Expected accuracy from a 15-22

[Kayback]

So I went to the range today with a selection of .22 brands, weights, velocity and styles.

The gun shot OK and obviously like some brands more than others. It likes HV and sub sonics the most. Hmmm. It also likes running suppressed more than not.

I've never been a good shot, give me a shotgun any day. However is this the sort of stuff to expect at 50m?

My accuracy requirement has always been "minute of bad guy". This is the first time I've ever actually shot groupd with It. Using a fixed 4x32 scope.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

It's been my personal experience and observations that you can expect 4MOA from a 1522 with the ammo that it shoots best. If it does better then you are doing well.

My 1522 is the least accurate rimfire I own. That's ok with me because I didn't buy it for accuracy. I like to shoot soda cans and stuff with it. For precision paper punching, I'd rather throw rocks than shoot my 1522.

 

[tramblygoat]

I agree with most of what ChattanoogaPhil said, though perhaps not quite as severe as 4MOA. Makes adding those super expensive red dots and scopes a bit silly.

 

[Rob1]

Not if that expensive scope allows you to adjust each shot based on fall of previous to help maintain your group. Or if, like me, you plan on cross decking your sight from rifle to rifle depending on what your doing.

Rob

 

[Majorlk]

Anything between 3 and 4 MOA is typical. Mine is close to 3 MOA. I can occasionally get under that from a bench rest, but the majority of my shooting if offhand at inanimate objects, not at paper circles.

 

[GhostMutt]

I use my 15-22 to shoot in a regional Rapid fire competition offhand and i find mine to be an accurate enough rifle, providing the operator is doing his part, (more often than not he isn't ) out of a score of 300 i averaged a 270 each round, in my first season. I think that the main issue that is causing my errant shots, is the trigger. I'm convinced i can get above 280, with a lighter trigger. I much prefer my Anschutz for the precision leagues i shoot in, that has a 1.2lb 2 stage match trigger not the 4.5lb the 15-22 has. I was training earlier this week and managed to score a 97/100 offhand 25yrds with the 10 circle measuring at 1.5cm. So I'm not that deterred by the accuracy of mine and know i can put 10 shots in a inch group, offhand (no sling) at 25 yards with a little concentrated effort.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

It likes HV and sub sonics the most.

What else is left?

 

[Kayback]

What else is left?

Standard Velocity. My 15-22 HATES standard velocity with a passion. It feeds badly, it shoots badly....

High Velocity HP works well, as does Sub Sonic ammo

The bottom two targets are the last two I shot, the left hand one being Winchester SuperX Sub Sonic, with the suppressor on, the right hand one being a Smartie box (Skittles for you guys?) of 555 and Remington Sub Sonics.

Fortunately it seems to like 555, which is good

Here is one for you ballistics experts, the Standard Velocity 40 grain LRN stuff had a POI that was higher up than the 36 grain HVHP. What reason could that be?

I'm gonna have to take it to the range with the rest of the ammo to finish (I had to leave early). Like I said, this is the first groups I've ever shot with it outside of zeroing. Everything else has been relatively close, offhand, on the move. 4MOA is acceptable for that. I need to get someone better than me behind the gun though. This seems like ~6MOA?

KBK

 

[RedNeck Jim]

Standard Velocity. My 15-22 HATES standard velocity with a passion. It feeds badly, it shoots badly....

Standard velocity is still subsonic. As far as I know, there are only 2 velocities... those that stay below the speed of sound (subsonic) and those that exceed it (HV).

My 15-22s seem to not care about velocity, but I only shoot good stuff. Right now I'm using up my stash of CCI Sub Sonic & they work great but I mostly buy CCI Standard Velocity & Norma Tac-22. I just don't experience failures much at all. This ammo shoots a bit under 3 MOA for me.

 

[Kayback]

I'll have to see if my chrony can pick them up next time I'm out but I always though HV was 1280fps+, SV was 1150fps and Sub Sonic was 1050fps or less roughly.

 

[dullh]

My old Marlin Model 60 and my newly acquired Ruger 10/22 will both keep all shots in a sub 2" group at 40 yards...the best my 15-22 will do at that distance is about 3-4". No matter the quality of the ammo, there's usually a flyer that opens up the group. No such fliers on my 10/22 or 60. Ammo for all three is the same - Norma Tac-22.

I bought my 15-22 to trick it out into a cool bullet hose. Whacked the barrel down to 5", screwed a can on it and it's ICC (Internet Commando Cool)! I would never hunt with it, because I never expected it to shoot as tight as my old standby, the Model 60 - and I haven't been disappointed.

This is not to say it's not "accurate"; it just depends on what your personal definition of accuracy happens to be...

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I'll have to see if my chrony can pick them up next time I'm out but I always though HV was 1280fps+, SV was 1150fps and Sub Sonic was 1050fps or less roughly.

My understanding is anything that doesn't break the speed of sound is subsonic. The speed of sound varies with elevation and temperature so there is no absolute for fps.

 

[little_airwolf]

I think you guys would be surprised if you locked down your guns on a stable platform, just how accurate the rifle is when the operator is taken out of the equation.
Doing this and testing ammo brands/types is the only sure way to find out what the gun likes and what it is capable of doing.
Sure the gun isnt a CZ but IMO it blows away a stock 10/22 any day.

 

[little_airwolf]

I think you guys would be surprised if you locked down your guns on a stable platform, just how accurate the rifle is when the operator is taken out of the equation.
Doing this and testing ammo brands/types is the only sure way to find out what the gun likes and what it is capable of doing.
Sure the gun isnt a CZ but IMO it blows away a stock 10/22 any day.

 

[HDHNTER]

5rnds AE22SUP1 suppressed @ 35yrds off bipod, SSA trigger.

 

[Kayback]

Well sure if you want to break it up like that, but that is like saying the bullets come in 40 grain and "other" weight.

The muzzle velocity will depend on a bunch of different things but if the ammo is designed to be slow, medium, fast and really fast then the division of sub or super sonic does not cut it.

 

[sithlord]

Well sure if you want to break it up like that, but that is like saying the bullets come in 40 grain and "other" weight.

The muzzle velocity will depend on a bunch of different things but if the ammo is designed to be slow, medium, fast and really fast then the division of sub or super sonic does not cut it.

A 22lr will do anything from about 500fps to 1400fps (powder less to stinger).

For a semi auto, the relevant range is about 900fps-1300fps

Since the effective range is 100-150 yds (yes, you can do further. I've shot 200yds.. Wouldn't call it effective), a super will go transonic causing some inaccuracies. Also, the report signature is different between subs and supers.

Because of that, the speed of sound is actually a great way to divide muzzle velocities of rounds. Cci standard velocity has a package listed muzzle velocity of 1050fps, which is subsonic.

I know you're not new here, but most inaccuracies with the rifle are directly attributable to a loose barrel nut or the barrel guides in the upper being damaged during removal/installation of the flash hider.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Here is one for you ballistics experts, the Standard Velocity 40 grain LRN stuff had a POI that was higher up than the 36 grain HVHP. What reason could that be?
KBK

I'm no expert but my theory is that the heavier bullet (and possibly more powder) provided more recoil so that the barrel rose more before the bullet left it resulting in a higher POI. But there may be a more accurate reason.

 

[Kayback]

I know you're not new here, but most inaccuracies with the rifle are directly attributable to a loose barrel nut or the barrel guides in the upper being damaged during removal/installation of the flash hider.

Which is why I was asking. I've never tried "groups" before. Don't know if I need to try find a way of "fixing" my gun or is this what a 15-22 does?

I have not attempted to tighten the barrel nut but i have changed the flash hider and I used a barrel clamp for that.

The best group was around 1.5" at 50m, which is right in the ballpark for a ~3MOA gun. Furtunaely that was 555, so I'll just stick to using that.

KBK

 

[sithlord]

I'm no expert but my theory is that the heavier bullet (and possibly more powder) provided more recoil so that the barrel rose more before the bullet left it resulting in a higher POI. But there may be a more accurate reason.

I'm not an expert either, but I'd be inclined to say it's barrel flex aka barrel whip (not barrel/muzzle rise) accompanied by the fact that the hollow points going transonic (starting off faster than speed of sound, slowing to less than speed of sound).

Competition shooters (like biathalon) use subsonic ammo to avoid transonic bullets for a reason.....

Barrel whip video. The bullet is long gone by the time muzzle rise occurs. But not barrel whip...
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozyw84Swmb4[/ame]