Newer Federal 711B trash

[Arizona Jake]

Having used Federal 711B and 900 / 900B rimfire ammo for smallbore silhouette for a few years, I ordered 2 cases of 711B from the supplier who visits the Nationals at Ridgway this past July, where I picked up the ammo.

Well, I opened the cases a couple of weeks ago and discovered that the cartridges no longer had the dimpled head used in the past. Having smelled a rat, I decided to test the ammo, hoping it would still give similar results out of my Remington 40X and Sako 78 rifles. The older 711B ammo with the dimpled case heads consistently produces groups of just under 1 inch at 100 meters. The 900 and 900B ammo produces groups around .750 inch.

Sadly, the "new" style ammo can only be politely classified as "trash". While shooting 10-shot groups, it would put 5 or 6 shots in one plce, and the other shots about 1 inch away, forming another group. Since I observed this with both rifles, I took 200 rounds at random and weighed them (Yes, there is nothing better to do on cold nights in Wisconsin). I found that 123 cartridges weighed between 51 and 53 grains, and 77 weighed between 53 and 54 grains. I will be test firing to see if there is any correlation between weight and point of impact.

If I do find a statistical correlation, I will have a new passtime for the long winters up here, and I will have decent-grouping ammo, segregated by weight that I'll be able to use next spring and whe I move back to Arizona.

On the other hand, if segregating by weight solves nothing, well, I'm really screwed!

Bottom line, STAY AWAY FROM THE TRASH BEING MADE BY FEDERAL THESE DAYS, and save yourselves a lot of grief.

[eroyd]

I've been using 711B in my CZ for the last few month's. I've been experiencing about 1% misfires. Accuracy is good. I've tried other brands with no problems so I'll be switching when I use up the Federal. I pulled the bullets on the duds, there is powder.

[shootingpaul]

I shot federal for many years, but I can not remember seing only one 711 catridge that would have dimpled case head ??
Last year I switched to Lapua and what a difference!, it is cheaper than any other rimfire match and accuracy is exeptional.  I shoot Lapua Master which cost me about $7.00 canadian - compare to the other stuff which starts at $ 9.00.
I am getting it from Hirsh Precision. Link you can find on my page.
Have a good one!

[Arizona Jake]

OK!  I shot the segregated 711B Ammo out of my Sako 78 and Reminton 40X Rifle with the following results at 100 meters:

Sako 78 and ammo weighing 51-53 grains -

10-shot group no. 1 measured 1.75 inches across (slight breze) an 1.50 inches of vertical dispersion.
10-shot group no. 2 measured 1.5 inches across and 1.125 inches vertical dispersion.


Sako 78 and ammo weighing 53-54 grains -

10-shot group no. 1 measured 1.50 inches across and 1.25 inches vertical dispersion.

10-shot group no. 2 measured 1.625 inches across and 1.25 inches vertical dispersion.


Sako 78 Random - 10 shot group:

1.125 inches horizontal and 1.25 inches vertical


The Remington 40 X rifle will not shoot this ammo precisely.

Ammo weighing 51-53 grains produced a group measuring 3.5 inches across and 2.5 inches vertical.

Ammo weighing 53-54 graind measured 1.75 inches across and 1.75 inches vertical.

Randomly selected 10 shot group measuerd 2.00 inches across and 2.00 inches vertical.

Really crappy groups. I'll be testing this stuff next week at 60 meters out of the Sako 78 and Finnfire to see If I can still use it for chickens and pigs (I used the older, dimpled 711B all the way out to the turkeys).

I'll be trying some Aguila ammo as soon as one of my buddies from Phoenix sends me a couple of boxes to check it. I've heard really good things about this ammo. Anyone tried it yet? How about you, Jim?

[shootingpaul]

Hi,
I tried some and it shoot about 1 1/2 inch at 100 (10 - 15 shots),
I think that it is preety good practice ammo for the price, heard many stories from it shoots 1/2 inch to the 3 inch dissapointing group.
So the best way is to try it yourself in your equipment.
By the way it chrony at 1135 Fps in my 22.

[bob259]

OK!  I'll be trying some Aguila ammo as soon as one of my buddies from Phoenix sends me a couple of boxes to check it. I've heard really good things about this ammo. Anyone tried it yet? How about you, Jim?

I tried it and had fairly good results, for inexpensive ammo, however it didn't chamber very well in my Anschutz.  I have since switched to SK Jagd (Lapua is the parent company) and had more consistant results.  RWS Target also produces good groups, but they have flyers in every lot/box I've tried.  Like Shooting Paul said you have to try it in your gun and see what it likes best.... my best groups, of course, are with Eley Ultimate but unfortunately I can't afford to shoot that on a steady diet.  :cry:

[shootingpaul]

I just heard rummors that that SK Jagd is same as Wolf ammo.. go figure...
by the way Bob259,  maybe you should try some Lapua Master???,  I can buy it here for about 1/3 the price of EPS and shoots as good, you might have to play with different lots etc,  but I got some stuff that shot 3/4 and 7/8 groups at 100 in factory Anschutz 54 MS.
any more info on that SK Jagd Bob259?,  I would like to know your opinion and eventually any testing you done,
any feedback is really apprecited - and you know how to get in touch with me..
Thanks BOB259!
s-paul

[bob259]

I just heard rummors that that SK Jagd is same as Wolf ammo.. go figure...
by the way Bob259,  maybe you should try some Lapua Master???,  I can buy it here for about 1/3 the price of EPS and shoots as good, you might have to play with different lots etc,  but I got some stuff that shot 3/4 and 7/8 groups at 100 in factory Anschutz 54 MS.
any more info on that SK Jagd Bob259?,  I would like to know your opinion and eventually any testing you done,
any feedback is really apprecited - and you know how to get in touch with me..
Thanks BOB259!
s-paul

S-paul, Yes Wolf, SK Jagd and Lapaua are all the same family, and if you look they have the same head stamp.  Tried Lapua Master/Gold and whild it's good the Eley shoots a little better in my 54.18MS / 1808, in the 1712 the Lapus shot as good as the Eley.  I've been using the SK Plus for quite some time now and like it alot for the price. Groups are almost the same out to 100M and at 100M it's about a 1/4" bigger.  Still better then I can hold it.  I only have an Outers Varmit rest and that's not stable enough for good grouping, but it gives me a close enough estimate.  Now the last batch of RWS Target my friend got was shooting great groups out of his two Anschutz, but there always seems to be one or two flyers in the box, the SK was more consistant in mine.  The RWS shot so well for him that he will not buy any more Eley Ultimate and jsut stick with the RWS.  I have also got a case of SK Jagd Rifle Match and that is shooting GREAT groups in my rifles.