Lot Testing Advice

[poke_53]

I’m looking for advice. I just called Champs choice in TN to order test lots of SK standard plus, Rifle match, Wolf Match target, and match extra. I was told all they offered(that I want to test) to test is Rifle match. Any idea who I can order from to achieve this? Or, am I going down the wrong path by testing the other 3? My limit is $7~ per box.

 

[101stinfantry]

poke, I'm not sure how much your going to gain by lot testing the cheaper runs of ammo. If I were you I'd just order a box of each, and see which shoots best in your rifle. IME the SK Rifle Match is a pretty good choice for 50 yds. and under, at 100 you start to see the inconsistencies.
Here is a bit of testing I did the other day http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/direct-eley-replacement-of-remington-eley-eps.6907361/
Grafs has a 15% off rimfire ammo right now too, and their shipping is much more reasonable than CC.

 

[accurate obsession]

The vendors might not be willing to sort lots on the lesser expensive ammo but even if they are it is the lesser price for a reason. I'm not calling all the <$10 ammo junk, OK. Lets take the SK match your interested in for example. I believe it's made in Schonebeck, Germany in the same factories as Lapua brand ammo. What separates X-act from Midas+ from Center X from SK is the loader its run on and the QC results from testing from the million round run (that may be oversimplified but basically accurate). When they're in the sweet spot it's Midas then Center X and so on and so on. Basically the more inconsistencies in testing the lower the grade/price ammo---- which means even if you lot-sort lower price ammo the inconsistencies will bite you. You'll get a couple of boxes that are awesome and then in the middle of a match start dropping 7's from the deviation in the ammo. That may not bother you one bit, but as with any game there are some who are "In it to win it" and will pay for the top tier everything. Welcome to the PITA of rimfire ammo.

 

[hlee]

I did some accuracy testing a at 200 yards Lapua center X was head and shoulders above the rest. Compared against CCI Sv, Federal target, RWS rifle match, and SK rifle match. There was really no comparison...

 

[101stinfantry]

Agreed, rimfire can be a PITA for sure. No promises the $18 per box ammo, will shoot better than the $14, or $10 per box ammo either.

 

[poke_53]

Thanks for the input so far. Yeah I’m really looking to shoot MOA or so. I don’t plan to shoot benchrest. Probably some Rimfire PRS type matches but that’s about it. I’m possibly expecting too much from my 455 also.

 

[jbell]

I absolutely agree with everything posted here. No repeatable benefit in lot testing lower priced ammo, plus sourcing a specific lot will be difficult if you did find a lot that shoots great out of your rifle.

Poke, I would expect to see MOA or less at 50 yards out of the 455, but consistent MOA at 100 may require some tuning and maybe a little luck (not saying a factory 455 will not do it, just saying I would not bet the farm on it). With that said MOA past 100 will be a bit of a stretch...

 

[BillOH]

https://goodshootinginc.com/index.php?categoryID=559&show_all=yes

Good Shooting has test lots from time to time. Fast shipping too.

 

[47guy]

https://goodshootinginc.com/index.php?categoryID=559&show_all=yes

Good Shooting has test lots from time to time. Fast shipping too.

also nice discounts if you pay with a check....great ppl here ive bought several cases from them.

 

[Kris4ocean]

Gents, if you look at Lapua family (SK Rifle Match, Center X, Midas +, X-Act) they all have same bullet, build on the same machines, just the consistency of priming and powder charging is much better with higher brands.
Same goes for Eley familly (Sport, Match, Tenex).
Depends what you're up to... if you want to do some training PRS style, then SK is well within the range. Center X might be best bang for the buck, but if you go ISSF or Benchrest or even ELR with 22LR then you will have to dig deeper into the wallet.

 

[skinnj1]

To answer the op's question , call Carl Joss at Champion Shooters Supply.

 

[Hoser]

Good Shooting in Joplin is who I would call. They understand exactly what you want.

They are good people. I have known them and been shooting with them for many years.

If not Good Shooting, Killough Shooting Sports can hook you up with Eley test lots.

 

[Kisssofdeath]

Got my 10 pack test lot of Center-X yesterday along with 2 box of Midas+ and 5 boxes of SK Pistol Match. This was from Good Shooting. Thanks BillOH for putting the link up there.

 

[300ATT]

I tested a bunch of different types of target ammo at 50 yards. Ammo that shot about 1/2MOA or 1/4" at 50 I then tested at 100 those that did not went into the plinking box. Ammo that shot under 1" at 100 I tested at 200 yards.

What is interesting is I discovered that just because ammo shoots well at one distance does not necessarily mean that it will shoot well at further distances - you have to test at each distance.

Federal Ultra shot well at 100 yards (1/2-3/4") but did not do well at 200 yards (3.5"). The most consistent ammo that I tested was Eley Ten-X (should I be surprised?). It had an ES=3fps over the chrono and held 1/2" elevation at 200 yards, Eley Match held 1" (ES=12) elevation at 200 yards and Eley Edge Held 1.25" elevation at 200 yards (ES=19fps). The chrono numbers SD and ES where higher for Eley Match and Eley Edge over the numbers that I got for Ten-X.

All tests were shot early in the am with little to no wind.

YMMV.

 

[101stinfantry]

Yep, thanks for the link to Good Shooting, they had (or could get), the exact lot # I wanted.