. The top group is CCI, the bottom "pattern" Fed bulk.

diligent1 · #10 02-05-2011, 09:13 PM

I'd rather hit what I'm aiming at rather than just spraying lead (or copper). Great shooting by the way!

Citoriplus · #11 02-05-2011, 09:38 PM

Damn, that's some really nice groups. Looks as good or better than the best I have ever managed from my heavily massaged carbon fiber barreled (and a hell of a lot more expensive) 10/22.

sean eady · #12 02-05-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by industrialfish

Good info. I normal get the 36gr CCI for my P22 but opted for the 40gr for the 15-22 as they are supposed to be slightly more accurate for target vs slightly more stopping power for varmints.

Funny you say that... I bought my wife a p-22 yesterday and took it out for the first time today. Shot like a dream with the CCI , but would not blow the slide back far enough to rack a new round with the federal.

Hobie1 · #13 02-05-2011, 09:43 PM

Just want to make sure that you know that Bill was shot indoors. I'm impressed with the OP's 100yd. targets even with the Fed.'s.

Okay bye!

Hobie

sean eady · #14 02-05-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skunkhome

What is the size of the spread on those targets. It is very hard to tell with no reference.

These were the 12" targets. center red circle is 2" diameter.

sean eady · #15 02-05-2011, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobie1

I bought a bunch of the Fed.550 bulk. I'm glad I didn't buy more. Even at 50' the difference between it and the CCI mini-mags and SV is remarkable. I can cut out the center with CCI, the Fed. looks more like a shotgun spread. I measured the rims on a bunch of the Fed. stuff and it was all over the place thickness wise. Even after sorting out several batches and shooting them the accuracy still sucked. The CCI was very consistent on the other hand and it showed on the targets. It comes down to this for me: do I want make noise and spray and pray? Or do I want the rounds to go where I aim them and pay more for that?
Just depends on the situation.

Hobie BTW Sean, that was pretty grouping at 100 yards for the CCI.
Here's Bill the Cat that posed for the picture at 50'. The top group is CCI, the bottom "pattern" Fed bulk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by diligent1

I'd rather hit what I'm aiming at rather than just spraying lead (or copper). Great shooting by the way!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citoriplus

Damn, that's some really nice groups. Looks as good or better than the best I have ever managed from my heavily massaged carbon fiber barreled (and a hell of a lot more expensive) 10/22.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobie1

Just want to make sure that you know that Bill was shot indoors. I'm impressed with the OP's 100yd. targets even with the Fed.'s.

Okay bye!

Hobie

Thank you all for the compliments on the grouping. I can not begin to explain how much fun I have with this rifle...... It truly is an addiction......I love it !!!!!!

Dragon88 · #16 02-05-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean eady

Sorry about that.... I guess a little info would be helpful huh? The CCI was 36 grain hollow point as was the federal. The velocity of the CCI is 1260. Federal 1260. So specs of the ammo are identical. Price was $.70 per 10 rnds of CCI. $.35 per 10rnds of Federal.

I merely wanted to point out the difference in price for the ammunition. For some people using this as an AR carbine trainer, Fed bulk pack is more than accurate enough. If you want to shoot small groups then CCI may be worth twice the price to you. Your group there with the CCI looks great for a 22 rifle, I would not have expected that level of accuracy.

Ed333 · #17 02-05-2011, 10:00 PM

Before you make up your mind for sure, try some 40 gr. lead Federal AutoMatch, that is the Federal bulk sold in a 325 round box, a bit more expensive than the 36 gr. copper plate HP Value Pack (550 round box). Might surprise you. Not knocking the CCI, my Annie vastly prefers CCI MiniMag to Federal, but just try it...might do pretty good.
All of my .22 pistols have individual preferences for ammo, even those pistols of same brand.

sean eady · #18 02-05-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragon88

I merely wanted to point out the difference in price for the ammunition. For some people using this as an AR carbine trainer, Fed bulk pack is more than accurate enough. If you want to shoot small groups then CCI may be worth twice the price to you. Your group there with the CCI looks great for a 22 rifle, I would not have expected that level of accuracy.

I see what your saying on the price. What confuses me is the specs are identical. Why is there such a difference in accuracy.Hobie 1 stated the size variance he found wich I understand, but I could actually feel a considerable difference in the shot from one brand to the other. Are the specs federal puts on the box BS ?

sean eady · #19 02-05-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed333

Before you make up your mind for sure, try some 40 gr. lead Federal AutoMatch, that is the Federal bulk sold in a 325 round box, a bit more expensive than the 36 gr. copper plate HP Value Pack (550 round box). Might surprise you. Not knocking the CCI, my Annie vastly prefers CCI MiniMag to Federal, but just try it...might do pretty good.
All of my .22 pistols have individual preferences for ammo, even those pistols of same brand.

I will keep an eye out for them. For the most part all of my local shops and wally world only carry the 550 ct.

Dragon88 · #20 02-05-2011, 10:12 PM

Making good 22LR ammunition is actually a very complex process. Spinning priming compound in such a small rim evenly is very hard, as is throwing such a small charge of powder consistently. Look at the pricing on ultra match 22LR ammo, it is absurd and approaches the cost of match grade centerfire ammunition. They are made to the same general specifications, the CCI is just made much better, with a slower production rate and a higher price.

Ufd108 · #21 02-05-2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bflaker

The federal 550 at walmart is 3.4 cents per round and the CCI is 6.5 cents per round. That's almost double the price.

Or you can pick up the Mini Mags on sale at Gander Mountain and pay 5.6 cents per round. That's closer to 1-1/2 times the cost. Worth it in my opinion.

sean eady · #22 02-05-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragon88

Making good 22LR ammunition is actually a very complex process. Spinning priming compound in such a small rim evenly is very hard, as is throwing such a small charge of powder consistently. Look at the pricing on ultra match 22LR ammo, it is absurd and approaches the cost of match grade centerfire ammunition. They are made to the same general specifications, the CCI is just made much better, with a slower production rate and a higher price.

Makes sense.

Bflaker · #23 02-07-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ufd108

Or you can pick up the Mini Mags on sale at Gander Mountain and pay 5.6 cents per round. That's closer to 1-1/2 times the cost. Worth it in my opinion.

I'm 2 hours away from the nearest Gander Mountain, so that doesn't do me much good. Walmart is the closest and cheapest ammo retailer in my area.

QuadCam · #24 02-07-2011, 04:44 PM

Nice shooting! What is the power of your scope? That is tight grouping.

Triggs75 · #25 02-07-2011, 05:02 PM

Yeah I had similar results when I went out two weeks ago with the federal 22 ammo. A saw other reviews showing that it shot well so I purchased 4K rounds of it, (mistake since I had never shot it before), so I thought it would shoot pretty descent.

I am used to shooting the CCI mini mags so when I shot the federal i thought there was something wrong with my scope. I thought it lost zero or got out of whack because the federal rounds where grouping very bad just as the photos above show. Now I am stuck with this ammo and guess I will plink away with it and will buy some CCI's in between it.

Chad

sean eady · #26 02-07-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuadCam

Nice shooting! What is the power of your scope? That is tight grouping.

Thank you and 3-9x42.

industrialfish · #27 02-07-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bflaker

I'm 2 hours away from the nearest Gander Mountain, so that doesn't do me much good. Walmart is the closest and cheapest ammo retailer in my area.

And Gander won't ship ammo to Ohio, and in-store is $7.99/100 where I live.

AskDrTodd · #28 02-07-2011, 11:13 PM

This is spot on, I was at the range last week with the 15-22, I had a couple boxes of CCI and half a box of the federal 555. I shot the mini mags for most of the time, and I was able to shoot full mag (25 round) groups under 1.5", essentially one big hole. I ran 100 rounds of federal through it and it was just depressing, nearly every round was a "flyer".

VooDuuChild · #29 02-08-2011, 05:03 AM

My Walther P22 sold me on CCI's years ago. I gotta giggle when people say how "expensive" CCI's are. Doesn't anyone buy centerfires any more? I gotta box of 5.56's that were $25 and there's only 20 in there (specialized ammo, not normal shooting). Even cheap .223's store bought cost me $9.00 for 20.

CCI's are a bargain and Federals are a waste to me.

I want my skill to be my limiting factor, not my equipment or ammo. I'm very happy plinkin all day with CCI's cuz I like hittin my targets. I costs me what just a few mags in the big AR cost and it's pretty darn accurate.

Your local CCI whore signin out.

daddy bear · #30 02-08-2011, 08:25 AM

I do not post a lot, never the less. I have been shooting .22s for over 65 years. My experience is that different firearms, both long and short, may like different ammo. Keep a good selection on hand and feed them what they like. Some folks get along just fine with the Fed. bulk packs, others do not. OP's does not. Best wishes, Jack

Ufd108 · #31 02-08-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bflaker

I'm 2 hours away from the nearest Gander Mountain, so that doesn't do me much good. Walmart is the closest and cheapest ammo retailer in my area.

I'm about 8 hours away from the nearest Gander. Free shipping and $20 off coupons are the way to go. They frequently offer the $20 off coupons and shipping is free over $100. Order 3 "boxes" of 500 (actually get 5 of the normal 100 round sleeves in a "box") for $105 to qualify for free shipping, and then the $20 off coupon gets you down to $85. So that's 1500 rounds for $85.

TwistedCreations · #32 02-08-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean eady

Thank you and 3-9x42.

Is that the P4 sniper scope?

Sniper scope

Bflaker · #33 02-08-2011, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ufd108

I'm about 8 hours away from the nearest Gander. Free shipping and $20 off coupons are the way to go. They frequently offer the $20 off coupons and shipping is free over $100. Order 3 "boxes" of 500 (actually get 5 of the normal 100 round sleeves in a "box") for $105 to qualify for free shipping, and then the $20 off coupon gets you down to $85. So that's 1500 rounds for $85.

I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.

Sully · #34 02-08-2011, 02:27 PM

If Im that worried about an ammo's accuracy Im NOT shooting a plastic "Zip Gun" and Im NOT buying my ammo at Wally world.

Ive got a half worn out Rem 521 here that shoots Federal Match ammo like gang busters....but I run WW ammo thru my Remington pump gun and all I care about with it is can it hit a qt oil can at 50 feet.

grimreaper21 · #35 02-08-2011, 02:38 PM

twice the price is not that big of a deal for something 4x better. if all you care about is pulling the trigger and not landing where you aim then sure federal is good at that. and lets not pretend 7 cents a round is expensive. look at 9mm, .40, .45, .223 and .308 ammo then you can complain about price.

Ufd108 · #36 02-08-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bflaker

I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.

Look in the ongoing "cheapest Mini Mags" thread for a coupon code that is apparently still valid.

Sully · #37 02-08-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimreaper21

twice the price is not that big of a deal for something 4x better. if all you care about is pulling the trigger and not landing where you aim then sure federal is good at that. and lets not pretend 7 cents a round is expensive. look at 9mm, .40, .45, .223 and .308 ammo then you can complain about price.

??? Federal Match 22 ammo is one of the very best there is...and it AINT cheap neither.

grimreaper21 · #38 02-08-2011, 04:16 PM

not talking about federal match in that post... but yeah its ok its not any better than CCI.

sean eady · #39 02-08-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwistedCreations

Is that the P4 sniper scope?

Sniper scope

That would be the one.

Hobie1 · #40 02-08-2011, 09:46 PM

I have a wide variety of match ammo that I tried back in my Bullseye days. I've ran some of it through the gun. It's all really good but really expensive for "plinking". However, the cheap Fed.550 style un-known bulk shoots like **** through my gun. But, the Federal 510 in-expensive rounds do much better.
It all really boils down to what you want and expect out of your set-up. I want accuracy at a slow pace, you may want rapid fire fun. As long as we're all having fun, that's what matters.
Rock on my brothers and sisters!!

Hobie

Bflaker · #41 02-09-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimreaper21

twice the price is not that big of a deal for something 4x better. if all you care about is pulling the trigger and not landing where you aim then sure federal is good at that. and lets not pretend 7 cents a round is expensive. look at 9mm, .40, .45, .223 and .308 ammo then you can complain about price.

I have to agree. I own guns in 4 out of the 5 calibers you listed, so I know what its like to burn through 40 cents per round ammo. I don't shoot that much, but I burned through $400 of .223 ammo this past year like it was nothin. The main reason I bought a 15-22 is so I can shoot a lot, and not spend a lot. Even 6 cents a round is cheap to me.