3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

Deviousfred

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 25, 2004
7
0
El Paso, Texas
I recently finished my 10/22 build and took it out to see what it could do.

About the rifle and ammo;
-Ruger 10/22 carbine
-Keystone 18" 1/16 bull barrel
-Cheapie BSA Sweet 22 3-9X40 scope
-Bulk Winchester Western
IMG_20120622_124455.jpg


Decided to fire some 3 rounds groups @ 50yds. These were my results.
IMG_20120623_210727.jpg


Thanks n advance for any feedback you might be able to offer.
Fred
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

I think you've gotten to the basic level of accuracy that can be achived by modifying the 10/22 in its simplest, cheapest mannner. That's the biggest bang-per-buck improvement. You can definitely buy more accuracy, but beyond this point it gets progressively more expensive, and I think it reaches cost-effectiveness limits very soon.

I'd stick with what you have and try some CCI Standard Velocity match ammo; it's a good cost/benefit compromise.

If you want to go much beyond what you already have, I'd keep this one the way it is and try my hand with another 10/22.

I find they're addictive. It starts with the urge to mount a nicer scope, and maybe get a shorter bipod...

When I reached the point where I had put $850 of mods into one, I knew it was time for me to join 10/22's Anonymous...

...Hello, my name is Greg; and...
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

nice rifle & nice groups especially with that ammo!

my only advice would be to shoot 5 & 10 shot groups if you're able so you can see the consistency.
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

+1 on larger group size. In reality, If you shoot until the group stops getting bigger, then you really know what you have. Three shot groups are good for zeroing the scope, but with the .22 ammo being so cheap, I would shoot larger groups.
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

In my very limited experience... 22's are pretty picky about what ammo they like. I would start with the wolf match but you may want to experiment with other match ammo too. You will find your rifle really likes one or two brands best.
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

I would say to thouroghly clean <span style="font-style: italic">and reseason the bore with the next type of ammo</span> between test batches. Much of the accuracy in a 22lr round comes from what went through the bore before. A clean bore does not provide that state. Yes, I recognize that the recommended number of rounds per testing batch will accomplish this, but I also think it's important to note that the most telling peformance will come from the point after where the seasoning process has stabilized.

Greg
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

I'll second (third, fourth??) the recommendation to try lots of different ammo.
I saw a test recently of a Savage of one sort or another. The tester tried 10 different brands of ammo, getting groups that averaged under 1/2" to over 3" at 50 yards.
The smallest group was with Eley match at about $15/box of 50.
Thing is 2nd place, and not by more than about 1/8" was Federal Eagle at $3/50.
A pretty expensive 1/8"
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CZbob</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'll second (third, fourth??) the recommendation to try lots of different ammo.
I saw a test recently of a Savage of one sort or another. The tester tried 10 different brands of ammo, getting groups that averaged under 1/2" to over 3" at 50 yards.
The smallest group was with Eley match at about $15/box of 50.
Thing is 2nd place, and not by more than about 1/8" was Federal Eagle at $3/50.
<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">A pretty expensive 1/8"</span></span> </div></div>



BINGO.... we have a winner!
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">try lots of different ammo</div></div>

I wish it was that easy. Sadly, it ain't.
You can get a box of cheap ammo, and if lucky
the powder/primer/brass/lead of the rounds in that box
may be very similar in weight and quality which will
result in predictable trajectories and tight groups.
But the next box of the same type, can be the end of the run
and the quality just isn't there. As a result it ends up
producing a target full of fliers. Which is why keeping
track of lot numbers can be so important in trying
to find consistent/accurate ammunition. Found it to be true
not only of the less expensive rimfire ammo, but the match
grade brands also. Frustrating to get everything working smoothly,
open the next box of ammo from the same brand and end up
with a shotgun pattern on the target instead of bullseyes.

I don't even want to think about compensating for wind drift.
cry.gif
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">All advice needs to be taken with context...</div></div>

Thought I covered that with the quote from the previous reply.
"Test lots of ammo" My point was not only test different brands
but to keep track of the manufacturing codes in order to
obtain consistent trajectories.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You may have fliers with different lots...but then this is snipershide... not rimfireBR.com</div></div>

True, but then we are trying for sub-moa accuracy with a 22lr
and the OP did ask for feedback in order to improve his shooting.
All I related was what I learned during testing my rifles.
Keeping track of lot numbers does contribute to accuracy.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Seriously though...if your particular round is prone to this problem...then why run it all?</div></div>

Cheap ammo for cheap guns, and days when plinking is the activity of choice?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds more like a justifucation for driver error at worst....and a lack of shopping around a best.</div></div>


Nope, I don't test ammo in a way where my lack of skill can skew results.
From bulk Winchester to Lapua Midas +, they all get fired from a test rest.

test-rest.JPG


Even the high priced stuff still throws occasional flyers,
but nowhere near as bad as the sub 5 cent per round ammo.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You dont wanna think about wind drift? Guess what? There are plenty harder things to think about and grasp in shooting than wind drift. This may just be the wrong hobby for you if thinking about something is the problem.</div></div>

Now that's funny! I appreciate a well written burn. Kudos

The windage comment came from the OP's target.
Odds are he was aiming at the center of the bull,
but impacting low and left. One group tight, the other spread.
To me that reads as wind effect.

IMG_20120623_210727.jpg


Shooting outdoors, wind effects on trajectories are my biggest problem.
Learning to compensate for updrafts, downdrafts, swirls
caused by winds interacting with side berms and backstops
can create some interesting targets. Especially when shooting a 22.
Understanding how wind load affects a bullet has me reading
and working through the formulas used to calculate trajectories.
Sorry if my rustiness with differential calculus showed up in my final comment.
It's been a long time since college.
blush.gif

















 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

i dont recall the model number on my rifle but it is a savage with accu-trigger .
the scope is a bushnell 6x24x40 mil-dot ao and the ammo is federal match
I made this shot at 85 yds this morning using a fence post for a rest.
I guess my point is you dont have to break the bank with ammo to get reasonable accuracy with a good rimfire. I would start with a brick of bulk pack and work my way up until I found a round that does what you want.

IMG_20120701_084222.jpg
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">did you make that test rest yourself?</div></div>

Yeah, started out as a 1x8 work rest for cleaning rifles and mounting scopes.
But when I couldn't figure out why a CZ was throwing random fliers
I reinforced it and added leveling screws to eliminate operator error.
By taking my physical limitations out of the equation I was able
to focus on what was really causing the problems and fix them.
Makes sighting in a scope easy also. Aim at the target, fire a round
adjust crosshairs to bullet hole, fire a second shot to verify adjustment.

Here's a link to additional pics: Low Tech Test Rest



 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

Definitely give CCI SV and Federal Automatch a try...I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Also try 10-shot groups next time...they'll give you a really good idea on your rifle's capability and how it likes a given ammo.
 
Re: 3 shot group @ 50yds Feedback requested

If you want to shoot for accuracy, stick with subsonic ammo. I shoot CCI SV for plinking, and Wolf Match Target for more serious plinking. If you try Wolf and are disappointed, don't abandon hope. Just try a different lot. I've seen Wolf vary from horrible to excellent.

Forget about shooting three shot groups, they don't tell you anything. I'm not knocking your groups above, but it looks to me like you had a point of impact shift. Was this due to an adjustment? I'd recommend shooting dot drills. That will give you a much better idea of how the rifle will behave under real use.