Aguila SSS .22

[Mark II]

Ok, I got a few boxes of this ammo at a gun show last weekend. This evening, I plan on taking it to the range to try it out in a Ruger 10/22 and a Ruger Mark II. First, I will be checking for function, then accuracy at 7, 25, and 50 yards. I usually shoot Green Tag with the 10/22 at 50 yds, so I will see how the SSS compares.
My only previous experiance with Aguila ammo was when I bought a box of the "hyper velocity" .22 about a year ago. Quality control on that stuff was horrible, with the lead of the bullet making a very uneven line around the case neck in about half of the rounds. One bullet had even collapsed the case neck! If this new ammo is no better, don't expect a very good report because I won't fire it.
I'll let you know on Monday how it goes.

[Jericho]

Thank you awaiting the report :)

[Mark II]

OK, here it is. With the pistol, the accuracy out to 25 yds. was average at best. Then tried at 50 yds. with the 10/22. The "group" more resembled a "pattern" than anything else. Just to make sure the rifle was functioning, I fired a group of Remington Target and grouped under 1 inch. There was also a large amount of lead on and around the bolt face/breech area. On top of this, the ammo functioned perfectly in the Mark II, but turned the 10/22 into a single shot rifle (almost all of the rounds failed to eject, although they extracted just fine.) There were also a few failures to feed, which bent one round into a nice angle.
It also appears that at distance, the rounds tumble. The holes in the 50 yd. target were not the round little holes we are accustomed to, but nice ovals or tears in the paper.
In short, I will keep a few of these rounds around for the pistol, but it is near useless in my rifle.

[awp101]

Thanks for the info!

That seems to support some reports that I've read and here's what I remember of the explanations.

Keyholing - It seems the SSS prefers/was designed for a 1:9 twist (IIRC). Aguila (and I think one or two other bbl retailers)sells bbls chambered for the SSS with the correct twist.

Function in semi-auto rifles - I have rarely heard of a s/a that functioned reliably with these. They are such a low power round that they have a hard time overcoming the bolt mass.

I believe these were designed to be used primarily in "close-range" situations such as animal control and probably from a bolt gun for maximum effect.

Remember, Aguila also makes the "mini" 12ga shells that can be used in some shotguns but are really designed to be used in the purpose built scattergun that they make/market. It wouldn't surprise me to find better results obtained if one were to use "their" bbl, or at least their twist specs.

[emersoncqc7]

From what I have heard, the Aguila SSS was designed for use in suppresed .22's and the bullet was made to bounce around inside the target to cause more damage. Anyhow, I have played with these too, but never did any serious accuracy stuff... just some plinking to try it out. It was accurate enough get a nice shot on a porcupine though. Good luck and have fun with your experiments.

emersoncqc7

[CIAHitman]

they will tumble fast in a slower twist barrel like the 10/22. They are excellent out of an ar15 .22 conversion, with or without a suppressor.