I found the ammo my .22 likes

[charliedeltajuliet]

About a year ago I bought a Bergara B-14R. I would get good cloverleaf groups from it. I had a local gunsmith lap the barrel. I installed a Timney 520CE-A (set it at 11oz). I went from a Bushnell 4-16x44 to a 5-25x56 Vortex and was amazed. I recently got my hands on some Lapua Center X, it is one ragged hole now. I normally shoot SK Standard (Lapua made) but the Center X made me a believer. Sadly finding it is the issue now. I have a Voodoo V22 on order and now am rethinking that since the little Bergara started to shine. The first and second photos are at 50yd with a 5 shot group each. The third was two 10 shot groups at 50yds (yes I had a bad flyer). Now to constantly be on the search for Center X ammo..

 

[Smok3y]

CenterX definitley makes a difference in consistency when your rifle likes it, and it looks like your does!

 

[Blownprimer]

Also have a 5-25 Vortex on the vudoo that shoots 1 ragged hole at 50 yards with Std Plus. The difference between Std Plus and Centerx in the Vudoo, 40x, or the Flash Turbo does not justify Centerx. Midas plus IS worth the upgrade from Std Plus. YMMV.

 

[Bunsen]

Here is the thing about finding rimfire ammo your rifle shots well...even high end Eley and Lapua will have variances between lot#'s within a specific brand (Tennex, Center-X, and Midas+). Thus just because your rifles liked one lot# of Center-X does not mean it will shoot every lot# of Center-X the same. This is just the beginning, the rabbit hole on rimfire ammo goes so deep that the top tier shooters only buy lot#'s made on a specific machine at the factory. There is a way to decode the lot# to determine this.

If you are super serious about accuracy and don't want to be disappointed one day when you find some random lot# of Center-X only to find out your rifle won't shoot it very well; spend the time and money to send your rifle off to one of the Lapua testing centers where they will determine what lot#'s your rifle shoots best. Then you can buy a lager quantity (1k-10k) rounds of that specific lot# through one of their vendors. The cost of testing is quite reasonable, but most people are not prepared for the pricetag of what 10k rounds of Midas+ cost. To quote the old addage: "buy once, cry once!"

.22lr lot testing at Lapua's indoor 100m test facility. What should you expect in gains?

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[Blownprimer]

Bunsen I agree the test centers are the way to go and the testing fee can be absorbed into the ammo cost. I was very fortunate to test myself and have my 3 ”shooters” all like the same lot, minimizing time, cost and aggravation. Take a look at rimfireaccuracy.com.
Cheers!

 

[NCFubar]

In my budget friendly CZ’s I have found they do not like switching between ammo types (I’ve had good luck with Wolf Match Extra before it jump to Lapua price ranges)… once you really find your Bergara’s (or Vudoo’s) favorite I’d do my damnedest to not vary … except lot numbers and then only when you have to switch that.

I have old friends that did exactly what Bunsen said above … bought multiple cases AND stored it in their homes in closet not on an outside wall and so on. These guys even sorted their ammo by rim thickness. We use to joke about “… and we thought that kid that ate his M&M’s by color was OCD …” but those 1 hole, and NOT ragged, kinda quieten us down.

 

[charliedeltajuliet]

I have about 5000-6000 of the SK Standard left from two lots. Both are close in accuracy. That is enough for me to shoot in it for a couple years. I know about the lots and the differences and such and have experienced it first hand. I had four different lots of Wolf and only one shot decent. The Tenex I was shooting wasn’t an improvement over the SK (which groups decently well). The Biathalon was on par with the Center X in this rifle, but I only had a few rounds to try. The SK is Standard (in the metal cans and smothered I wax) not Standard plus. The RWS I bought from the deal on here shoots decent but not as good as the SK or Center X. This isn’t a competition rifle, it was simply something to shoot out to 300 yds and have fun with. I have tried Geco, Norma Match about every Eley I could find, and Wolf to name the main ones. While it shoots everything I have tried at better accuracy then I am capable the Center X is the best shooting I have tried without sizing and sorting. I mainly just enjoy shooting .22s and letting my daughter get he confidence up on it. This rifle takes a few shots to settle in if changing from one type of ammo to another.

 

[NCFubar]

I have about 5000-6000 of the SK Standard left … … While it shoots everything I have tried at better accuracy then I am capable the Center X is the best shooting I have tried without sizing and sorting. I mainly just enjoy shooting .22s and letting my daughter get he confidence up on it. This rifle takes a few shots to settle in if changing from one type of ammo to another.

When you get that Vudoo you might change your mind. Get one of these and start early … https://www.brownells.com/reloading...aspx?msclkid=0f55091120c612189bd568bd2afce1fe … 👨🏻‍🔬

I have seen it happen many times also … just as it takes a few fouling rounds after you clean one also.

 

[Blownprimer]

A .22 case fits in a 223 case. Measure the 223, insert the .22, re measure and subtract the difference. Thats your rim thickness.
Roll your own.

 

[Geezer]

@charliedeltajuliet you sure are wasting a lot of those targets. How about sending some to me and @Jeppo when you're done with them.

Nice shooting.