Lock, Stock & Barrel

When cleaning in the garage several weeks ago, a somewhat unfamiliar, modest-sized box showed up on the back of a low shelf near some dusty toolboxes. It had no writing on it whatsoever, with no subtle hint as to what the cardboard and packing tape held inside. So, the equally dusty tape was cut at one end and in the box was an embarrassment of riches – an embarrassment of .22 Long Rifle ammunition riches.

Truth to tell, however, these loads were actually stored away on purpose many months ago for a “rainy day,” and they had been forgotten. The load selection was quite humble and included three to four boxes each of SK Ammunition Rifle Match, SK Flatnose Target and SK Long Range Match loads. To top them all off, there were three boxes of Lapua Center-X loads.

To my thinking, this presented a small, personal dilemma in these times of struggling to find ammunition and new rifles. Having been a fan of shooting .22 Long Rifle guns since boyhood, choosing which rifle/rifles would be used to test the stored away ammunition needed a bit of thought.

The .22 Long Rifle (LR) has been the most prevalent, most-fired cartridge in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world and was first conceived of in mid-1888. Compared to most centerfire ammunition in general, .22 Long Rifle ammunition is less costly and there is no ear-splitting noise. Any rifle fancier, young or otherwise, can deal with the insignificant recoil and muzzle report the little rifles provide, including small children.

Fortunately, over the years I’ve ended up with a few top-quality rifles (and revolvers) and chose two bolt guns that haven’t been used for quite some time. The first is a Kimber .22 Classic (Yonkers, New York). Kimber production has moved around a bit, and now is located in Troy, Alabama, where the company is making bolt-action rifles for hunters and shooters alike. Unfortunately, there has been no recent notice regarding a reintroduction of the Kimber .22 Classic as this is written. The rifle used here has been in my safe for many years and has always shot very well with most loads tried. It has been an excellent rifle for ground squirrels and the occasional rabbit. The Kimber weighs just under 6 pounds when topped off with a Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire 3-9x 40mm scope and the barrel is roughly 22 inches long. The rifle’s bolt functions very smoothly and includes what could be called a single “Mauser-like” extractor.

The second rifle is a Remington Model 504 made in 2004. This model was produced until 2007. (At least two other variants, the 504 Custom and the 504-T, were produced around the same time.) The Remington on hand weighs nearly 7 pounds with the only scope that’s ever been on it, a Kahles 2-7x 30mm made in Austria. Unlike the Kimber, it has a more traditional rimfire extractor but also has never failed to extract empty brass. Respective trigger pull weights for the two rifles used here are 1 pound, 13 ounces and 2 pounds, 15 ounces.

Both rifles have continually shot well with hunting loads, especially the Kimber, though neither has been tested with the accompanying match loads used here. Each rifle features a trim walnut stock with nice checkering on the forend and grip, which provides good purchase during those long walks after small game but is mostly there for decoration – and who doesn’t like a bit of tasteful, functional checkering. Both rimfires also include a rubber pad to keep the butt from getting damaged during use. Lastly, each rifle received a thorough cleaning – inside and out – prior to testing the loads listed.

SK Ammunition and Lapua are both part of the Nammo Group, which also includes Berger Bullets and Vihtavuori propellant powder. The collective combination of these brands represents about 100 years of making munitions for militaries and civilians alike. From what can be gleaned from the SK and Lapua ammunition boxes, all four of the loads tested here were manufactured in Germany. Further, these loads have been used throughout the world to win numerous rimfire matches.

As often happens in December here in the Arizona highlands, loads were shot under somewhat windy conditions, which hamper rimfire groups shot at a laser ranged 50 yards. As such, some groups were better than others. Plus, as it turned out, the Remington did not like the loads. All groups were measured on centers.

The Kimber rifle was used first. With the Lapua Center-X load, it shot one, five-shot group measuring .862 inch and a second that measured .712 inch. SK Flatnose Target grouped into .743 inch and a second at .350 inch. SK Long Range Match shot even better groups. The first measured .468 inch and followed with a cluster at .523 inch. SK Rifle Match provided .602- and .882-inch groups, with the second showing a bit of vertical stringing. I expected the Kimber .22 Classic to shoot well with this ammunition, and consider these 50-yard groups on par from the rifle.

The second rifle, a Remington Model 504 .22 LR, was a bit of a wildcat, for it had not been fired for several years. Plus, it was topped with a fixed, 4x scope, whereas the Kimber has a modern Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire 3-9x 40mm scope. Nevertheless, all loads listed above were tested in two, five-shot groups at 50 yards.

Lapua Center-X showed vertical stringing and generally larger groups, including one measuring 1.453 inches and a second group at .935 inch. SK Flatnose Target grouped into 1.437 inches, and the second group at .825 inch. This load is worth more testing. SK Rifle Match provided one group at .787, so it also could use further testing. Lastly, SK Long Range produced two groups, one at .541 inch and a second that measured .646 inch as measured on centers. However, both exhibited horizontal stringing.

There was no surprise in that some loads shot better from the Kimber when compared to the Remington, as the Kimber has often provided smaller groups, on average, with most .22 Long Rifle loads compared to several other rifles used. It’s just that kind of bolt action. Regarding the Remington Model 504, it is also a worthwhile rifle that just doesn’t handle certain match ammunition options.

Testing some of the world’s best match ammunition from SK and Lapua in hunting rifles has provided usable loads for my Kimber .22 Classic, and perhaps for a neglected Remington.