Favorite .22lr ammo

[sureshot375]

Well folks, an election year is upon us which means it’s time to stock up on ammo. I need to pick up 20 or 30k rounds to make sure I don’t run low on plinking ammo should the be a rush on things later.

What’s everyone’s favorite ammo? Looking for accurate, reliable, and clean. I’m seeing good prices on Aguila, but I don’t remember shooting any.

 

[Drywaller44]

I’ve found that Aguila shoots dirty but has been reliable for a cheap ammo. Sk has been the best and cci has always worked well for me.

 

[Inline6]

CCI match is a good value for the money.

Best ammo I have tried thus far has been Lapua Super Long Range. The best is not cheap.

 

[mauserhunter]

Cci in general but will buy a bunch of what each gun likes.

 

[RR 314]

Eley is my favorite for accuracy in a couple of my rifles. After that, I shoot whatever I could (now can) find.

 

[JimP]

The problem right now as I see it is still finding the ammo that your firearm likes.

A few years ago Cabela's had a sell on Federal 22Lr ammo with free shipping. I picked up 10,000 rounds and when I started checking what I had on hand I found that I still had 5,000 rounds.

So I am set for a while.

 

[shootist~]

Federal Auto Match. My "from the sticks" RF practice round. Get on the bench and it shoots very respectful groups at 200 yards. And it's nexpensive.

One of the better (and cheap) local 22 silhouette shooters put me on it.

From my 20" Tikka T1x it chronographed 1,255 fps.

 

[Nevada Smith]

Aguila makes 13 different .22LR rounds.

Quote:

Manufactured using Aguila Prime technology, which is engineered and tested to Olympic shooting standards, Aguila's rimfire cartridges are meticulously formed for performance and perfection. Clean combustible powders, maximum output at controlled pressures, and a strict quality assurance program all add up to give shooters the Aguila Advantage.

Two decades ago I bought a case and it's still going bang every time.

As for "dirty," that's relative, right? I've noticed all brands leave something in the bore, mostly due to the wax (paraffin wax or beeswax tallow).

BTW for best quality .22LR ammo, check Creedmoor Sports since they cater to competitive shooters.

 

[Safari Dave]

I use two rifles in long-range silhouette matches:

The Anschutz 1416 shoots best with - Lapua Center-X
The CZ 452 shoots best with Federal Gold Medal HV (High Velocity), which is not currently being made.

IMO - CCI is the best domestic ammunition. (Stringers, will not chamber in match chambers)

Federal Automatch has proven to be nearly as good as Gold Medal, but you should expect 1-2 rounds/50 to be inconsistent.

You would not be going wrong with Federal Automatch for the money.

But, if money were no object, just stock up on Eley Tenex, and never look back!

 

[mauserhunter]

Federal Auto Match. My "from the sticks" RF practice round. Get on the bench and it shoots very respectful groups at 200 yards. And it's nexpensive.

One of the better (and cheap) local 22 silhouette shooters put me on it.

From my 20" Tikka T1x it chronographed 1,255 fps.

I think they have changed the auto-match stuff 3 or 4 times now, the first batch shot very good for me then each new batch I've tried shot worse the newer they were. Wish I would have got a boat load of the early stuff only have about a 1000 less in a bin loose, then my brother goes a puts a 50 round box of federal blue box in mixing them up. Only way to tell apart is pulling them since the powders are different.

 

[Ridge Runner]

CCI is my preferred. But I'll shoot whatever I can get at a good price.

 

[gearguywb]

Lapua Center X is good but my fife prefers their Rifle Match

 

[Altitude sickness]

My daughter used Eley and Lapua the most.

 

[GuttormG]

RWS Rifle Match

but keeps some 1000`S of CCI STD for "plinking"

RWS Subsonic HP for whatever need to be sorted out in the garden.

 

[BeeMaa]

I vary my choice depending on the intended purpose.

For varmint control from a suppressed rifle, I like CCI sub-sonic 40 grain lead RN. Accurate out to 50 yards with ease. Beyond that I need to be more deliberate on squirrel sized targets.

For animals that have been trapped, I use a Ruger MK4 pistol with a suppressor and CCI lead RN at 720 fps. It’s not enough to cycle the action, but I rarely need more than one shot for this task.

Rifle practice at 100 yards is CCI match, but I do this un-suppressed so I don’t have to clean it as often. I can’t remember the grain weight or fps at the moment.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi,

For plinking use the cheapest CCI, FEDERAL, REMINGTON, WINCHESTER or any other GOOD brand you can find.
For Sub Sonic, the best and truly SS, I have used is the RWS HP 40 grs.
For hunting, to me there are no better than the CCI Velocitor, by far: 40 grs HP Hiper Velocity. Measured 1450 f/s in my BRNO Nr 2. Close second, the Winchester Power Point 40 grs HP HV. Mesured 1250 f/s in my rifle.
Many years ago I used with very good result the REMINGTON Yellow Jacket.

CF

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I am a competitive rimfire shooter in ARA, PRS and various un-sanctioned outlaw long range precision matches. We regularly shoot 22lr out to 400y on steel tgts and look for 1/4" groups at 50y to remain competitive. I also often shoot 1/2" diameter dum dum suckers out to 100y for practice. Imagin needing to shoot a crock in the eye at 100y, lol. I have used Lapua almost exclusively since about 2016 and used it to win a national championship BR match in 2020. Eley and RWS are also good in certain rifles. SK (which is made by Lapua) is a perfect practice ammo but since I buy the stuff in bulk, I usually also practice with Lapua. CX, Midas+, SK, Long Range, and Super Long Range are all in my inventory. When I hunt, I use Eley Subsonic HP ammo only because it shoots really well in my squirrel rifles. When plinking, if it is not accurate and precise, it is not good enough. I have a supply of many other CCI, Remington and Winchester products. They are OK, some are even pretty good. The pics below are of my Sako Quad Tac Trainer from GA Precision and our club's 400y range where we shoot steel tgts.

I have been practicing my off-hand and shooting standing from sticks with the 22lr a lot to get ready for this year's safari. I have a little Winchester 52 sporter that is almost a clone of my two FN hunting rifles. If you simply cannot afford the good stuff, then your best bet for plinking is probably SK or the low end varieties of Eley. It is sad that no USA based mfg still makes any form of true match grade ammo.

 

[Philip Glass]

Well folks, an election year is upon us which means it’s time to stock up on ammo. I need to pick up 20 or 30k rounds to make sure I don’t run low on plinking ammo should the be a rush on things later.

What’s everyone’s favorite ammo? Looking for accurate, reliable, and clean. I’m seeing good prices on Aguila, but I don’t remember shooting any.

I've given up on anything but jacketed ammo. Those lead heads just don't feed in some guns. I have enough that I don't hoard and just buy Remington golden bullet hollow point and CCI Stinger And these are mostly for Hunting/dispatching.

 

[mdwest]

Thankfully I believe I’ve got enough 22lr on hand to last me until my final days.. and possibly enough for another generation or two to make it to their graves as well…

I didn’t ever make a huge investment in 22… I simply bought a 500 round brick here and there every time I’d catch someone putting them on sale over a period of probably 10 years…

The end result is thousands upon thousands of rounds… but also a wide variety from just about every possible manufacturer..

Since most of my 22 shooting is 50 yards or less (a lot of it inside 25 yards)… I’m not real concerned about ammo changes.. I just grab the first box I see and head to the field or range, etc..

 

[shootist~]

I think they have changed the auto-match stuff 3 or 4 times now, the first batch shot very good for me then each new batch I've tried shot worse the newer they were. Wish I would have got a boat load of the early stuff only have about a 1000 less in a bin loose, then my brother goes a puts a 50 round box of federal blue box in mixing them up. Only way to tell apart is pulling them since the powders are different.

Thanks for the heads up. I have a good supply, but will try and remember to test if I need more.