Posted: 4/22/2026 1:58:24 PM EDT
| I've been an Automatch shooter for several years and have been happy with it but it's been hard to find locally. I can get Champion though, and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with how similar it might be to the Automatch? The specs seem like they're the same, 40gr and 1200fps. |
Watching the kids shoot Pieeater's 1919 was great. Nothing warms the heart more than seeing a little kid kneeling in a pile of brass and links.-Pthfndr after the Nov 13th NorCal shoot
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Originally Posted By HighpowerRifleBrony: Champion is copper plated vs AM's waxed lead. I do not know if the bullet shank is the same. I think the copper wash is just the 36gr flavor of Champion. Any experience with accuracy between the two? I primarily use my 22's for Appleseed events and have been very happy with the AM accuracy. |
Watching the kids shoot Pieeater's 1919 was great. Nothing warms the heart more than seeing a little kid kneeling in a pile of brass and links.-Pthfndr after the Nov 13th NorCal shoot
 The WORST 22 Ammo I've Ever Bought (And Why The Other One is Actually Good) Champion vs AutoMatch |
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The video tells the tale. Automatch: 1145 fps; SD = 28.8 fps; ES = 135 fps; group size = ~2 1/2" Champion: 995 fps; SD = 110 fps; ES = 479 fps; group size = ~ 6" Champion went as low as 663 fps to 1080 fps over just 20 rounds. That is so bad it also sounds like defective ammo or stuff they "swept up off the floor". Having watched that video, I would not buy Champion. A long time ago, I used to use Winchester T-22 - 40 gr lead, standard velocity. It was inexpensive but shot really well. I eventually did an accuracy test and with consideration for pricing, I went to Wolf Match Extra. It's more expensive but shoots much smaller groups. |
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Originally Posted By Trollslayer: The video tells the tale. Automatch: Â 1145 fps; SD = 28.8 fps; ES = 135 fps; group size = ~2 1/2" Â Champion: Â 995 fps; SD = 110 fps; ES = 479 fps; group size = ~ 6" Champion went as low as 663 fps to 1080 fps over just 20 rounds. Â That is so bad it also sounds like defective ammo or stuff they "swept up off the floor". Â Having watched that video, I would not buy Champion. A long time ago, I used to use Winchester T-22 - 40 gr lead, standard velocity. Â It was inexpensive but shot really well. Â I eventually did an accuracy test and with consideration for pricing, I went to Wolf Match Extra. Â It's more expensive but shoots much smaller groups. Stuff in the video are 36gr copper washed hollow points. I found another video showing the 40gr variety and this guys batch seemed really consistent. I ended up getting some, I'll throw it on the chrono and FO. |
Watching the kids shoot Pieeater's 1919 was great. Nothing warms the heart more than seeing a little kid kneeling in a pile of brass and links.-Pthfndr after the Nov 13th NorCal shoot
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Honestly if you are in the precision 22 rifle forum, you shouldn’t even be discussing any domestic made 22 ammo and the word precision in the same sentence. From time to time you can luck into a good lot of CCI standard that shoots very well. But for most consistent results in precision 22 shooting you need to be looking to ammo from Europe like eley lapua SK and rws |
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Originally Posted By -Blue-: Stuff in the video are 36gr copper washed hollow points. I found another video showing the 40gr variety and this guys batch seemed really consistent. I ended up getting some, I'll throw it on the chrono and FO. Skip the chrono and put the rounds onto a target. I was shooting Wolf Match Extra today. Yeah, it was worth the small cost increase. |
I'm hoping this does not stray too far off topic. I just want to reinforce the idea of shooting decent ammo, although Wolf ME is double the cost.  As I drove home, this was bugging me. I'm not sure if it was me or the lower power scope that caused the difference in the pictures, above. I kept forgetting to reset the old, vintage scope (pull it to the rear after firing), so maybe that explains the two different vertical groups. Also, it is lower power. Still, it's not bad for a nearly 100 year old rifle and scope that have both seen some serious use over the years. Oh well, in the end, it was a long-overdue, fun day of shooting. |
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I went to the garage and looked at my collection of targets to find some relevant testing. I couldn't find anything like Automatch or any other ammo in that class. What I found was a comparison of Wolf Match Extra to Remington brand ammo purchased from the CMP (probably >10 years ago). My recollection of the Remington ammo was that it was not very accurate. The five shot, 25 yards group was 0.73" with noticeable vertical stringing. I mention the vertical stringing because it is NOT caused by wind. That compares to Wolf ME which was about 0.35" to 0.5" as shown in the photo above. Both of these are supposed to be standard velocity, like the Match Extra, but I've never tested it. I do know that ammo that starts supersonic and drops below speed of sound is supposed to lose accuracy when doing so. |