The CCI Stinger is one of the most commonly used .22 Long Rifle ammunition that is fed to revolvers, pistols, and rifles. On a recent day, I and a friend spent the day shooting the CCI Stinger and some other common .22 Long Rifle ammunition. I have also hunted with this ammunition over the years. This article will look at the results of our informal shoot off between the CCI Stinger .22 LR ammo and my experience hunting with the loads.
The guns that we used to shoot the ammo were a H&R revolver, a Walther semi-automatic pistol, a Marlin autoloader, and a Mossberg bolt action rifle (clip fed). The odd thing about .22 ammo is that each gun seems to like a different load. The best way to find an accurate load for your .22 is to buy an assortment of ammo and give them a try. This is just what we were doing, albeit without this being the purpose. We were simply getting together to shoot.
The CCI Stinger ammo functioned well with all of the guns. The Marlin autoloader is old and well broken in and rarely stove pipes with any ammunition. The Walther will occasional fail to cycle well with some ammunition. I have never had any problems with the H&R revolver going bang when the trigger is pulled. The bolt action Mossberg is not picky either. The only comment on function that I would have about the CCI Stinger ammunition is that the hyper velocity load is quite loud in the handguns. I use the H&R revolver primarily for fooling around and often shoot it without hearing protection. While this is not ever a good idea it was painful with the CCI Stinger.
Accuracy was acceptable in all the guns with the CCI Stinger ammunition. The Walther in particular liked the Stinger shooting it at or better than ¾ of an inch at 50 yards with three shot groups fired from an informal rest. While different guns like other ammunition better, the CCI Stinger certainly shot well enough for any use except serious target shooting. The H&R did not like it well which I expected as it does better with standard velocity loads. However the H&R shot it well enough to hunt with at close range. Both rifles fired the CCI Stinger into an inch or less at 50 yards, again with an informal rest. Front and rear sandbags with the rifles would almost certainly have produced better groups.
I have used the CCI Stinger for squirrel hunting a time or two over the years. The CCI Stinger will certainly roll squirrels with the best of them. If your gun shoots the Stinger well then by all means it is a fine plinking and hunting ammunition.
Just a warning to using high velocity ammo in a Marlin model 60. I called the company a couple years back and they told me a few rounds shouldn't hurt but the case is quite long and isn't made for that. They also said the pressure isn't good on the components and is hard on the gun. They don't recommend any high velocity ammo like stinger or the sort with that much fps.
ReplyDeleteI no longer use it in the simiauto and stick with it in the revolver.
If you get a new gun and use lots of stinger and send it for repair they might not cover it if its do to that.....well most likely won't cover it.
Great round though in guns that accept it. Good luck getting those tree rats and bandits!