I purchased a variety of 22LR rimfire options to test out in my rifles/pistols and will be posting the results as I go.

While we're at it, I'd like to also hear what your favorite cartridges are when it comes to hunting or target shooting.

If you can, please specify:

Rifle/Pistol/Optic
Cartridge brand w/ bullet type and weight
Group size w/ target distance

Field pics or group pics a plus!

Here's a sample of what I'll be testing this Spring!

Winchester CPHP 36gr 1280fps
Remington Golden Bullet HP 36gr 1280fps
Federal Champion CPHP 36gr 1260fps
CCI Standard Velocity Target RN 40gr 1070fps
CCI Green Tag RN 40gr 1070fps
CCI Suppressor Subsonic HP 45gr 970fps
CCI Segmented Subsonic HP 40gr 1050fps
CCI Subsonic HP 40gr 1050fps
CCI Mini-Mag Segmented CPHP 40gr 1235fps
CCI Mini-Mag CPHP 36gr 1260fps
CCI Stinger CPHP 32gr 1640fps
CCI Copper-22 21gr 1850fps
Fiocchi Subsonic HP 40gr 1050fps
CCI Velocitor CPHP 40gr 1435fps
Fiocchi Exacta Winter 1120fps
Eley Force RN 42gr 1250fps
Eley Target RN 40gr 1080fps
Lapua Center-X RN 40gr 1073fps

I've been using Aguila Super Extra- High Velocity Copper-Plated ammo since about 2015, I buy it by the case when I can catch it on sale, but it usually sells for $2.50/box at Academy.
Overall, it shoots better than CCI mini-mags in eight rimfire rifles I have, all of them have 3-9scopes on them, and I usually shoot at 50 yards. Some folks call it Mexican MiniMags because it's equally reliable and fairly clean-shooting.
I also shoot some CCI Blazer in a couple of those rifles, simply because it works and is cheap and relatively accurate. I have a 10/22 w/Green Mountain barrel that likes it pretty well.

I shoot whatever I can get cheap in my .22 Pistols and revolvers, usually WallyWorld Federal bulk. I refuse to buy WInchester or Remingtons, in particular, because they've usually awfully crappy.

I have several .22s, but I keep the optics the same or equivalent on them all. The Aguila will better 3/4" in all of them, and it usually does better, down to about 1/2", @ 50 yards. Lapua Pistol King beats out CenterX in my CZ 452, you might try some of that if you can find it, should be the same price as your CenterX. I don't shoot much of it, because of the price.

Norma Match for target/accuracy load. Stinger for messing stuff up. Right now for my hunting load it's Remington standard velocity hollow points, but I want to see if I can do better than that in some of my rifles.

I know you asked for more info than that, but I gotta bail so I'll catch it up later.

CCI CB shorts. Rifle. Dead pigs

Wolf MT/SK Standard Plus. Rifles. Target & dead stuff, to include pigs.

For hunting and some match shooting it's RWS Subsonics. Won a lot of pistol matches with the RWS Subsonics using a S&W 41, it really liked that load. It shot Lapua,
Eley, and the old Winchester Pistol match (yellow label box) well also, but it loved those RWS's. My KDF K22 won several sporter matches using that same ammo.
In rifle I plink a lot with Norma Tac 22 and their Subsonics. With pistol its Federal bulk HV in a Ruger and Fiocchi subs. in my Walther.
Being an accuracy freak when it comes to rimfire rifles, high velocity ammo never see's the inside of my rifle barrels. 5 shot 1/2" groups at 50yds. are to big for me. It's alright for 50rds. but 5 rounds? nope!

My rimfire ammo shelf is stocked with: RWS, Lapua, Wolf (older version), SK, Eley, Win. Subs, Rem. Subs, Rem. Match (made by Eley), Fiocchi match, Fiocchi subs., PMC match, PMC pistol match, PMC moderator (these are the best and quietest subs ever produced), Aguila subs, Norma subs, Norma Tac22, Norma Match, and some S&B subs.

Nebraska: Top right ammo in your fine picture is what I consider THE best "all around" small game and Varmint ammo - taking in to consideration: accuracy, velocity, lethality, price, availability, reliability and the like.
I go through about 4,000 of these Federal 36 grain hollow-points a year - 99% being shot at live targets.
Gonna run a bunch through my guns today in fact (once it warms up!).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG,

I agree with the caveat that the Winchester 555 on the upper left is about as good.

Was a time when I counted on CCI Mini Mag hp above all for reliability. I have always experienced some misfires with about any rimfire ammo in pistols. Until recently I had never had a misfire from the Mini Mag hp in a rifle. Mini Mag misfires are not uncommon in new manufacture ammo, IME.

Mainly I'm a paper shooter with a dedicated Vickers Martini, 20x Bausch & Lomb. I like the old Eley Club as nice balance of affordable/accuracy/uniformity. Unfortunately, Eley has overhauled and renamed it's entire product line...so I am foundering and searching for a replacement for my dwindling supply of the old stuff.

I urge folks to try Aguila 40 grain standard velocity for low priced accuracy. It's also among some of the lowest priced 22 there is.

I thought Aguila 38 grain HVHP was a triple win, a bit faster than most hi velocity 36 grain HP, 2 grains heavier, & cheaper. Dependable for fire & function, but failed on Jackrabbits. An on the spot switch to Mini Mag HP clearly made quicker kills. This was in a 5.5" pistol, rifle performance may vary.

My test show CCI standard velocity to be every bit as good as Green Tag. At the cost, doubtful I'll ever shoot GT again.

40 grain Blazer is better pretty much all the way around than same named 38 grain.

The newer Federal 550 pack in the orange box is a lot more dependable to me than the older blue box stuff.

The older Wolf MT is the most accurate stuff I've found for under 8 or 10 bucks a box.

The Remington 547 really likes Eley Match, but I don’t shoot it much because I’m not competing. It will put it into tiny groups at 50 yards. But I’m shooting steel targets with open sights so that level of precision is wasted.

The 547 likes Eley Contact almost as well as the Match. It’s a great round too.

The VQ likes Eley Contact. I’m guessing it would like Eley Match but I refuse to put it through her.

But the VQ likes CCI SV fine. About an inch groups at 50 yards. Definitely good enough for a 4.5 lb rifle, and definitely good enough for our 10- and 12- year olds! They will shoot them faster than I can load them if I let them.

The Remington 550-1 likes Remington Yellow Jacket ammo but I haven’t seen it for sale in a long time.

Most of my 22lr exploits are for hunting so the Winchester XPERT HV with that big hollow point 36g seems to kill bigger critters than it should

For pest control around the house it's a CCI Quiet through a suppressed CZ rifle. Looking to try out some CCI Quiet segmented when it can be found.

Most of my 22 shooting is in rimfire silhouette. I usually shoot in excess of a case of SK standard plus a year, and several bricks of Lapua Midas + in competition.

For the occasional gopher shoot I generally use Winchester HP power points.

Been shooting Aguila SE/HV, 40gr copper plated also. Eley primed. Seems pretty clean, accurate. I' m only shooting thru a Marlin 39A and Marlin 25N. These seem to be very comparable to the CCI mini-mags I also shoot. What's with the "Eley primed" .22's? Whatever it actually is, it seems to work.

Anything but Remington.

The newer "Aguila Primed" ammo is just as good, if not a little better in my rifles. Aguila had purchased the rights to the Eley priming formula, until developing their own. The Eley stuff has a distinct smell that some people don't like. I've developed an immunity to it.

Yeah, there is a different "smell" to the Eley stuff, but, it works. Thanks for the info on that.

Lennie; those and that Win "333" box of crap. Junk!

I have some old winchester power points. Most accurate ammo out of my cz 452. A close tie is federal hunter match.

CCI Standard and Lapua Match for the bulk of my 22 needs.

We fooled around with NRA Bullseye at our club years ago. I soon found that in my Ruger gov't target, that blue box Remington Target was super accurate.

But, you couldn't fire 30 rds. without a misfire! Usually a restrike still wouldn't fire! and that Ruger almost never misfired on anything,

What is wrong with Remington?

Rem. Thunderbolt 40 gr. 1255 fps. Target, plinking, small game and varmints. Winchester 1906 loves them.

Pull the bullets and look inside the case. You'll find there's no priming compound in them.

I use RWS subsonic hp's and Eley subsonic hp's in a CZ 452 , Win 69A and a home brew 10-22. All rifles are used for hunting squirrels etc.

General purpose-- CCI mini mag, solids
If I could only have one that's what it would be---

CCI Blazer 40 grain solids shoot very well in everything I have (CZ452, two Ruger 77/22's and Ruger 10/22) so I don't spend the money for anything "better". CCI Mini mag hollow points for varmints.

For hunting, R-P subsonic HP or Eley subsonic HP and at times I’ve used CCI standard velocity or Green Tag. All of these have done really well in my Rem 541-S and Rem 547.

For punching paper with those two rifles as well as some Rem 40-X’s and 40-XB’s, depending on the individual rifle, I like Lapua Midas or Master (discontinued). Eley eps match, Target and Club have done really well too. I also have a case of Eley rounds I bought through the CMP a few months ago and it’s showing promising results.

CCI standard for target, CCI mini mags hollow points to kill stuff, if

I only shoot gophers with my .22's.. So I use CCI MM HPs , Stingers, and Yellowjackets.. Occasionally I shoot water jugs or the like with my pistols.. Then I use Fed. HP..

I only shoot gophers with my .22's.. So I use CCI MM HPs , Stingers, and Yellowjackets.. Occasionally I shoot water jugs or the like with my pistols.. Then I use Fed. HP..

CCI Blazers are my favorite because they shoot way above their price.

CCI Standard is the "gold standard" for function and perhaps accuracy. Wolf Match, SK match, Norma Match. I have some Federal Ultra Match which was RWS, but no longer sold. Federal Target is good in several rifles as well, RWS and perhaps no longer available. Seems I find those, a great 22 in my rifles, then can't get it again. Perhaps I should start buying in case lots in stead of a couple of bricks.

Yellow Jackets were always a favorite of mine but these days I cant find them so I use CCI mini mags.

My Marlin 795 likes the Winchester Xpert bulk pack 36 grain HPs, also. I've been shooting a lot of bulk pack .22 ammo that I've accumulated. The Xpert's are the most accurate out of my rifle and I've not ran across any duds in the brick I'm shooting from.

It seems to be a cut above the other bulk packed .22 ammo in terms of accuracy and consistency.

I have very good results out of CCI Subsonic for squirrel or rabbit hunting. From what I've shot in the Kimber Hunter, SK-Lapua brand is best for accuracy. SK Standard does very well tobe their lowest price offering. I've seen some interesting tests results from SK Biathlon Sport and want to test some of that.

It's been many years since I've done anything but punch paper with a 22. That said, Remington Yellow Jackets were the most destructive on critters.

When I did benchrest matches, all my competition guns preferred Eley Match (black box). My Cooper 57M prefers Lapua and SK. I just re-barreled my 10/22 with a Feddersen 18" .920" barrel and sighted it in this afternoon with some old Lapua Midas ammo and it shot that pretty well. For general shooting/plinking it's hard to beat CCI Std or MiniMags.

Hollow point golden bullets in my single six. Stingers in my 72A

For plinking I like Federal Auto Match and Aguila SE SV or HV. Wolf Match is about the best I have shot and willing to pay for but I've had success with it in everything I've tried it in. CCI SV is hit or miss for accuracy and from my experience Aguila SV shoots a little tighter groups in my guns.

It used to be CCI SV, but these days my guns are liking the Aguila SE Standard Velocity more. Federal Auto-Match has been a pleasant surprise too.

I've never shot seriously, but SK Standard+ and RWS Target Rifle have been seriously accurate out of my guns.
If I found someone having a really good deal on the SK I'd stock up. But I'm not going to pay $6/box for the SK when I can pay $2/box for Aguila.

I've also had terrific luck with CCI Subsonic and RWS Subsonic. And when I've sprung for it, RWS R50 has been super.

I've tried a half dozen times over the years, but ive never had good luck with CCI Green Tag.

Lots of good stuff out there that I've never shot. Hope I get to try a lot more before I kick!

If I had to say that one load was my favorite though, it would be a toss up between the older CCI SV and recent Aguila SE SV. They do the same thing equally well and for about the same modest cost.

Up until about 2008, I just shot HV HP's. Decided to get more serious about accuracy and started testing like you're about to do. As a result, I sold my CZ 452 and sold the factory bull barrel off of my 10/22. Unfortunately, the rimfire shortage crisis hit right in the middle of this. I'm pretty set now though.

One thing that became apparent right away in shooting groups was, if I heard a weak report and an extra loud report while shooting a group, and that was often with some of the cheap stuff, the groups sucked and it was pointless to do any more testing. But I plugged on for one entire box anyway. Oh, and I used a 6-24X Bushnell Elite set at 24X on the 10-22's and a Bushnell Elite 8-32X scope set to 32X on the CZ's.

Here's a little of what I found. These are all at least 5 shot groups, at 50 yards, in the outdoors with an occasional breeze. And NONE of them are a fluke group. Most are an average of at least 5 groups, some as with as many as 20+ groups in the data.



I came across the Geco semi-autos by chance at a Rural King, knowing nothing about them. They were dirt cheap and I thought they were some off brand with a store label or something, but thought, what the heck, I'll run a box through my gun. I was blown away and went back and bought all they had in stock. Had to know if this was a fluke. It wasn't.



I saw several votes for Yellow Jackets. I loved them and they shot pretty darn accurate in the early tests with the last I had from years earlier. I think Remington stopped making them for years and fairly recently started making them again. I was elated and bought several bricks. Unfortunately, my rifles don't like the new ones at all.





I've had a MKIII 22/45 Lite for a few years and while I love to plink with it, I never thought of it as particularly accurate. Last year I finally got a suppressor for it, caught a pistol scope on closeout, and by chance came across a box of CCI Suppressor subsonic HP's. Threw the combo together and this was the first group I got.. 10 shots at 25 yards!

Federal Automatch unless I am using subsonic for some reason. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

Whatever your favorite, someone will call it unreliable and dirty. My favorite is CCI Mini-Mag.

3548ELK: I have found that CCI Mini-Mag ammo is unreliable and dirty!
Naw just funnin ya - I virtually never use the the CCI ammo anymore as it is more expensive than ammo that performs for me just as well.
I go through several THOUSANDS of rounds of rimfire ammunition every year in my Rifles and pistols - so costs along with all around performance are of importance to me.
Matter of fact I am heading out the door soon to meet a friend and do an afternoons worth of "rimfirin" at Varmints.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

SK Standard + works great in my T1X.