Offroad-Express

Okay got myself back into shooting after some time away from the Scope.
I sighted in the lil bang stick using some old PMC zapper ammo I had and bought some new federal ammo for normal everyday use.

At the range the old stuff was grouping well (3/4 -1 inch at 50m) and I was hoping the new stuff would tighten this a bit.

Wrong!! the new stuff's groups are almost twice the size (my old winchester subs were twice the size too - bugger - but acceptable for subs I thought).

So this thread is my way of sharing ideas on what is and isnt worth buying. Of course the type of rifle and shooting style will affect accuracy (prone/standing/on bench rests/ etc) and some ammo works well in one gun and not in another for no reason (just fussy guns I guess). Hopefully with all of us sharing info we can narrow down the crap and save each other money and heart aches.

I wish it was possible to buy small samples of ammo to test shoot in our rifles (maybe 20 rds of each type).

PMC Zapper HV 1 inch groups (no wind, bipod, voere bolt action, 3-9 vari)
Federal bulk pack HV 2 inch groups with fliers (as above)
Winchester subs 2 inch groups (as above).

I have had good results with cci subs $16 buck for 100, and also winchester 555 bulk pack work well in both my 22s (one chinese junker and an old 1940s winchester)

Try Fiocchi ammo. Very good stuff.
Aguila is going to be back into the country soon. That stuff was the best that I found anyway. Fiocchi is made in the same factory as Aguila and uses the same Eley primer.

That Federal bulk stuff doesn't go well in my rifles (bolt actions). And the Winny bulk packs (333 and 555) are hit and miss as well. Lots of FTF and there seems to be lots of light loads in the packs.

Remington ammo is very dirty and I wouldn't recommend using it in semi's unless you are prepared to do a lot of cleaning.

CCI is good but overpriced.

42gr winny is good also, but is overpriced as well.

The other cheap stuff (Highland) that a certain large store sells is made in the Phillipines and is utter garbage!

Just what I've found anyway in my 22's.
Others may have had different experiences though.

NZ rimfire forum said the same about Fiocchi and aguila - good stuff.

i used to just use winchester but got onto the other brands.this is when i discovered winchester is pretty crap.also get alot of miss fires with it.
With the fiocchi stuff my wife can pick which eye of the rabbit she wants to hit at 50-60 mtrs. with the cci stuff its a garrentted head shot and with anything else its a body shot. Me i am happy to hit the damn thing.
But yeah boss says only to get the good stuff.

try the winni 42 max mate im loving it

i used to use the winchester power points was ok then got into stingers, very good round but pricey, have tried the federal and highland with no joy, however federal center fire {270} i havent been able to fault, the killwell whisper isnt to bad for a cheapy

I have found that changing brands of 22 Ammo leads instantly to blown groups.

Sooo decide on your favourite colour, box label, and headstamp, stick with it for several boxes and THEN try for tight groups. If still NO, try some thing new, but several boxes just thrown at targets, treating that as practice with trigger pull etc.

The Browning quite likes WW and holds a good group. all the other 22 are getting used to it too, although they did sulk for a while.

Fiochi are good. Wish I could get Browning again.

Going to clean and then shoot till dirty each brand to see if they improve or blow out.

Bought a pile of fiocchi from smith city and a box of remington subs for giggles.

Still have to go to a decent shop and see what's on offer.

Another vote for CCI subs - consistent cloverleaf @ 50m in my Volquartsen.