Wide Variation in Accuracy Based on Ammo?

[John Hearne]

I picked up a variety of .22 ammo, trying to find out if my rifle liked something in particular. I'm looking to attend my second Appleseed Shoot (already shot Rifleman but want more practice) with my 15/22 after shooting the first with a 10/22. I wanted something that would shoot about 1" at 25 yards.

I borrowed a friends 1.5-5x Leupold and mounted it to my rifle. This morning, I shot the rifle from supported prone, off an ammo can with a quasi-sandbag on top. I was amazed at how much variation there was in accuracy between loads.

This is what I shot: Winchester Wildcat (90's vintage have a ton of it stashed), CCI Mini Mag 36 gr HP, CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr RN, Remington Target (6122) 40 gr RN, Federal HV Match (719) 40 gr RN, Aguila Super Extra 40 gr RN, Aguila Golden Eagle Match 40 gr RN.

My results for five shot groups, center to center were:
Aguila Golden Eagle Match: 0.658"
CCI Standard Velocity: 0.851"
Aguila Super Extra: 0.979"
Winchester Wildcat: 1.04"
CCI Mini Mag: 1.20"
Remington Target: 1.98"
Federal HV Match: 2.08"

I was surprised by how badly the Remington and Federal grouped. Thinking it might be the shooter, I shot a second group of the Remington and got similar results.

Has anyone else seen this much variation in ammunition accuracy in their 15/22?

(In case you care my rifle is of recent manufacture (DUM serial number) with stock trigger (blue hammer spring))

 

[HalfSwiss]

Yep, I care about your stock trigger. I went to the JP spring kit and it made a major positive difference in the trigger pull over the stock trigger. Definite aid to accuracy for me. I see very little variation in group size across Win, CCI, and Rem.

 

[trail]

Odd that my best groups have been with Federal 36 grainers. But then I didn't get chance to shoot any match grade ammo as my supply is limited to whats on the GS shelf on any given day.
But I would think that some guns like differant ammo.
I know I get the best groups from my .308 with Remmies and the .243 likes Feds.
Thats whats nice about this hobby everything and anything.

 

[chingachkook]

John, welcome to the forum and with such an interesting first post I know were going to benefit from your membership.

My M&P 15-22 is equipped with a Leupold FX-ll 2.5x Ultralight scope on a quick release mount and I also run a Vortex Strikefire red dot on a quick release mount as well. With the scope mounted and the rifle bench rested I am able to shoot one ragged hole groups with CCI Stinger ammunition at 25 yards, but with the red dot or factory sights those groups open up considerably at the same distance. So, I know what my rifle is capable of accuracy wise, but what effect old man eyes have on that capability.

 

[~tc~]

There are a couple posts showing the increased accuracy of subsonic rounds, look for a post about Aguila Match Rifle

 

[thedrifter]

i dont want to hi jack a thread but i have 2 question's from what i read above. Q1.is a 1" a great shot group at 25yrds or should i shoot for tighter? i shot 9 different ammo last night and a few match grade and most shot within an inch only 5 rnds 10 at another target before hand to prime the barrle for that brand,

Q2, were can i find more info on the trigger? mines A DTX is that recent?

 

[Scuds03]

i dont want to hi jack a thread but i have 2 question's from what i read above. Q1.is a 1" a great shot group at 25yrds or should i shoot for tighter? i shot 9 different ammo last night and a few match grade and most shot within an inch only 5 rnds 10 at another target before hand to prime the barrle for that brand,

Q2, were can i find more info on the trigger? mines A DTX is that recent?

Here are a couple groups I did with the stock trigger and cheap Winchester 333 bulk ammo...I think you can shoot for tighter than one inch groups at 25 yards with this gun. 1st is 5 rounds second is 10 rounds; ignore the third group, that was with super-x super high velocity ammo which wasn't very accurate.

 

[CajunMouseSniper]

Welcome John. I've tried a bunch of different ammo and if I were shooting for accuracy at paper it would be with Aguila Match Rifle.

 

[shooboy]

Have you checked the tightness of your barrel nut ??? Shoo

 

[Scuds03]

Have you checked the tightness of your barrel nut ??? Shoo

He might not have the proper tool to do that..I wonder where he can find one...

 

[john16443]

Have you checked the tightness of your barrel nut ??? Shoo

Always the salesman. I'm keeping this purchase on the back burner, maybe a Xmas present to ME

 

[Nachtjager]

here is some shooting with CCI standard velocity at 50 yards

this is a group of 14 rapid fire shots at 50 yds
the black circle is 3 inches in diameter
the center ring is 1 inch and the rings are 1/2 inch apart
all 14 shots are on or within the first 1 1/2 inch of rings and 6 of them are on or in the 1 inch center circle

 

[Ranger98]

Using a red dot at 25 yards and a scope at 50 yards,I have also noticed better groups using CCI in both instances as opposed to Federal bulk ammo.

 

[shooboy]

He might not have the proper tool to do that..I wonder where he can find one...

Hmmmm..... I also wonder.......LOL !!! Shoo

 

[grimreaper21]

here is some shooting with CCI standard velocity at 50 yards

this is a group of 14 rapid fire shots at 50 yds
the black circle is 3 inches in diameter
the center ring is 1 inch and the rings are 1/2 inch apart
all 14 shots are on or within the first 1 1/2 inch of rings and 6 of them are on or in the 1 inch center circle

What kind of sight was used?

 

[Nachtjager]

2-7x32 variable power scope. a NcStar MarkIII

This is my set up, I like my rifle to be light and easy,

 

[thedrifter]

well i might have mine figured out got better group's when i fixed my scope... it was loose, my barrel bolt doesn't seem to be loose but i am interested in the tool, best result's with eley and CCI standard, and i installed jp spring kit. scope 9x

 

[Scuds03]

well i might have mine figured out got better group's when i fixed my scope... it was loose, my barrel bolt doesn't seem to be loose but i am interested in the tool, best result's with eley and CCI standard, and i installed jp spring kit. scope 9x

Lol yea I'm pretty sure a wobbly scope will do the trick haha.

 

[thedrifter]

ya group's with eley at 50yrds was under an inch ten rounds, but as i continued to shoot i had more flyers but that may be human error, i'll post pics in my own thred.