Winchester 42 Max quick review.

[Knackers]

G'day folks, being a man that's fond of the .22LR I was keen to see how the new 42 Max ammo from Winchester performed after the big long lead up to its release on the market.

The ammo box has sexy/techno graphics with bold lettering that makes it look like business. (wifey reconed she could take a better pic than me)

I grabbed the lecky scales and vernier and took some measurements from 20% of the packet for rim thickness (RT) and cartridge weight (CW)

No RT CW
1 .036" 54.4g
2 .038" 54.4g
3 .037" 54.4g
4 .037" 54.2g
5 .037" 54.8g
6 .039" 54.4g
7 .036" 54.4g
8 .037" 54.2g
9 .039" 54.8g
10 .039" 54.4g

The rim thickness was within 3 thou of an inch which is pretty good for hunting ammo and 80% of the ammo weighed within .2 of a grain and the balance up to .6 of a grain, again pretty darn good for hunting ammo.

Next up was to put the 42 Max over the Chrony to see how close Winchesters claims are of 1320fps. I was shooting out of an Anshutz MPR64 with a 24" barrel and later using a Model 2 Brno with a25" barrel to compare velocities.

*while the chrony was set up I put 5 rounds of the Win Power Points (orange pack) through the MPR64 to compare old and new ammo consistency.

Muzzle velocity
MPR 64 MPR 64 Brno m2
42 Max Power Points 42 Max
1288 1256 1270
1292 1262 1275
1320 1233 1284
1299 1260 1292
1264 1250 1310
1274
1278
1306
1282
1302
Average Average Average
1290.5 1252.2 1286.2

When firing the 42 Max ammo there is a slightly louder punch over the Power Points and I found that my MPR didn't like either ammo as much as the Model 2 Brno.
It was late afternoon and light was fading and I had to get the range opened and closed several times to set the chrony up which pissed off the two blokes at the ended of the benches. I may have rushed the shooting a bit, because my Brno USUALLY shoots ragged one hole groups with Power Points and the conditions were near perfect so I'll put it down to driver error, and I'm sure more patients would produce a better group, that being said it certainly is accurate enough to head shoot bunnies out to 50 yards and more.

I attempted to shoot a bunny and dissect it to gauge bullet performance, but after setting up opposite a warren protected with old fallen timber I was ambushed by a Kelpie pup that got off his lead at the property I was at. I jumped into the ute and drove to the other side of the farm to leave the dog behind and found I needed a shotgun not a .22 because the rabbits, probably a dozen all up, never sat still for a second.
So sorry there was no carnage analysis this time round, hope you enjoyed my write up.

Edited to say that I spaced all the stats so you could read them clearly but when I posted they got all bunched together, and I only put the pic of the ammo in once, the forum did it twice, not me.

[fenring]

Thanks for the write up Knackers. I haven't got any of the new Power Points as I just use subs out of the .22LR nowadays. These new ones look like they should be top performers on game.

I got a couple of boxes of the 42gr Subsonic Max the other day - the bullet isn't as conical shaped as the old ones. More round nosed but with the same gaping hollow cavity. Have not fired any yet, will give them a go on some targets and bunnies in the coming weeks I reckon. These were $7.50 a box, I think the bloke in the LGS said they'd do a brick for about $65 which is less than the $69 I paid for my last brick of Winny Subs. CCI's are selling for only about $50 a brick and look pretty good too.

[MISSED]

Thumbs up for the review Knackers .I may have to break the Winnie(sportco) out and have a play.

[Knackers]

I need to get a camera like yours Fenring
I grabbed a box of the 42 Subs as well, but haven't fired any yet.

I've got an idea, you can do the field test, there's more bunnies around your way IMO.

[daisy]

Thanks for the review Knackers. I have to try some in my 39a for the 100 meter rams in cowboy lever action silhouette. I always hate it when you hit one and the bastard stands there an laughs at you.

Daisy

[cruisey]

Thanks Knacks, good review mate

[aam]

Thanks for the review Knackers.
Now that I know this ammo is out, I'll see my local G/Shop and get a box.

[vicfox]

Thanks for the info boys. I've neen interested to hear about them. All sounds good for a field load.
Swithed back to subs myself recently and gave some power points a go at the local small bore range I frequent Wednesday nights.
They shot well but not as consistent as the target lapua round most of us use even though its only one step up from the tined s*#t.
Might grab a box of the new 42 subs and give them the work over as well. If it worth reporting then you'll hear about it.

[Dr G]

Great review Steve

My lithgow only gets a run when I am checking traps these days. I think I feel the need to fill the freezer with rabbits except with the comp on at the moment every minute spent not shooting cats and foxes gives Elmer Fudd a look'in .

Dr G

[Brad Y]

I did a quick test this arvo with the new 42gr subs in my marlin 925 after putting a different scope on it.

I didnt do a side by side with the old winny subs but i think accuracy wise they are more than sufficient for field use at 50 or so metres- which is about the useful range of subs (unless you try 100m plus shots like I do for the fun of it and just hope you hit something) I was shooting off a bipod but the plastic stock was bare on the bar on the top of the ute so I found felt quite a few shots pull as the metal on plastic was pretty slippery. Must get around to lightening the trigger too- that might help to shrink the groups.

The attached pic is 50m. Quite a few shots printed in same or next to the previous hole. 5 shot groups would be about half an inch to an inch if I didnt get too much slip from the back of the stock on the ute bar. Would like to try it on my mobile shooting bench with a rear bag. Some of them were the missus as well having a go at trying to get a better bullseye

None of them went supersonic and all sounded the same. They dont have the same "smell" as the old subs and seem to burn a smidge cleaner too.

The only problem is the price- $1 or so more expensive than the old ones but thats in WA as well. I still have a brick of the old ones so Im going to use all them up. Dont know if winchester are going to discontinue the old ones or not. The gun doesnt mind either so Im sorted either way!

[curan]

I did a quick test this arvo with the new 42gr subs in my marlin 925 after putting a different scope on it.

I didnt do a side by side with the old winny subs but i think accuracy wise they are more than sufficient for field use at 50 or so metres- which is about the useful range of subs (unless you try 100m plus shots like I do for the fun of it and just hope you hit something) I was shooting off a bipod but the plastic stock was bare on the bar on the top of the ute so I found felt quite a few shots pull as the metal on plastic was pretty slippery. Must get around to lightening the trigger too- that might help to shrink the groups.

The attached pic is 50m. Quite a few shots printed in same or next to the previous hole. 5 shot groups would be about half an inch to an inch if I didnt get too much slip from the back of the stock on the ute bar. Would like to try it on my mobile shooting bench with a rear bag. Some of them were the missus as well having a go at trying to get a better bullseye

None of them went supersonic and all sounded the same. They dont have the same "smell" as the old subs and seem to burn a smidge cleaner too.

The only problem is the price- $1 or so more expensive than the old ones but thats in WA as well. I still have a brick of the old ones so Im going to use all them up. Dont know if winchester are going to discontinue the old ones or not. The gun doesnt mind either so Im sorted either way!

I got a go at the new subs at the local range, and got similar results, Brad.
I had 2 five shot groups onto paper at 50m, and they were both around 19mm. This is very similar to what I got with the old subs from the same gun. Also shot a couple of groups of the new powerpoint, but the results were over an inch. To be fair, the same rifle (Savage BVMK2) didn't like the old powerpoints, either.
I wouldn't hesitate to use the new subs on the bunnies if I was to go after them.

regards, curan.