I wonder if lack of motivation is to blame?

When you can sell even the bulk cartridges as fast as they're made,
and at a decent profit margin, is there any reason to deal with the expense
of increased quality control needed to produce competition cartridges?

 

Eley today is a has been and has been for a few years. The good ammunitions like Lapua, RWS and SK are all disappearing from the market as well. All out of stock the same goes for the older centerfire as well as the less popular like 8 57mm, 38-55, 32-20, 358 Rem Mag etc. all out of stock.

 

Well truth be told as far as actual benchrest accuracy.
A few of the National shooters are still winning with Eley ammo.
Yes, across thier product line it was all premium performance.
But yes, the last 10-15 years it's been hard to find 1 lot outa 20 that performs as expected.
And yet recently, they've spread thier priduct line to NEW ammo design for semi autos, Outlaw, Semi Benchrest, Long range, extreme long range, all new loads and bullet designs.
And, as far as premium "match " ammo.
Eley is ALWAYS IN STOCK at multiple places.
Lapua
Rws
Sk
Are limited qauinity, if and when you can find it.
It's ashame

 

None of my 22s shoot Eley worth a flip. I've tried 4 different varieties and I'll never buy another box.

 

If I can make a product for 1 cent and sell it for 10 cents, why would I make a product that cost me ten cents and have people complain I charge 15 cents for it. Just thinking out loud.

 

From a company viewpoint, if you tear your own name down, it's going to take a long time to build it back up.
IF, the Eley name disappears from major competitions, both US and Europe, all they will be known for in the interim is lower grades of ammo. Sales may be there, the recognition won't be.
Shooters for the most part, follow what the leaders are using.

I shot some Eley Match last yr that was very solid.

 

More so than Lapua, it’s all about lot numbers!

 

What version of Eley did you have the problem with?

 

The recent test was with target. The prior disapointments were with club and tenex.

 

My last lot of match did not disappoint in 3 different rifles, it performed as expected

 

Matches my experience with Match in my BR rifle.

 

Shot a goodly amount of Match and Tenex last year and was happy with both.
Will see what this year brings.

 

Never been disappointed with Eley. Since 1970.

 

It is not as good as it has in been in years past. Still better than most American produced .22 ammunition. It’s up to the individual to decide if the accuracy difference is worth the price difference.

 

Eley Match shoots very well in my T1X and Anschutz. CZ's don't like any flavor.

 

Was generally true in my OEM 457 barrels.
From what a goodly handful of guys at my club have experienced, the Lilja barrels for the 457 do dig Match.

 

I've seen some Eley Tenex beating up on some other stuff recently. The lot ending in -1235 looked really good in my stuff. Another friend saw Match shooting very well in his Anschutz out past 100 yards. Don't know specifically a lot number of his ammo.

 

Good lot numbers of Eley Match and Tenex are still out there but much harder to come by than they used to be.

 

I imagine Eley still makes high quality cartridges,
but they're just not making it to consumers here in the U.S.
Or, shipping/warehouse conditions are degrading cartridge quality.
Temperature swings and humidity are not friendly to powder/primer stability/burn rates.

 

I imagine Eley still makes high quality cartridges,
but they're just not making it to consumers here in the U.S.

This makes no sense considering Eley owns ARA (as well as KSS) and has a pretty big presence in RFBR in the US. With the growth of other rimfire shooting disciplines why would you hold back good ammo and limit your sales?

Or, shipping/warehouse conditions are degrading cartridge quality.
Temperature swings and humidity are not friendly to powder/primer stability/burn rates.

Was never a problem years ago with Eley and I don't see why the US distribution would change how the ammo is stored. It's also not a problem for Lapua.

 

My real question is where is all this wonderful ammunition? What are the problems with each type and brand? Why are we having all these issues with this fodder? Have not had these trials prior to a few years ago. This was all plentiful and good to great shooting.

 

PW, shipping since COVID has taken longer.
More time on board ships as it takes longer to load/unload.
No air conditioning at sea, exposure to heat and humidity increases.

Demand in Europe has increased also.
Only so much supply available to satisfy the market.
Dole production out as best they can.
Increased production rate affects quality.
You can make it fast or make it good. Pick one.

Any other possibilities I've missed?

 

Si the shipping thing effects just Eley? Yeah that doesn't fly

The European demand effects only Eley too? I'm pretty sure I've read top European RFBR shooters are shooting Lapua and occasionally RWS. So that doesn't work either

What else you got?

 

It's all I got PW.
To what do you attribute the apparent drop in quality?
Is it folks expecting more than rimfire can deliver?
We do like to complain when reality doesn't match expectations.

 

To what do you attribute the apparent drop in quality?

I wish I had the answers but I don't. Some people have said Lapua's upped their game. While I think that's true I still think Eley's not as good as it used to be overall

I've always been a fan of Eley. I'd sure love to see them produce ammo that's more competitive with Lapua

 

Did I read some where that Eley is under
new ownership?? Yes No

 

at cz453 My real question is where is all this wonderful ammunition? What are the problems with each type and brand? Why are we having all these issues with this fodder? Have not had these trials prior to a few years ago. This was all plentiful and good to great shooting.

Here it is: ELEY Tenex Ammunition 22 Long Rifle (500) - Whidden Gunworks

 

Is it so much a drop in Eley quality, or have they been stagnant while others have made improvements?

 

It all depends on how well you want to shoot. If you want to have any chance of actually winning in ARA Unlimited you are facing a serious challenge shooting Eley Match or Tenex.

 

I think Eley Target and Club have a hard time beating boring old CCI SV on a consistent basis. I'm sure the lot numbers have a lot to do with Eley as well as the CCI. I jump to SK Pistol Match for $9.00 and I feel that I get what i pay for with that jump. And I'm happy with that. My Anschutz rifles seem to give a harder bolt close on the CCI.

 

First I’m not a professional bench shooter, but I do shoot a lot of eley. Contact, force and black box. I buy from killoughs and I love it. I have not had any of the issues some are having. but I’m still measuring in tenths and hundredths not thousandths so there may be a difference. there are just so many variables in rimfire that it really has to be a big measurable difference for me to dump It.
disclaimer: All the above is just my opinion.