That's gotta hurt when it's a whole case!! But if you want to keep vetting the Center-x I could help, see if our B14-R's are twins. 😇

 

I got two cases of the same lot of center-x and it shoots lights out in both of my Bergara's. I'm not even going to complain about the Pistol King, in fact I just ordered more of it this morning, I'm still concerned with what is going to happen to prices. The rifle match isn't a big deal and like I say I plan another rifle after the first of the year and hope it will shoot it better. If nothing else it works good to season a barrel after a good cleaning.

 

My last order included six cases of SK RM. One of my cases is a contender for the title of "Worst lot of SK RM EVER" and the next one I opened is the best ever I've had ... SK or Lapua. Our lots numbers do not match.

 

Thank you for the response. Curious the last five numbers of your lot.

I got two cases of 20213 early this year and it shows to be made on the 14th day of 2024 and it shoots great.

 

I have a brick of the 12559/12494 I bought to test. Haven't shot it out of my rifles yet but, we shot it through my wife's pistols in a, machine rest. It wasn't the best but it was far from the worst...I think it was dead in the middle of the pack of the 12 varieties of ammo we tried. SK pistol match and standard + both shot better. It out shot every variety of Eley except match and it barely out shot CCI SV.

 

You got a primo gun workbench!

 

Yes, he sure is lucky.., if I made a mess like that in the kitchen, my wife would drag me out back the wood shed...

 

13244 @Max

 

I'd like to suggest that you give SK Semi-Auto Rifle a try. Some of the guys I shoot with have had good luck with SK Rifle Match but not so much lately. I've had better results from SK Pistol Match and Pistol Match Special. SK Semi-Auto Rifle has also been better than Rifle Match.

About 10 days ago I bought a new CZ-457 MTR. A Jard 3 ~ 6 oz trigger has been installed, the barrel grub screws torqued to 35 ip and a Weaver T-36 scope mounted. Yesterday I shot 5 shot groups with both SK Rifle Match and SK Semi-Auto Rifle. The Rifle Match was lot 13458/12311. I shot 10 rounds to season the bore and then shot 5, 5 shot groups at 50 yards from the bench. Range conditions were upper 60's, sunshine and a variable wind. I had flags out and tried to shoot when there was little or no air moving. It was tricky at times as the wind was a bit squirrely.

SK Rifle Match. Five groups of 5 shots each.
Avg. group = .571"
Two groups under .5" and three over
Largest group = .737"
Smallest group = .334"

Then I shot 15 groups with SK Semi-Auto.
Avg group = .464"
Nine groups under .5" and 6 groups over
Largest group = .620"
Smallest group = .245"

I'll be testing other cartridges but for now I'm learning the rifle.

 

Thanks for your input, I do currently have a smorgasbord of different ammunition’s including pistol match, standard plus, long range and some pistol match special. I’ve also had very good luck with pistol match ammunition and great luck with RWS ammunition including some Norma. The only thing I’ve never had any luck with is Eley but I believe it’s due to my rifles.

 

Years ago when I started in BR competition, (2004) every body talked up Wolf Match Target and I bought a brick. (Made by SK back then) It shot wonderful and had a velocity spread of 27 FPS. So I bought a full case still made by SK and it was horrible. That lot had a velocity spread of 80 FPS. I keep saying, isn't the velocity speed that wins matches, it is velocity spread.

 

In the early 1990's, after the Berlin Wall came down and East Germany opened up, I bought a large amount of Wolf Match Target in 500 round cans. I paid $13 a can. Made in East Germany, that stuff shot lights out; some of the most accurate .22LR cartridges I've ever shot at any price. In time it gained a well deserved reputation for accuracy.

I'm not sure when thigs changed but once ownership of Wolf switched, the quality went downhill. I suspect it was intentional as the East German cartridges were as good as much higher priced Western European cartridges. Today I won't buy it. After years of shooting a "Cheap Ammo" match at our club, about the only brand you'll find on our benches is SK. No one shoots Wolf as it simply isn't good enough.

 

Some SK lots will be much better than others. Keep in mind, however, that all SK ammos should be considered "entry level" match ammo. This means they are not made or meant to be something else.

Lapua Midas is a top tier ammo, second only to X-Act among what Lapua offers. Midas can have variation from one box to the next within the same lots, both over the chronograph and most importantly on the targets. In other words, not all boxes of M from the same lots are equally consistent.

If this is true of Midas, consider what's possible for much less expensive SK ammos.

To illustrate with some chrony numbers, a few years ago when I first began to chronograph .22LR ammo, I tested eight boxes from the same lot of SK Rifle Match using the same rifle. From this small sample, the ES figures per box ranged from 35 fps to 64 fps. SD values ranged from eight to fourteen.

The bottom line is that the potential for SK ammos to have considerable performance variation within a lot is considerable. The result is that there can be some very nice results mixed in with some that no one writes home about.

Below are some ten-shot group targets at 100 using that lot from a few years ago. These were shot two days apart in October 2021.

 

Some SK lots will be much better than others. Keep in mind, however, that all SK ammos should be considered "entry level" match ammo. This means they are not made or meant to be something else.

Lapua Midas is a top tier ammo, second only to X-Act among what Lapua offers. Midas can have variation from one box to the next within the same lots, both over the chronograph and most importantly on the targets. In other words, not all boxes of M from the same lots are equally consistent.

If this is true of Midas, consider what's possible for much less expensive SK ammos.

I fully understand that SK Rifle Match is far from top tier ammunition. However I expect it to shoot better than CCI-SV does.

 

Unless you lot test it's really just an ammo lottery. One of my fellow shoots got a case of Lapua Center X about 5 years back and is now just trying to shoot it . This is the worst Lapua Center X i have ever seen. He gave me a box to try and in my CZ 457 with 23in Lilja the AVG in a 25 shot string went from a low of 739 to a high of 977 FPS. The SD and ES was off the chart bad. It won't cycle a 10-22 and semi pistol either. I have 2 bricks of SK and both shoot right up with the current brick of Center X I have.
This is why I lot test before buying more then a brick.

 

I fully understand that SK Rifle Match is far from top tier ammunition. However I expect it to shoot better than CCI-SV does.

Everyone who's shot it understands SK RM is far from top tier.

The point is that even within the same lot, the ammo can often be quite dissimilar. The same applies to CCI SV. Regardless of lot, it doesn't all shoot the same (monolithically).

I have a couple of bricks of SK Pistol Match Special coming that I'm hopeful will do well in our "Cheap Ammo" Match. If it does, I'll look for more of the same lot. ...

But, of course, your contention that results will vary from lot to lot and from box to box ia true.

Ammo that has considerable potential to vary within a lot has a good chance to disappoint sooner or later.

 

This whole forum should be called Rimfire Truth. If not for the input of fellows talking about the agony and ecstasy of the 22 lr and ammunition variation, I would never had known. Once I discovered the Truth, shooting rimfire has become a passion within a realistic goal. However, I will say, you can buy accuracy with more expensive ammunition. That’s up to you.

 

will say, you can buy accuracy with more expensive ammunition. That’s up to you.

While some brands are more consistent and the more expensive ammunition can be better just buying expensive ammunition IMHO doesn’t guarantee good results. I probably stock about as much ammunition as most people including a great deal of Lapua and RWS. I got some Midas+ last year that was okay but certainly not great. RWS R50 is the only top tier that so far all of it I’ve gotten shoots great. I’m currently hoarding my last half case of R50 though.

 

I have some of this lot. I shot it against another lot of SK RM in my Kimber K22 Hunter a month or so ago. The 12494 shot slightly better than the other lot. Of course I am not a good shooter, so the difference could likely just be me. The bottom of the target is the 12494 and the top is the other lot.

 

I have some of this lot. I shot it against another lot of SK RM in my Kimber K22 Hunter a month or so ago. The 12494 shot slightly better than the other lot. Of course I am not a good shooter, so the difference could likely just be me. The bottom of the target is the 12494 and the top is the other lot.

Thank you. This is why I posted this thread to find out how this lot shoots for others.

Playing with it yesterday I decided to wipe some of the excess lube off that is on this lot. When I did I discovered that on about 30% of the ammunition that the bullet was loose and turned in the case. I wiped them off, twisted them all until they reached a tight spot and then loaded them. The ammunition performed much better after I did that. I plan to play with it more as I only shot about 150 rounds of it yesterday. Today a case of Pistol King arrives and I’m anxious to try it as the seller still has other cases if it shoots good.

 

I really enjoy rimfire, but every time I read posts like this I get more disenchanted. When your talking about $1000-$1500 cases of ammo that won’t outshot some of the $300-$500 a case stuff, that’s very aggravating. It’s like a roll of the dice every time you buy. At an investment that can exceed the cost of known quality equipment and satisfaction guarantees. Lot testing seems to be about the only alternative to buying poor performing ammo. But that’s an area I haven’t delved into yet. I have had good luck with medium grade stuff and not a lot options for lot testing.

Buying ammo second had at premium prices is tough when the sales pitch is “ It didn’t shoot in my gun. “🤷‍♂️

And when it’s competitive, if the seller is shooting against you, you get shut down on any resupply. 😂

 

I really enjoy rimfire, but every time I read posts like this I get more disenchanted. When your talking about $1000-$1500 cases of ammo that won’t outshot some of the $300-$500 a case stuff, that’s very aggravating. It’s like a roll of the dice every time you buy. At an investment that can exceed the cost of known quality equipment and satisfaction guarantees. Lot testing seems to be about the only alternative to buying poor performing ammo. But that’s an area I haven’t delved into yet. I have had good luck with medium grade stuff and not a lot options for lot testing.

Buying ammo second had at premium prices is tough when the sales pitch is “ It didn’t shoot in my gun. “🤷‍♂️

And when it’s competitive, if the seller is shooting against you, you get shut down on any resupply. 😂

I can assure you that for the most part my luck with SK and Lapua have been good. I started this thread really to get feedback from others. This lot was made very recently so I was as much concerned with QC possibly slipping as production demands were rising.

 

I understand, I am currently on a list in hopes of getting a case of SK long range. I really need something competitive for 50 and 100 yard matches, I feel like I get a little better results at 100 yards with the long range match than the Rifle match, so I am going to try that route.

I sure hope it’s a good batch or I’m gonna be pretty much out on pouring much more money down the well. I like competing but the ammo deal is getting to be a hassle. I have the equipment to be moderately competitive but with ammo throwing a couple fliers per box it’s not really worth the effort unless you want to call it recreation.

 

I've never had a lot of SK RM that knocked me out. I rarely buy it these days.
No hate here for SK in general: I still keep SK LR in my personal stock (when it can be had around $11 or $12 per 50). When it was readily available, I used to snag a brick or two or three of Biathlon, and I think I've still got 2 bricks in the deep stash.
SK flavors can be quite nice at their price. However, while I know there are those here who frown on the "My rifle likes ..." school of thought, I've never had a lot of SK RM that knocked me out through any good .22lr I've owned.
Nothing scientific about my experience, really; I've shot such a limited amount of the red box SK, I may have just never stumbled upon an exceptional lot.

 

I had one very good brick of RM, as soon as I tested it, I called to see if I could get more, unfortunately it was all gone. I have had several bricks that were accurate but randomly threw one bullet out of a .250” 4 shot group, some times as much as a half inch.

It’s ok for fun groups but will hurt you bad for score when you give up 10 points on unexpected fliers.

I have had some Rifle Match that was better at 50 yards than LR. But the last brick of SKLR was pretty good, I won a few club matches with it at 50 and 100. It was a couple years old bought from a fellow shooter.

 

Well to test this lot on another rifle I broke down today and ordered a Vudoo they had already built. I spoke with Chris at Vudoo and they agreed to change the trigger and the scope base so I got a 22" Bartlein that was in there "The Rack". Hopefully it arrives around turkey day and I can see how this lot does in a completely different rifle. I had several other 22lr rifles but I gave them all to my brother and grandkids earlier this year so I didn't have anything except the Bergaras to try it.

 

I have shot quite a bit of SK over the years in different flavors, I have just about given up on it completely for all the flyers. Someone said SK is like Cracker Jacks, there's a surprise in ever box. In my experience lately, it's several surprises.

 

I weight-sort to 0.2gr anything less than Tennex or Midas+. Everything else has flyers (in my experience). YMMV.

 

I haven't looked into the "new" long range stuff but I have trouble trying to imagine what they could do to it to "make it long range". From 2004 through 2014 I shot 60 matches in long range BR silhouette matches and won 45 out of 60. These matches are shot at 65, 75, 100, 150 and 200 meters (219 yards). They are generally won or lost by your score at 150 and 200 meters. If you aren't hitting 8 or 9 targets at those ranges, in general, you have no chance of winning. On a good day my groups at that range are MOA. At 200 meters the best place to hit the coyote is the butt which is about 4 inches.

But at that range, a 1 MPH will cause a bullet to drift 1.5 inches and velocity changes more than 30 FPS can cause a high or low miss I have used and won with Eley EPS, Eley Match, Eley 10x and Lapua Midas. Depending on your barrel rifling configuration, wind will also cause a vertical deflection as well.

Every lot I ever shot in competition was tested against 3 other test lots at 50 yards, and the one I finally picked, by the target, not the velocity, always had less than 30 FPS velocity spreads. Avg Velocity ran from 1033 to 1052 in the lots I bought more of. I have said this a number of times. Velocity doesn't win matches, small velocity spread does.

I bought a couple of boxes of Wolf MT (Made by SK) that had a velocity spread of 21 FPS. Bought a whole case that had a spread of 80 FPS. Guess which one was junk. It it for this reason that Joe buys a box of X and it "shoots lights out". Bob buys a box of X and "It was junk".

 

I haven't looked into the "new" long range stuff but I have trouble trying to imagine what they could do to it to "make it long range". From 2004 through 2014 I shot 60 matches in long range BR silhouette matches and won 45 out of 60. These matches are shot at 65, 75, 100, 150 and 200 meters (219 yards).

"Long range" in today's 22LR matches is no longer 200yd/m (I shoot 22BPCR - not benchrest - chickens are shot off-hand and that's where the winner wins - no one has yet gotten all ten in a 22BPCR match - at this year's nationals at Raton in July the winner got 14, but not 10-in-a-row).
300yd/m, and occasionally longer distances, are becoming the norm. That's where the 'long-range' ammo is aimed.

 

Max, I started a thread that we are talking about chambers and ammo on. You might find it helpful to you. If nothing else, you might gain knowledge, like I have, from some really knowledgeable people.
Eley, Lapua, or SK in a Hart barrel

 

I understand the chambering I believe. This thread was about a single case I purchased that doesn’t shoot similar to others I have purchased and I wanted to see how this one particular lot performed for others. Thanks though.

 

I really like SK but it can be inconsistent for me as well.

 

I did get a new Vudoo in today and got to shoot a box of this with the new rifle. It does shoot better with the Vudoo than it did with the Bergara. Still not great, at least it didn't produce a shotgun pattern.

 

Today I did some group testing with two rifles and SK Rifle Match, SK Semi-Auto Rifle and SK Pistol Match Special. Both rifle bores and chambers were deep cleaned prior to testing. Both rifles have Weaver 36X scopes on them.

The first rifle was my new CZ-457 MTR and I wasn't impressed with any of the three SK cartridges I tried in it. I did try 5 shots with Center-X and the group was pretty decent.

The second rifle is a Russian Izmash CM-2 full size rifle and it did pretty well with Rifle Match and Semi-Auto although I had too many fliers. It shot best with Pistol Match Special. I haven't measured the groups yet but I'm fairly certain that the PMS will average below .5 inches.

 

Max, I want to thank you for answering a question that no one else has been able to answer or at least show an example of. In your first post you show some groups shot with Center X and in your second post you say it is shooting lights out, If I read it correctly. So now I think I have a good idea of what "lights out" shooting looks like! From now on when someone says they are shooting lights out I will know what they mean.