Aguila Super Maximum .22LR ammo

[JoeJ615]

just found out about these and wondered if anyone had personal experience with it who could comment on it's accuracy and overall reliability .. a 30grain round at 1750 fps sounds like it would logically shoot "flatter" or not? lol

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/218194/aguila-super-maximum-ammunition-22-long-rifle-30-grain-hyper-velocity-plated-lead-hollow-point?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Ammunition+-+Rimfire+-+Hunting-_-PriceCompListing-_-218194

[Dolomite_supafly]

The recoil impulse is so short it may not cycle in a semi. I know I have tried them in ever semi I own and they would not cycle.

I will say that out of a 20+ inch barrel it reaches the advertised velocity. Out of a pistol it doesn't make it past 1,000 fps. It is pretty amazing the velocity but there is a down side.

The down side is accuracy. I have shot these in a match gun and 3" at 50 yards was the norm. The same gun shoots 1/2" with match ammo.

The reason why is doesn't shoot well is because of the barrel twist rate. The bullet uses what is essentially a 22 short bullet. And because of this the 16 twist is too fast. To shoot accurately these bullets need 18 or even 20 twist rates.

There are several barrel makers that make "stinger" barrels specifically for these rounds. And by all accounts these barrels make the hyper velocity rounds acceptably accurate.

Dolomite

[JoeJ615]

thanks for the info man, i was mostly wondering about accuracy out of a 22" bbl Marlin bolt gun, but at 3" at 50yds i'll stick with the winchester bulk i've been using and do better than that lol

[Jonnin]

As an aside, I think the majority of posted velocities for 22LR are from a rifle barrel of 18-20 inches. And for other calibers, the data is often from very large guns as well, for example i suspect 9mm velocity written on the box is out of a 6 or so inch barrel monster. Velocity is used to one - up the competition and is given under the best normal use conditions. They get away with it for 22 because many use 22 in a rifle. They do not push the 9s out of a carbine as that is an uncommon use. But you can bet the posted velocity is from ideal conditions and is for marketing purposes. About all you can do with them is a rough comparison between brands, and even then, if they are close, its meaningless.

Another aside: the new black painted ammo at walmart, in a 1000 round box, is very good in the guns we have tested it. Wincheser M-22 ammo is the name. So far, I really like this stuff.

Edited May 11, 2012 by Jonnin

[Guest Lester Weevils]

I tried a brick of the super maximum about 10 years ago. At the time only had for .22 guns a 7" barrel Ruger Mark II pistol and 24" barrel Rem 541T HB bolt rifle. The super max from that time period would reliably operate the action of the Ruger Mark II, but gave obviously looser groups than other ammo, even value pak Federal. The story was the same in the bolt rifle, groups obviously looser at 50 and 100 yards than generic cheap ammo.

Didn't have a chrono back then but was guessing the velocity was inconsistent. Those factors mentioned by Dolomite may be a better explanation. I dug out some of that un-used super max a few months ago to "shoot it up" plinking, and most of the rounds were duds, though they always went bang 10 years ago. Maybe not all of it has gone bad, still got a few boxes of 50 left. But it was frustrating even trying to shoot it because there were so many duds. Dunno what would make .22 ammo turn into duds over the years.