Poor numbers from .22 mag

[cmillard]

Recently got a real nice little critter gitter. Bought a bergara BMR in .22 mag and put an arken zulus night vision scope on it. In my back yard at night with zero ambient light out to 80 yards in NW corner of lawn at timberline, crystal clear. However, did some chronograph testing a bit ago and shot 3 different loads and the numbers were horrible consistency wise. Although they shoot decent at 25 yards and 42 yards (longest tested so far on paper), the worst load had an ES of 186 FPS and the next worst was 101 FPS, while the best had 51 FPS but chronograph only picked up 3 shots on that one. Wow, rimfire manufacturers really need to pull their heads out of their .....

[bigbrowndog]

I’ve noticed how some 22wmr ammo isn’t even up to 22lr velocity. I also recall when 22wmr velocity was simply 2000fps, +/- a few fps. Now most is listed a hundred or two hundred fps below that standard.

My favorite has always been Win 40gr fmj/jhp, it uses a real jacket over a plated bullet.

Trapr

[leftysixgun]

I dont know what chrono you are using but double check on the sun angle /time of day if its an optical chrono.
I was trying a new 45 colt load and the sun angle was way off….that mid level colt load hit high end 454 velocities, lol

[cmillard]

For now i am using a CED chronograph (until I can get the new garmin). The fist shots were with speer GDHP and all 5 read perfectly. The next was CCI segmented 46 grain and first 2 didn't read, then the next 5 read fine. Last ones were cci 30 grain JHP. First 5 didn't register, then I got 2 to read, followed up by several that didn't then got 1 more final reading.

[bula]

Axehandle has commented on his issue with the 22mag., consistency lacking. I've only used thru a Single-Six convertible which liked Federal 50gr HP's. 

[cmillard]

What did the numbers look like with federal?

[gunsbam45]

I decided to build a nice .22 Mag on a single six, so first order of business was to try all the higher end hunting ammo over the chrono, on paper, and thru water jugs to decide where to start. What you'll find on the unbelievably horrid inconsistency of .22 Magnum ammo, is that you haven't gotten into the worst of it yet. I tried everything I could find, and never found ANY ammo that got me under 100 FPS spread, and some was over 300 FPS variance. I've asked around, but as far as I can tell no one makes good consistent .22 Magnum ammo. I had a .32 single six worked over instead for now. The Hornady 30 VMAX was the best in overall consistency if I remember right, but it's still not real good.

[bigbrowndog]

Technically 100fps difference only amounts to .4 of an inch difference in trajectory at 100 yards. I agree it’s ridiculous that there is that much inconsistency, but it may fall into the category of “inconsequential increments” What I know is that in the field, aiming at critters, my bullets land where they are supposed to, provided I do my part. I’ve taken coyotes, Fox, feral hogs, javelina, grackles, crows, Turkey and Jack rabbits out to 100 and any miss was my fault.
Brno 611, Ruger m77/22, Ruger American, Marlin 782??, and Browning BPR, so a good variety of rifles as well.
Trapr

[gunsbam45]

Nov 8, 2024 18:11:34 GMT -5 bigbrowndog said:

Technically 100fps difference only amounts to .4 of an inch difference in trajectory at 100 yards. I agree it’s ridiculous that there is that much inconsistency, but it may fall into the category of “inconsequential increments” What I know is that in the field, aiming at critters, my bullets land where they are supposed to, provided I do my part. I’ve taken coyotes, Fox, feral hogs, javelina, grackles, crows, Turkey and Jack rabbits out to 100 and any miss was my fault.
Brno 611, Ruger m77/22, Ruger American, Marlin 782??, and Browning BPR, so a good variety of rifles as well.
Trapr

Discussed this with some friends. One says he's got a .22 Mag rifle don't remember what, but with the 30 VMAX he's shooting some great groups at 50 yards. I tested it and the others in some single sixes and a Model 97. The 97 with 30 VMAX was the winner, but that kind of inconsistency on small targets with a revolver just isn't the best. I can shoot MUCH better groups with a .475 Linebaugh at 1250 FPS with a 425-430 LFNGC than I could any of those revolvers in .22 Mag. I killed a LOT of coyotes with a 700 in .204 back before I ever put it and some other rifles on paper and over the chrono. I discovered it was a 2" gun at best with the ammo that killed many a coyote, and a recently acquired Kimber in .223 was a 5/16" grouper even with me behind it. I agree with what you're saying totally, but, it's a little more of a problem in a revolver. Once I get some field glasses lined out, I'm going to go back to the .22 project. My best shooter so far is one of the new Smith 648-2 guns with the 45 FTX. I didn't go back and test all the stuff I did with the first guns, because the third load I ran in the 648 on paper was the FTX, and it grouped so well I didn't want to see the chrono results, but I'd already seen them from the other guns anyway. That load looked most promising in jugs also so I just stopped there on that one.

As an aside, that 30 VMAX is the ONLY load the Model 97 shot well at all. The throats in the gun I tested were .222 if I remember right, same as the .22LR cylinder. I couldn't believe it. If they were .224 it likely would shoot everything, but who knows.

[bradshaw]

Appalling, the degradation of .22 WMR quality as reported here. Meanwhile, raw reporting in this thread is excellent. Bill Ruger, Jr., said that when complacency sets in at the manufacturing level, quality doesn’t stay flat, it deteriorates. Important to remember that, do to its diminutive size, with priming compound in its folded rim, consistency od rimfire ammo poses special challenges.
David Bradshaw

[bula]

I don't have one, but seems like a niche for a centerfire 25 bore that will fit in a revolver too. Ha ! As the number and size of pest/predators has grown, I moved on to the 32's that kinda fell into my lap, wasn't planned. 

[bigbrowndog]

22 hornet, 17 fireball, 256 win mag, 5.7 FN, there are a “plethora” or useful rounds out there already.

Trapr

[bula]

Was vague, left it open on purpose. What came to my mind, the 25-20. Is there a 25 straight wall, comparable to the 32 H&R ? 

[bula]

CMillard, I may get to chrono a cylinder outta the Single-Six of those Federal 50gr HP 22mags yet this am.. Will post.  Editing in info. A 6.5" Single-Six, @ a 2005. Shot from 10ft.. Federal Game-Shok 50gr HP 22mag.. Range faces south, and sun low at 11 o'clock. Don't think that was a factor, but there ya go. Velos 1149, 1225, 1207, 1228, 1227, 1184. I never believed that the 1/3 lighter go fast options were the way to go. I can't back that statement up. Gun n load have been used on paper, cans, small critters. 

[bigbrowndog]

Nov 9, 2024 9:17:03 GMT -5 bula said:

Was vague, left it open on purpose. What came to my mind, the 25-20. Is there a 25 straight wall, comparable to the 32 H&R ? 

What was the 25 jackrabbit???

Trapr