I had a great time over about two weeks doing my ammo testing. It was a zen-like experience, spending time with my rifle and getting to know her as we fiddled with various combinations looking for what would work best, would work best for the price, and what just plain wouldn't do.

I got off to a slow start when I discovered that one of bases left on the rifle by the previous owner was not perfectly aligned with the axis of the bore / receiver. Investigation showed it to be a fault with the imprecise drilling and tapping of the holes in the receiver. The result was that sighting in the scope found it all the way to one extreme of its windage adjustment. Since I had already decided upon Burris rings for the mounting, it later was easily 'fixed' with application of the proper ring inserts... which, unfortunately, I did not bring to that initial session. Bummer-dess. So I shot a few groups at 50 yards, just to be shooting, then took her home.

Next session I brought along all the kit, including the inserts for the Burris rings, and played with various combinations of the inserts until I found the one that brought the scope closest to the center of its windage ajdustment when sighted in at 77 meters. Done with that, I resighted her for 100 yards then spent several hours shooting holes in paper in what will likely be only one stage in my testing of ammo.

In my first session, where I shot a few groups at 50 yards, I had already observed that the off-the-shelf stuff from WalMart was not in the running (groups of 1.5" or so at 50 yards just didn't seem promising!), so it wasn't tested for group size at 100 yards. Some of the mid-price stuff from the local gun store had shown promise at 50 yards but was clearly not up to the standards of the pricey stuff - it didn't get tested in the 100 yard session but will get another go later on when I start working out "best for the price."

Of the ammo that was tested, I was pleased to see that most of them grouped under 1". Given the price of some of them, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised with that. What was surprising was that some of the more affordable stuff performed as well as some of real expensive stuff, making them real bargains as long as I can keep my wobble zone on the target. My future sessions will be aimed at uncovering more of those gems.

The results, showing the average size of 5 groups with each ammo: Next, being the geek that I am, I whipped out my calculator and tried to come up with some way to measure the cost of accuracy. Or, more accurately , to rank the "value" of each ammo based on its cost compared to its performance, in order to identify the best option for practice ammo. The results are:
I shot some Fiocchi but it is not included because the results at 100 yards were out of whack with what I expected based on its performance at 50 yards. It might be the ammo, but I suspect some other cause so will give it a another go later on just to make sure.

CCI's Green Tag showed lots of promise at 50 yards but I haven't tried it at 100 yards yet. I expect it will be similar to the Federal 711B. I've also picked up some Federal 719 that others tell me is worth trying.

The usual caveats to this unscientific comparison apply: YMMV, IMHO, just my 2d, etc, etc.

Curious as tothe formula you used in determining your "value" numbers?
Innocent

Imperfect, but working for me as a guide:

1 / ( (group size / 1) * cost for 50 rounds ) * 10

(the multiple of 10 is just to get a whole number in the result)

It looks like all the ammo in your list would be just fine in your rifle. I think that anything under 1.25 minutes of accurcy is acceptable ammunition for all club matches and practice. Save the good stuff for the big matches.

If you go to the Resouces section of Steelchickens you will find all the animals scaled to 40 meters. They make good spotting cards, help you realize why the turkeys are so tough- and also provide a way to practice shooting rams at the chicken distance, and use the ammo that shoots at 40 M but not at 100 Meters.

Be cautions counting edge shots though as the bullet hole size does not "scale". A .22 bullet hole on the reduced rams would be .55 from the rams point of view...

Very nice data for your rifle! Mine is still ongoing. I have Marlin's 3 year old 39a which I didn't use until this year w trigger pull at 2-1/2lbs. Last month in 40F temp and sandbags, using Winchester WW22LR Wildcat at 60 meters, my 3 five shot groups were the size of a dime or .700 approximately. No fliers. It was 40F temp and was getting colder with getting a late start, so did not get to 100m distance for readings. Prelim at 60m, Winchester Wildcat is better than Remington Golden, Target, and Thunderbolt in my 39a. Next Spring will finish up with Wildcat at 100m, followed by Winchester Std[Target] CCI Std, Federal Gold[711B], and Wolf/SK MT. I have my work cut out. The plan is to test at 100m and which ever seems to be the best, will go with that. Right now, I will use the Winchester as we start indoor paper Jan 4. Those in our club[AA,AAA] with fancy equipment are using Federal Gold [711B] for practice and match.

Federal's next scheduled production schedule for their 711b is late January, FYI She said to call her early Feb to find out where shipments are going so can buy 100 rounds from that customer. The other mfg's I bought yesterday. I should find what shoots best in May for my lever action. Or is this never ending???? Love this sport.

It never ends, but you can pause it a while if you find something that shoots really well out to 100m in your rifle and you buy a LOT of it.

ah a fellow analytical tinkerer, nice post.

posted somthing like your test before, assigning a value or "cost for accuraccy" metric:

Set up used: firearm : Savage mkII 20” free floated bull barrel 1-16 twist, 1lb. trigger, lam. Stock, 20 moa base.,
scope on 20x, 25 yd zero. Less than 3 mph wind, shot at 1” circle. From harris bipod and rear bag from bench,
crony at 10 ft. from muzzle. 26degree (f) avg air temp. shot at 50 and 100 yards. Ammo tested was readily available
and $ paid locally, sub or near sub sonic match/target type. Barrel dry swabbed b-4 each group, clean barrel
groups b-4 each shot. 30 seconds between each shot. B.C.’s not found on each, range between .114 to .144 (g-1 g-7) drag models.

How groups were measured – MG = major grp (excluding flyers) EG = ext. grp (including flyers), Flyer Ratio FR = #of flyers per rnds. shot.
Did it with clean and dirty barrel groups.
Came up with rating system to suit ammo with different shooting styles. Took (5 shots) Clean Barrel Rating ”CBR”=MG+EG+flyers divided by 3.
Dirty Barrel Rating (10 shots) “DBR”= MG+EG+flyers divided by 3, Consistency Rating “CR”= MG+EG+flyers of CBR and DBR divided by 6,
Value Rating “VR” (bang for the $) adds price per round divided by 7, and overall rating “OAR”=CBR+DBR+CR+VR divided by 4.
Also came up with a multi yard rating, avg. performance at both distances. The lower the number, the better rating.

1. Wolf Match Extra–1024 FPS 14 Dev. - avg. grp -1.25”, c. barrel .75”MG, 1”EG, 0/5 FR d. barrel -.75”MG, -1.25”EG, 1/10 FR
CBR .5, DBR 1, CR .75, VR .67, FR 1/15, OAR .730 $.20, pricey, dirty residue, low # flyers, 1 made it -1.25”

2. Wolf Match Target- 943 FPS 24 Dev. – avg. grp 1”, c. barrel -.75MG, 1”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel -1”MG, -1”EG, 0/10 FR
CBR .91, DBR .6, CR .79, VR .69, FR 1/15, OAR .749 $.14, dirty residue, low # flyers

3. Rem./Eley T Rifle – 1021 FPS 24Dev. – avg. grp -1”, c. barrel -.5”MG, -1”EG, 2/5 FR d. barrel -.75”MG, -1”EG 1/10 FR
CBR 1.16, DBR .91, CR 1.04, VR .92, FR 3/15, OAR 1.01 $.20, semi dirty residue, flyers killed it, highly lubricated

4. Rem. Sub Sonic- 947 FPS 46 Dev. – avg. grp 1.25”, c. barrel .5”MG, 1”EG, 2/5 FR d. barrel .75”MG, 1.25”EG, 1/10 FR
CBR 1.16, DBR 1, CR 1.08, VR .94, FR 3/15, OAR 1.04 $.08, dirty residue, good groups for price. 38gr h. point

5. Federal G Medal -1059 FPS 18 Dev. – avg. grp 1.5”, c. barrel +.5”MG, 1.5”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel -1”MG, +1”EG, 1/10 FR
CBR 1, DBR 1, CR 1, VR .87, FR 2/15, OAR .968 $.10, clean shooting, nice flyer ratio, a decent neutral ammo, no complaints

6. CCI Green Tag – 988 FPS 31 Dev. – avg. grp -1.5”, c. barrel -.75”MG, 1”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel 1” MG, 1.5”EG, 1/10 FR
CBR .91, DBR 1.16, CR 1.04, VR .91, FR 2/15, OAR 1.07 $.14, semi clean, price held it back compared to above. 2 far out flyers.

7. Rem. Tar. 22 s. vel. - 1086 FPS 66 Dev. – avg. grp 1.5”, c. barrel -.75”MG, 1”EG, 2/5 FR d. barrel 1.25”MG, 1.5”EG, 1/10 FR
CBR 1.25, DBR 1.25, CR 1.25, VR 1.08, FR 3/15, OAR 1.20 $.08, clean shooting, not too good out of dirty barrel

8. Winc. S.X. T-22- 1056 FPS 50 Dev. – avg. grp. 1.75”, c. barrel -.75”MG, 1.5”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel -1”MG, 1.75”EG, 2/10 FR
CBR 1.08, DBR 1.5, CR 1.29, VR 1.11, FR 3/15, OAR 1.24 $.06, semi clean, decent economical ammo in c. barrel. Flyers killed grps.

Of the Rem. s.s., Fed. G.medal, and CCI g.t., at 50 yards very comparable, ranked the Rem’s higher due to lower price. Point of impact POI perspective,
Fed, Rem/Eley, CCI Wolf t.e. and targ. had close POI’s. Winc. T-22 POI was completely on the other side of the bull. All of the ammo dropped
between .25” and 1.5” from a 25 yard zero. ON TO PART 2 100 YARDS

PART 2 - 22 AMMO THRU MKII 100 YARDS

Set up used: firearm : Savage mkII 20” free floated bull barrel 1-16 twist, 1lb. trigger, lam. Stock, 20 moa base., scope on 20x, 25 yd zero.
Less than 3 mph wind, shot at 1” circle. From harris bipod and rear bag from bench, crony at 10 ft. from muzzle. 26degree (f) avg air temp.
shot at 50 and 100 yards. Ammo tested was readily available and $ paid locally, sub or near sub sonic match/target type. Barrel dry swabbed
b-4 each group, clean barrel groups b-4 each shot. 30 seconds between each shot. B.C.’s not found on each, range between .114 to .144 (g-1 g-7) drag models.

How groups were measured – MG = major grp (excluding flyers) EG = ext. grp (including flyers), Flyer Ratio FR = #of flyers per rnds. shot.
Did it with clean and dirty barrel groups.
Came up with own rating system suit ammo with different shooting styles. Took (5 shots) Clean Barrel Rating ”CBR”=MG+EG+flyers divided by 3.
Dirty Barrel Rating (10 shots) “DBR”= MG+EG+flyers divided by 3, Consistency Rating “CR”= MG+EG+flyers of CBR and DBR divided by 6,
Value Rating “VR” (bang for the buck) adds price per round divided by 7, and overall rating “OAR”=CBR+DBR+CR+VR divided by 4.
Also came up with a multi yard rating, avg. performance at both distances. The lower the number, the better rating.

Some ammo faired well at 50 yds, fizzled at 100 and visa versa. Sometimes price isn’t what it’s cracked up to be either. FPS were noted in 50 yard test. Also included drop from 50 to 100 yards.

1. Wolf Match Target - avg. grp. -1.75”, c. barrel 1”MG, 1.25”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel 1”MG, -1.75”EG, 1/10 FR
CBR 1.08, DBR 1.25, CR 1.16, VR 1.02, FR 2/15, OAR 1.19 $.14, just bet the pricier Extra, tight groups, low flyers.
Shot almost equally out of d or c barrels. 11.5” drop.

2. Wolf Match Extra - avg. grp. -2”, c. barrel 1.25”MG, 1.75”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel 1.5”MG, -2”EG, 1/10 FR
CBR 1.33, DBR 1.5, CR 1.42, VR 1.24, FR 2/15, OAR 1.37 $.20, lost some performance at 100, but still very good.
Pricier than #1. 10.75” drop.

3. Federal Gold Match - avg. grp. 1.75”, c. barrel .75”MG, 1.75”EG, 2/5 FL d. barrel .75”MG, 1.75”EG, 3/10 FR
CBR 1.5, DBR 1.83, CR 1.33, VR 1.44, FR 5/15, OAR 1.53 $.10, gained where others slipped, reliable ammo for the price
9.25” drop.

4. CCI Green Tag – avg. grp. +2.25”, c. barrel 1.5”MG, 2”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel 1.75”MG, +2.25”EG, 3/10 FR
CBR 1.5, DBR 2.33, CR 1.92, VR 1.66, FR 4/15, OAR 1.85 $.14, stayed steady to 100yds, 1 or 2 flyers opened the group,
pricier than fed. 11” drop.

5. Winc. Sup. X t-22 – avg. grp. +2.25” c. barrel 1.5”MG, 2”EG 2/5 FR d. barrel 1.5”MG, +2.25EG, 3/10 FR
CBR 1.58, DBR 2.25, CR 1.92, VR 1.67, FR 4/15, OAR 1.86 $.06, not bad considering $, similar to CCI g.t. at more than half the $. 9” drop.

6. Rem./Eley Targ. Rif. – avg. grp. -2.5” c. barrel 1.5”MG, 2” EG, 2/5 FR d. barrel 1.75”MG, -2.5”EG, 3/10 FR
CBR 1.83, DBR 1.81, CR 2.13, VR 1.85, FR 5/15, OAR 1.91 $.20, expected much more for the $, reshot and same results.
Heavy lube effecting grps? 10” drop

7. Rem. target 22 – avg. grp +3” c. barrel 1”MG, 3”EG, 1/5 FR d. barrel 1.5”MG, +2.25EG, 3/10 FR
CBR 2, DBR 2.75, CR 2.38, VR 2.05, FR 6/15, OAR 2.29 $.08, 10” drop

8. Rem. Sub Sonic- avg. grp ? groups were so erratic and open (over 4.5”) no real data could be collected, took it out of 100 yd running.
Big surprise as it performed exceptionally well at 50. $.08. reshot, same results.

Both Wolf ammos similar, slightly different POI, Rem./Eley had similar POI with Rem. targ 22. Winc T-22 was once again left to the bull. Overall rating (OAR) was more inline with avg. grp. size which at 50, didn’t match up as well. Price per round at 100 seems you get what you pay for, excepting the Rem./Eley.
This led to me to ask which ammo does best including 50 and 100 yard performance, taking into account a broad spectrum of data over multiple ranges. So….ON TO PART 3 MULTI YARD RATINGS


PART 3 – 22 AMMO THRU MKII MULTI YARD


MULTI YARD RATING (MYR) - Rates ammo on best avg. performance at 50 and 100 yards using data taken and results.
MYR/CBR = CBR of 50+100 divided by 2, MYR/DBR = DBR of 50+100 divided by 2, MYR/CR = CR of 50+100 divided by 2,
MYR/VR = VR of 50+100 divided by 2, MYR/OAR = THE MYR’S CBR+DBR+CR+VR divided by 4. Flyer Ratios are also for both ranges,
30 rds total each brand. Also took avg. grps. from 50+100 divided by 2 to give an average group between both ranges.
The MYR would be extremely valuable for a silhoutte match where various ranges are shot through the match.

1. Wolf MatchTarget–MYR/CBR .995, MYR/DBR .925, MYR/CR .978, MYR/VR .855, MYR/FR 3/30, MYR/OAR .938, avg. MYR grp -1.5”

2. Wolf Match Extra–MYR/CBR .915, MYR/DBR 1.25, MYR/CR 1.08, MYR/VR .956, MYR/FR 3/30. MYR/OAR 1.22, avg. MYR grp -1.62”

3. Federal G. Match–MYR/CBR 1.25, MYR/DBR 1.42, MYR/CR 1.17, MYR/VR 1.16, MYR/FR 7/30, MYR/OAR 1.25, avg. MYR grp 1.62”

4. Rem/Eley T. Rif.– MYR/CBR 1.5, MYR/DBR 1.36, MYR/CR 1.58, MYR/VR .925, MYR/FR 8/30, MYR/OAR 1.34, avg. MYR grp -2”

5. CCI Green Tag– MYR/CBR 1.21, MYR/DBR 1.75, MYR/CR 1.48, MYR/VR 1.29, MYR/FR 6/30, MYR/OAR 1.43, avg. MYR grp +1.88 “

6. Winc. S.X.T-22-MYR/CBR 1.33, MYR/DBR 1.88, MYR/CR 1.60, MYR/VR 1.39, MYR/FR 7/30, MYR/OAR 1.55, avg. MYR grp +2”

7. Rem. Target- MYR/CBR 1.63, MYR/DBR 2, MYR/CR 1.81, MYR/VR 1.56, MYR/FR 9/30, MYR/OAR 1.75, avg. MYR grp +2.25

8. Rem. Sub Sonic- open and erratic groups at 100 (over 4.5”) could not be measured accurately or consistently.

When you look at the different #’s and catagories throughout this series, you can judge an ammo that suits your type of shooting
(cleaning barrel between shots - CBR and the size of groups), using a dirty barrel or sustained fire (DBR and the size of groups),
the price / economy / value of an ammo vs. performance (VR), and how many flyers to expect, using an ammo at just 50, just 100,
or both (MYR). Although these ratings are made up by me (as far as I know don’t resemble anyone else’s, if so I apologize), they do
reflect the overall outcome of the ammo based on real world data.

I hope to test others in the future (aguila, lapua, etc.) as time, weather, and funds allow, and maybe a high velocity 22 test, but until then,
this is what you can expect out of the ammo tested through a MKII.

**update** did a seperate test on aguila golden eagle rifle match ammo. posted in "what's the popular ammo now" thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2507 page 2 towards the bottom - SCORED VERY WELL COMPARED TO OTHERS FOR HALF THE PRICE.

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