I dont shoot rimfire so i really have no real concept about the ammo that you benchrest guys shoot, but i have always wondered why there is so many different types of Eley 22lr ammo. What really is the difference between the black box and red box and such. Whats different? Just curious. Lee
Rimfire ammo.. Eley??
- Thread starter skeetlee
- Start date
Pete Wass
Well-known member
Price, for one thing
. Someone who is more knowlwdgeable than me will answer, no doubt but as I understand it, the Back Box is suppose to be less consistent than the Red box and the Blue Box less consistent than the Black Box. I have shot some of all of the colors and I will say that regardless of the box color, the rifle has to like it to shoot it well. I had some Blue Box that was as good if not better than my Black Box stuff.
C
Carp
Guest
If I can interject just on the Eley part....I can say this....black box Match as a rule, is just as good as Tenex (red box). There are some really good blue box lots (Team) that have been available. It is an age-old opinion that the ammo is best, better and good as you move down the ladder. It's just opinion. Skeet, are you planning on trying rimfire out? If so, are you thinking Clark's Gun Range next week? I have a 40X, 4 groove Broughton, Shehane ST-1000, Weaver T-36X scope, 1011-04031 Eley Match (black box), and an extra one piece rest if you want to try it out. I cannot pay your entry fee....it is a club tournament (6 targets) probably $40 bucks. But I offer this rifle, rest and ammo if you want to try. It is tough enough to make you pull your hair out and easy enough to make you try again! LOL. Let me know.
John M. Carper
John M. Carper
H
Hambone
Guest
Price, for one thing
Like Pete and Carp said its mostly price and opinion. There will be batch's your rifle will shoot and batch's it wont across the colors. Your average Joe club shooter shooting your average Joe club shooter kit will be hard pushed to discern the difference between a good red box and a good black box on a match day over 50yrd. IMO less than 2% of the top scoring shooters are consistent enough to tell the difference reliably and repeatably under real time atmospheric conditions of wind, and heat etc.
bob finger
New member
As I understand it Eley strives to have all their ammo come off the machine as Red box. The lots that don't make the red box cut are put in black boxes and that which does not make that cut go into blue boxes. All three are made exactly the same and it is after manufacture testing that determines what is what. The other types of Eley such as club are made differently with different components so don't apply. bob
From my limited experience ALL red box has a bit more lube on the bullets than do black or blue. I think sometimes the lube on red box is too much. I have found excellent performance from more black and blue box than red box. If you buy blind you might get lucky once in a while. If you test extensively before purchasing case lots you stand a much better chance of finding some good stuff for your rifle. bob
From my limited experience ALL red box has a bit more lube on the bullets than do black or blue. I think sometimes the lube on red box is too much. I have found excellent performance from more black and blue box than red box. If you buy blind you might get lucky once in a while. If you test extensively before purchasing case lots you stand a much better chance of finding some good stuff for your rifle. bob
As related by the great Dan Killough:
"Here is how Eley does it.
Tenex, Match, and Team all comes off 6 different machines. Each box is labelled 1011-06031 then below that it will have the velocity. The 1011 is the product code and year stamp. 10 means it was loaded to be Tenex and the 11 means it was made in 2011. Match or Team will probably have the same 10** number to begin with because it was intended to be Tenex, but when testing was downgraded to Match or Team. The 06031 is the lot or batch number. In the U.S. we call it the lot, in England they call it a batch. 06 is the machine number and 031 is the lot. Most competitors would say "I am shooting lot 6031". A lot is produced as long as the machine is running. If the machine is shut down for any reason, then the next time it is restarted, a new lot number begins. Once the ammo is produced, it goes to the test range where it is shot indoors at 50M in 4 different factory Anschutz Rifles. 50 rounds is shot in each rifle for a total of 200 rounds. The group size and average velocity is calculated and if it meets the standard set for Tenex, then it goes in Tenex boxes. If it meets the standard for Match, then it goes into Match boxes. If it meets neither standard, then it goes into Team boxes. The best stuff is in Tenex boxes. Eley will not disclose what these standards are, but they assure me that they are periodically improving the standards. The Match of today would have been good enough for Tenex a few years ago. The velocity on the box is determined from the 200 rounds.
Hope this helps"
"Here is how Eley does it.
Tenex, Match, and Team all comes off 6 different machines. Each box is labelled 1011-06031 then below that it will have the velocity. The 1011 is the product code and year stamp. 10 means it was loaded to be Tenex and the 11 means it was made in 2011. Match or Team will probably have the same 10** number to begin with because it was intended to be Tenex, but when testing was downgraded to Match or Team. The 06031 is the lot or batch number. In the U.S. we call it the lot, in England they call it a batch. 06 is the machine number and 031 is the lot. Most competitors would say "I am shooting lot 6031". A lot is produced as long as the machine is running. If the machine is shut down for any reason, then the next time it is restarted, a new lot number begins. Once the ammo is produced, it goes to the test range where it is shot indoors at 50M in 4 different factory Anschutz Rifles. 50 rounds is shot in each rifle for a total of 200 rounds. The group size and average velocity is calculated and if it meets the standard set for Tenex, then it goes in Tenex boxes. If it meets the standard for Match, then it goes into Match boxes. If it meets neither standard, then it goes into Team boxes. The best stuff is in Tenex boxes. Eley will not disclose what these standards are, but they assure me that they are periodically improving the standards. The Match of today would have been good enough for Tenex a few years ago. The velocity on the box is determined from the 200 rounds.
Hope this helps"
H
Hambone
Guest
Hmmm........ a slight correction of the above is required.
Eley set out to produce Tennex. If the test sample fails to meet the standard deviations set for Tennex the batch goes into Match boxes, if it fails to meet the standard deviations for Match the batch goes into Team boxes. This doesn't mean that only the best stuff goes into Tennex boxes. It simply means that the quaility control mean standards are slightly higher for Tennex and so forth. Based upon a random sample of just 200.
Depending upon the production size of the batch will determine the possible proportion of the rounds that would have passed the Tennex standard. The bigger the batch the greater the % the smaller the batch the smaller the %. Such is the way with set size quality control testing when used as a means of determining quality in regards to volume batch production.The only other way is a predetermined random selection proportional % sample testing procedure.Whilst this ensures a more stringent quality assurance testing process it also adds to production costs. Not something that a manufacture of large volume, low cost per single unit products would be prepared to accept give that they sell all they produce.
Time to compare notes.....I have tried at least 15 different lots of tenex in the last year, and you can double that amount for the Eley match I have tried. What I have found is that I can have just as good or better luck finding good match ammo as I can tenex. If you buy tenex by the box, it costs 17.80 per box as compared to 12.25 per box of match. Not counting the shipping charges if shipped. So I ask my self. Why should I pay 17.80 when I can get just as good ammo for 12.25 per box? What boggles the mind is the fact that Eley charges so much more for the tenex, and yet it does not (always) stand out as the best ammo available. For 17.80 a box the tenex should stand out as the best ammo available from. From all my testing with 5 different (custom) rifles, I fail to see the tenex as the very best they have for that price. I do know,that if you can go to the Eley factory, you can test and walk away with some good shooting tenex. I do not have that option, so I am at the mercy of what Eley sends us. Buying several lots at 17.80 per box of tenex for testing,and finding really good shooting tenex is a gamble, and for the price a person should have much better luck finding a good (or several) lots of tenex as compared to match.
I have to agree with Dan about the fact that the ammo is getting better all the time. Lapua came out with the X-act, telling everyone that it is the best out there,and charge around 19.00 or more per box. It should out shoot everything else out there for that price, and this does not seem to be the case. Not many shooters are willing to pay that much for ammo to begin with, and after all the hype, the biggest majority of shooters refuse to buy it. I feel that if Eley keeps raising the price on the tenex, because it is supposed to be so much better then match, tenex will go the way of X-act. Yes there are a few who really like the tenex, and yes I do have (only) 2 good lots myself, but compared to how many use the match box ammo, the few who do shoot it will get to be less and less the way things are going, and the majority of shooters may prefer match just because of the cost. At 17.80 a box, I will shoot match box, unless Eley shows me that for a few dollars more, I will have some advantage over the others who shoot the lower priced match box ammo or something else. DJB in Wi
I have to agree with Dan about the fact that the ammo is getting better all the time. Lapua came out with the X-act, telling everyone that it is the best out there,and charge around 19.00 or more per box. It should out shoot everything else out there for that price, and this does not seem to be the case. Not many shooters are willing to pay that much for ammo to begin with, and after all the hype, the biggest majority of shooters refuse to buy it. I feel that if Eley keeps raising the price on the tenex, because it is supposed to be so much better then match, tenex will go the way of X-act. Yes there are a few who really like the tenex, and yes I do have (only) 2 good lots myself, but compared to how many use the match box ammo, the few who do shoot it will get to be less and less the way things are going, and the majority of shooters may prefer match just because of the cost. At 17.80 a box, I will shoot match box, unless Eley shows me that for a few dollars more, I will have some advantage over the others who shoot the lower priced match box ammo or something else. DJB in Wi
C
cpeters
Guest
Frankly,
I hope Eley doesn't get thier machines working SO good that all they put out is Tenex (thier goal). Luckily we continue to have plenty of Black Box and even Team to test at a lesser price with some good performance.
As much as I enjoy shooting rimfire BR if I have to spend $17.80 a box to be competetive that will probably not make it in my cost vs enjoyment ratio.
Charlie
I hope Eley doesn't get thier machines working SO good that all they put out is Tenex (thier goal). Luckily we continue to have plenty of Black Box and even Team to test at a lesser price with some good performance.
As much as I enjoy shooting rimfire BR if I have to spend $17.80 a box to be competetive that will probably not make it in my cost vs enjoyment ratio.
Charlie
Carp
I appreciate the offer and i may one day take you up on that if the offer stands. I just dont think at this time in my life rimfire is a game i should be playing with. Sounds even more expensive than centerfire. I like the idea of rimfire as i love shooting score targets. Actually Carp i did borrow one of Alberts rifles a couple years back for a fill in shooter, and i only lost by a single point. First time i ever shot rimfire benchrest. I had fun i really did and dam near won the shoot. I like to read about all rifle shooting sports and the hole ammo thing was something i had always wondered about, so i thought I'd ask. I like to load my own ammo, that way i can control or try to control the outcome of my shot. I dont like being frustrated, and i think the rimfire game would flat pee me off at times. LOL!! No, not really, but i do think it is a frustrating game.
I also shot a prone 100 yard 22lr match this year with a borrowed rifle, and i did win that match, so maybe i am in the wrong sport?? Thanks for the replies, it has been interesting. Lee
I appreciate the offer and i may one day take you up on that if the offer stands. I just dont think at this time in my life rimfire is a game i should be playing with. Sounds even more expensive than centerfire. I like the idea of rimfire as i love shooting score targets. Actually Carp i did borrow one of Alberts rifles a couple years back for a fill in shooter, and i only lost by a single point. First time i ever shot rimfire benchrest. I had fun i really did and dam near won the shoot. I like to read about all rifle shooting sports and the hole ammo thing was something i had always wondered about, so i thought I'd ask. I like to load my own ammo, that way i can control or try to control the outcome of my shot. I dont like being frustrated, and i think the rimfire game would flat pee me off at times. LOL!! No, not really, but i do think it is a frustrating game.
I also shot a prone 100 yard 22lr match this year with a borrowed rifle, and i did win that match, so maybe i am in the wrong sport?? Thanks for the replies, it has been interesting. Lee
C
Carp
Guest
Skeet,
Offer stands. Give me an e-mail, call or let me know on this site some time when you might want to try it again. If the rifle isn't already promised, it is yours for the match.
Carp
Offer stands. Give me an e-mail, call or let me know on this site some time when you might want to try it again. If the rifle isn't already promised, it is yours for the match.
Carp
I've never seen an ammo loading machine. I'd expect it to be a highly automated process where the machine has automated feeds for primed cases, powder, and lead bullets. I'd expect the machine to load the components, insert them in boxes and apply the various labels in a continous process depending on marketing and supply requirements. It's my guess they would determine the velocity by the powder charge. The idea that finished bullets are produced, then tested (shot), and then decisions made on how to box and label in separate processes does not make any sense to me from a cost, production, marketing, and distribution standpoint.
Anyone on here ever seen the actual process in person to really know how it's done?
Anyone on here ever seen the actual process in person to really know how it's done?
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C
Carp
Guest
Burtona,
I agree 100%. Kinda sounds like going to the emergency room.....hurry up and wait.
Carp
I agree 100%. Kinda sounds like going to the emergency room.....hurry up and wait.
Carp
H
Hambone
Guest
Firstly fixed quantity quality control batch testing has no impact upon and no connection with marketing or distribution costs. They sit firmly within the products production costs.
Secondly if Eley were producing dry wall screws they would quite rightly adopt the manufacture-packaged production method you suggest. They don't! No ammunition manufacture does. Not even manufacturers of c/f ammunition which is very much a case of exact science. r/f ammunition manufacture is a mix of exact science and black art. Hence the need for testing By the maker at the factory and end user at the range. As seemingly insignificant changes, alterations or improvements can have significant effects.
Not doubting your reply as I surely don't know, but, Is this a process you have seen in person or just what you have been told?
Thanks,
Dave
H
Hambone
Guest
Dave
I understand completely.
Its not first hand but its that close to the horses mouth that it gets slobbered on.
I'm not sure if its still available but back in 2009-10 the Shooting USA TV series filmed the CCI Idaho rimfire production line. Which if you can find it on the www. might give you a clearer understanding of what's involved> there are some differences between the CCI and Eley production lines but they are most of a technical nature.
Here's a good written explanation of what's involved
In the subconscious mind of most shooters, the .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle rimfire cartridges form part of the bedrock of shooting sports. Their ubiquitous availability, affordable price, consistent quality and wide product range are taken for granted. Few shooters stop to consider the many difficulties inherent in the design and manufacture of these cartridges.
If you set out to design a self-contained cartridge that is difficult to make and suffers from numerous design shortcomings, it would be the humble .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle (.22 rimfire).
Design Shortcomings
On a good day, the ignition potential of the .22 rimfire priming system is weak. Because there is no anvil, the lead styphnate rimfire priming compound requires the addition of ground glass as a frictioning agent. Ground glass is not "bore friendly," but without it, .22 rimfire priming will not function. And, to date, no lead-free priming compounds suitable for .22 rimfire have been found.
Ignition begins on the side of the case where the rim is crushed by the firing pin; there is no flash hole to focus the ignition gasses into the center of the powder charge. Failure to press the priming compound reliably and evenly inside the annular rim cavity can lead to misfires and high variations in muzzle velocity.
It is important to remember that the .22 Short and Long Rifle cartridges were originally designed for and loaded with easily ignited black powder. However, smokeless propellants have dramatically different ignition requirements and burning characteristics. Propellant makers soon found that the .22 rimfire design was not friendly to early smokeless propellants. They struggled for decades to find suitable smokeless propellants and the search continues to this day.
Essentially, the .22 rimfire requires unique smokeless propellants with a high energy content that are easily ignited and burn progressively. Limited case capacity dictates a dense powder with a small flake or ball configuration. Propellants with large flakes, sticks or coarse grains cannot be used as they will not drop uniformly through the holes in .22 rimfire plate-loading machines.
To facilitate ignition, .22 rimfire bullets must be heavily crimped into the case mouth to increase shot-start forces. Of necessity, this deforms the bullet. However, even on a good day, only about half of the propellant in a .22 rimfire cartridge burns completely.
The weak case head is the Achilles heel of the .22 rimfire cartridge. For this reason, Maximum Average Pressures (MAP) of .22 rimfire ammunition must be kept below 24,000 psi. Rimfire cases must have enough spring-back to assure consistent extraction in blowback-operated semi-automatic guns, yet remain soft enough to prevent splitting. This is a narrow margin that also eliminates steel as a .22 rimfire cartridge case material. Design parameters require all rimfire cartridge cases to be rimmed. Necked rimfire cases require several additional production steps which adds considerably to their cost. Rimfire cartridge cases cannot be reloaded.
All .22 rimfire bullets tread a fine line between function and accuracy. The bearing surface of .22 rimfire bullets is the same diameter as the outside surface of the cartridge case. This makes lubrication of such bullets difficult as the case-diameter bullets must be lubricated on the outside where it may be wiped off or contaminated. Lubricants for lead, center-fire bullets are unsuitable for rimfire ammunition, and, unfortunately, copper-plating serves no ballistic purpose, does not eliminate the need for lubrication, adds cost and damages the bullets.
Case-diameter bullets also limit bullet shape, weight, balance and bearing surface. Another significant problem is that .22 rimfire bullets have an undersized, cupped base that the propellant gases must expand reliably and evenly into the rifling grooves for proper sealing and stabilization.
Headaches of .22 Rimfire Production
Centrifugal force is used to push the priming compound into the hollow rim of the cartridge case. This is accomplished by dropping a wet pellet of priming compound into the bottom of the cartridge case, inserting a closely fitting steel pin, then using the pin to spin the case at speeds of approximately 10,000 rpm for a few seconds. This is a tenuous process at best and frequently fails to completely fill the rim with priming compound.
Preparing the small, wet primer pellet and inserting it in the cartridge case is hazardous hand work—part art and part training. The moisture content of the priming compound must be carefully controlled within narrow limits, otherwise the mixture will not work at all. The ground glass in the priming compound increases wear on the steel spinner pins and excessive smearing of the priming compound up the case sidewalls (a common problem) can adversely affect ignition and interior ballistics.
Ammunition makers also struggle continuously to find suitable rimfire powders. The ideal .22 rimfire propellant must be competitively priced and compatible with plate-loading systems. It must have a high energy content, ignite easily and burn progressively while leaving a minimum of unburned propellant. Very few propellant powders meet these requirements.
Due to the weak ignition, powder residue from partially burned and unburned powder are constant problems—just ask any indoor shooting-range operator. The high ballistic performance required by many modern .22 Long Rifle loads places severe interior ballistic requirements on propellants. On the other hand, low MAPs can cause uneven expansion of the lips of the cup on the bullet's base and poor accuracy. In some instances, high MAPs can blow the lips of the cup base completely out.
In order to obtain the high muzzle velocities advertised for many .22 Long Rifle loads, MAP limits must be pushed to levels that leave little margin for error given the weak case head. Also, the proper case hardness gradient must be maintained to prevent extraction and/or ejection problems in spite of variations in brass strip and tooling.
Rimfire .22 ammunition makers fight a constant battle with bullet lubrication. It is ironic that such a cheap cartridge requires highly specialized, micro-crystalline, synthetic-base waxes for lubrication and costly systems for application. Often, what works today does not work tomorrow due to minor variations in temperature, humidity, bullet hardness, propellant variations, etc.
Bullet hardness (antimony content) can be a particularly difficult problem as small variations can result in lead buildup of rifle bores and inaccuracy. Rough handling of .22 rimfire bullets on the factory floor can easily have an adverse effect on accuracy.
Crimping the .22 L.R. bullet into the case mouth properly remains a constant problem. Too heavy a crimp may push MAPs over the limit, adversely affect accuracy and cause leading. Too light a crimp may result in erratic breech pressures, high variations in muzzle velocity, excess unburned propellant and malfunctions in semi-automatic firearms. As if this were not enough, the driving knives on the crimping operation mangle the bullet.
Overview of the Impossible
We have seen that the inherent characteristics of the .22 LR rimfire cartridge are its own worst enemy and the leading cause of its manufacturing difficulties. However, before we condemn its design, we must remember that the .22 LR rimfire cartridge is a product of the technology and art of the 19th century. With the benefit of today's technology, ammunition makers produce safe, reliable, low cost .22 LR cartridges of average quality in mind-numbing quantities. However, they cannot produce a match load on demand. That is the art.
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/Impossible-22-rimfire/
The only significant difference between the above and the Eley production is Eley now use a liquid primer process not a wet pellet primer.
I understand completely.
Its not first hand but its that close to the horses mouth that it gets slobbered on.
I'm not sure if its still available but back in 2009-10 the Shooting USA TV series filmed the CCI Idaho rimfire production line. Which if you can find it on the www. might give you a clearer understanding of what's involved> there are some differences between the CCI and Eley production lines but they are most of a technical nature.
Here's a good written explanation of what's involved
In the subconscious mind of most shooters, the .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle rimfire cartridges form part of the bedrock of shooting sports. Their ubiquitous availability, affordable price, consistent quality and wide product range are taken for granted. Few shooters stop to consider the many difficulties inherent in the design and manufacture of these cartridges.
If you set out to design a self-contained cartridge that is difficult to make and suffers from numerous design shortcomings, it would be the humble .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle (.22 rimfire).
Design Shortcomings
On a good day, the ignition potential of the .22 rimfire priming system is weak. Because there is no anvil, the lead styphnate rimfire priming compound requires the addition of ground glass as a frictioning agent. Ground glass is not "bore friendly," but without it, .22 rimfire priming will not function. And, to date, no lead-free priming compounds suitable for .22 rimfire have been found.
Ignition begins on the side of the case where the rim is crushed by the firing pin; there is no flash hole to focus the ignition gasses into the center of the powder charge. Failure to press the priming compound reliably and evenly inside the annular rim cavity can lead to misfires and high variations in muzzle velocity.
It is important to remember that the .22 Short and Long Rifle cartridges were originally designed for and loaded with easily ignited black powder. However, smokeless propellants have dramatically different ignition requirements and burning characteristics. Propellant makers soon found that the .22 rimfire design was not friendly to early smokeless propellants. They struggled for decades to find suitable smokeless propellants and the search continues to this day.
Essentially, the .22 rimfire requires unique smokeless propellants with a high energy content that are easily ignited and burn progressively. Limited case capacity dictates a dense powder with a small flake or ball configuration. Propellants with large flakes, sticks or coarse grains cannot be used as they will not drop uniformly through the holes in .22 rimfire plate-loading machines.
To facilitate ignition, .22 rimfire bullets must be heavily crimped into the case mouth to increase shot-start forces. Of necessity, this deforms the bullet. However, even on a good day, only about half of the propellant in a .22 rimfire cartridge burns completely.
The weak case head is the Achilles heel of the .22 rimfire cartridge. For this reason, Maximum Average Pressures (MAP) of .22 rimfire ammunition must be kept below 24,000 psi. Rimfire cases must have enough spring-back to assure consistent extraction in blowback-operated semi-automatic guns, yet remain soft enough to prevent splitting. This is a narrow margin that also eliminates steel as a .22 rimfire cartridge case material. Design parameters require all rimfire cartridge cases to be rimmed. Necked rimfire cases require several additional production steps which adds considerably to their cost. Rimfire cartridge cases cannot be reloaded.
All .22 rimfire bullets tread a fine line between function and accuracy. The bearing surface of .22 rimfire bullets is the same diameter as the outside surface of the cartridge case. This makes lubrication of such bullets difficult as the case-diameter bullets must be lubricated on the outside where it may be wiped off or contaminated. Lubricants for lead, center-fire bullets are unsuitable for rimfire ammunition, and, unfortunately, copper-plating serves no ballistic purpose, does not eliminate the need for lubrication, adds cost and damages the bullets.
Case-diameter bullets also limit bullet shape, weight, balance and bearing surface. Another significant problem is that .22 rimfire bullets have an undersized, cupped base that the propellant gases must expand reliably and evenly into the rifling grooves for proper sealing and stabilization.
Headaches of .22 Rimfire Production
Centrifugal force is used to push the priming compound into the hollow rim of the cartridge case. This is accomplished by dropping a wet pellet of priming compound into the bottom of the cartridge case, inserting a closely fitting steel pin, then using the pin to spin the case at speeds of approximately 10,000 rpm for a few seconds. This is a tenuous process at best and frequently fails to completely fill the rim with priming compound.
Preparing the small, wet primer pellet and inserting it in the cartridge case is hazardous hand work—part art and part training. The moisture content of the priming compound must be carefully controlled within narrow limits, otherwise the mixture will not work at all. The ground glass in the priming compound increases wear on the steel spinner pins and excessive smearing of the priming compound up the case sidewalls (a common problem) can adversely affect ignition and interior ballistics.
Ammunition makers also struggle continuously to find suitable rimfire powders. The ideal .22 rimfire propellant must be competitively priced and compatible with plate-loading systems. It must have a high energy content, ignite easily and burn progressively while leaving a minimum of unburned propellant. Very few propellant powders meet these requirements.
Due to the weak ignition, powder residue from partially burned and unburned powder are constant problems—just ask any indoor shooting-range operator. The high ballistic performance required by many modern .22 Long Rifle loads places severe interior ballistic requirements on propellants. On the other hand, low MAPs can cause uneven expansion of the lips of the cup on the bullet's base and poor accuracy. In some instances, high MAPs can blow the lips of the cup base completely out.
In order to obtain the high muzzle velocities advertised for many .22 Long Rifle loads, MAP limits must be pushed to levels that leave little margin for error given the weak case head. Also, the proper case hardness gradient must be maintained to prevent extraction and/or ejection problems in spite of variations in brass strip and tooling.
Rimfire .22 ammunition makers fight a constant battle with bullet lubrication. It is ironic that such a cheap cartridge requires highly specialized, micro-crystalline, synthetic-base waxes for lubrication and costly systems for application. Often, what works today does not work tomorrow due to minor variations in temperature, humidity, bullet hardness, propellant variations, etc.
Bullet hardness (antimony content) can be a particularly difficult problem as small variations can result in lead buildup of rifle bores and inaccuracy. Rough handling of .22 rimfire bullets on the factory floor can easily have an adverse effect on accuracy.
Crimping the .22 L.R. bullet into the case mouth properly remains a constant problem. Too heavy a crimp may push MAPs over the limit, adversely affect accuracy and cause leading. Too light a crimp may result in erratic breech pressures, high variations in muzzle velocity, excess unburned propellant and malfunctions in semi-automatic firearms. As if this were not enough, the driving knives on the crimping operation mangle the bullet.
Overview of the Impossible
We have seen that the inherent characteristics of the .22 LR rimfire cartridge are its own worst enemy and the leading cause of its manufacturing difficulties. However, before we condemn its design, we must remember that the .22 LR rimfire cartridge is a product of the technology and art of the 19th century. With the benefit of today's technology, ammunition makers produce safe, reliable, low cost .22 LR cartridges of average quality in mind-numbing quantities. However, they cannot produce a match load on demand. That is the art.
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/Impossible-22-rimfire/
The only significant difference between the above and the Eley production is Eley now use a liquid primer process not a wet pellet primer.
Last edited by a moderator:
bigredplane
New member
Hambone
Do you know if any of the good ammo makers don't use glass in there priming compound?
Scott
Do you know if any of the good ammo makers don't use glass in there priming compound?
Scott
Bob,
Or anyone else...what is the "cut"? is it group size for so many shots or flyers so many mm out of a group or what? Tks --greg
Or anyone else...what is the "cut"? is it group size for so many shots or flyers so many mm out of a group or what? Tks --greg