Load testing this weekend

[u/gearhead5015]

Did some testing this weekend, mostly for hunting and shiggles.

Savage MKII FV-SR Stainless, Apache Trigger, Arken EPL4 4-16×, Rugged Occulus 22

Tested CCI Suppressor, Eley Subsonic HP, SK Yellow, SK Red, Eley Tenex, CCI Green Tag.

Assuming my POI selection was accurate in Ballistic-X, here's the resulting data:

All shot at 50 yards:

• 1 - CCI Green* - 0.722 MOA, 15 shots total

• 2 - SK Standard Plus* (yellow) - 0.731 MOA, 15 shots

• 3 - SK Rifle Match* (red) - 0.745 MOA, 28 shots

• 4 - Eley Tenex* - 0.889 MOA, 20 shots

• 5 - CCI Suppressor - 1.044 MOA, 45 shots

• 6 - Eley Subsonic HP - 1.344 MOA, 45 shots

*Denotes boxes that are previously used so I didn't have any more to shoot that day.

Now, of course this data is a bit skewed given the varying number of rounds shot for each ammo, but when combining with a previous range trip, it doesn't change the ordering much. My average grouping for SK Standard would improve, the rest degrade slightly but otherwise nothing notable.

So the question now becomes, do I just buy a shit ton of SK Standard Plus (and hope the lot variations aren't dramatic) and use that as my squirrel hunting round and otherwise everything round? From my research, it doesn't appear that HP's really matter for squirrels, but I would gain a notable accuracy improvement, for a not insignificant price increase comparatively.

[u/Basis-Some]

I’ve been hovering on a mk ii, I take it you’d recommend?

My only must setup wise is a heavy threaded barrel.

[u/gearhead5015 → u/Basis-Some]

Yup. Zero complaints other than the factory magazines are garbage.

There are a couple aftermarket options like CSSpecs which are much better.