I've been shooting Lapua Center X for years, but I will soon be out. What is the closest ammo to it? I checked the few online retailers and didn't see much I recognized.

They still make Center X. I guess the SK line would be the closest thing to it. Many moons ago at the Lapua test center a lot of SK Biathlon tested better than everything else . I have good luck with RWS brand ammo and like Lapua it has some less expensive offerings under different labels (same head stamp) like Geco and Norma. Lots of folks seem to like CCI standard and it’s US made. I have a good deal of Eley that shoots well. My go to ammo is available and shoots good enough and if it’s not expensive, even better. Although the cost of ammo isn’t our big expense. Food, fuel, lodging, the rifle, entry fees all put ammo at the low cost end of things, even expensive .22 ammo.

Which Eley type do you shoot? I have used Team before, but I think it has been rebranded.

Team in the blue box, edge in the black box (discontinued), currently have a good lot of Club. Eley does have very thin rims, I occasionally have failures to fire in my rebarreled 1712. Eley, like Lapua and all other brands accuracy can vary from lot to lot.

https://www.whiddengunworks.com/ammunition-testing/

It seems they are doing a lot to support Smallbore needs in the ammo department. From the testing facility to being able to purchase test bricks of ammo. If a person is serious about wanting to have the most accurate ammunition a test facility isn’t a bad deal, especially if you live or will be close to one.

My experience has gone like this - went to the test center in Phoenix, departed with two cases of ammo that shot exceptionally well in my rifle. Those same lots have shot very well in other rifles also. In the end, the smart money way, I believe.

Home experiments / testing - the one I seem always stuck in. Buy lots of different ammo in several bricks or boxes, pay lots of shipping from many different distributors. Eventually get to test it on a day the wind isn’t blowing and I’m free to shoot. Find a lot of something that shot well then discover that lot is now gone from the face of the planet. Repeat. I have many small batches of okay, expensive ammo that gets used in local matches and practice.

Casino option - lay down a good chunk of money for a large quantity of high quality ammo. Hope you hit the accuracy lottery. If you have several rifles, several shooters in the family or shooting friends that will take it off your hands you have better odds. I have played this one several times also.

I have had all three of my .22 BPCR, all CPA rifles tested at the Lapua test center in Mesa and purchased the best grouping ammo, at the maximum shot, 100 meters. In every case I have sent ammo that I had on hand, Center X, Long range and Midas +, and in every case, except one lot of Midas plus, all shot groups under 1 inch at 100 in the test rifle and the rifle I bought the ammo for. Lapua Long Range is available at Creedmoor sports and Midsouth. At least it was a few minutes ago.

SK Long Range does well in most of my guns.

this is a 60 yard - 5 shot group out of my Marlin 39a.
My friend Tony Tello actually shot it for me with a 14x scope.

I don't get to shoot much, but fortunately I bought a case when it was closer to $660, now it is in the high $900's+

Dennis Ostler

Nice group!

I’ve been shooting SK Rifle Match for a while. It’s more consistent than Standard Plus but still not super-great. I’ve got my name on the list with Cathy for a case of Lapua Center X which I’ll use for the big matches like Nationals and use the Rifle Match for everything else.