Ammunition Recomendation

[Modoc]

A little background. I have been competing in NRA Lever Action Small Bore Silhouette for about 20 years. Currently, I am ranked as an AA class shooter working on my second or third leg to AAA.

My rifle is a 1920’s vintage Marlin 39 (not 39A) with a Marbles Tang sight. My go to ammo has been CCI SV, high and hyper velocity have caused mechanical damage to this old war horse.

The ranges that I shoot at are at ~500’ ASL and 3200’ ASL in temperature ranges from the teens to 110*F+.

I am at a point where I am calling the majority of my misses, and am considering a more consistent ammunition without breaking the bank.

Should I stay with what is working, or start chasing the elusive GOOD ammo?

 

[Alabusa]

I would start with Lapua Center X

 

[acudaowner]

have you tried standard volatility ccI ,or sk or any other brand of standard 22 ammo?

 

[Keeper22]

I bought a box of each that people that I know or had shot with said they shot Good for them, you may get lucky and your rifle will like something not expensive.

 

[Modoc]

I have been shooting CCI Standard Velocity per the gunsmith’s recommendation after getting the bolt repaired from shooting high velocity ammo.

The hard part is living/working in Komifornia and their BS regs dealing with ammo purchases. Pickings are slim at the LGS.

@natdscott & @ScottDWallace, do you have any input on this?

 

[justin amateur]

In a competition shot entirely offhand,
your ability has more effect on results than ammo quality.
In my case, I can use Winchester 333 white box
and the ammo is still capable of better accuracy than I am.
Sad but true. From a supported setup or bench, then better ammo is useful.
But offhand, find a cartridge that makes you happy and spend more time shooting.
Practice will improve y'er results more than y'er ammo.

 

[MarkCZ]

The next step up in ammo, would be SK Std+, Eley target, Wolf match target, Eley Contact, etc. The next level would be Eley club, SK rifle match, Biathlon, Long range, etc. next would be Lapua line, Eley Match, Tenex, etc.

I shoot long range 22LR steel matches, out to 400yds. I used Eley Club, and SK Long Range for matches. For practice, I shoot CCI SV, Norma Tac 22. they do good, you just see more vertical and dropouts.

I just tried a friend's Eley Contact. It shot very well. I am going to get a few bricks for more testing.

 

[Lightning8]

SK Standard + as noted above

 

[KnowNothing256]

Another vote for SK Std+. I’m also hearing good things from some local guys about the new Norma Match-22 ammo, low SDs and right at 1 MOA at 100 yards in one guy’s rig.

 

[justin amateur]

My thought...

You send a couple 5 shot groups,
adjust your scope to match conditions,
then send the next 40 shots for score.

Question...

What box of cartridges will produce the best score?

Shooting for score includes every shot. Nothing is ignored.
Easily quantified result that requires no interpretation.

Will it be bulk production ammo with visibly beat up cartridges,
or a European made cartridge intended for benchrest use?

Will it be ammo with an ES above 40 fps?

It all goes back to Rule #1...hit what you aim at.

Which ammo will be capable of consistent trajectories?

 

[Alabusa]

In a competition shot entirely offhand,
your ability has more effect on results than ammo quality.
In my case, I can use Winchester 333 white box
and the ammo is still capable of better accuracy than I am.
Sad but true. From a supported setup or bench, then better ammo is useful.
But offhand, find a cartridge that makes you happy and spend more time shooting.
Practice will improve y'er results more than y'er ammo.

All very true. That is also why it is most important to find the round that the gun likes best.

 

[RTH1800]

In a competition shot entirely offhand,
your ability has more effect on results than ammo quality.
In my case, I can use Winchester 333 white box
and the ammo is still capable of better accuracy than I am.
Sad but true. From a supported setup or bench, then better ammo is useful.
But offhand, find a cartridge that makes you happy and spend more time shooting.
Practice will improve y'er results more than y'er ammo.

This is true up to a point. In theory your shooting should improve until it reaches the ammo limitation at which point you should step up your ammo game.
Justin has always been overly modest about his offhand skill. I suspect he is playing the long game and setting us up for a wager. He is about 10 years in now and ready to spring the trap any day.

 

[Modoc]

Came across this thread today. Still Running CCI Std. Vel. rather than chasing “new” due to time and availability. I still haven’t been out shooting the ammo.

Here is a picture from January where I also tested my Garmin Xero. The high that day was low 40’s.

 

[Cody S]

if you want to know the accuracy of a rifle you need a bipod or rest. for this part of testing it's best to know what the rifles actually capable of, then back to your practice once you know what's possible.
try to lot test some SK+ or SK standard or some rws special match or eley club

 

[RTH1800]

Came across this thread today. Still Running CCI Std. Vel. rather than chasing “new” due to time and availability. I still haven’t been out shooting the ammo.

Here is a picture from January where I also tested my Garmin Xero. The high that day was low 40’s.
View attachment 8479968

Marlin 39 non micro grove?

 

[Modoc]

Marlin 39 non micro grove?

1920’s Marlin 39. WAY before Micro Groove.

 

[RTH1800]

Very nice rifle. Thanks for posting it.