Anschutz 1761 MSR Ammo Test: Head-to-Head SK Standard Plus and Norma Tac-22

Anschutz 1761 ARA Unlimited with SK Standard Plus and Norma Tac-22: Head-to-head with practice ammo
In looking over the data in the overall accumulation table I realized I had not spent much time with practice ammo. There was a dearth of information in the “practice ammo” area. I used this session to look at some of my practice ammo to initially check relative performance. While not perfectly equivalent, the SK Standard Plus and Norma Tac-22 are two that I have used for practice. When not on sale they are not vastly different in price.
It was a pretty good day. The wind was 0 mph to 8 mph range. In this head-to-head I shot SK Standard Plus (SKS+) Norma Tac-22 (Tac-22). I also shot a single Lapua Long Range target for reference. There were several other shooters at the range as usual.
I have been testing ammo head-to-head fashion as this has worked well with my other rifles. The head-to-head over-time approach seems to better account for variations in daily conditions, my shooting, etc. than the single calm day. Others may have different experiences or views. So, while scores on a given day are relatively higher or lower, the same conditions are in play for each which go to an accumulation table. This table will be used, when sufficient data allows, a determination is possible. It operates a bit like a dope table.
It was about 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and the winds were in the 50 mph to 8 mph range. It was partly cloudy. The wind was manageable, but I still set flags.
I was shooting from a bench. The rifle, with a Sinclair front bag rider, was sitting in a Grizzly Bald Eagle rest. The rear rest was a Protektor #13 bag sitting on a custom rear bag rider. The rear bag rider removes the effect of any cast in a rifle stock. The scope is a Swampfox Kentucky Long in 5 to 30 x 56mm.
The targets are ARA Open or Unlimited class targets set at 50 yards. Each target was placed in the same location on the stand.
Timeline (The video is set to 6x speed.)
0:00:00 to 0:00:07 : Cover page
0:00:07 to 0:00:53 : General Introduction
0:00:53 to 0:01:17 : Rig Description
0:01:17 to 0:01:45 : Weather Description
0:01:45 to 0:02:24 : Lapua Long Range Reference Target
0:02:24 to 0:03:31 : SK Standard Plus Review
0:03:31 to 0:04:34 : Norma Tac-22 Review
0:04:34 to 0:06:03 : Comparison
0:06:03 to 0:06:45 : Summary and Conclusion
0:06:45 to 0:09:17 : Shooting SK Std+ target 1
0:09:17 to 0:11:03 : Shooting SK Std+ target 2
0:11:03 to 0:12:52 : Shooting Norma Tac-22 target 1
0:12:52 to 0:14:48 : Shooting Norma Tac-22 target 2

[@RimfireAddicted70]

This channel makes the best content for real world application of commonly used ammo choices for a vast vast majority of shooters who are training and practicing. Your videos give us real world expectations of what results we can expect. Thank you for your great work and explanation!

[@drpietrzak]

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.

[@CountryRimfire]

Nice head to head battle 😊 I really have good luck with SK Standard Plus. Where do you get those targets if I may? Are they longer than a sheet of printer paper? Thanks for sharing the results! Norma got the beat down 😅

[@drpietrzak]

@countryrimfire Thanks, SK Std+ has been hit and miss for me, a bit like SK Rifle Match. I am like SK Std+ more of late. The targets are ARA Unlimited. A search on them will turn up the link. I think www.killoughshootingsports.com/search/ara-m97/ara Rimfirecentral.com has them on a single 8.5x11 in the Benchrest 25-50 Shooting Challenge group.

[@CountryRimfire]

@drpietrzak awesome thanks for the link!! Yeah SK Rifle is hit and miss for me to in one of my rifles. In the new Bergara it is doing really well.

[@jefflayton5889]

This past weekend i shot my 6th ara match so far, and my first for the year. Using my B14r and sk standard plus shot a 2042 average across my three cards, finally breaking the 2k barrier for a match for the first time. Actually used a tip or two gleaned from your videos, so just wanted to thank you for your help. Using the sk i noticed that as the temperature rose, 40 degrees during the match, my groups opened up between the start and end of the match. In your testing so far have you done any tests on the temperature stability of any of the ammo you have shot, and if so which ammo has been the most stable? It was 38 degrees at the start of the first card and 74 at the start of the third card.

[@drpietrzak]

Temperature changes are part of what the differences over days covers. I usually see more dispersion as things drop below 40F. But, temperature makes a substantial difference.

[@ken9190]

Shoots almost as good as my Tikka.

[@drpietrzak]

Great!