This will summarize my testing of the SGB tool on .22 ammo. I
had previously posted interim reports, which I believe were
lost with the 'crash' of the forum. If anyone wants those
reports, please E-mail me and I will
provide them. They are too lengthy to re-post unless there is
sufficient interest in the numbers crunching.
There were a few surprises. One very good, one bad and not so
small. Testing of the .22 short modified ammo pretty well
followed the lines of the .22 LR test.
Rather than quote 'chapter and verse' on the ballistics data.
I will attempt to shorten this report substantially by
hitting on what I found most significant. I will list all
ammo. both LR and short, that I have tested. At the end of
the report in the order of most accurate first. With few
exceptions, I found the following to be consistent:
All average velocities increased after the SGB tool was used,
as might be expected since it was lightening the load so to
speak.
All extreme spreads were reduced.
All standard Deviations were reduced.
All showed a measurable improvement in accuracy.
I must make a confession here. After I finished the range
testing, I could not make myself use 'factory ammo.' on
varmints, vermin, black birds and game! I used the first four
in the list, [see below] interchangeably on black birds,
starlings, and garden munching bunnies. Most of these
shots were under 40 yards, since I was using a rabbit ears
bag on the window sill. The results were almost always lights
out! Our old cat really laid around and got fat this summer.
When I started squirrel hunting I went to the first two in
the list and took squirrels out to 60+ yards. I took
somewhere between twelve to fifteen squirrels, all but one
were head shots. All dropped instantly and stayed where they
dropped! The one exception was a NOSE shot on one that was
looking straight at me, it pealed his incisors and took out
both shoulders!
I found that the application of the SGB tool created a much
more accurate bullet. In fact one very pleasant surprise that
I got out of this test was learning that the CCI HP short
bullet after the SGB tool application, had a higher average
velocity than some of the LR ammo. It was the second most
accurate tested, coming in behind only the CCI LR HP
mini-mag. It very quickly became the ammo of choice in my 14"
T/C .22 LR match barrel. It shoots almost hole for hole as
good as the CCI LR ammo without a scope change, makes less
noise, does less damage to the meat and except for the
federal valu-pak, it is cheaper by at least half than most of
the other ammo.
If you really want to raise some eye brows? Set down at the
range with a box or two of SGB modified CCI HP shorts and
your T/C contender and go to work at the 100 yard line! With
my B&L 2-6 3200 on the 14" barrel. The hold over is at the
point where the cross-hair meets the bottom post.
How it works.
Problems I did have or find with the SGB tool:
Availability? Even though mine were sent to me in order to do
the test. I have been on constant lookout for these 'gadgets'
from the time I first read about them. I have yet to find one
in any sporting goods store, reloading or sporting catalog or
at Wal-Mart? Had I found the tools? I doubt seriously that I
would have paid the $30.00+ [retail price quoted in
literature sent to me with the ones I have.] for the tools,
that's over $60.00 if you buy both LR and Short versions.
GB NOTE: You can buy them direct from The Hanned Line from
their Website or by Phone.
While the semi-auto's that I used with the LR ammo functioned
with little trouble, only three or four jams in approximately
a thousand rounds fired. The .22 short version was a
different situation! The custom built competition "Olympic" I
borrowed for the .22 short test, that was supposed to have
handled any .22 short on the market. Could do nothing with
them. I would fire one and spend five minutes digging the
next one out. Had it not been for the way my T/C contender
handled the shorts. I would have sent the darn thing back to
the company! How some ever! Now
that I have the .22 short tool, I will not part with it! In
fact I doubt that I will shoot much LR ammo. Two, out of the
three brands of short ammo. that I finished the test on. Out
performed several of the LR brands that I tested.
Here are those I tested, they are listed in the order of most
accurate. I will list the LR ammo along with the short ammo
also, since that post was lost in the 'crash' and I do think
it is worth while to see where they stacked up. Since this is
the "Short" report. I will post some of the data for the .22
Short ammo. [If you are interested in the figures for the LR
ammo please e-mail me.]
CCI LR HP mini-mag. #.
CCI HP shorts. .#. Av. Vel. 1242. SD 13.74.
Federal Valu-pak, LR [Wal-Mart]*
Federal Lightning LR*.
Winchester Super X LR*.
Remington sub-sonic LR.**
Winchester Super X Shorts.**. AV. Vel. 1200. SD. 13.11
Remington HV Shorts.++. Av. Vel. 948 SD. 49.59
Winchester Wildcat LR.
Remington Viper 22 hyper-velocity. [HYPE!!!]
CCI CD's. [nice quiet neighborhood black bird thumper out to
twenty yards.]
#. Both will shoot .50 or less at fifty yards, that's, minute
of squirrel head or 'puff bird'! 1" and less
at 75 yards.
*: At fifty yards these bullets will all shoot nine out of
ten into a .75 group or less with the SGB
modification.
**: Still respectable performance, a few more flyers. But
groups usually 1" to 1.5 at fifty yards.
++: the only bullet tested that the SGB tool modification,
had an adverse effect on. As a factory round it still held a
1.30 group at 50 yards, with one flyer!.
Summary: I got into this "test" because I felt that the
information I was reading was 'hype' more 'snake oil' so to
speak. I figured if cutting a fraction of metal off the tip
of a bullet would improve accuracy in .22 ammunition the
manufacturers would have already discovered it and be
marketing it. I stand corrected! They ain't found it and they
ain't selling it! The only bullet I found that had
anything resembling a 'flat' nose on it turned out to be the
poorest performer. [not counting the CB's I just threw them
in.]
As far as accuracy is concerned the SGB tool did what the
company said it would do. On most of the bullets I tested the
improvement was substantial, definitely measurable. I also
feel that it did it's job, FOR ME in taking game more
efficiently by putting them down where they were hit. I
recovered all game I shot at and the cat recovered all but
two or three birds I shot at. As for the wound channels on
the squirrels, flat nose bullets on skulls are messy but they
were effective!
If you own a T/C or other single shot .22? You are serious
about shooting it more accurately and shoot a lot of .22's.
Get the darn tool(s)! But be prepared to PAY for them and as
far as I know? You will need to contact the above company to
get them? Feel free to tell them that you read the test and
that I felt they were over priced, but then again I'm not
paying the tool and die maker's wages, workman's comp. plant
mortgage and uncle sam the outragous usery fees required to
run a company! :-)
Wonder if a fat, banged-up, over the hill old retired
hill-billy could pick up enough money at trade shows to open
up a 'hobby business' selling cut off .22 bullets??
Good shooting, Homer
Contact The Hanned Line on line by clicking on their name.
The Hanned Line
P.O. Box 2387
Cupertino, CA 95015-2387
E-mail Dennis Smith