SR22 range report

[Ckilner]

I took my SR22 out for the second time. First time out, I put 200 rounds of CCI Mini Mags and was shooting at 5-7 yards. The CCI cycled great. This time out, I brought a screwdriver to adjust the sight and shot the CCI from 15 yards using a rest... and the ammo did not group well, but OK enough for gross sight adjustment.

I then shot the rest of the 100 pack from 10 yards and was getting 3-5" groupings. I then ran two clips of Federal Target (1080fps) and two clips of Remington Viper through the SR22 from 10 yards.

The Federal Target shot not noticeably softer, with almost no recoil. The third round was my first FTE and rounds 4-5 ejected but failed to feed. I then realized how the low recoil had caused me to soften my grip. Firming my grip got me through the first magazine and the second without any more problems. I therefore think the problems were mostly from limp wristing a lower velocity round (prior to full break-in). Accuracy of the Federal Target was outstanding (for my capabilities): 1 1/2-2" groups at 10 yards.

The Vipers cycled fine and returned 2" groups at 10 yards.

These groups were so much better than the CCI Mini Mags that I loaded another clip with them and shot another two groups - and I got noticeably poorer groups at 4-5".

Anyone else having accuracy issues with the Mini Mags?

 

[bagdadjoe]

I just picked up a new to me SR22 last Friday and it will go down the road next weekend. Accuracy was pretty dismal with PMC Target, Yellow Jackets and Remington golden bullets. Didn't even bother to go to the 25 yard line which is where I usually start. Was trying a Charter 44 at 10 yards and it was even more accurate... Also had several failures to fire, which is even more unacceptable than the accuracy. I've read rave reviews about them but this particular piece was a no-go. I'll be looking for another to see if I just got an atypical one.

 

[Ckilner]

Like I said, I think my failures were caused by limp-wristing with weak rounds. With a proper grip, the SR22 has been perfect, and excluding Mini Mags, the accuracy has been as good as my capabilities. I'm surprised that a revolver with a 2.5" barrel outshot the SR22 (unless there was a stiff breeze, where the 44 bullets wouldn't drift).

Ultimately, the CCI Mini Mags cycle so well through the gun, that I'm not going to stop buying/using them - many owners recommend breaking in the gun (500+ rounds) with them.

I've seen a few other SR22 owners at the range, and they all loved the gun (the word "fun" and big grins were the common factor). None had problems with standard or higher velocity ammo. Most thought the accuracy was good for a short 3.5" barrel.

My first time out I was also shooting a 22/45 Lite from 7 yards. With the CCI, it printed 1-2" groups when the SR22 was getting 2-3" groups (rapid fire and double-taps for both guns). With the non-CCI ammo this time out, I got 22/45-like accuracy from the SR22 at a longer distance (I wonder if the 22/45 would have shot even better with the non-CCI ammo?).

Conversely, I shot the CCI Mini Mags and the Federal Target from my dad's 60 year old Mossberg 146b rifle ... I could have driven a tack with the CCI ammo, but the slower Federal Target drifted too much over the 100 yards, hitting all over the 15" plate.

I found a few youtube videos that have also found better accuracy from the SR22 with certain rounds, with the CCI Mini Mags generally doing the poorest in accuracy.