Assuming two different loads shoot equally well out to 100m, one is $6 SV and the other $2.50 HV (1200 fps) is there any advantage to shooting one over the other?

I tested a HV load that shot great at 50 and 100 yards, have not tested it yet at 100 meters.  The theory of HV loads destabilizing as they drop below the speed of sound doesn't seem to apply to this load in my rifle.  

Any reason not to use it as a practice or match load?  

imo, if they are both shooting the same, have the same amount of (or lack of) flyers and misfires, and both chamber and extract the same, why wouldn't you use the cheaper stuff?

Most ranges have a rule on using HV ammo on the SB targets as it tends to cause damage. If it was used on just the Rams I don't think you'd have a problem, but at the chickens someone is bound to tell you not to use it or pay for any broken birds you create.

High velocity is much noisier, so it may bother you and others. There are also concerns that the higher energy rounds will damage the targets, particularly chickens.

Okay, having said all that I am a fan of Federal Automatch as a very good, relatively inexpensive round that is also high velocity. $15-$20 for a box of 325, or about .06 a round, vs .10 a round for the Eley I also use.

Rules against Hyper Velocity, or against High Velocity? Is that an NRA regulation? Or range specific rule?

I'm new, obviously. I've read lots on the web and I've seen ranges stating no Hyper Velocity ammo, but I don't recall. seeing any rules against regular ol' High Velocity (cheap) ammo. Thx!

Rules 3.2 and 3.17 prohibit "hot loads, such as "Stingers'", so hyper velocity is definitely out but high velocity is subject to interpretation by the match director. Because of this, most of us go with standard velocity to avoid any potential problems. Sorry, I should have gone into all of this in my original post.

Yes I saw that rule and it seems clear to me that Hyper Velocity loads like you mentioned are clearly "hot". But based on popularity, amount manufactured, and common knowledge, many would argue that the standard "22 long rifle" load IS "high" velocity, while non-standard loads would include hotter "hyper" velocity loads and also "low" velocity loads.

Not trying to argue but I don't understand the vagueness of this rule and the subjective interpretation. The stiffness of someone's jacket or glove and whether or not it provides support is subjective. The velocity of a common factory production load is not. Sure faster loads ("high velocity") could possibly cause damage to chickens so a range might disallow them. But if it's an NRA sanctioned match, why are they allowed to enforce additional non-NRA rules? Don't all sanctioned matches have to abide by the same exact rules?

I guess the real question is: "What's hot?" and "What's not?".

Is there a clarifying statement or ruling from the NRA? What do they enforce at Nationals?

All of those points have occurred to me, but there are two other things to consider.

First, the match directors' word is law. Always. Polite dissent is fine, and you may persuade them, so by all means try, but the match director always has the last word.

But the real deciding factor is peer pressure - the muzzle blast from sonic rounds bother other shooters and they will grumble about it. Trust me on that...

High velocity rounds specially lead nose are allowed per NRA rules, Hyper velocity ammo. like Stingers or Thunderbolt are not allowed due to damage to targets and ricochets from solid steel back stops.
Evelio.

I'm confused now. High Velocity ammo is legal, but many ranges and match directors don't allow it? I don't want to show up to my first match only to be stumped by something like this.

ClickBang wrote:I'm confused now. High Velocity ammo is legal, but many ranges and match directors don't allow it? I don't want to show up to my first match only to be stumped by something like this.

If you know the match director, ask ahead of time. Most folks in this game are very approachable and welcome new shooters. It would surprise me if a shooter were turned away from a match over this issue! It is confusing because you're in a gray area where both sides of any debate would have point, so the usual choice is to use "standard velocity", sub-sonic ammunition to avoid any potential problem, particularly in matches away from home.

More than one of us has all but begged Federal (okay, I did beg because I really like Automatch) to develop a sub-sonic version of Automatch - that is, a good quality SV round - and they don't understand what the big deal is.

I used to be a really good AA shooter until a match director DQ'ed me for using high velocity at a match. I did not like that, but since switching to standard velocity, find myself knocking on the door to Master class. It may hurt financially, but making the switch to better ammo will pay off with higher scores.

I used CCI Blazers in the past that shot well enough for the cost. I only use SV ammo now days but I never broke any animals with these and I shot a lot of them at Chickens on the home range. Most places will probably let you shoot a match or two using higher velocity ammo even if they ask everyone to use SV for the matches and give you time to get some SV ammo and some will just hand you a few boxes to shoot for nothing.

I still use 1200 fps cheap ammo for paper punching or spinner smacking. It is a bit louder and some folks might complain, I have yet to shoot a HP match but I am going to bet the sound is a tiny bit louder than even HV .22s.

The sound doesn't really bother me although it is distinctive compared to the others using SV. I'll take the sound of the sonic crack over the shucking of an empty shell out of a autoloader to my left.

The Eley Sport and Aquila Target are rated at 1135 fps so another 65 fps or so is not going to add a whole lot more energy.

With the cost of ammo these days IMO if you can get good shooting ammo cheap it is probably now a better bet to just buy a few replacement animals incase one does break. Something tells me replacing a animal here and there will cost less in the long run than using ammo that costs $6 extra a box. A chicken doesn't cost $6


Dee

What you refere to as HV ammo (1200 fps or a little more) is legal by NRA rules. What is illegal is the 1500 fps stuff such as stingers. I can't imagine why anyone would want to shoot the stuff. It is not acurate and it is expensive. I have never been to a match where the 22 ammo question ever came up and I have been shooting around the west since the early 80s.

If the 1200 fps stuff shoots well in your gun, don't be afraid to shoot it at any NRA match.

I have seen lots of target damage in full bore (HP) The small, fast bullets do the most harm. Full size targets can be repaired with 70XX rod as long as you clean the paint away from the repair before you weld. From my experience, it takes velocieties over 3100 fps to do any real damage.