Lot testing of 22 LR Ammo - How do you test ammo lots?

[Rimfireshooter99]

Guys, I've been involved with 22 benchrest target shooting for about 4 years. I need your help with a question about the best techniques to test the various ammo lots we have available to us. In your experience, what is the best methodology to test and compare various brands and lots of match ammo for 22 target shooting to see which brand/lot works best in your rifle?

Thanks for sharing any of your test methods!

 

[Travis224]

One year I weighed AND rim sorted a few boxes of Eley. I will admit, it wasn't Tenex, but it was the next grade below. My chronograph showed 35fps spread and not enough of a sorted pile to even compete with. I gave up. Possibly if having enough different lots to sort and batch up and test, might show lot #s don't matter with all that work?

 

[47guy]

Easiest way is to find a place you can by test lots from then what ever lot shoots Best Buy a case or 2.

this is a great place...if they have ammo your interested in call Cathy and order test lots from her.

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[ManOfMystery]

Since you mentioned that you are doing bench rest shooting I am assuming that you are shooting at a fixed distance. If something doesn't make sense please ask questions and I will do my best to answer them.

Get your hands on as many lots as you can to select from. If you have different brands of ammo make sure to clean between the different brands.

First step you want to shoot two 5 shot groups with each of the different lots at your target distance. Evaluate the lots and cull any that don't meet your standard.

Second step for each of the remaining lots you want to shoot six more 5 shot groups. Even if one of the 5 shot groups don't seem to meet your standard don't throw the lot out yet and continue.

Finally take each of the 5 shot groups for the lot and overlay them in their actual positions relative to the aiming point. Ideally if you can measure the average distance of each shot from the center of the group that is the best measurement. The groups themselves can actually drift around making the composite group larger than just simply stacking the groups over the top of each others center point. This is important because you want the shots to drift the least amount over the course of fire.

 

[chevy_man]

Use the easy button and send it to Lapua. Buy the lot of Midas+ or center x that shoots best.

 

[simpletoms]

If you're lot testing on your own, take a page from guys that run tuners on their .22's. use a target with multiple bulls, like 4 across and 4down.
shoot four across with lot A, next row lot B, etc. By using the same target for multiple lots, with several groups with each lot, you'll get a good picture of what each lot is capable of. I use this technique with Eley lot/velocity testing. You'll see the lot to lot variations and not spend a ton of ammo figuring it out.

The easy button is shipping the rifle to be tested. But if you want to try different manufacturers, this method works well.

My .02 cents.