15-22 loads for accuracy

[Time2Hunt]

For awhile now...or atleast for the last few months i've been frequenting the forum it seems like I often see threads and posts seeking to find the answer for what ammo will turn our 15-22 into the equivalent of it's big brother striving for a 1/2" MOA. Just like you all have, i've read the responses saying if you wanted a one-hole shooter you've picked the wrong gun... If you don't care about being the best and making the best of what you bought then that is of course fine but for me, and i know a lot of others out there; we want to make the most of the gun we chose.

That being said i would like to start a real thread on the ACCURACY results you all have achieved with respect to the different ammo you've tested. While it is important for fun and reliability of course, in the end whether you get none or a couple ftf's every 100 rounds it really doesn't matter for the purpose of this discussion... Hopefully no one bought this gun with the intention of home protection, and the biggest game you're probably going to be hunting with it is a squirrel or opossum so think you can live with a missed opportunity every once in a awhile

What i personally would like to see is actual pictures and accounts of the different ammo you've tested. Unlike other calibers, the .22 is so tempermental that one can't just say a certain brand/make of ammunition is the best because with this caliber the particular model of each gun (and even individual guns of the same!) tend to perform substantially different with different ammo.


Here are my latest results... I've been shooting winchester 333/525 bulk and was reasonably happy but wanted more. I thought i'd test out some different ammo so i bought a box of CCI Green Tag "competition" ammo for $15 and change for a box of 100. Personally i thought the price was rediculous but i wanted to try out the best(most expensive) ammo i could buy. I also bought a box of Winchester sub-sonics for just under $4 a box/for 50 rounds.

Here is my setup from 52 yds. Not a bench, but leaning against my car off a bag is the best i have available for now.


The 3 types of ammo i was shooting


5 shots each... CCI green tag in the middle, Winchester bulk bottom right, Winchester sub-sonic bottom left. There was a STRONG wind right-to-left, which might've had something to do with inconsistant loads from the Win bulk.


Another 5 shots from each after checking the target


One more group from the Winchester sub-sonics, this one fired fairly fast


Results? I was amazed by the Winchester sub-sonics!! Shot smooth and consistant, and almost dead on/or better than the twice as expensive CCI green tag!! I'd suggest trying this out and love to hear what you think.

Next up, i have to try some of the other CCI loads...

If you don't have pics i'd still love to hear your group sizes with range/rest your shooting from but take a second to snap a pic next time you go out!

 

[bearandoldman]

Been too cold to get out and do much shooting since IO bought the gun, but so far CCI Blazer does well and CCI Subsonic were better yet. 10 shots rested at 25 yards with a Tasco 2.5-10x42AOP scope mounted, The last shot when the bolt stays open was a little low, have noticed this on my Rem 597 also, something about the bolt staying open and dropping the pressure in the barrel just before the bullet leaves the muzzle. That is the only idea I have as that is all that is different on the last shot.

 

[Juvicator]

Ok. Gotta go shoot now, in the name of science. Haven't used that one yet, cool thanks for the reason to shoot. I have all my targets (OCD) I will pull what helps and post pics. Although I feel some may say that reliability has as much to do with how accurite the shot is,a shot not fired is a shot missed thinking.

 

[CDRJED]

S&W MP 15-22 Accuracy

Here's my results last summer with bulk Federal 36g copper coated. I recently got some of the CCI "Tactical" and will try to post after going to the range and getting pictures.

 

[TwistedCreations]

I will be going to the range today and Monday, as I need to get my handgun sighted in (CCW class coming up this week)...But I will get some pics of the targets also...

While I am far from an "experienced" gun enthusiast, I have a question on the results of this though?

Everyone shoots at different ranges. Which in turn changes the distances, humidity, outside or inside temperature, etc.etc..

ex: I go shooting at an indoor range that is 25yrds and is 70* inside and shooting CCI Mini Mag..I have groupings of 1"..Now Phil goes outside and shoots CCI Mini Mags at 25yrds also, but it is 25* down in TN...

So wouldn't that in turn possibly change the results of Phil's groupings?

 

[CDRJED]

Accuracy

Yes, it all makes a difference. Also, what range is the rifle sighted in for (50?, 75?, 100?). If for example the rifle is sighted in at 75 and the group shown is for 25, then one would expect the center of the group to be a little high (.91" for 36 g). Overall though, we should be able to get a reasonable impression of which ammo works best in the MP15-22.

 

[Time2Hunt]

Ok. Gotta go shoot now, in the name of science. Haven't used that one yet, cool thanks for the reason to shoot. I have all my targets (OCD) I will pull what helps and post pics. Although I feel some may say that reliability has as much to do with how accurite the shot is,a shot not fired is a shot missed thinking.

Lol that is the attitude I was hoping to hear! Simply saying our "little" .22 is not inherently accurate is a cop out IMO for making the best of what you've got. And great point about the shot not fired...in no way can poor reliability be justified because a particular ammo shoots accurately. But I do think sometimes shooters forget or haven't experienced the consistent inconsistency that frankly IS the .22 rimfire round. That being said I think FTF counts should be included in this discussion but not be basis of it's purpose...

I gotta say great first 5 posts and I already have something new to take note of in future shooting thanks to bearandoldmen(great username btw), have never thought to take notice to the last bolt-lock shot!

CDRJED, great looking group. Let us know what your range/rest/and conditions were on that shoot and the next if you don't mind, thanks

TwistedCreations, you are right on of course but as CDRJED mentioned regardless of range/conditions/sight-in/and even skill/etc., as long as there is a constant with the shooter and gun we can still compare what ammo turned out the best results!

One quick comment about why I wanted to see other members experiences; there really are sooo many .22 ammo choices out there within a close price range and even tho many brands may cycle great that doesn't mean they all shoot accurately and consistently. End result I'd love to be able to walk in and pick up a high-end, middle of the road, or brick of bulk ammo that i would at least have an idea of what expect out of our 15-22 without having to buy them all

 

[Jav]

What about that Aguila stuff I keep hearing about? No clue if I typed that right but I don't remember the brand well haha. Would like to see that match ammo result

 

[Time2Hunt]

What about that Aguila stuff I keep hearing about? No clue if I typed that right but I don't remember the brand well haha. Would like to see that match ammo result

Same here! I saw a bunch at a gun show 2 weeks ago and been kicking myself for not buying some (before I started researching the topic and looked like expensive-cheap bulk ammo boxes haha).

Then saw this site last night and threw me for another loop... Just when I thought I knew all the .22 ammo out there!

22 ammunition test

Emkcuf, will definitely pick up some blazers next time I see them thanks

 

[Jav]

Wow, haven't heard of some of those hahah. That Eley Benchrest Gold is insane! Realllly nice. I'd have to be at a very nice surplus to spend $89 on match ammo for the .22's, though o_o Also still finding my own form which seems to keep on changing for best accuracy while standing.

 

[adn]

I wanted to compare the five types of 22lr ammo readily available from WalMart for accuracy. Let me start by saying I have very little experience shooting through a scope and quite honestly about midway through this exercise I was thinking to myself "I could have gone through four magazines with a red dot by now". This was shot 25 yards indoors off a bipod. The scope was a NC Star 2x7 Mark III on 4x. I loaded five rounds of each type of ammunition into one magazine and started from top left ending at bottom right in alphabetical order. CCI MiniMag 36 gr-CCI MiniMag 40gr-Federal 550-Remington Golden Bullet-Winchester 555.

 

[beaver dave]

i suggested this once and got a really weird reloading reply. reloading 22??? #1 find out what ammo your guns likes. #2 buy a digital micrometer from harbour freight. #3 measure total length and a few will be just a little off. #4 throw out off rounds into bucket, great for plinking with pistol or another gun. guaranteed to improve groups. kinda like making your own match ammo. thnx

 

[CajunMouseSniper]

What about that Aguila stuff I keep hearing about? No clue if I typed that right but I don't remember the brand well haha. Would like to see that match ammo result

I've put over 20k rounds through my 15-22 and tried just about every load I could order. Aguila Match Rifle is my "go to" ammo for accuracy. Relatively cheap (.06 ea) but have a strange smell like burnt pinapple. For everyday plinking CCI Blazers have given me the best value for accuracy/cost (.04 ea). Used to use Fed Bulk but had some quality problems with inconsistent loads. I've shot over 10k Blazers and every single one has been consistent.

 

[CajunMouseSniper]

Found a pic of group shot with the Blazers.

 

[kenjen]

just remember what shoots good in one gun isn't so in others, a person can go broke trying to find the "one" bullet that works best in his gun. i have gone through this many times before (have quite a number of half full boxes laying around) with other guns and end up going back to the cheapest,most reliable ammo. but it is fun finding out what ammo your firearm likes best, i think that is what shooting is all about,