Woods Bummin' Gun Part II

In the second round of ammunition testing I wanted to do a better accuracy test, a slow fire squeeze 'em off just to see if there was any big differences. I also wanted to document as much data as I could on each type. Just because it's a lowly .22 does not mean one can't learn from it. I'm a fan of documenting my shooting, it's another facet of it that is not only rewarding in the simple methodology but can also teach me things. To that end I have a data book for each of my rifles. Storm Tactical in this case, though I also use other versions. A book allows you to learn the ins and outs of a rifle, makes range time more productive and over time you accumulate information that will make you a better shooter. Storm Tactical also offers down loads of multiple different types of targets, many of which are for use with their data books. Great combination.

I'm a bag man, I admit it. Over the years I've accumulated closets full of bags, in this range excursion I used my TIB from One Source Tactical to carry ammo, mags, data book and assorted other sundries. OST is a great group of people to deal with, over the years I've never had a so much as a hick up with their service or products.

Couple of images from the range, above the scope and through it. Shooting was done from 75 yards, prone using a bi-pod. Scope is a Leupold Vari-X II 3x9x49. The camera was a little far back from the scope and doesn't show an accurate portrayal of the image normally seen by the eye. It was cloudy and damp, wind was nominal out of the west at about 3 to 5 miles per hour, 48 degrees.

I started with CCI Stinger 40grs and an advertised muzzle velocity of 1640fps. There was one flyer in the group, the rest were pretty much dead on, tearing a single ragged hole. All groups were seven rounds each.

Next up was Winchesters Hyper Speed Hollow Points, 40grs at a stated muzzle velocity of 1435fps. This was a seven round group as well.

Remington Yellow Jacket, 33grs and a stated velocity of 1500fps. I had hoped for better out of this round, I've been shooting it in .22s since I was a boy, this Marlin 925 however, does not like this round. Worst group of all the test ammo.

Winchester Varmint HE, 37gr segmented round with a stated velocity of 1435fps. The segmented bullets from both Winchester and CCI are basically 3 segments designed to separate on entry, creating 3 exit wounds. In the limited testing I've done so far this is bearing out, the rounds are absolutely devastating and create large exits. Not the round to use if you're looking to maximize meat take and or preserve the pelt. It's going to leave major damage on both counts.  More on this in phase III of the testing. Four of the rounds were nearly same hole, 3 flyers, could have been me though.

CCI Segmented 32grs, muzzle velocity 1640fps. Not the tightest group but not bad either. This is basically the same thing as the Winchester Varmint HE, CCI claims theirs is roughly 200fps faster. I have my doubts though without a chronograph I can't confirm. I know I held in the same spot, I would have expected another 200fps to have resulted in impacts higher than the Winchester round, this did not happen, even though the Winchester rounds are heavier by 5grs.

CCI Segmented 40gr Subsonic. I really like subsonic ammunition, much quieter, so much so I can hear the bullet impact the target. It's much slower than all the other ammunition tests with a stated muzzle velocity at 1050fps. Knowing this in advance I held on the top black triangle of the main diamond. This resulted in impacts to the target between 3.5 and 3.75 inches below the point of aim. The group wasn't bad over all, three flyers.

The only other subsonic ammunition in my test is the Remington Subsonic, 38grs and a stated muzzle velocity of 1050fps. Normally I shoot fairly good groups with this ammunition, today's groups as a bit wide left to right. In this case I held about 3.5 inches above where you see the impacts, same as the CCI Subsonics.

So far I've only found one dog of the bunch, the Remington Yellow Jackets are now out of the running. Similarly the Federals from phase one are no longer in the running either. Second set of accuracy testing for Remington Viper, CCI SGB, Winchester Power Point, and a few others will wrap up soon. More to come!

A Backwoods Bum Gun...(Part One of a Series)

Any Backwoods Bum worth his salt has tramped field & forest with a handy rifle slung over the shoulder. I am no exception though whether or not I am worth might salt might indeed be open to debate. While there's always the classic deer rifle during hunting season, the gauge during duck season, each season there is a calling I guess. Still, there's always a use for a .22.

The .22 LR, low cost, virtually no recoil, relatively quiet and abundant, it is one of if not the most popular cartridge in the world. Its origins can be traced to 1847, and commercial production in 1857. Pest control, plinking, firearms introduction training, small game hunting, the list of uses is quite extensive.

I've had one since I was young boy, the models and types have changed over the years but there's always one in the cabinet. Most recently a Marlin 925 became a pet project, new glass, bipod, DIY paint, and a trigger job. It's fun to shoot and quite accurate if I do my part.

In the process of zeroing the rifle, I was intrigued by the vast assortment of ammunition types available. I'd read in multiple locations about how some rifles were more or less accurate across the ammunition spectrum, I decided to try several different types of ammunition in order to figure out what my 925 liked best.

Part one of this multi-part series is primarily focused on initial accuracy out of the box, reliability, and consistency. Having read quite a few articles on the various types I settled on sixteen different types, I know, that's a lot but I didn't see a reason not to test as much of what's out there as possible. Some are by the same manufacturer, just a different flavor.

Ammunition types pictured above, CCI Stinger was left out of the picture by accident.

Four types from Winchester, five types from CCI, four types from Remington, two from Federal and one from Fiocchi.

**I am not a scientist, and I don't play one online, my tests are probably not following any kind of established criteria. I'm also not a professional firearm or ammunition tester, nor a ballistics expert. I'm a guy who likes to shoot and reload ammunition. I figure that needed to be said before we get started in order to avoid all the commentary that will come regarding how I should have done it differently etc. **

For phase one all I'm doing is shooting prone at 65 yards. I'm not trying to squeeze any extra accuracy. Just holding on the same spot and shooting four rounds of each ammunition type. Again, these are four shot groups, each set fired relatively quickly.

*There was one exception to this, the first set of CCI Stinger ammunition, a total of twelve rounds were fired instead of the four.

The targets are pretty simple.

Phase One Results are below, again, this set was not geared towards maximum accuracy. This is just a quick and dirty load 'em up and shoot them.

 CCI Stinger 32gr copper plated hollow point, claimed muzzle velocity of 1,640fps.

CCI  Segmented Hollow Point, 32gr copper plated hollow point, 1,640fps.

CCI Segmented Copper Plated Hollow Point, 40gr Subsonic, 1050fps.

Winchester 40gr copper plated hollow point, 1435fps.

Winchester Varmint HE 37gr, 1435fps.

Remington Viper, 36grs Truncated Solid Cone,  1410fps.

Remington Yellow Jacket, 33grs truncated cone hollow point, 1500fps.

 Fiocchi 40gr round nose copper plated.

Remington .22 Subsonic,38grs 1050fps.

Remington Golden Bullet,  36grs 1280fps.

CCI SGM (Small Game Bullet)  40gr lead flat nose, 1235fps.

CCI Blazer 40gr lead round nose.

 Winchester X22LRPP 40grs lead hollow point, 1235fps.

Winchester 40gr Power Point 1280fps.

Federal 38grs copper plated hollow point.

Federal 31grs copper plated hollow point.

There were no fail to fire cartridges in the bunch. Some of the groups are a little wide and I know if I was taking my time they'd all have tightened up. The Remington subsonic had a really nice group, as did the CCI Stinger and a couple of the Winchesters weren't too bad.

In the upcoming segments we'll be reviewing the specific uses of each type, hypersonic vs. high velocity, why subsonic, and the various projectile types, penetration, expansion and why you don't want to use certain types in certain circumstances.

Sometimes, you gotta indulge...

It's no secret that I'm spending a lot of time on the road, and any reader of this blog probably figured out a long time ago that I've got a weakness for road food.

Sometimes, you just have to indulge, so, if you ever find yourself in Menomonie Wisconsin, drop by Sparx Sports Bar and take a shot at the Monster. It's a quarterly stop for me, and I enjoy one of these every time.

Damn fine burger, though not for the faint of heart, it's 36 ounces of Angus beef.

An update of sorts...

As some of you know, there was a bit of a change in my life in early February, work related. I've committed myself to that and it's taking a considerable chunk of time out of my regular life. As a result I've not been able to get as much field time as I used to, and definitely not enough from my perspective.  I sincerely appreciate the messages and well wishes that I have received since my hiatus began. Sometimes as we tumble through life we don't realize how we are affecting others, truly rewarding when we become aware of that.

I hope to be back at it in the near future, with some new angles of approach. Bushcraft will remain the forte but several non-common articles are now in the works. I hope to bring them to light soon!

Thank you again to everyone who reached out, I really appreciate that.

See you in the woods...

Turkey Turkey Turkey

Down from the house today, tried imitating the hens and got them to gobble some. Turkeys are not supposed to be this far north, and this bunch might as well be tame for all the fear they showed for me.