Ruger 10/22 Range Report and Ammo Comparisons

[HoneyBadger]

Today I went out and shot my Ruger 10/22 for the first time. In my previous experiences, some .22s are really picky about ammo, so I bought 4 different types of ammo and shot each of them at different targets at 100 yds.

I zeroed my scope (a $40 simmons .22LR scope) at 100yds with the Remington 525 bulk pack.

Then I set up 4 targets at 100yds and shot 25 rounds at each of them. I wasn't shooting my best, but I wasn't just blasting rounds downrange either. I didn't have all day to spend there, so I was shooting about 1 shot every 5 seconds.

From left to right:
Winchester M-22, 40 grain black copper plated round nose.
Winchester 333 White Box bulk pack, 36 grain copper plated hollow point.
Remington 525 "Golden Bullet" bulk pack, 36 grain brass plated hollow point.
Blazer 525 bulk pack, 40 grain lead round nose.

Interesting to note the POI shift. Blazer seemed to give me the best grouping (with one random flier). I went on to shoot about 50 more rounds of each just to put some lead downrange. Not a single failure the whole day. This is not even close to being a controlled experiment. YMMV!

[smchop]

Damn, that blazer grouped pretty well! I'll have to run some through my .22 bolt and if it runs that good I'm not buying any more wolf! I just put one of the Weaver Tactical mil/mil scopes on it and really like it. Was that a called flyer? Thats what a 3" group without the flyer?

[sellersm]

That actually confirms what I've often read: the CCI/Blazer .22 shoots pretty well in 10/22 rifles.

I've had similar results with the M-22, which was a bit disappointing.

I get pretty good results with the Federal bulk. Might want to try that next...

Any feeding issues with the Winchester 333? I've heard there can be problems with that, but not tried it yet in either of my .22lr rifles.

[HoneyBadger]

That actually confirms what I've often read: the CCI/Blazer .22 shoots pretty well in 10/22 rifles.

I've had similar results with the M-22, which was a bit disappointing.

I get pretty good results with the Federal bulk. Might want to try that next...

Any feeding issues with the Winchester 333? I've heard there can be problems with that, but not tried it yet in either of my .22lr rifles.

As stated above, no feeding issues or failures all day. The federal bulk I bought had some weird corrosion-looking gunk on it that Hoser says is wax, but based on how much of it rubbed off when I tried loading up a mag, I didn't want to foul up my new gun and mags. It was literally collecting on the feed lips of my mag after only loading about 5 rounds, so I just left it at home.

What is disappointing with the M-22? It was shooting about a 4 inch group at 100yrds and I wasn't exactly shooting from sandbags or anything...

[sellersm]

My bad. Reading comprehension's gone, apparently. Guess I should get some rest!

I was thinking that you were shooting at a closer distance, and that the M-22 was supposed to group a bit tighter than the "bulk" brands.

In the words of Emily Latella from SNL: "never mind"!

[HoneyBadger]

No harm done!

[anomad]

Thats good shooting for a stock 10/22.

[MarkCO]

The CCI-Balzer you used was the 40 grain lead RN and unplated?

[HoneyBadger]

The CCI-Balzer you used was the 40 grain lead RN and unplated?

From left to right:
Winchester M-22, 40 grain black copper plated round nose.
Winchester 333 White Box bulk pack, 36 grain copper plated hollow point.
Remington 525 "Golden Bullet" bulk pack, 36 grain brass plated hollow point.
Blazer 525 bulk pack, 40 grain lead round nose.

No, it was not plated.

[Ranger]

I typically shoot Blazers or mini mags in my 10/22, they always do pretty decent.