words of wisdom.....
Harry makes several very good points about the current situation regarding the new Lapua. I would like to add my perspective.
While it is a no brainer that each lot of ammunition will shoot differently in each rifle, remember that Lapua promised a 25-50% improvement in accuracy? If that was the case, even a lousy lot of Lapua Xact should have been on par with Eley Black or Tennex.
Yes, there are shooters in all smallbore disciplines that are able to afford this ammunition with the notion that they are happy to win at all cost.
But what if the ULITMATE cost is that smallbore is priced out of existence?
I'm talking about benchrest, prone, 3-position, 4-position, silhouette...every discipline that consumes a large segment of all .22 caliber match ammunition sold by the major manufacturers.
If all shooters are willing to pay for ammunition at this price - and from inital reviews with no performance improvement - why wouldn't Eley just say "
BOHICA" and up the price for their match ammunition to equal that of Lapua? Market pricing folks...it happens more than you think.
What is more scary is that, if it is true, some vendors have already "sold out" of the new Lapua. (Personally, I find this hard to believe and think this is more of a marketing ploy that they are "sold out" so quickly to further boost the notion that shooters are DUMB enough to pay that much for ammunition...no matter how good it performs.)
Alas..I digress.... The initial rush to even try 50 rounds of this ammunition at about $26/box is a sad state of affairs.
Maybe I am wrong, but every true competitive shooter should really take a step back and ask if buying this ammunition and supporting this ammo-lust mentality is really worth the death of the sport that they love.
I personally won't even give Lapua or any of their vendors who attempt to anally rape shooters any consideration for this ammunition whatsoever. Let this stuff rot on the shelves. While I am not happy about the current price of Eley or RWS, Lapua has gone over the line.
REAL shooters don't need ammunition that costs $26/box to win rifle matches.
Ken Benyo
2007 National Civilian Prone Champion