[sarge912]

For those who have been following the thread on finding .22lr, KCJR1125 has been providing helpful links http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=339194
One was for CCI Tactical 22 LR ammo from Cabela's that did not have the usual 1 box per order, limit.
I managed to pick up about 2100 rounds. It wasn't cheap (about .08 a round) but, from what I understand, it was supposed to be very reliable stuff, optimized for semi-auto, magazine fed, hi-cap rifles.
I had previously tried the Winchester M*22, supposedly with the same optimization. It was okay but we experienced occasional duds or over powered rounds (there was a recall eventually for the second issue)

Anyway, since I am a big CCI fan for .22, I decided to give it a try anyway.
I ran it in my most finicky .22, a Ruger 512. It is very accurate but does experience the occasional failure. I also ran some through my Heritage Arms Rough Rider, which is very reliable and, with most ammo, very decent accuracy. (It loves Mini-Mags and Aguila Super Maximum)

The AR Tactical was very reliable in both. My problem was with the consistency of accuracy. I would touch three rounds and then one with fly off a half inch to the upper right, touch four and then get another flier. This happened with both handguns. I tried some of the Federal Lightening that I normally use with the 512 and would touch all 10, switch back to the CCI and get fliers about 80% of the time.

The next time I go I will take along a couple of rifles, including my 10-22 (great shooter that handles almost anything) and my Henry Lever action which is my most accurate .22 rifle. I will also try my Ruger Mark II, which is my most accurate .22 pistol.

Feeding and firing :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
accuracy :thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

Anyone else had much experience with this round?
It is 40 fps slower than the Mini-Mag 40 grain but I didn't really notice much drop at all, with the exception of one round that seemed a little light and went about 1/2 inch low at 25 feet.

 

[HandLoad]

Thanks for the review!

Somebody had to go and have fun shooting!

 

[Sal4liberty]

My boys shot 300 of them today with no failure to fires or failure to feeds , in two stevens model 62 , and a Marlin Model 7000

cant say much on accuracy because they are just learning to shoot on the new rifles they got for x-mas and we were trying to get them scoped in

They did seem much cleaner and hotter then the 15 year old winchester wildcats we also shot lol

 

[NHCraigT]

My Experience:

I have a "few" of those AR Tactical 22LR Packs = They were purchased pre-madness, and they are all 375 count. (BTW- No issues at all)


The packaging change to the 300 count Box is a bit interesting.

 

[ommega]

Did you ever get a chance to try the Aguila SSS Sniper SubSonic rounds?
They are extremely quiet in an extra long gun to where they sound like a BB gun but pack the punch of a 60 gr. Chuck of lead.

 

[HandLoad]

Yeah, I've shot the SSSs! Just like shooting the 500 grain bullets in .45/70! Lots a holdover, and .....wait for it.....Whack!

Fun!

 

[sarge912]

My boys shot 300 of them today with no failure to fires or failure to feeds , in two stevens model 62 , and a Marlin Model 7000

cant say much on accuracy because they are just learning to shoot on the new rifles they got for x-mas and we were trying to get them scoped in

They did seem much cleaner and hotter then the 15 year old winchester wildcats we also shot lol

I agree that they were very clean and reliable. I forgot to mention that they were very clean shooters. :thumb:

My only complaint was that they did not seem to be consistent. Not a big problem when shooting paper. Less fun when shooting bunnies.

 

[sarge912]

Back to the range today with my Henry .22 Lever Action, My Ruger 10-22 with BX-25 magazines, my Henry Mini-Bolt and my Ruger Mark II tack driver.

After several hundred rounds I have reached the conclusion that about one in 7 or one in 8 rounds is just a little hotter than the rest. About one in 50 is a little lower.
At 25 meters, all of my rifles were about 1/2 inch out (still "minuet of squirrel")
I also ran numerous controls using my favorite everyday .22, Federal .22 Lightening. which is also 40 grain, RN, but pushing about 40 FPS different.

The CCI seems to be definitely cleaner. Both the Federal and the CCI are very consistent feeding and firing. Shooting very fast, through the BX-25 is flawless with the CCI, I have had, on rare occasion, a hang up with the Lightening.
The CCI just seems 'slicker' but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.
In order of preference IMHO
1. CCI Mini-Mags (both the HP and then RN have worked great in everything we own.)
2. Federal Lighenting RN
3. CCI Tactical
4. Winchester M*22

Sidebar: The very best .22 ammo that I have ever shot was the Aguila Super Maximum Ammunition 22 Long Rifle 30 Grain Hyper Velocity Plated Lead Hollow Point . I don't know how it holds up on small game but it is tack sharp out of my Mark II and just a joy to shoot. YMMV

 

[Eagle Armory]

Good reviews . I wondered if those would be worth the extra $$ over standard 22 ammo or not and if there would be any difference between them. I'll have to keep an eye out for some next time I am at the store and try to pickup a box or two.

 

[Hammer5513]

I agree with the accuracy part of your review. I have never received consistent results from any CCI except their shorts. However, I can live with the lack of accuracy if they continue to run clean and feed well, which they always do.

 

[sarge912]

Good reviews . I wondered if those would be worth the extra $$ over standard 22 ammo or not and if there would be any difference between them. I'll have to keep an eye out for some next time I am at the store and try to pickup a box or two.

Only worth it to me if nothing else is available or if I had a picky firearm.
For a time, recently, I was getting Mini-mags a lot cheaper than bulk ammo. Hence, I picked up a lot of the Mini-Mags. :

 

[stuckinVa]

For finicky guns who only seem to "like" mini-mags, these will also fill that role. I've shot a couple thousand of these and all of my 22's love them.

Surprisingly, being bulk ammo, these are very clean. However, the accuracy is not as solid as others have said as well.

I've used these in multiple silhouette shoots and for hunting without issues. But my father won't use them for his competition pistols.

 

[DocRob]

I have a Ruger 10/22 TD in a modified Tapco stock and the only ammo that grouped well for me was the CCI AR tactical. I zeroed my rifle at 50 yards and can put 10 shots inside of a quarter. I have tried CCI mini-mag 36 gr hp, CCI sub-sonic 40gr, rem golds 36 gr hp, rem thunderbolts 36 gr hp, federal 36gr hp, and they all had 1.5-2.5 inch groups. I used the same rifle with all of them. I also had the rifle secured to a rifle rest while shooting so it wouldn't move. YMMV

 

[jungleexplorer]

I am in the process of make a video review about budget 22 ammo. I pitted five popular 22 budget rounds head to head using my 10/22 as the test rifle. The AR Tactical was one of the five and did very well. I can't remember the stats right now because it was several days ago that I shot the video, but when I get it done and upload to youtube, I will post a link here.