TargetTalk

I found this on another forum. You'll find it interesting or appalling.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve ... 9871088921

Do YOU do your own tests?

Havng been to the Eley Customer Range, I absolutely believe the results of testing ammunition yields results that are only valid for that particular barrel/ammo lot combination, and no other.

That's why Eley and Lapua have customer ranges:-)

GOVTMODEL wrote:Havng been to the Eley Customer Range, I absolutely believe the results of testing ammunition yields results that are only valid for that particular barrel/ammo lot combination, and no other.

That's why Eley and Lapua have customer ranges:-)

Totally agree.

Rob.

All those test really show are if that barrel / ammo are a match, don't really see the relevance in it. You definitely can't draw conclusions about ammo brand from it which I think some on that forum think they can.

Those who follow my posts know that I espouse doing your own testing.

I say, start with the cheap stuff and work up until you get a satisfactory level of performance.

Some say, just buy the"best" and it'll work.

I KNOW we have some opinions on this out there.

Remember the ammo test done by Visier with most .22lr match pistols: no ammo provided the smallest grouping in all pistols, each pistols had its "prefered" ammo that provides the smallest grouping.

Some say, just buy the"best" and it'll work.

Not necessarily and in any case it's not worth buying the "best" unless you are going to batch test it beforehand. If you intend to buy a random batch of ammunition without testing it would probably be just as worthwhile buying the grade below the "best". It would be cheaper and just as likely to perform as well as the untested "best" batch.

if you are going to test grades as well as batches, the manufacturers would have us believe that the "best" is manufactured to more stringent tolerances and therefore likely to be more consistent. If you use a much cheaper grade of ammunition then you pays your money and takes your chance. I have seen very good groups from cheap ammunition but I've seen the same batches produce fliers as well.

Rutty

I've found that careful weight testing of every single round you're going to shoot for record score will result in execellent recurring groupings. This would allow you to use cheaper ammo, but utilizing your own quality assurance. I would group ammo in 0.5 grain tolerances. The cheaper the ammo, the wider the sample quantities. I randomly tested a box of 50 SK Match and found that 36 of the rounds matched a certain weight. When shot, the groups were tight. I'll test some Eley Tenex and see what those numbers look like. I recently shot a match using Tenex where I had 2 or 3 unexplainable fliers, so in my opinion everything needs to get tested. Then I would/should have been only 11 shots down, but still just under master, grr.

Hi Telecomtodd
What scales do you use for the testing? I have had a look around and there are lots to choose from. Is +/-0.2 grains an accurate enough scale?


I am thinking 10 what are you thinking?

Glen Turner

I use a Dillon beam scale that is made under license from Ohaus. You need resolution to .1 grains.

Ok thanks mate. I will test some ammo and see if it works.

Glen Turner

Telecomtodd wrote:I've found that careful weight testing of every single round you're going to shoot for record score will result in execellent recurring groupings. This would allow you to use cheaper ammo, but utilizing your own quality assurance. I would group ammo in 0.5 grain tolerances. The cheaper the ammo, the wider the sample quantities. I randomly tested a box of 50 SK Match and found that 36 of the rounds matched a certain weight. When shot, the groups were tight. I'll test some Eley Tenex and see what those numbers look like. I recently shot a match using Tenex where I had 2 or 3 unexplainable fliers, so in my opinion everything needs to get tested. Then I would/should have been only 11 shots down, but still just under master, grr.

Ive heard a lot of complaints about the Tenex lately, about other Eley cartridges aswell btw. In my club they stopped selling Eley a few months ago, because we rated them too instable.

Rutty wrote:

Some say, just buy the"best" and it'll work.

Not necessarily and in any case it's not worth buying the "best" unless you are going to batch test it beforehand.

if you are going to test grades as well as batches, the manufacturers would have us believe that the "best" is manufactured to more stringent tolerances and therefore likely to be more consistent.

Rutty

In fact, at least at the Eley works, the ammunition is manufactured, then QA tested to see what label goes on the box. TENEX, Match, and Match pistol are all grades of the same product.

GOVTMODEL wrote:In fact, at least at the Eley works, the ammunition is manufactured, then QA tested to see what label goes on the box. TENEX, Match, and Match pistol are all grades of the same product.

I think you mean Tenex, Match and Team are all grades of the same product?!

Match Pistol is a softer round than the others and can therefore not be a grade of the same product as Tenex etc.!

TB wrote:

GOVTMODEL wrote:In fact, at least at the Eley works, the ammunition is manufactured, then QA tested to see what label goes on the box. TENEX, Match, and Match pistol are all grades of the same product.

I think you mean Tenex, Match and Team are all grades of the same product?!

Match Pistol is a softer round than the others and can therefore not be a grade of the same product as Tenex etc.!

You're probably correct. Is it a white or a black bullet?

GOVTMODEL wrote:

TB wrote:

GOVTMODEL wrote:In fact, at least at the Eley works, the ammunition is manufactured, then QA tested to see what label goes on the box. TENEX, Match, and Match pistol are all grades of the same product.

I think you mean Tenex, Match and Team are all grades of the same product?!

Match Pistol is a softer round than the others and can therefore not be a grade of the same product as Tenex etc.!

You're probably correct. Is it a white or a black bullet?

I don't understand the question, but you can see the properties of the Eley line here on page 4 http://www.eley.co.uk/media/386468/2010 ... 0guide.pdf

The bullets on the TENEX line are white. The bullets on the other line are black. At least in 2002 when I went to visit.

Howdy Rover, What is your method for testing ammo in your free pistols? I have a hard time bench testing, so I go for my gut impression according to my call. Pretty unscientific!! Thanks, Dwaine

I take the grip off and clamp the pistol half-assed into a Ransom Rest. I test at 50 yards with 10 shot groups for starters. I shoot more rounds into the group if the ammo looks promising.

And for your Morini? Thanks, Dwaine