What is your favourite 22LR ammunition?

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Hey guys,

I hope that everyone is well


I'm currently doing "ammunition testing" for my Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle at the moment

So far I have tried:
- CCI Standard Velocity/C35
- RWS/Rifle Match S/Professional Line
- Norma 2/22LR Training
- Federal #714
- Federal #510
- Federal #745
- Winchester/Subsonic/22LR/Hollow Point
- Remington/22 Target/22 Long Rifle

So far, these ones here shot pretty good, pretty accurate, pretty tight groups:
- CCI Standard Velocity C35
- RWS/Rifle Match S/Professional Line
- Norma 2/22LR Training
- Federal #714

So far, out of everything, the CCI Standard Velocity C35 seems to be the winner for me
It was the most accurate
It had the tighest group
And it was (more or less) the cheapest one too out of everything
CCI = Cheapest + Most Accurate = Heaven

I am wondering what your favourite 22LR ammunition is?
(So that I can test it out)

Please note;
I am The Firearm Enthusiast
So when I go shooting onto the range
I normally spend 2x to 3x hours there just plinking away
So I definitely want something that's affordable since I plan to plink so much
(around the $10 per box of 50rounds mark would be pretty good)
I also want something that's very accurate too (if possible)
Something that shoots tight groups
(Or tight enough groups that would be satisfactory enough)

I would love to hear what you guys would recommend
(other than the CCI Standard Velocity and other than what I have tried already)

Ammunition testing is really fun I find
Gaining the knowledge of what ammunition your rifle likes, what ammunition your rifle dislikes
It's pretty fun stuff
Pretty educational
I am enjoying it


I look forward to hearing back from youse

[No1Mk3]

G'day mate,
I don't have a favourite but most of my rimfire firearms do! Each 22 has it's own quirks and what works well in 1 may (probably) not work as good in another, even of the same brand and model. The Norinco JW25 is a case in point in that mine really likes RWS Fieldline sub-sonic but the wife's shoots better with CCI Mini Mags. My No8 loves Winchester sub-sonics as does the No2 but the C No7 shoots almost anything. The Mrs also has a Cooey 75 (basically a Canadian Winchester 67) which loves Highland Target which from memory is Philippines made . I have found that most of my rimfire handguns need a standard velocity loading to shoot well though, so just keep trying different offerings, but you seem to have a good one already, Cheers.

[flutch]

fed bulk and cci standard

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

No1Mk3;
Awesome
Thanks man

So:
- RWS Fieldline Sub-Sonic
- CCI Mini Mags
- Highland Target
I’ll definitely buy a box of each one of these the next time I go to the gun store and I will see how I go!


Flutch;
Awesome
Thanks man

Yeah I love the CCI standard velocity myself and the federal #714 shoots pretty great too I reckon


The federal is interesting
There are so many different variations of them, so many
Very interesting

I basically wanna try everything I can get my hands on to be honest
As long as it’s affordable
As long as it shoots okay enough
I’m 100% willing to try out anything
Why not

[JimTom]

Have a look at Eley mate. They do subs, standard, a couple of different HV with 38, and 40 gr projectiles.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Thanks JimTom
I'll have a look at Eley for sure too

[bladeracer]

It really is going to come down to which ammo shoots best in your specific firearm. My favorite is CCI Standard Velocity, simply because it shoots so well for me in my Rugers. Some people swear by Velocitor, or SK Rifle Match, or Federal Auto Match, but if they don't shoot well in your rifle their opinion doesn't much matter to your situation. The only way you'll know is by trying it yourself, and it's as easy to hit pay dirt buying everything on your dealer's shelf as it is buying everything you get recommended to try.

I'm working up to another major test session now so I've been collating what I've tried already, and researching what is available now (160 types of LR, 8 types of Short, 5 types of Long). Your thread might be a good place to list what I've found as others might be able to add to or correct it. Federal and Winchester are the hardest to try to sort out.

Asterisk indicates that I've already tried it. I have ordered 59 more types but I doubt I'll be able to get even half of them.

Aquila - appears to be no Aussie source

Armscor (rebadged Highland) 2 types of .22LR
36gn HP at 1247fps
40gn SVSP at 1211fps

Browning (only high-velocity) 2 types of .22LR
*BPR 40gn RN at 1255fps
BPR 40gn HP at 1435fps

CCI 24 types of .22LR, 4 types of Short, 2 types of Long
*Quiet 40gn RN at 710fps
*Quiet 40gn HP at 710fps
*Quiet Segmented HP 40gn HP at 710fps (more expensive than the Quiet HP)
Quiet Semi-Auto 45gn RN at 835fps
*Suppressor 45gn HP at 970fps
*Segmented HP 40gn HP at 1050fps
*Subsonic 40gn HP at 1050fps
*Standard Velocity 40gn RN at 1070fps
Pistol Match 40gn RN at 1070fps
Green Tag 40gn RN at 1070fps
Clean-22 Subsonic 40gn RN at 1070fps (powder-coated CCI Std Vel?)
Select 40gn RN at 1200fps
AR Tactical 40gn CPRN at 1200fps
*Blazer 40gn RN at 1235fps
Clean-22 HV 40gn RN at 1235fps (powder-coated Blazer?)
Small Game Bullet 40gn FN at 1235fps
*Mini-Mag 40gn RN at 1235fps
Mini-Mag Segmented HP 40gn HP at 1235fps
*Mini-Mag 36gn CPHP at 1260fps
*Velocitor 40gn CPHP at 1435fps
*Stinger 32gn CPHP at 1640fps
Segmented HP 32gn CPHP at 1640fps (same as Stinger?)
Short Range Green 21gn Copper HP at 1650fps (works to just past 50m)
*Copper-22 21gn Copper HP at 1850fps (works to around 70m)

CB Short 29gn RN at 710fps
Short Target 29gn RN at 830fps
Short HV 29gn CPRN at 1080fps
Short HP 27gn CPHP at 1105fps

CB Long 29gn RN at 710fps
Long HV 29gn CPRN at 1215fps

Eley I think a lot of Eley is the same stuff just graded to different levels for accuracy 21 types of .22LR
*Tenex 40gn FN at 1040-1085fps
Tenex Pistol 40gn RN at 906-942fps
Tenex Rapid Fire Pistol 40gn RN at 882-919fps
Tenex Slow Pistol 40gn RN at 862-898fps
Tenex Biathlon 40gn FN at 1100-1160fps
*Match 40gn FN at 1040-1085fps
Match Pistol 40gn RN at 906-942fps
Match Slow Pistol 40gn RN at 862-898fps
Eley Match OSP
Team 40gn FN at 1040-1085fps
*Club 40gn RN at 1040-1085fps
Biathlon Club 40gn RN at 1060-1085fps
*Sport 40gn RN at 1000-1090fps
Contact 40gn RN at 1040-1090fps
*Subsonic HP 38gn HP at 1000-1040fps
HVHP 38gn HP at 1130-1250fps
Action Subsonic 42gn RN at 1060-1100fps
Action Plus HV 42gn RN at 1250fps
Force 42gn RN at 1130-1250fps
*Edge 40gn FN at 1085fps (discontinued)
*Standard 40gn RN at 1090fps (bulk 500rds)

Federal 15 types of .22LR
*American Eagle Subsonic 45gn CPRN at 970fps
*Gold Medal Target 711B 40gn RN at 1080fps
*Gold Medal HV Match 719 40gn RN at 1200fps
Hunter Match 720 40gn HP at 1200fps
*Champion Auto-Match AM22 40gn RN at 1200fps (bulk 325rds)
Field & Range 729 40gn RN at 1200fps (bulk 275rds)
American Eagle HVRN 40gn RN at 1240fps
Champion Training 510 40gn RN at 1240fps
Game-Shok 710 40gn CPRN at 1240fps
*American Eagle HVHP 38gn CPHP at 1260fps (40rd boxes)
Champion Training 745 36gn CPHP at 1260fps (bulk 525rds)
*Game-Shok 712 38gn HP at 1260fps
Field & Range 730 38gn CPHP at 1260fps (bulk 275rds)
BYOB 36gn CPHP at 1260fps (bulk 450/525/825/1375rds)
*Game-Shok 724 31gn CPHP at 1430fps
Premium Match 922A

Fiocchi 13 types of .22LR, 1 type of Long
Official RF280 40gn RN at 280m (920fps)
*Official 300 40gn RN at 300m (985fps)
Official 320 40gn RN at 320m (1050fps)
F300 40gn RN at 300m (985fps)
F320 40gn RN at 320m (1050fps)
TT Rapid Fire 40gn RN at 280m (920fps)
Exacta Winter 40gn RN at 325m (1066fps)
Official Winter 40gn RN at 325m (1066fps)
TT Winter 40gn RN at 325m (1066fps)
*Target Sport 40gn RN at 320m (1050fps)
Subsonic 38gn HP at 310m (1017fps)
Semi-Auto 40gn RN at 380m (1247fps)
Ultrasonic 40gn RN-RAM at 380m (1247fps)

Long Z 30gn RN at 260m (855fps)

Geco 2 types of .22LR
*Rifle 40gn RN at 1083fps
*Semi-Auto 40gn RN at 1148fps

Highland 5 types of .22LR, 1 type of Short
*HX SuperQuiet 37gn HP at 840fps
*RX Subsonic 36gn HP at 1000fps
*RX Target 36gn HP at 1035fps
*RX HVHP 36gn HP at 1235fps
*RX HVRN 40gn RN at 1235fps

RX Short Solid 29gn RN at ????fps

Hornady 2 types of .22LR
Varmint Express 40gn RN at 1070fps (rebadged CCI Std Velocity?)
*Varmint Express 40gn CPHP at 1160fps

Killwell rebadged Winchester from NZ

Lapua 7 types of .22LR
Pistol King 40gn RN at 270m (886fps)
Pistol OSP 40gn RN at 265m (870fps)
X-Act 40gn RN at 327m (1073fps)
*Centre-X 40gn RN at 327m (1073fps)
Midas+ 40gn RN at 327m (1073fps)
Polar Biathlon 40gn RN at 337m (1106fps)
Biathlon Etreme 40gn RN at 337m (1106fps)

Norma 5 types of .22LR
Subsonic-22 40gn RN at 1033fps
*Training-2 40gn RN at 1066fps
Tac-22 40gn RN at 1082fps
Match-22 40gn RN at 1082fps
Jaktmatch 40gn RN at 1082fps

Remington 10 types of .22LR
CBee 33gn THP at 740fps
*Subsonic 38gn HP at 1050fps
*Target 40gn RN at 1150fps
*Golden Bullet 40gn RN at 1255fps
Thunderbolt 40gn RN at 1255fps
Golden Bullet 36gn HP at 1280fps (bulk 525rd or 1400rd bucket)
*Cyclone 36gn HP at 1280fps
Game Load 36gn HP at 1280fps
Viper 36gn T-Solid at 1410fps
*Yellowjacket 33gn THP at 1500fps

RWS 15 types of .22LR, 1 type of Short, 1 type of Long
Super Pistol 250 40gn RN at 853fps
Pistol Match 40gn RN at 902fps
Pistol Match SR 40gn RN at 902fps
Target Pistol 40gn RN at 935fps
*Subsonic 40gn HP at 1033fps
*R50 40gn RN at 1082fps
*Special Match 40gn RN at 1082fps
*Rifle Match 40gn RN at 1082fps
Club 40gn RN at 1082fps
Target Rifle 40gn RN at 1082fps
Rifle Match S 40gn RN at 1130fps
*R100 40gn RN at 1132fps
Semi-Auto 40gn RN at 1165fps
High Velocity 40gn RN at 1165fps
*High Velocity 40gn HP at 1165fps

R25 Short

*Z Lang 29gn RN at 770fps

S&B 6 types of .22LR, 1 type of Short
Subsonic 40gn RN at 310m (1017fps)
*Subsonic HP 38gn HP at 310m (1017fps)
Club 40gn RN at 325m (1066fps)
*Standard 40gn RN at 325m (1066fps)
*High Velocity HP 38gn HP at 375m (1230fps)
High Velocity 40gn RN at 385m (1263fps)

Short 28.1gn RN at 280m (920fps)

SK 10 types of .22LR
Subsonic (I can't find details and think it might just be Magazine?)
*Pistol Match 40gn RN at 1031fps
Pistol Match Special 40gn RN at 1050fps
*Rifle Match 40gn RN at 1050fps
*Standard Plus 40gn RN at 1050fps
*Magazine 40gn RN at 1056fps (bulk 500rd can)
*Flatnose Basic 40gn FN at 1067fps
*Flatnose Match 40gn FN at 1067fps
Long Range Match 40gn RN at 1099fps
*High Velocity 40gn RN at 1263fps (discontinued)

Winchester 21 types of .22LR, 1 type of Long, 1 type of Short
Super Suppressed 45gn RN at 1060fps
*Subsonic 40gn HP at 1065fps
*Subsonic Max 42gn HP at 1065fps
M22 Subsonic 45gn CPRN at 1090fps (bulk 800rds)
*T22 40gn RN at 1150fps
Wildcat 40gn DP at 1255fps (bulk 500rds)
Wildcat 40gn RN at 1255fps
Super-X 40gn CPRN at 1255fps
M22 40gn CPRN at 1255fps (bulk 1000rds)
Super-X 37gn CPHP at 1280fps
Xpert HV 40gn HP at 1280fps (bulk 500rds)
222/333/525/555 36gn CPHP at 1280fps (bulk 222/333/525/555rds)
*Powerpoint 40gn CPHP at 1280fps
*Bushman 37.5gn CPHP at 1290fps
Superspeed 40gn CPRN at 1300fps
*Powerpoint Max 42gn CPHP at 1320fps
*Superspeed 37gn CPHP at 1330fps
*Laser 37.5gn HP at 1370fps
Hyper Velocity 40gn CPHP at 1435fps
Varmint HE 37gn 3/1 Segmented at 1435fps
*Varmint LF 26gn Tin HP at 1650fps

*Short 29gn CPRN at 1095fps

*Long Z 29gn RN at 770fps

[SCJ429]

Eley Tenex is quality ammo. For someone on a budget Federal Gold Match may work well in your Ruger.

[sungazer]

SK Rifle Match is my favorite it works really well in all my 22s and also when tried in friends rifles. In a good rifle it shoots very accurately as in very consistently very few fliers or none that you would ever consider to be due to ammunition rather than user caused.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Okay so

No1Mk3 recommended:
- RWS Fieldline Sub-Sonic
- CCI Mini Mags
- Highland Target

JimTom recommended:
- Eley

BladeRacer potentially recommended:
- Velocitor
- SK Rifle Match
- Federal Auto Match

SCJ429 recommended:
- Eley Tenex
- Federal Gold Match

Sungazer recommended:
- SK Rifle Match

All good
So altogether
We’re looking at:
- RWS Fieldline Sub-Sonic
- CCI Mini Mags
- Highland Target
- Eley
- Velocitor
- SK Rifle Match
- Federal Auto Match
- Eley Tenex
- Federal Gold Match

Awesome

Thank you so much Lads

I have plenty to work with now

I will definitely buy all of them and I will see how I go!

[SCJ429]

Don't forget RWS R50, my Ruger likes them. If they don't work you can go up to RWS R100.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Awesome
Thank you SCJ429
Noted
I'll add these 2x to my list!
Thanks


- RWS Fieldline Sub-Sonic
- CCI Mini Mags
- Highland Target
- Eley
- Velocitor
- SK Rifle Match
- Federal Auto Match
- Eley Tenex
- Federal Gold Match
- RWS R50
- RWS R100

[Oldbloke]

RWS Club about $95 a brick.
Edit. Price

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Awesome
Thanks OldBloke!
I'll add it to my testing list!


- RWS Fieldline Sub-Sonic
- CCI Mini Mags
- Highland Target
- Eley
- Velocitor
- SK Rifle Match
- Federal Auto Match
- Eley Tenex
- Federal Gold Match
- RWS R50
- RWS R100
- RWS Club

[FNQ]

Armscor @ $40 a brick

[TassieTiger]

Eley match, sk magazine and cci standard - all shoot well in my two x .22’s.

[allan]

As already stated above - The best 22LR ammo is the stuff which shoots best in YOUR PARTICULAR RIFLE.
Regardless of manufacturer, lot numbers play a critical part in the accuracy game.
Having said that, I'm yet to own a 22 which would not shoot proven lot numbers of SK (mainly Rifle Match, Pistol Match & Pistol Match Special) very well indeed.

[rc42]

Some key questions that seem to be missing in the responses:

What range do you want to shoot at and how much do you want to be spending per range visit?

For target work, 50m or less, stick with sub-sonic, for 100m sub-sonic may still be best but test with the better super sonic rounds.
As the projectile travels and slows from super to sub sonic on the way to the target it destabilises with unpredictable results which open groups up, unless that round is well matched to your barrel.

For 50m prone target shooting, I train with Eley Standard bulk (about $74 for 500) and compete in competitions with Tenex (about $22 for 50 if you know where to shop, up to $38 if you don't)
The SK rifle and pistol match are also quite good performers at around $10 per 50, lots in our club use those. RWS rifle and special match generally group tighter in my barrel but are prone to flyers, these are $13 and $17 per 50 respectively.

For longer range, super sonics, the RWS Rifle Martch S are really good as the the SK Match long range, again both around $14 per 50, For training rounds CCI Blazer is pretty hard to beat and only $5 per 50.
The Cheaper stuff can be as low as $36 per 500 brick, here are Armscor and some Winchester variants, OK for plinking at close range but all over the place on targets.

My barrel hates CCI standard, in fact both my rifles do, I've never actually met anyone in person that rates it, funny how different barrels match with ammo though.

[rossfrb]

I've got an Annie that does OK with the newer SK flatnose match which is ~$115 a brick. It didn't do particularly well with SK rifle match.
I've not yet tried SK flatnose basic which is ~$99 a brick but will in the future. Same for SK magazine which is $90ish a 'tube' -read some good reports about it though.
Unfortunately it likes Eley Edge which is ~$200 a brick.

[Hunter257]

I have an RPR and it likes Winchester Bushmans and Winchester subsonic.
Am currently going through a brick of federal std solids which are okay but not as good as the winnies
long Zs are really crappy in my RPR

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Thank you FNQ, TassieTiger, Allan, rc24, rossfrb and Hunter257!

I will add them to my list!


- RWS Fieldline Sub-Sonic
- CCI Mini Mags
- Highland Target
- Eley
- Velocitor
- SK Rifle Match
- Federal Auto Match
- Eley Tenex
- Federal Gold Match
- RWS R50
- RWS R100
- RWS Club
- Armscor
- Eley Match
- SK Magazine
- SK Pistol Match
- SK Pistol Match Special
- Eley Standard
- SK Rifle
- RWS Rifle
- RWS Special Match
- RWS Rifle Match S
- SK Match Long Range
- CCI Blazer
- SK Flatnose Match
- SK Flatnose Basic
- Eley Edge
- Winchester Bushmans
- Federal Standard Solids
- Gecko Match

You guys have given me plenty to work with right here, which is awesome


I will definitely buy 1x box of each one of those ammunition mentioned above
I will test them all
And I will see how I go!


I just love shooting the 22's to be honest
+ The lack of recoil
+ The affordability of the ammunition
+ The accessibility and range of the ammunition
+ The quietness of the 22's (compared to the centrefires)

They're a lot of fun
So great for plinking

[Sergeant Hartman]

Lol @ the affordability of some of that ammo

Eley tennix and tennix are the same, to get those all types, of you are lucky enough to find them probably close to 1k.

Ohh forgot to ad, Gecko Match

[bladeracer]

Lol @ the affordability of some of that ammo

Eley tennix and tennix are the same, to get those all types, of you are lucky enough to find them probably close to 1k.

Ohh forgot to ad, Gecko Match

I make it about $600 at retail, although some are doubles.
The 59 types I've ordered will be about $1200, but I doubt I'll be able to get a lot of them. A lot of the stuff I've already tried I bought bricks of, either because they weren't expensive or because it made life easier for my dealer to order a brick than a couple boxes. Also, a number of them only come in bulk packs. But even the stuff that doesn't shoot great in the firearm is handy to have for the next firearm you buy, and the bulk stuff just means you always have plenty of plinking ammo for when you're practicing.

Shooting is expensive, who'd a thunk it

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Ziad;
When I was talking about affordability
What I meant was;
It's crazy how much cheaper the 22LR ammunition is when you compare it to the Centrefires
I love to plink for 2x or 3x hours straight everytime I go to the range
So for me, the 22's are perfect
(In terms of affordability)

And awesome
I've added Gecko Match to my list


BladeRacer;
You're actually spot on
I've done the numbers
To get all this ammunition in that's on my list
I should be looking at around $600 TOPS
That's pretty good
I don't mind spending $600 knowing that I've tested all the ammunition that I could get my hands on
(That people recommended to me)

I think I'll stick with the 22's for quite a while
So the more experience I gain about them and about their ammunition
The better it is for me

[sungazer]

Just make sure you run a few patches through the gun before you switch to the next type. Otherwise you wont get true results as the lubes on the bullets will be mixed. the lube on 22's vary dramatically and it can have a big effect on how the rounds feed from the magazine as well as shoot.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

Sungazer;
Awesome
Thanks for the tip
I'll make sure to do that


I wanna shoot everything
And keep a record of how everything shoots in my ruger
It'll be interesting to have a database detailing how everything shoots
Itd be an interesting study


(And when I say "everything" what I mean is everything that's "in the mainstream" that people recommend to me)

[bladeracer]

Just make sure you run a few patches through the gun before you switch to the next type. Otherwise you wont get true results as the lubes on the bullets will be mixed. the lube on 22's vary dramatically and it can have a big effect on how the rounds feed from the magazine as well as shoot.

I don't agree with this as I've only found a small handful of types that won't group well on another type's lube. I think it's actually more likely that you'll find ammo that won't group well in a clean bore, which is fine if you're intending to shoot a hundred rounds of each, anything that needs more than 10rds of fouling before it starts shooting well goes on my fail list, unless it shoots extraordinarily well. The same for anything that shoots well in a clean bore but drops off after a couple boxes and needs cleaning again. But I do recommend testing all of one manufacturer's ammo together before moving on to the next. If you are concerned about mixing the lubes, shoot the cheapest of that manufacturer's offerings first. Then if you think it shows promise shoot another test with it as the last of the batch, when the bore is throughly coated with that manufacturer's lube, and see if it shoots better or worse.

I think five 5rd groups is enough to show its potential, as well as whether it improves or degrades over the five groups. From that, any types that show promise can be tested again, in isolation, over two or three boxes.

I would do the initial test at 50m as some of the supersonic stuff will be terrible at 100m, despite shooting very well at 50m.

[bladeracer]

Ziad;
When I was talking about affordability
What I meant was;
It's crazy how much cheaper the 22LR ammunition is when you compare it to the Centrefires
I love to plink for 2x or 3x hours straight everytime I go to the range
So for me, the 22's are perfect
(In terms of affordability)

And awesome
I've added Gecko Match to my list


BladeRacer;
You're actually spot on
I've done the numbers
To get all this ammunition in that's on my list
I should be looking at around $600 TOPS
That's pretty good
I don't mind spending $600 knowing that I've tested all the ammunition that I could get my hands on
(That people recommended to me)

I think I'll stick with the 22's for quite a while
So the more experience I gain about them and about their ammunition
The better it is for me

I have the advantage of a spreadsheet listing all the ammo and what it costs
I made a list a few years back of every manufacturer I could find, I think it had 212 different types of Long Rifle, Long, and Short ammo, but some of it is impossible to get In Oz without importing it yourself, meaning there's little point in testing it anyway.

That spreadsheet also compiled every bullet manufactured around the world, in every caliber from .172" to .510", plus a list of all the moulds I could find. Many, many hours of research, unfortunately I lost it in a drive crash

I keep a spreadsheet for every firearm, recording every shot fired, what the load was, the results, when the bore was cleaned, any problems or modifications to the firearm, and I keep photos of all the targets I shoot.

[TheFirearmEnthusiast]

That's awesome BladeRacer

We seem to think very alike brother!

[bladeracer]

The three types I mentioned initially were some examples that other people went out of their way to ensure I tried because they work so well for them, but they did not perform well for me. CCI Std velocity is another that was stressed numerous times as "must try", and luckily it shoots astonishingly well for me.