I have been shooting CCI Mini-Mags whenever I can get them, but my LGS has CCI Stingers in today. What are they? They must be made for a special purpose. 32 grain hp bullets in silver cases. More expensive than Mini-Mags. So what is their niche?
What are CCI Stingers?
- Thread starter harrym
- Start date
drinva
Member
Fast, touch bit longer case. Good quality, nice hunting round. Many use them in .22cal self defense pocket guns.
The longer case can be an issue in some semi-auto pistols.
The sound alone will tell you it's a Stinger.
Some claim them to be less accurate due to the "hot" round, I haven't found this to be so in my guns at all. I have one SS60 Marlin specifically dedicated to the Stinger shell, it's what I use if I want a .22 for hunting and I obviously shoot nothing but these in this gun.
DR
The longer case can be an issue in some semi-auto pistols.
The sound alone will tell you it's a Stinger.
Some claim them to be less accurate due to the "hot" round, I haven't found this to be so in my guns at all. I have one SS60 Marlin specifically dedicated to the Stinger shell, it's what I use if I want a .22 for hunting and I obviously shoot nothing but these in this gun.
DR
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gunlovingirl
Member
Stingers are higher velocity, slightly lighter bullet weight than Mini Mag HP, have more energy and flatter trajectory.
Leslie Sapp
Member
As has been said, they are faster, with a lighter bullet than a standard .22.
Do not shoot a squirrel in the body with one!
They are, however, excellent medicine for coons, possums, armadillos, and other nighttime yard varmints.
Not recommended for use in the fur trade.
Do not shoot a squirrel in the body with one!
They are, however, excellent medicine for coons, possums, armadillos, and other nighttime yard varmints.
Not recommended for use in the fur trade.
Peter M. Eick
SWCA Member
The stinger has a longer case also. When they came out (late 60's to mid 70's I don't remember the details) they were the hottest thing around for a long time and we all wanted them for hunting. Some guns like them and some don't in terms of accuracy.
I still buy them for nostalgia purposes. They are neat to have around but other ammo has exceeded their capabilities I believe.
I still buy them for nostalgia purposes. They are neat to have around but other ammo has exceeded their capabilities I believe.
I picked up a couple of boxes of stingers about a month ago; first time I have seen them in a long time.
The 5 shot group just above center in the attached photo is CCI Tacticals; a little over 3/4 inch spread. I followed it up with 10 Stingers; 6 1/4 inch spread. These were shot from a Remington 541 THB off the bench using bags. Distance was 100 yds. This was the first time shooting the 541 at 100 yds; I've only had it for a couple of months.
Bill
The 5 shot group just above center in the attached photo is CCI Tacticals; a little over 3/4 inch spread. I followed it up with 10 Stingers; 6 1/4 inch spread. These were shot from a Remington 541 THB off the bench using bags. Distance was 100 yds. This was the first time shooting the 541 at 100 yds; I've only had it for a couple of months.
Bill
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photoracer
Member
Sorry but Stingers are noticebly less accurate in any .22 rifle, at least for group size. Lots of flyers due to the fact they spend too much time near the sound barrier. If they were worth a d*** you would find them being used by .22 rimfire benchrest shooters, but you don't. BR shooters only use standard velocity match ammo. The root cause it 2 fold. For one the bullet is very light and the slightest change in the wind can throw them off trajectory. Second because the bullet not being very aerodynamic it is extremely susceptible to buffeting when it drops below the sound barrier, causing flyers. Match ammo stays below the SB and thus does not get pushed around. The ballistics of .22 ammo is not the same as supersonic centerfire rifle bullets that are also heavy and very aerodynamic compared to .22LR.
drinva
Member
Comparing match grade ammo to hunting rounds is really silly. 
Some of us use Stingers for something other than holes in paper, and around the 50 yard range (perfect range for any .22!) the Stingers are just fine and definitely worth a d*** when critters come to mind. They hit hard and solid making kills very desirable.
Anyone want to trade away their Stingers, lets deal!
DR
Some of us use Stingers for something other than holes in paper, and around the 50 yard range (perfect range for any .22!) the Stingers are just fine and definitely worth a d*** when critters come to mind. They hit hard and solid making kills very desirable.
Anyone want to trade away their Stingers, lets deal!
DR
Stirling
Member
I have reliably used the Stingers in Beretta Model 71s and my Ruger Single Six but not in my bull barrel Ruger MkII. There are warning notices on some firearms regarding the use of Stingers and these should not be ignored.
Firing the the Stingers in the Ruger MkII caused 3 shot bursts before it jammed. One case bulged and another split. Dangerous I'd suggest. Take heed of the warnings, this ammo is hot. The Berettas love it btw.
Firing the the Stingers in the Ruger MkII caused 3 shot bursts before it jammed. One case bulged and another split. Dangerous I'd suggest. Take heed of the warnings, this ammo is hot. The Berettas love it btw.
Gopher Slayer
Member
Comparing match grade ammo to hunting rounds is really silly.
Some of us use Stingers for something other than holes in paper, and around the 50 yard range (perfect range for any .22!) the Stingers are just fine and definitely worth a d*** when critters come to mind. They hit hard and solid making kills very desirable.
Anyone want to trade away their Stingers, lets deal!
DR
This.
When I was a little kid, that was the round my grandpa bought for my cousin and I to take out the pests. We killed thousands and thousands of gophers with Stingers.
Beuford T. Rimfire
Member
I've used both Stingers and Std. Velocity CCI's effectively on lots of small game over the years. I wouldn't argue either rounds effectiveness.
However, my group size is larger from the Stingers. At 25 yards it is barely noticeable, at 50 it is beginning to grow, and beyond that it grows very quickly as the bullet slows down due to its shortened shape and light weight.
My side of the argument is accuracy of the round. If the pattern I shoot is wider from the Stingers, I see that as a heightened possibility for a miss simply due to attributes of the type of round from my type rifle. Given the choice, I'd choose the more accurate round over the bravado of using the Stinger.
My personal opinion of the Stinger is that if you feel that you NEED the extra oomph of the Stinger to anchor your game, then you have exceeded the effectiveness of the .22LR for hunting purposes and should probably choose a heavier caliber, maybe a .22WMR. For .22LR sized game, the Stinger is overkill.
However, my group size is larger from the Stingers. At 25 yards it is barely noticeable, at 50 it is beginning to grow, and beyond that it grows very quickly as the bullet slows down due to its shortened shape and light weight.
My side of the argument is accuracy of the round. If the pattern I shoot is wider from the Stingers, I see that as a heightened possibility for a miss simply due to attributes of the type of round from my type rifle. Given the choice, I'd choose the more accurate round over the bravado of using the Stinger.
My personal opinion of the Stinger is that if you feel that you NEED the extra oomph of the Stinger to anchor your game, then you have exceeded the effectiveness of the .22LR for hunting purposes and should probably choose a heavier caliber, maybe a .22WMR. For .22LR sized game, the Stinger is overkill.
my_mp15-22_s&w
Member
A better question may be, where are CSI Stingers ? Probably hit performance like a 17 HMR at inside 50 yards.
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drinva
Member
Sorry, but....
I can take stingers at 50 yards and punch out one big hole a touch larger than a quarter and stay in that hole as long as I have ammo. What in the woods would I hunt thats smaller than that? The grey one is that very Stinger hungry weapon.
And yes, the brown one is a .22WMR and does my 100 yard work as it should.
DR
I can take stingers at 50 yards and punch out one big hole a touch larger than a quarter and stay in that hole as long as I have ammo. What in the woods would I hunt thats smaller than that? The grey one is that very Stinger hungry weapon.
And yes, the brown one is a .22WMR and does my 100 yard work as it should.
DR
Beuford T. Rimfire
Member
When did this become the Ruger forum? I thought we were all about some M&P's...
Yes, but that group would probably be nickle sized or smaller with CCI Standard Velocity. All that may be irrelevant in terms of the 15-22 though, as quarter sized groups with ANY AMMO are the stuff of unfounded forum legend (at 50 yards, that is.)
And BTW, I'm not discounting that you can shoot that well at 50 yards with the rifle pictured. I have a 70 year old Stevens that will put three rounds through nearly the same hole at 25 yards with Mini-Mags.
Yes, but that group would probably be nickle sized or smaller with CCI Standard Velocity. All that may be irrelevant in terms of the 15-22 though, as quarter sized groups with ANY AMMO are the stuff of unfounded forum legend (at 50 yards, that is.)
And BTW, I'm not discounting that you can shoot that well at 50 yards with the rifle pictured. I have a 70 year old Stevens that will put three rounds through nearly the same hole at 25 yards with Mini-Mags.
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