Thread: Testing light 22's

Tent - just a thought. You may be better to adjust your accuracy challenge. This american 5 groups of 5 shots challenge needs half a box of ammo. As such the challenge is a test of ammunition consistency as much as it is a test of rifle accuracy - which you're actually after.

Comps long finished for me, but as a rimfire hobbyist have still benched 80-100 sporter 22s in recent years. And I'm confident I get a very good picture of rifle performance with three or four consecutive 5 shot groups at 50, and perhaps three or four 3 or 5 shot groups at 100m. This focuses test back more onto rifle - and you - and less on ammo quality.

Some of the very sharp standard barrel everyday hunter rimfires:
A Marlin 60 DL semiauto: four 5 shot groups at 50m - average 0.29"
A Marlin 60DLX semiauto: four 5 shot groups at 50m - average 0.39"
A Weihrauch HW60J in 22 WMR: three groups at 50m - average 0.35"

At 100m - a Norinco Em332 with four 3 shot consecutive groups - average 0.6"

I am very satisfied I got a clear picture of rifle accuracy with just 3-4 groups. More rounds means greater chance of ammo error - the dreaded bang bang pop!