CZ 457 22LR Ammo Tests

[Alamo_308]

Still not settled on what .22LR ammo my unmodified factory-spec VPT MTR prefers, but had some fun the other day testing four very different examples. If only for that one HUGE flyer with the norma TAC-22 (as the cartridge name TAC-22 indicates, this is .22 ammunition, as are all the others) that would be the clear winner; next is the Eley Tenex Biathlon. What's amazing is that the norma is absolutely the lowest priced of all those ammos. But then, it also had the worst flyer, and there really wasn't that much wind at the time.
Time for more testing...
 

[lewmed]

 My CZ 457 MTR likes SK standard and Wolf Match Extra the Wolf has a little more report and hits about 1/4" higher than the SK at 75 yards.

[Alamo_308]

My CZ 457 MTR likes SK standard and Wolf Match Extra the Wolf has a little more report and hits about 1/4" higher than the SK at 75 yards.

SK Standard is on my list to try.
My 457 does only okay with Wolf Match Extra. Maybe good enough to try in a club match next month?

[Wobbly]

I've owned 5 or 6 Anschutz competition rifles and they all liked different ammo. While all gave good results, no 2 "liked" the same ammo.



One thing that needs to be watched when testing ammo is the barrel waxing. I found my results were closer to actual if 10 shots were fired into the dirt before moving over to shoot "for record" on a target. Each brand seems to have a proprietary bullet wax/coating that transfers to the barrel. IMHO, 22LR ammo comparisons need to account for that.

[Alamo_308]

One thing that needs to be watched when testing ammo is the barrel waxing. I found my results were closer to actual if 10 shots were fired into the dirt before moving over to shoot "for record" on a target. Each brand seems to have a proprietary bullet wax/coating that transfers to the barrel. IMHO, 22LR ammo comparisons need to account for that.

Yep, in fact I have several boxes labeled "Foulers" that I use for that exact same purpose, between tested ammos and before sighters at a match.

[Harrell2Xtap]

Mine loves CCI green tag and CCI standard velocity for the cheap rounds. For higher end  SK rifle match and Wolf match extra and target for sure. Lapua Midas and Center X is real good if your just wanting to spend some money and can get all the same batch.

[BarkingAnt]

I just got a 457 American and shot several brands of ammo this weekend to find what works best. Eley Tenex was sure winner and generally my rifle liked standard velocity the best with one exception. Federal Champion 40 gr round nose, their part number 510, seems to have promise in my rifle. Has anybody had similar experience with that ammo?

I tried CCI Mini Mag, Aguila Supermaximum both of which made significantly more open groups than standard velocity ammo. CCI Green Tag was respectable but Eley Tenex and Match were remarkable.

BTW, barrel waxing is an interesting idea, gonna do that next range time. I've had two 22LR rifles (one's a Kimber 82 circa 1986 ) for more than 40 years and never thought much about shooting rimfire for accuracy and distance shooting. Always thought squirrels and varmints within 50 yards. After this weekend, I think I'm hooked.

[Alamo_308]

BTW, barrel waxing is an interesting idea, gonna do that next range time. I've had two 22LR rifles (one's a Kimber 82 circa 1986 ) for more than 40 years and never thought much about shooting rimfire for accuracy and distance shooting. Always thought squirrels and varmints within 50 yards. After this weekend, I think I'm hooked.

I kinow the feeling; been hooked three times: Kimber 82G, Vudoo V22S, and CZ457.
I shot my Kimber 82 1987 in rimfire accuracy events for many years before getting my Vudoo (two years ago) and 457 recently. The Kimber did surprisingly well against supposed 'target' rifles, until somebody brought a Vudoo to a match. That got me into the higher level of rifles, including the very recent 457 (just six months now).

[skin]

 If you can find them, sk long range match works really well in all of my 22 rifles.

[BarkingAnt]

If you can find them, sk long range match works really well in all of my 22 rifles.

Found some SK Rifle Match at Midway USA, thanks. Somewhat slower muzzle velocity but going to try it.

[Buzzbait3]

My MTR loves SK Long Range Match ammo. It's a little cheaper than the Lapua Center X, which is the other favorite.

[Wobbly]

Found some SK Rifle Match at Midway USA, thanks. Somewhat slower muzzle velocity but going to try it.

Yes, true "match .22" is down around 1020 to 1040 fps. You're sure not going to kill any squirrels with it !

[BarkingAnt]

My MTR loves SK Long Range Match ammo. It's a little cheaper than the Lapua Center X, which is the other favorite.

I just finished putting a Lilja .900 taper barrel on a 457 action and MDT chassis with a Timney trigger.. I went to range Friday and shot it first time testing several brands of ammo. I didn't do any exhaustive tests just 5 five shot groups of each ammo that I tried.

Lapua X-Act, Center-X, Midas+ and SK Rifle Match were in the test. In my rifle X-Act and SK Rifle Match produced the smallest groups. A little surprising in that X-Act sells for nearly $30/box and SK Rifle for $12-13. SK Rifle was real close to X-Act group size. Midas+ was next smallest followed by Center-X. Eley Tenex also did well but not as good as X-Act or SK Rifle Match.

That was first test of new barrel but I plan to do more testing. It does seem that SK Rifle Match does well in any rifle I put it in. But who knows that was the first 150 to 200 rounds in a new barrel.

BTW, someone told me Lapua Pistol King and Center-X were same ammo just Pistol King is in a different box. Judging by my experience Friday I don't think so.

[Wobbly]

Lapua X-Act, Center-X, Midas+ and SK Rifle Match were in the test. In my rifle X-Act and SK Rifle Match produced the smallest groups. A little surprising in that X-Act sells for nearly $30/box and SK Rifle for $12-13. SK Rifle was real close to X-Act group size. Midas+ was next smallest followed by Center-X. Eley Tenex also did well but not as good as X-Act or SK Rifle Match.

Back when I was coaching youth, I couldn't afford for them to shoot all day with the $30/box stuff. After hearing about the bullet wax, I started coating my own at home. I used Federal Auto-Pistol in the bulk container (which shoots pretty good) and dipped just the bullet in some real high-end bullet lube. The results were amazing.

Here's a first-timer shooting with the Auto-Match...


Here we are inspecting the 50ft target...


Here's her target. Never touched a gun before in her life...


There is an orange 3/4" dia sticker on the RH side of the target board in the background of Photo #2. That's at ~75 feet shooting across range. I asked her to setup and take 3 shots on the orange dot. No practice; 3 shots only...


 

[BarkingAnt]

Back when I was coaching youth, I couldn't afford for them to shoot all day with the $30/box stuff. After hearing about the bullet wax, I started coating my own at home. I used Federal Auto-Pistol in the bulk container (which shoots pretty good) and dipped just the bullet in some real high-end bullet lube. The results were amazing.

I like that young people are learning and enjoying precision 22lr. She shot well.
On other thought, all you did was dip bulk ammo in bullet lube? Lordy! I used Lapua X-Act in a match recently, hate to think all I had to do was dip thunderbolt in wax!