Hottest .22 LR ammo? At least when you can find it!

[E4 No More]

I found the particular Ruger 10/22, (distributor exclusive Model 1159), that I've been looking for with the help of Guns & More in Smyrna. I have not owned a .22LR for 16 years so I haven't been keeping up with ammunition during that time. So what is considered the hottest .22LR round available when it is available? I know it's a plinker, but I never shoot the cheap stuff out of rifles.

 

For those interested, the Model 1159 is a blued Sporter with fiber-optic sights and wood stock that has an extended rubber buttplate. It has the longest length of pull like the Target model. At 6'4" that's a feature that I like! :)

 

http://ruger.com/products/1022DE/specSheets/1159.html

Edited January 16, 2015 by SWJewellTN

[TrickyNicky]

CCI mini mag is considered by many to be the benchmark so to speak. If you're looking for high velocity stuff also check out the Aguila hyper velocity stuff too. I've got a decent supply off Nashville armory, but may be a but if a trip if your be not already coming into Nashville.

[eRay]

I always use CCI Mini Mags. Don't know if they are the hottest but I have generally found them to be the best.

[Garufa]

CCI Stingers still are on top AFAIK...1640 fps at the muzzle.  Good luck finding any.

 

Yellow Jackets maybe in 2nd place at 1500 fps.  Cables had some...yesterday.

[Garufa]

Mini-mags are only 1260 fps...not exactly "hot".

[Dolomite_supafly]

The best overall 22 ammunition is the Velocitor ammunition from CCI. It works well with shorter barrels as well as the longer barrels but the best part is it tends to be very accurate. CCI Stinger, Winchester Xpediter and the Aguila SuperMax all need barrel length to reach their velocity. And in a lot of cases the bullet is going so fast the recoil impulse is not long enough to cycle semi auto rifles. I know in my 22 AR as well as my 10/22 CCI Stingers and Aguila SuperMax will not cycle. And I have yet to find a hyper velocity round that is what I would call reasonably accurate.

 

The problem with the hypervelocity ammunition's accuracy is not the ammunition but the twist rate. Because the hypervelocity rounds use bullets that are identical to 22 short bullets the twist needs to be slower. Green Mountain makes a "Stinger" barrel and I have read it is extremely accurate with hypervelocity rounds but not many others. The Stinger barrel uses a 18 twist barrel, the same as most 22 short guns for 100 years ago. The Stinger barrel also has the longer chamber to better accommodate the longer casing of the hypervelocity rounds.

 

 

CCI Stingers still are on top AFAIK...1640 fps at the muzzle.  Good luck finding any.

 

Yellow Jackets maybe in 2nd place at 1500 fps.  Cables had some...yesterday.

The Aguila SuperMax clocked at 1,750 out of a 18" 22 bolt gun and over 1,800 fps out of a gun I had with a longer barrel. It really is a very, very hot round but it is also very inaccurate in all the guns I tried it in. It would probably be minute of squirrel at 25 yards but at 25 yards there would not ne anything left.

[E4 No More]

This particular 10/22 has a 20" barrel with what I believe is their standard twist of 1/16.

[jhc77]

The best overall 22 ammunition is the Velocitor ammunition from CCI. It works well with shorter barrels as well as the longer barrels but the best part is it tends to be very accurate. CCI Stinger, Winchester Xpediter and the Aguila SuperMax all need barrel length to reach their velocity. And in a lot of cases the bullet is going so fast the recoil impulse is not long enough to cycle semi auto rifles. I know in my 22 AR as well as my 10/22 CCI Stingers and Aguila SuperMax will not cycle. And I have yet to find a hyper velocity round that is what I would call reasonably accurate.

 

The problem with the hypervelocity ammunition's accuracy is not the ammunition but the twist rate. Because the hypervelocity rounds use bullets that are identical to 22 short bullets the twist needs to be slower. Green Mountain makes a "Stinger" barrel and I have read it is extremely accurate with hypervelocity rounds but not many others. The Stinger barrel uses a 18 twist barrel, the same as most 22 short guns for 100 years ago. The Stinger barrel also has the longer chamber to better accommodate the longer casing of the hypervelocity rounds.

 

 

The Aguila SuperMax clocked at 1,750 out of a 18" 22 bolt gun and over 1,800 fps out of a gun I had with a longer barrel. It really is a very, very hot round but it is also very inaccurate in all the guns I tried it in. It would probably be minute of squirrel at 25 yards but at 25 yards there would not ne anything left.

I've got some Remington Yellow Jackets that don't do well in anything I own. Learned something new here. Thanks Dolo.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I've got some Remington Yellow Jackets that don't do well in anything I own. Learned something new here. Thanks Dolo.

Glad to hear I helped someone learn something. That is always my goal, learning something new as well as helping others do the same. Edited January 17, 2015 by Dolomite_supafly

[Tncobra]

The hyper agulia ammo is 1750 fps. Not real accurate but the powder smells good.







Edited because my iPad kant spell. Edited January 17, 2015 by Tncobra

[Garufa]

The hyper agulia ammo is 1750 fps. Not real accurate but the power smells good.

 

So I've heard.  Seen any local?  Kinda curious to try some now.

[Tncobra]

I'd give you a box if you want to try it. Otherwise I havnt seen it in a while.

[Tempest455]

I chrono'd a bunch with a Magnetospeed last year in a Savage TRR-SR. Stingers were the fastest around 1,500. You would have to have a pretty long barrel to get 1,600+.

 

Did some match type ammo as well. Results below:

 

 

CCI Blazer suppressed:  (did not effect velocity on average)

 

        Avg 1229     ES  54                      2 1 1223  ft/sec  2 2 1218  ft/sec  2 3 1250  ft/sec  2 4 1237  ft/sec  2 5 1196  ft/sec  2 6 1246  ft/sec  2 7 1234  ft/sec 

 

 

 

Eley Match:

 

1060

1071

1041 Avg 1060 / ES 30

1062

1067

 

Lapua Center X:

 

1077

1071

1060 Avg 1062 / ES 25  (Note * most accurate ever in this rifle)

1053

1032

 

CCI SV:

 

1046

1040

1049 Avg 1047 / ES 22

1039

1061

 

Federal bulk HV:

 

1233

1233

1257 Avg 1241 / ES 24

1238

1245

 

 

CCI Blazer:

 

1238

1220

1236 Avg 1230 / ES 25 

1216

1241

 

Remington Thunderbolt:

 

1198

1138

1213 Avg 1184 / ES 94 

1143

1232

 

CCI Mini Mag:

 

1260

1243

1242 Avg 1256 / ES 32

1262

1274

 

Centurion:

 

1236

1222

1242 Avg 1242 / ES 52

1240

1274

 

 

*********************************************************************

 

Different day:

 

 

CCI Stinger:

 

Avg 1483  (high 1502)

SD 13

ES 38

 

CCI Velocitor:

 

Avg 1276 (high 1313)

SD 31

ES 73

 

CCI Mini Mag:

 

Avg 1251

SD 15

ES 52

 

RWS HV Match:

 

Avg 1205

SD 25

ES 69

 

Federal HV 36:

 

Avg 1228

SD 14

ES 34