A somewhat odd question.........

[Bikenut]

I've noticed that .22LR target shooting specific ammunition is often covered with a coat of waxy lube. Soooooooo... I've just spent the evening dipping a bunch of cheapy Wal-Mart Winchester Dynapoint 40gr ammo in parrafin. Do ya think it will make a difference?

I'm guessing that waxy coating helps seal the bullet into the rifling while giving a bit of lubrication. I'm hoping the sealing property will give the bullets more of a consistant POI to POA than unwaxed bullets.

I'm also wondering if any change in group size might not be the result of the wax sealing the bullet to the rifling with the Dynapoints but might be the result of plugging the hollowpoint and making for different aerodynamics?

I'm also wondering if maybe all the shooting I've been doing has rattled my brains loose causing me to even try this little experiment..........  :roll:

I'll be trying these things out at the range the next calm day and comparing them to Wolf Match Target ammo for group size.

Anyway, my question is.............. why is target ammo lubed with that waxy stuff but other (hunting/plinking?) ammo is not?

I took care not to over dip the bullets for fear of too much wax causing high chamber pressures and a nasty surprise for me.

[CJ]

Not sure, but I would think the wax serves the same purpose as lube in cast bullets.  Lubes and keeps leading down since the bullets are soft lead.
Soft bullets fill the rifling to seal, wax shouldnt play any part in that.
Will it make a diff? Probably not, match ammo is loaded to tighter specs, and I think one of the specs is more consistant priming. As for hollowpoints, most match centerfire rifle bullets are hollow points, dont think it matters much in a .22lr though.

[Bikenut]

Prelimary testing of those wax dipped Winchester Dynapoint 40gr revealed............

In my Marlin 880SQ groups shrunk a bit but not much.... Wolf Match Target is still this rifle's ammo of choice.

In my Marlin 881 groups shrunk to the point where they occasionally equal Wolf Match Target and Wolf Match Target is also this gun's ammo of choice.

Both tests were done in windy conditions.

Both tests have proved one thing to me............... I'm easily confused by the penchant of .22 rimfire guns to prefer different ammo and that my tests actually have proved.................. nothing.

Perhaps I'll try out my Mossberg 151K with the waxed ammo.... especially since this gun doesn't shoot groups but makes patterns no matter what ammo I feed it.

I'm still waiting for a windless day................

[jim62]

BN,

So how does your 880SQ shoot with the above ammo in terms of actual groups sizes? I have a 2002  m880SQ that shoots very well.Is your rifle a newer gun or an older one with the match chamber?

My newer gun has gone as small as 3/8" at 50yards with Dynapoints...

[Bikenut]

Hi Jim......

My SQ is an older model with the "sport" chamber and not the match chamber. None the less it shoots very well.

Some group sizes.......

 3/4/04 25 yds outdoors in light wind...... Wolf Match Target ammo.
.10"

Same day same yardage............. Remington Gold Medal Target ammo.
.16"

4/15/04 25 yards outdoors with mild variable winds... Wolf Match Target ammo.
.16"

Same day same yardage............ Winchester Dynapoint unwaxed ammo.
.22"

5/29/04 25 yards outdoors light wind........ Remington Ely ammo.
.03"

Same day same yardage............... Wolf Match Target ammo.
.16"

6/17/04 50 yards outdoors with almost dead calm.... Wolf Match Target ammo.
.22"

6/24/04 25 yards outdoors with wind and rain.... Winchester Dynapoint waxed ammo.
.10"

I don't get to shoot at 50 yards very often because of the wind patterns at the range. A dirt berm for the 25 yard range directs any wind in swirls onto the last half of the 50 yard range playing havoc with trying to get small groups. When a calm day happens there is a rush of us guys who shoot 22's for groups to claim a 50 yard bench. But calm days don't happen very often. I've not shot Dynapoints (waxed or unwaxed) at 50 yards in a very long time and I'd have to hunt up last year's scrapbook to find any group sizes. I do remember being highly unimpressed with unwaxed Dynapoints at 50 yards though. Actually, other than the Wolf Match Target and a calm day I've not been impressed with any of the other ammo brands I've tried at 50. Some brands I've been actually annoyed with their performance at just 25 yards! Remington 36gr is one... CCI Blazers is another... my SQ doesn't like either one. Those ammos in my SQ don't shoot groups but shoot patterns like a shotgun.

What groups does your SQ shoot at 25 yards?