NVScouter
06-12-2007, 11:23 AM
I was forced to start a new favorite .22LR ammo search since the wonderful PMC Zapper ammo was discontinued. If you aren't familiar with the Zapper it is/was the best target and small game .22LR round available. Same clean sweet smelling powder as Agulia or Lapua, and economical enough to blow a brick a weekend.
I tried various ammo after fitting my new Butler Creek 20" BBL and Hogue stock to my 10/22 with just as many results. Some horrible, some O.K., most disappointing. The same can be said in my 22LR/22Mag Ruger Single Six. Most .22LR shot pretty good but the .22Mag results were staggering. Then I stumbled across a box of cheap .22Mag JHP for $6. They looked great and shot great. Very nice clean REAL JHP. They shot so well I went to www.thehuntingshack.com and ordered 500 of their .22LR JHP. The .22LR isnt a true JHP but a copper coated lead bullet with a GIANT hollow point. $17 for 500, $35 for 1K is a great deal for good hunting ammo.
Here is some data for the number crunchers:
.22MAG Ruger Single-Six 7.25" Barrel. All velocities are muzzle.
HSM: 1,400FPS average of 5 shots
WIN Super-X: 1,380FPS average of 5 shots
The HSM shot .9" at 40 yards, while the WIN shot closer to 1.25"
No on-game results yet, but expansion into a peach at 70 yards was "pink mist" quality. The WIN ripped it in half but the the HSM vaporized it.
.22LR Ruger Single-Six 7.25" Barrel All velocities are muzzle.
CCI Maxi-Mag: 800FPS average of 5 shots 1.5" at 40 yards.
HSM .22LR: 750FPS average of 5 shots 1.5" at 40 yards.
.22LR Ruger 10/22 20" BBL. All velocities are muzzle.
REM Thunderbolt: 1200FPS average of 5 shots 3.5" at 75 yards.
American Eagle(Federal): 1260FPS average of 5 shots 1.25" at 75 yards.
CCI Maxi-Mag: 1230FPS average of 5 shots .75" at 75 yards.
PMC Zapper: 1290FPS average of 5 shots .5" at 75 yards.
HSM: 1280FPS average of 5 shots .5" at 75 yards.
Rem S.S: 980FPS average of 5 shots .9 at 40 yards.
The REM Thunderbolts as you can see were by far the worst in this rifle. They used to shoot acceptable groups with the stock barrel, however this target barrel hates it. Last tested was the REM Subsonic for shits and giggles since I had the Chrono out.
No real rest was used to get optimum groups. Just a sandbag rest in prone, all pistol groups were shot in the sitting supported.
Last word on the .22LR from HSM. On-game these things are awesome! I have taken a couple ground squirrels and Jacks with them. Head shots on either LEAVE NO EXIT WOUND, just a mush pulp sack that was the head. Body shots on squirrels look like they were done by something bigger. I'm going to put in an order for a couple thousand rounds of this stuff since I can only find it mail order.
As for the company itself they are very nice to deal with. They make allot of different ammo and have great deals on bulk pistol and rifle ammo.
http://www.thehuntingshack.com/
I didn't bring my calipers to the shooting pit, just an tape measure so the numbers are close, not dead on.
I tried various ammo after fitting my new Butler Creek 20" BBL and Hogue stock to my 10/22 with just as many results. Some horrible, some O.K., most disappointing. The same can be said in my 22LR/22Mag Ruger Single Six. Most .22LR shot pretty good but the .22Mag results were staggering. Then I stumbled across a box of cheap .22Mag JHP for $6. They looked great and shot great. Very nice clean REAL JHP. They shot so well I went to www.thehuntingshack.com and ordered 500 of their .22LR JHP. The .22LR isnt a true JHP but a copper coated lead bullet with a GIANT hollow point. $17 for 500, $35 for 1K is a great deal for good hunting ammo.
Here is some data for the number crunchers:
.22MAG Ruger Single-Six 7.25" Barrel. All velocities are muzzle.
HSM: 1,400FPS average of 5 shots
WIN Super-X: 1,380FPS average of 5 shots
The HSM shot .9" at 40 yards, while the WIN shot closer to 1.25"
No on-game results yet, but expansion into a peach at 70 yards was "pink mist" quality. The WIN ripped it in half but the the HSM vaporized it.
.22LR Ruger Single-Six 7.25" Barrel All velocities are muzzle.
CCI Maxi-Mag: 800FPS average of 5 shots 1.5" at 40 yards.
HSM .22LR: 750FPS average of 5 shots 1.5" at 40 yards.
.22LR Ruger 10/22 20" BBL. All velocities are muzzle.
REM Thunderbolt: 1200FPS average of 5 shots 3.5" at 75 yards.
American Eagle(Federal): 1260FPS average of 5 shots 1.25" at 75 yards.
CCI Maxi-Mag: 1230FPS average of 5 shots .75" at 75 yards.
PMC Zapper: 1290FPS average of 5 shots .5" at 75 yards.
HSM: 1280FPS average of 5 shots .5" at 75 yards.
Rem S.S: 980FPS average of 5 shots .9 at 40 yards.
The REM Thunderbolts as you can see were by far the worst in this rifle. They used to shoot acceptable groups with the stock barrel, however this target barrel hates it. Last tested was the REM Subsonic for shits and giggles since I had the Chrono out.
No real rest was used to get optimum groups. Just a sandbag rest in prone, all pistol groups were shot in the sitting supported.
Last word on the .22LR from HSM. On-game these things are awesome! I have taken a couple ground squirrels and Jacks with them. Head shots on either LEAVE NO EXIT WOUND, just a mush pulp sack that was the head. Body shots on squirrels look like they were done by something bigger. I'm going to put in an order for a couple thousand rounds of this stuff since I can only find it mail order.
As for the company itself they are very nice to deal with. They make allot of different ammo and have great deals on bulk pistol and rifle ammo.
http://www.thehuntingshack.com/
I didn't bring my calipers to the shooting pit, just an tape measure so the numbers are close, not dead on.