Author Topic: .22lr sportster (Read 1569 times)

Tcallbuilder · « **on:** May 20, 2004, 02:16:24 AM »

Well i finally broke down and feed this addiction with a sportster 22lr
I just got it in a couple days ago and plan on putting some rounds thourgh it this weekend.
anybody got any suggestions on brand/type of ammo?
What are you getting the best groups with?

Thanks in advance!
TCB

scruffy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2004, 03:29:37 AM »

I'll beat everyone to the punch and say you'll have to try them all....

But, from my experiences and from the other experiences I've read here don't forget to try CCI stingers. I know it sounds obsurd, alot of rifles don't like the light fast stingers, but many nef's seem to love them. Ironglo wrote a week or so ago about trying many different loads and not getting below 3/4" and then tried the stingers and put 3 shots into a ragged hole. I've had the same experience. Most of the bulk stuff will shoot around 1", the stingers will do around half that.

I should have shot a postal card with the stingers instead of messing around with other loads and running out of time on that rifle... So the first time to the range try some of the stingers.

Also, both my sportsters (22lr and 22 mag) needed over 100 rounds through them before they started grouping well (typical of all nef rifles), actually the 22 mag took closer to 150 rounds. So before shooting the 22lr for groups I'd recommend 100 to 200 bulk plinking loads at some cans to break the barrel in and shoot all the burs out and smooth the rifling. Then after 100 rounds get down to business. Also don't be surprised if you don't get your best groups till your barrel hits the 200 to 300 round mark.

later,
scruffy

Moonlitin · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2004, 12:19:59 PM »

My Sportster 22WMR and my Sportster 17HMR have both grouped well right out of the box.

My Sportster 22LR was terrible the first time I shot it...in fact I was quite dissapointed after seeing how well my other Sportsters grouped. I should have had Scruffy's advice:

Quote

before shooting the 22lr for groups I'd recommend 100 to 200 bulk plinking loads at some cans to break the barrel in and shoot all the burs out and smooth the rifling

I think I've tried about 10 or 12 different kinds of ammo in it now. So far, in the high velocity category it seems to like the CCI MiniMag or MiniMag Hollow Point and the CCI Velocitor. In the standard and/or subsonic velocity it seems to prefer the Eley Target Rifle and Wolf Match Target.

I second Scruffy's advice...try shooting a couple hundred cans at 25 yards before you shoot any groups at 50 yards.

Moonlitin

Tcallbuilder · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2004, 02:07:32 PM »

thanks guys for the advice
ive got about 100 rounds of mini-mags and 50 rounds each win., federal, and rem. standard velocity.
ill try to find a box of stingers or rem yello jackets for the higher velocity end.
Im going to put this thing through the paces this weekend...ill post the results.

Thanks again
TCB

ironglow · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2004, 03:10:16 PM »

Virtually all my .22s like mini=mags, just as my Sportster does...but the Sportster likes Stingers best of all...

offhand35 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2004, 03:14:21 PM »

I'm glad that I'd seen this kind of advice before, on the old site, regarding the Sportsters..... :eek:
I tried a number of different brands & velocity ranges with my Sportster, and could have been VERY :evil: disappointed.......after a couple hundred rounds, mine seems to like target velocity and subsonics the best.
I still had an AWFUL time trying to group on the postal match cards :twisted: ! This, even though I could shatter every broken clay fragment I could aim at at 50 yds! So far it looks like it will be the great squirrel rifle I'd hoped for, maybe next time a postal match goes on, it will be ready.

Tcallbuilder · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2004, 11:15:09 AM »

Hey Scruffy;
You are right on target about shooting in the barrel
I took this thing to the range today and put about 100 rounds through it it started out really bad (kinda had me worried) but the more i shot the better it got.
cci mini mag, and winchester power-point look promising. both shooting under an inch at 50yards
with a nikon prostaff 4x fixed power scope.

thanks, man for the advise.....maybe i can get this thing shooting the way i want.

TCB

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2004, 03:34:24 PM »

Has anyone tried the Eley Tenex in the L.R.? It shoots extremely good in my rimfires. The best was in my Browning Siloute with 10 shots in less than.50" at 50 yds. The drawback is that its about $10 a box but its better than anything I've shot.
digger

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2004, 10:23:35 AM »

TCall, that Nikkon has parallax set for 100 yards and is gonna give you trouble at 50. Took me a long time to figger it out, but I am pulling the centerfire scopes off my rimfires and putting rimfire scopes on. It's one of the rare cases where cheaper is better.

It can be a real heartbreaker. Just a tiny change in position will give fliers.

ironglow · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2004, 03:28:54 PM »

You're probably right on there DJ...I have been contemplating the same change...

Tcallbuilder · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2004, 12:58:01 AM »

Hey DJ
Im not sure i fully understand the whole parallax thing, but angle to target always seems to be more critical w/scopes designed for longer ranges.

I forgot to mention that that nikon is a rimfire scope with parralax set '0' at 50yrds.

I had to adjust the windage on the scope more than i would like with the rings i put on it......i may have to invest in a set of millit angle-locs
set the adjustment back to '0' then set windage with the rings.

TCB

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2004, 07:27:35 AM »

OK, neither the scope nor parallax are likely to be giving you problems. Imo, 4x fixed is about perfect on a .22. Even a huge scope wouldn't shave more than about 1/8" off your groups at 50 yards.

We're back to ammo and shooting in. One inch 50 yard groups are a reasonable goal for run of the mill ammo. If you can find a non premium brand that will give consistent groups of 3/4", you are doing better than I did. Most .22 ammo just ain't all that good.

Match ammo does better, but a box costs what a brick of bulk does. You might wanna try CCI Standard. It's not unduly expensive and did better than any of the other brands for me.