What do you think? Long range accurarcy and the 22LR.

[drdougrx]

So I have a nice Ruger 10/22 with a 20" barrel (special run) that I've had rebuilt by CT Precision Chambering.  I've taken it to the range and can pretty much shoot dime sized groups at 50 yards if I do my part with standard velocity match target ammo.  I like to shoot it at 100 yards though as I usually shoot multiple cartridges at seperate bulls at that distance.  I get 2 or 3" groups with the ammo that I have, some rem green box std vel that I bought a case of in the 1980's.

I'm starting to get low on ammo and need to rebuy...so...here's the question...if my preferred distance is 100yards...do I gain anything in flattening the trajectory, in your opinion, by using hi-velocity or hyper velocity ammo???  AND....what would you suggest???  (I understand different guns shoot differently and all but...what do you think?)

[torpedoman]

if you have a precision rechambered barrel the stingers will not chamber in your gun.

[drdougrx]

Hmmm...that's interesting....I have some stingers that I shoot in a SW kit gun...never tried them in the rifle.

[Couger]

Twas me I'd get rid of the longish 20in barrel for one about 16in, to be legal!  (18inches is more than plenty is a .22LR)

The .22LR maximizes performance around 14-16 inches depending on the particular loading.  Anything more than that creates a drag on the bullet.  Data is available on this.  A 10inch bbl doesn't quite equal a 14-15-16in tube, altho it comes close to a 20incher!

The .22 Short maximizes performance at @11in, the .22WMR at around @19in, and the .17HMR around 21inches.

Also I'd get a barrel in HB or semi-HB contour, similar to a design offered by Clark or Clerke barrels that's heavier than standard Ruger tubes.  The HB's are @.920 in diam. and the semi-HB is @.720" at the muzzle.

Also if you want a specialized long distance shooter, getting a custom barrel that screws into the receiver rather pinning it in,  might help some too.  But whatever you do, once your rifle is set up with the type of barrel you want, the trigger group tuned, on the stock you want with the scope and mounts you want (or whatever iron or peep sights you like), you need to try and compare several kinds of .22 fodder - whatever you can find and are willing to afford.

For 100yd plinking, but for accuracy ..... I'd splurge a little for specific ammo my gun liked as well.

Standard vel ammo should be around 1070fps, which is the same as subsonic ammo, and rounds like the CCI green Tag and Pistol Match, and many more expensive Lapua, RWS, or other brands too.

But often folks get lucky with the Federal (Walmart) promotional 550rd cartons.  Can't remember the number of folks I've met who love that stuff!

[moorepower]

Try some Wolf match target. You do not need or really want hv ammo.

[mcwoodduck]

With my 10/22T my groups open up the faster the bullets go.
With a standard 3-9X40 Leupold mounted on mine.
sighted in at 50 Yards.  At 9 power with the 36 grain Rem bulk stuff the part of the cross hair that gets thick and looks like a european #4 is on at 100 yards.
At 6 Power the point is on at 125 yards, and at 3X it is on at 200 yards.

[drdougrx]

Great info....I'll look for some different ammo and maybe I'll get several different kinds to try just for the fun of it.  As for changing the barrel...nahhh...I bought this specific model because it had the long barrel and a walnut stock, roll over cheek piece, schnaubel fore-end, etc.  I'll build/buy a heavy barreled target one of these days...but for now...I like the way this one looks.

[Siskiyou]

Back in the day had a friend who killed setting jack rabbits out to two hundred yards with Remington Matchmaster with a 27-inch barrel.  It was equipped with a target scope.  He was using Ely .22 Long Rifle ammunition.  He was/is an outstanding shot, and there were times we would wait a little and then the rabbit would fall over.

We also used the Ely ammunition for punching paper and accuracy was consistent.

[Gohon]

Regular 22 ammo is closer to 1200-1250 fps.  They are not the same as subsonic ammo.  It's not the speed of the bullet coming out of the barrel, but the violence created on the bullet when coming back down into the subsonic range that causes regular ammo to not be as accurate as subsonic ammo.  If you don't believe that then shoot stingers at 25 yards which will be nice and tight groups then shoot them at 100 yards and observe how they open up.  All of my 22's shoot subsonic a lot more accurately than standard or High velocity ammo.   Match grade 22 ammo is subsonic for a very good reason.   

That 20 inch barrel just may prove to be a advantage for target shooting.  If the last 4 or 5 inches does put drag on the bullet then regular ammo just might exit the barrel at subsonic speeds and be more accurate than with a shorter barrel.  Try some of the lower speed standard ammo and see how it performs.

To me the most important thing on a rifle, any gun for that matter, is a smooth and light trigger.  I have a plain Jane 10/22 that all I changed on it was the trigger group.  At 50 yards as long as I do my part it will group 1/2 inch all day and 3/4 inch with most standard ammo. 

[Sensai]

You have been given some good advice on using the slower/subsonic ammo.  I've noticed that a lot of people lately have been equating flat shooting with accuracy.  Flat trajectory is a function of velocity, both initial and retained.  Accuracy is a function of consistency.  A flat trajectory is desirable to reduce the amount of hold over required to hit a target at an extended distance.  Within the maximum range of the round, and disregarding terminal ballistics, it serves no other purpose.  High velocity does introduce factors such as trans-sonic flight and increased effect of physical bullet defects into the equation.  All that to say that as long as your target is paper, as a general rule, the better quality and slower velocity that you can consistently sight for the range the better the accuracy.

Sorry for being so long winded, but I didn't know of any way to shorten it.

Gary

[mcwoodduck]

All a flatter trajectory does is take some of the guess work out of bullet drop.
 Besides the few tree rats I have shot with stingers out of the rifle just made a mess out of them.
the standard velocity stuff just pokes a hole in them and they fall over dead.
Same with rabbits.  Although the explosive power of the stinger is fun with the ground squirrels.
Splatter and aerobatics are attention getters.

[emsemt911]

I have a two custom built ruger 10/22.  It will not shoot hyper velocity ammo for anything.
I shoot Wolf ammo with GREAT sucess at 100 yds.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=524473
I get around 1-1.25 inch groups at 100 yds. 
As I finish my Federal 711B ammo, the wolf will be all I shoot.  I will admit that I have one of my 10/22
with a Tac Sol barrel.  I will not shoot the Federal 711B.  It shoots the Wolf and eley (below). 

this was also a good performer:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=559774

I have also used an older Federal ammo that they are starting to remake due to demand:
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/rimfire.aspx?id=843
expensive!  I will not be shooting the new ammo because the price difference with the Federal and Wolf.  My gun shoots the wolf just as good or better.   

[S.S.]

Remington "Sub-Sonic" is some of the most accurate .22Lr on the
market IMHO. It Actually expands pretty well in small game too.