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New plinker - what is going on?

I'll pick up some ammo this week and try again. Then maybe a different scope.
I wouldn't trust it to squirrel hunt the way it is. I feel like my marlin shoots much better even with the cheap hollow points
 
I've had a lot of different 22's over the years and they often shoot very differently with different ammo. Including different Ruger 10/22s, Savage and Marlin bolt actions, Browning semi-auto, Ruger 22/45s, Ruger Single Six, Star FM pistol, etc. etc. So when I go to the range to test a new gun I take these boxes with me. Lots of different varieties of ammo collected over the years. (The red label Winchester SuperX ammo is probably 40 yeas old and still shoots fine).

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and

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Some semi-autos don't like loading/shooting hollow points but like RN solids. Some don't like standard or medium velocity rounds but shoot CCI Stingers and other high speed stuff fine. Accuracy differs widely between guns and ammo. I expect at least 1 inch or smaller groups at 50 yards before I try to whack small game in the head. Experiment with different ammo and it's possible to find that. But guns are just different with different action and barrel harmonics. I once had a blue Ruger 22/45 and a stainless steel 22/45 that shot different ammo totally differently.

As a general rule, you can't go wrong with CCI 22LR hollow points. Function well, accurate, and deadly in most all guns. They are packed in suspended plastic cases so the bullets don't bang into each other during shipping. Unlike bulk "boxed" ammo which is typically less accurate. My go-to ammo these days are usually CCI LR hollow points in case I really need to whack something like a coon caught in a DPCT, and I mostly hunt squirrels with Remington SubSonic hollow points, (quiet for urban adjacent areas), or even CCI Quiet ammo for close backyard squirrels or plinking with the grandkids.

Look at it this way. The more combinations of guns and ammo you get to try out the more fun you'll have.
 
I have a Daisy 22 bolt action, tried a bunch of different ammo in it, I am better off with a sling shot lol. hopefully you will find what it likes, 40g all lead not copper washed bullets might work well. federal might take 10-20 before it will pattern different ammo.
 
Looks like this discussion thread has wound down but I thought I would mention a useful informational refence about 22 LR shooting and testing that recently popped up on my YouTube feed which I watch off and on many days. There is an incredible amount of shooting/guns/ammo/hunting information on YouTube so you might should do a search for a topic of your particular interest from time to time. This one just popped up and has an incredible amount of 22 LR ballistics testing of ammo in both long and short barrels in ballistic gel. You could pick some ammo with the performance you're looking for and buy that to start out to save some time and money.

"I Found The Most Insane 22 LR Bullet Available"

 

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