2damnold4this
New member
+1 on finding the ammo that groups the best and buying a large amount of it. Assuming you don't live in California.
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Savage Mark II 22LR - Scope needs to be zeroed with different ammo
- Thread starter marcooool
- Start date
Thanks. I do use carbon fiber rod and nylon brush to clean and also think adding a bore guide to further protect.I would suggest you clean your rifle with solvent and a bore brush. And not a bore snake. I have a Ruger 77/22 that will put 10 shots in 5/8" at 50 yards. I fired 400 shots and it started spreading the groups out badly. I ran a brush down the barrel from the rear and just in front of the chamber it felt like I pushed a wad of wax or powder or something out the barrel. A few more passes and it was shooting the same excellent groups.
And its normal for different loads to shoot different points of impact just like the others have already stated. Find an ammo your gun likes and shoots well and buy a bunch of it with the same lot number.
Let me clarify, when I refer to the first shot after reload, I do use the same ammo but the first shot is always not well grouped with the rest shots. As it's the same ammo, I think it could be my own shooting problem.
I live in Ontario, Canada. There are not many kinds of 22LR available but CCI HV/SV always have good supply, running from 0.06 to 0.08 per round in USD.+1 on finding the ammo that groups the best and buying a large amount of it. Assuming you don't live in California.
NoSecondBest
New member
I shot a lot of competition for many years with both rifle and handgun. Over that time I've tested every brand of ammo available. I can tell you for a fact that CCI SV will shoot 95% as well as the best Eley, RWS, and other premium ammo at half the cost. I shot the premium stuff at big shoots, but I practiced with the CCI and I got really good results with it in every gun I owned. It was never the best stuff, but it was always very good. You're not handicapped if that's all that's available.I live in Ontario, Canada. There are not many kinds of 22LR available but CCI HV/SV always have good supply, running from 0.06 to 0.08 per round in USD
What do you want to do with your rifle, just shoot from the bench, use it for plinking, offhand shooting, hunting? I've shot a lot of .22s from the bench, both testing ammo and in competition, but have shot a lot more offhand and hunting. Offhand shooting with a good sporter, either hunting or target practice on metal silhouettes, etc. is much more fun and great practice for turkey shoots and hunting.
At 50 yards, I can usually keep all my offhand shots under 2", at 50 feet, I've made groups under 1/2 and regularly shoot at postal stickers, which are about 5/8", though I'm getting worse instead of better at my age.
To make the most out of the .22LR when hunting and plinking, I zero at about 50 yards and anything shot within that range is in deep do-do. I don't usually see small game beyond 50 yards in the woods and the killing power drops off considerably at 100, not to mention scary wind deflection.
At 50 yards, I can usually keep all my offhand shots under 2", at 50 feet, I've made groups under 1/2 and regularly shoot at postal stickers, which are about 5/8", though I'm getting worse instead of better at my age.
To make the most out of the .22LR when hunting and plinking, I zero at about 50 yards and anything shot within that range is in deep do-do. I don't usually see small game beyond 50 yards in the woods and the killing power drops off considerably at 100, not to mention scary wind deflection.
I shoot in an indoor range, 25yd, sitting in front of a small table with a bipod. It's mainly bullseye.What do you want to do with your rifle, just shoot from the bench, use it for plinking, offhand shooting, hunting? I've shot a lot of .22s from the bench, both testing ammo and in competition, but have shot a lot more offhand and hunting. Offhand shooting with a good sporter, either hunting or target practice on metal silhouettes, etc. is much more fun and great practice for turkey shoots and hunting.
At 50 yards, I can usually keep all my offhand shots under 2", at 50 feet, I've made groups under 1/2 and regularly shoot at postal stickers, which are about 5/8", though I'm getting worse instead of better at my age.
To make the most out of the .22LR when hunting and plinking, I zero at about 50 yards and anything shot within that range is in deep do-do. I don't usually see small game beyond 50 yards in the woods and the killing power drops off considerably at 100, not to mention scary wind deflection.
My problem with CCI SV is that out of 5 shot group, I can normally have 4 in a half inch group but in most cases I will have one flier to make the 5 shots a whole inch group. I don't know it's the ammo or just my poor inconsistency (I started shooting last year November). I will try some other ammo. I read someone has good experience with Winchester M22, smaller group than CCI SV with bolt gun so will give it a try.
My local LGS have good supply of CCI HV, CCI SV, Blazer and Win M22.
I hope you find a place to shoot farther than 25 yards. That gets boring after a while.
Also, shooting with a bipod and no rear bag is a limiting factor, since shoulder pressure, right hand pressure, and varied bipod stance can all affect consistency. You should get a solid front rest and rear bag, then learn how to be more consistent in your holds.
Perhaps your rifle could be improved to be more consistent, once you find the ammo it likes best. Half-inch at 25 yards would be only a bit larger than 1/2" at 50 yards, which isn't bad for an unimproved sporter, but really good-shooting rifle, should shoot closer to 1/4" groups at 50 yards...outdoors, dealing with wind/mirage, etc.
Also, there are some good benchrest shooting guides available on the Internet and reading them would help you to be a better shooter.
Regarding .22 target ammo: I found inconsistencies in the same high-priced match ammo from lot-to-lot. Some $20/box ammo had flyers that cost points in competition, so your chances of finding $5 a box ammo to shoot consistent 1/4" groups at 50 yards is maybe 1 in 100 tries, but at 25 yards, 1/4" is quite possible with CCI SV or other similarly-priced ammo. Fiocchi Biathlon shot well in my rifles.
Good luck and keep experimenting in all aspects of accuracy endeavors.
Also, shooting with a bipod and no rear bag is a limiting factor, since shoulder pressure, right hand pressure, and varied bipod stance can all affect consistency. You should get a solid front rest and rear bag, then learn how to be more consistent in your holds.
Perhaps your rifle could be improved to be more consistent, once you find the ammo it likes best. Half-inch at 25 yards would be only a bit larger than 1/2" at 50 yards, which isn't bad for an unimproved sporter, but really good-shooting rifle, should shoot closer to 1/4" groups at 50 yards...outdoors, dealing with wind/mirage, etc.
Also, there are some good benchrest shooting guides available on the Internet and reading them would help you to be a better shooter.
Regarding .22 target ammo: I found inconsistencies in the same high-priced match ammo from lot-to-lot. Some $20/box ammo had flyers that cost points in competition, so your chances of finding $5 a box ammo to shoot consistent 1/4" groups at 50 yards is maybe 1 in 100 tries, but at 25 yards, 1/4" is quite possible with CCI SV or other similarly-priced ammo. Fiocchi Biathlon shot well in my rifles.
Good luck and keep experimenting in all aspects of accuracy endeavors.
Thanks and really appreciate it. The closest outdoor range is about one hour drive and I will wait for Summer to give it a try (so I can stay for a whole day to make it worthwhile). I find I really enjoy target shooting so I will keep practicing!I hope you find a place to shoot farther than 25 yards. That gets boring after a while.
Also, shooting with a bipod and no rear bag is a limiting factor, since shoulder pressure, right hand pressure, and varied bipod stance can all affect consistency. You should get a solid front rest and rear bag, then learn how to be more consistent in your holds.
Perhaps your rifle could be improved to be more consistent, once you find the ammo it likes best. Half-inch at 25 yards would be only a bit larger than 1/2" at 50 yards, which isn't bad for an unimproved sporter, but really good-shooting rifle, should shoot closer to 1/4" groups at 50 yards...outdoors, dealing with wind/mirage, etc.
Also, there are some good benchrest shooting guides available on the Internet and reading them would help you to be a better shooter.
Regarding .22 target ammo: I found inconsistencies in the same high-priced match ammo from lot-to-lot. Some $20/box ammo had flyers that cost points in competition, so your chances of finding $5 a box ammo to shoot consistent 1/4" groups at 50 yards is maybe 1 in 100 tries, but at 25 yards, 1/4" is quite possible with CCI SV or other similarly-priced ammo. Fiocchi Biathlon shot well in my rifles.
Good luck and keep experimenting in all aspects of accuracy endeavors.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Sometimes one needs to re-zero when you change boxes of the same ammo type because they are from different runs with slightly different characteristics.
Not usually and it is often a pretty small adjustment, but it happens.
Not usually and it is often a pretty small adjustment, but it happens.
Hilltop Shooter
New member
Yes, POI is different with different loads. Sometimes the same load but diff lot has to be re-zeroed. Differences in velocity and harmomics show up on target. Sometimes you get lucky and have a gun that shoots alot of diff ammo near the same POI, sometimes not.
Reguarding the 1st shot of each mag having a diff POI, it sounds like a feeding issue. Pretty common actually. For instance, the top round in the mag sitting with more of a cant than the following rounds because of bottoming your mag spring out/having the most spring pressure and the round scrapes material off as you feed it into the chamber. Or could be you settling in after the 1st shot. Best way to test it is single feed each round or shoot some mags not fully loaded and see if you still have the 1st round flyer. If you dont, its a feeding issue, if you do, it could be you.
Reguarding the 1st shot of each mag having a diff POI, it sounds like a feeding issue. Pretty common actually. For instance, the top round in the mag sitting with more of a cant than the following rounds because of bottoming your mag spring out/having the most spring pressure and the round scrapes material off as you feed it into the chamber. Or could be you settling in after the 1st shot. Best way to test it is single feed each round or shoot some mags not fully loaded and see if you still have the 1st round flyer. If you dont, its a feeding issue, if you do, it could be you.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Load mag all the way and chamber a round, then eject without firing. Look to see if the bullet has been damaged during feeding.
Are you putting 11 rounds in a ten round mag? Sometimes you can jam an extra round in a mag but it usually doesn't function well.
Are you putting 11 rounds in a ten round mag? Sometimes you can jam an extra round in a mag but it usually doesn't function well.
The first-round flyer in a 10-22 (and perhaps other semi-autos), is definitely caused by the operating handle binding the firing pin. I found that relieving the binding by filing and smoothing the handle so it slides in the bolt slot easily, eliminates the dreaded first-shot flyer.
Staking the firing pin deeper also contributes to accuracy by making a more consistent impact location on shell rims.
Staking the firing pin deeper also contributes to accuracy by making a more consistent impact location on shell rims.