You asked about the accuracy difference between "old" Win Power Points and "new" Power Points. Today I finally got to the range on a very nice day - wind 0-3 mph and steady.
Test Bed: Kimber Huntsman Old PP: purchased circa 2000 -2002. New PP: purchased recently at Cabela's. Distance: 50 yds. Technique: Two 10 shot groups. Fired 5 old, paused about 3 minutes, then 5 new, paused about 3 minutes, then 5 new again, paused about 3 minutes, then the final 5 old. The lines are 1/2" squares.
Result: Doesn't look to good for the new Power Points.
Ed
A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever.
The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
These were 22lr rimfire Power Points 40 gr HP. Surprised me too. My Kimber shoots other variants well. Velocitors, Blazer, Win Wildcat, and Mini-Mags, Fed 36 gr (bulk box). The Blazers shoot almost as well as the PPs and seem to have the same POI at 25 yards just usually have a few more flyers.
Ed
A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever.
The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.
Yeah, I have a bunch of other .22 LR hollow-point ammo that will shoot better than those new Power-Points out of our rifles. Plus, I don’t really shoot that much .22 HP anymore (though Eileen does), instead mostly shooting .17 Mach 2 and especially .17 HMR. When I do shoot .22 HP it’s mostly in handguns, on charging ground squirrels and prairie dogs, and have a couple bricks of the old Power Points for that.
Thanks for the test. I’ve never seen the old PP’s shoot that badly out of any rifle. Even my Winchester 62A groups 5 into an inch at 50 with open sights.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
That may be entirely possible, but something has changed maybe different tolerances, powder, velocities or the QC has suffered. These were produced at a new factory. I certainly won't be buying more of these as my go to hunting round for my Kimber. I'll miss using those old Power Points.
Ed
A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever.
The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.
Australian-made Power Point (in the orange box in recent years) has been my go-to .22 HVHP load for many years. It shoots well in my rifles (about 1/2" at 50 yds in the Brno, and near that in the Lithgow), and in most others, but of course .22s can have their preferences.
More importantly the on-game performance is really very noticeably better than other HVHP ammo I've used, with a loud "thwack" and plenty of expansion on rabbits, hares and foxes.
Fairly recently Winchester Australia started offering a 42 gn Power Point Max, designed to give an even better performance on the larger critters like fox and wallaby. It is in a black box. I haven't given it much of a try yet, so I can't comment on it, but the gel tests shown on youtube seem to show good results.
Of course, what you are using could be something else again...
I have noticed this as well with a Hornady Leverevolution in.30-30. My old ones make my old Marlin shoot like a good bolt action. The new ones shoot high and the groups are over twice as large.