If price is not an option, what .22 ammo is best?
I just purchased a dual barrel (3.4" and 5") Walther P22. I have not had a .22 in many years. There are a lot more ammo options now than I remember.
I always thought copper plated bullets meant less fouling of the barrel and therefore more accurate over the course of the day - say shooting 500 rounds. All the "best" match ammo seems to be all lead and a lot is hollow point. I never thought of hollow point as that accurate since there was the chance that the hole was larger or smaller, off center a bit, more variables - but then in 30 years they probably have done a bit of manufacturing improvements.
Money is not the issue but I would like accuracy. I also see some sub-sonic ammo listed as match quality. Seems that higher velocity would be less drop, therefore easier to "bore sight" and then again manufacturing variables could mean I am way off base.
I am sure everyone has their favorite, and even though I would like that feedback, I am looking for specifics for 25 to 50 yards in a Walther P22.
Thanks in advance.
bill
I always thought copper plated bullets meant less fouling of the barrel and therefore more accurate over the course of the day - say shooting 500 rounds. All the "best" match ammo seems to be all lead and a lot is hollow point. I never thought of hollow point as that accurate since there was the chance that the hole was larger or smaller, off center a bit, more variables - but then in 30 years they probably have done a bit of manufacturing improvements.
Money is not the issue but I would like accuracy. I also see some sub-sonic ammo listed as match quality. Seems that higher velocity would be less drop, therefore easier to "bore sight" and then again manufacturing variables could mean I am way off base.
I am sure everyone has their favorite, and even though I would like that feedback, I am looking for specifics for 25 to 50 yards in a Walther P22.
Thanks in advance.
bill
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Wow, where to start. Probably the easiest thing for you to do is purchase several different types of .22 ammo and shoot each of them to see what your gun likes. One may be a tack driver in the 3.5" and spray them all over the paper in the 5". Each gun is different, each barrel is different. Some match grade pistols are not really designed for high velocity ammo. Target ammo is all standard speed. Years ago we shot .22 match rifles at 200 yards. The standard speed ammo shot better than high speed loads they seemed to be more wind resistant for some reason. Fouling is not an issue with .22's. MOST match guns seldom if ever get a patch down the bore. Boy, some folks sure seem to think this is wrong, they do have their point of view. But, it is mostly true, .22 ammo, copper coated or not laps the barrel. Cleaning of the barrel is seldom done on a match .22. The exception is when breaking in a new gun, when starting out with a thoroughly cleaned gun is the accepted norm. Most super accurate ammo is a solid lead 40gr round.
Perryshooter has a lot of experience at 25 and 50 yards. I hope he chimes in to add his points for you.
The ONLY ammo that I refuse to shoot is Remington, I've been burned for the last time by them. It is my personal experience that Remington .22 ammo is very poor quality and worse consistency Have fun with your new plinker.0 -
Everyone has their favorites (including me) the problem is that nearly every .22 pistol and rifle have favorite brands of ammunition and many of my guns don't like to shoot what I'd like to feed them! You really need to try as many as five or six different brands of match or target ammunition in order to learn which brand your pistol prefers. I like RWS (works great in may Walther GSP), Eley (the Walther hates it but my Unique loves it), Federal (works pretty good in everything so it is great for practice), and Fiocchi (My Beretta 76, 87, and S&W 41 work very well with this brand). These selections are ONLY for pistol use because my Choices for .22 match ammunition for use in rifles or revolvers is quite different. Find out what works and then try and purchase as much as possible in the same manufacturers production lot. By the way, I agree with bpost and seldom ever run a cleaning rod down the bores of any of my match pistols. Clean the action by all means but one pass with a brass brush down their delicate bore is equal to firing an entire brick (500 rounds) or more of ammunition.
"Nothing can ever be made 'idiot proof' because idiots are simply too clever"!
Mark T. Christian0 -
My Ruger MK2 likes CCI Green Tags and the bull barreled 10-22 likes the Winchester Target in the silver box. 0 -
If all you are doing is shooting paper, "best" ammo is the ammo that gives you reliable function and the best accuracy. The Walther P22s have a reputation of being picky for ammo, and apparently prefer copper-plated bullets. I've also heard that these pistols can take a while to break in properly meaning that ammo that doesn't seem to work well when the gun is new, might work better a few bricks later.
.22 ammo is so darn cheap and easy to shoot that really the best thing to do is go to the store, buy a whole bunch of boxes of different brands for a few bucks each, and see which ones work the best. I think you'd might be suprised that the performance of the ammo in any particular gun and the cost of the ammo, aren't always correlated. Spending $20 and an hour doing this is one of the best investments you can make with a new pistol, IMO.
I know you said money was no object, but IMO, the extra cost of match ammo isn't justified unless, well. . .you are actually shooting matches! But if you were doing that, you probably would have a match gun, rather than a P22. I don't want to seem mean, but that particular pistol is not known for stellar accuracy, and if its really tight groups you are after (and money truly is no object), I'd think about swapping it for something a little more upscale rather than trying to tune it with high grade ammo.
In terms of actual ammo, I second Mr. Christians observation that Federal target works pretty well for practice for the cost (at least in my High Standard). I do occasionally get a hard primer with those (or maybe my firing spring is weak), but since I'm just using it for practice, it doesnt matter. Interestingly, I have found the much costlier Federal Gold Match ammo to be fairly unreliable in the same gun though its possible I just had a bad batch. I would not at all be suprised if the Federal is too "soft" to reliably cycle the Walther p22, though.0 -
For accuracy my 52s love Eley Tenex; for game I like to use Western HPs. they aren't as accurate, though suitable in my verious 22s and they perform well on the game. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by beantownshootah
If all you are doing is shooting paper, "best" ammo is the ammo that gives you reliable function and the best accuracy. The Walther P22s have a reputation of being picky for ammo, and apparently prefer copper-plated bullets. I've also heard that these pistols can take a while to break in properly meaning that ammo that doesn't seem to work well when the gun is new, might work better a few bricks later.
.22 ammo is so darn cheap and easy to shoot that really the best thing to do is go to the store, buy a whole bunch of boxes of different brands for a few bucks each, and see which ones work the best. I think you'd might be suprised that the performance of the ammo in any particular gun and the cost of the ammo, aren't always correlated. Spending $20 and an hour doing this is one of the best investments you can make with a new pistol, IMO.
I know you said money was no object, but IMO, the extra cost of match ammo isn't justified unless, well. . .you are actually shooting matches! But if you were doing that, you probably would have a match gun, rather than a P22. I don't want to seem mean, but that particular pistol is not known for stellar accuracy, and if its really tight groups you are after (and money truly is no object), I'd think about swapping it for something a little more upscale rather than trying to tune it with high grade ammo.
In terms of actual ammo, I second Mr. Christians observation that Federal target works pretty well for practice for the cost (at least in my High Standard). I do occasionally get a hard primer with those (or maybe my firing spring is weak), but since I'm just using it for practice, it doesnt matter. Interestingly, I have found the much costlier Federal Gold Match ammo to be fairly unreliable in the same gun though its possible I just had a bad batch. I would not at all be suprised if the Federal is too "soft" to reliably cycle the Walther p22, though.
Mr. Bean is correct, the P22 is a picky eater. It enjoys munchin on copper plated ammo as he stated. Enjoy your new pistol.
You are knuckle-dragging ape with a gun.0 -
I, literally, have 40 or 50 flavors of 22 ammo...for a BB 10/22 & a 10" BB Mark II pistol. Not match quality firearms..just a step below. Believe it or not...some of the best that I have shot...for accuracy...is American Eagle hollow points.
Find what your 22's like the best.0 -
Eley, while somewhat difficult to find retail, pretty much can cover whatever you want to shoot.
One hole ammo.
Stolen from, and with thanks, to Kiwibird0 -
Thanks to all for the info. Very helpful and useful info.
I did not expect to win an Olympic Gold with this but want to keep a tight group at the range. Looks like the best idea will be to buy a couple boxes of several brands. See which ones have mechanical problems (sell the extra cheap) and go back though with a second box of the 'better' stuff. I have a record book in my gun bag, think I will be using it a lot on this.
I read another thread about cleaning, this is interesting, I was brought up to clean it, ROTC you really cleaned it and the Army was freaking wacky about it. I have a minature camera available at work, I might just track the bore with it.
I bought a nice tactical mount, scope, laser and xenon lamp for it - lots of nice woodpiles near work that are full of rats - cheaper than going to the range and somewhat more fun.
Anyone else wants to add more comments, please do.
Thanks
Bill0 -
I do most all my silhouette shooting with Federal Gold Medal Match 711's. 7 out of 8 of my 22's prefer it for accuracy, but my BRNO shoots 2" groups at 50 yards with it; the Brno gets Federal Olympic Match and shoots inside a dime at 100yds.
"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID0 -
I have run 50 to 75 thousand rounds through my mod 41 smith with both 5 and 7 inch bbls..over 25 years. I have tried lots of different brands. But have settled on CCI std vel. The 41 S&W is a very accurate and reliable. You might keep a look out for a used one. 0 -
getting tight groups at the range is a combo of ammo and barrel. you can have the most expensive ammo shot thru the worst bbl and blame the ammo; or, you can have a match grade bbl and shoot kmart cheapo ammo in it and again, blame the bbl for bad groups. therefore, your good groups begin with a bbl inspection. then, you shoot to see what ammo the bbl likes best, not the shooter. 9 out of 10 times, i always grab cci green tags and never go home disapointed. then again...all my bbls are match grade too.
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction. NRA certified instructor.0 -
Everyone has provided excellent advice and I agree with them.
In a recent article in Shotgun News a number of .22 ammuntion was shot through a 10/22 rifle both factory equipped and match grade modified.
Ammunition tested was Aguila standard velocity, Wolf Match Gold, Federal Lightning, Winchester Super X, Remington High Velocity, Federal Gold Medal, Remington Standard Velocity, CCI Mini Mag.
Best overall average groups and best group were produced by Aguila standard velocity.
Lesson: Try a variety of ammunition and find out which one works best with your combination.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0
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