{"id":2199,"date":"2023-11-08T07:34:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T07:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammoman.com\/blog\/?p=2199"},"modified":"2023-11-08T17:35:38","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T17:35:38","slug":"22-match-ammo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammoman.com\/blog\/22-match-ammo\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best 22 Match Ammo"},"content":{"rendered":"

.22 Long Rifle (or .22LR for short) is the closest we have to a \u201cdo it all\u201d cartridge. From hunting for small game, to plinking, to target practice, to (limited) use in self-defense, it\u2019s probably the most versatile cartridge on the market today. However, just like other larger calibers, not all .22LR ammunition is created equal.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, when it matters most – what are your best options for accurate, 22LR match ammo?<\/p>\n

Our Picks – Best 22LR Match Ammo<\/h2>\n

1.) Eley Club and Eley Match<\/h3>\n

Eley’s Club<\/a> offers elite performance at a slightly lower price point than their top of the line Eley Match<\/a> line-up of 22LR rounds. Eley produces ammo that’s considered among the finest in the world but you’ll likely notice it’s more expensive than match rounds produced by other manufacturers. In a lot of ways, you get what you pay for. In the match world, what’s another couple pennies per round if performance really matters?<\/p>\n

2.) Aguila Match Ammo<\/h3>\n

While not the most notorious ammo producer, Aguila’s rimfire performance is notable and quite respected. In our tests, the Super Extra<\/a> and Aguila Match<\/a> rounds both performed admirably. The ammo consistently groups and cycles well. Relative to the Eley, the performance is comparable and the price point is typically a little lower.<\/p>\n

3.) Federal Automatch<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Federal<\/p>\n

Federal Automatch is one of the most common match rounds out there for 22LR shooters. Its performance is good but not excellent compared to the other top-end match loads out there. If you want something out of the box you can trust for reliable performance and minimal chance of cycling headaches, Federal AutoM atch is a great choice.<\/p>\n

From here, we’ll explain a little bit about what makes match ammo different and how we arrived at our picks. We’ll include independent test results from two shooters, Kevin Creighton and Oleg Volk. Read on to hear what firearms they used and how various 22LR rounds performed for them at the range.<\/p>\n

What Makes .22 Match Ammo Better Than Standard Rounds?<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not so much that the components in a round of .22 match ammo are different than in a normal .22 round, it\u2019s consistency that sets it apart.<\/p>\n

Bullets\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

.22 Match ammo typically has bullets that are shaped the same as bullets inside of a standard .22 round. For the most part, the bullets used in .22 match-quality ammunition are lead, round-nosed projectiles that are not designed to expand on impact. There are exceptions to this, though, such as Federal\u2019s HV Match round. The HV load is both higher-quality and <\/span>designed to open up on impact<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cases\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

As with centerfire match ammunition, more care and attention is put into making the brass for a round of .22 match ammunition. Also, the bullet seating depth (how far the round is pushed into the top of the case) is more consistent than with standard .22 ammunition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Powder\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

A round of .22 match ammo will have a more consistent powder charge than a normal .22 round.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why use .22 Match Ammunition?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The primary reason for .22 match ammunition is right there in the name: matches. Competition shooting is the main reason to use this ammo over standard .22 ammunition. .22 match-grade ammo is the ammunition of choice for all kinds of competition, from the fast-growing sport of <\/span>.22 Precision Rifle<\/span><\/a> to <\/span>Rimfire Challenge<\/span><\/a> to regional Smallbore Rifle matches to <\/span>high-level Olympic competitions<\/span><\/a>. But just how good is .22 match ammo versus standard .22 ammunition?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s find out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To test the quality of .22 ammunition, we shot a variety of different \u201cmatch\u201d rounds through a Savage B-22 rifle that has been extensively upgraded by <\/span>savagegunsmithing.com<\/span><\/a>. Using a target that was fifty yards away, we shot four five-round groups of each type of ammo and measured each group center to center. We also measured the velocity of the ammo using a Pro Chrony chronograph set up at the muzzle. We recorded the minimum and maximum velocities of each type of ammo. In addition, we measured the standard deviation of the velocities to determine the consistency of each type of ammo. A lower standard deviation means more consistent velocities. This, in turn, means more consistent results on the range.<\/span><\/p>\n

We tested six different types of .22 match ammo, and then compared them to a high-quality, \u201cstandard\u201d .22 round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\".22<\/a>

The Aguila .22 Match ammo turned in the tightest group of all our ammo<\/p><\/div>\n

The match-grade rounds we tested were:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n