Frequently Asked Questions

ELEY’s range splits in two. Statistically graded competition products — tenex, match, team, club and sport — are made from common components and separated by measured accuracy. Purpose-designed products — force, contact, pistol, biathlon, hunting and long-range — are engineered for a specific discipline. See every product compared →

Neither is universally more accurate. Rimfire accuracy depends on the Triangle of Success — the right ammunition, the right firearm and a consistent shooter. The most accurate .22LR is the production lot that performs best in your rifle, not the brand on the box. Read the full comparison →

tenex, match and team are the same flat-nose cartridge, made on one line from identical components. They are separated by the accuracy measured during factory testing — the highest-performing lots become tenex (max RSD 3.75 mm), then match (4.74 mm), then team (5.50 mm). See the full comparison →

Yes, for competitive shooters and serious hobbyists chasing tighter groups, ELEY Tenex is worth it. A box of 50 typically costs around £17.80–£17.90 from UK retailers, roughly 36p a round, a premium over standard-grade .22LR in exchange for a maximum radial standard deviation of just 3.75mm and consistent velocity between 317 and 330 m/s: the same specification used at Olympic and World Championship level. That batch-to-batch consistency is why national teams and world record holders load it.

For casual plinking or general practice, a standard-grade cartridge will do the job at a lower cost per round. Tenex earns its price for shooters who need to remove ammunition as a variable at the highest levels of competition.

ELEY Tenex is manufactured to a maximum radial standard deviation of 3.75mm and a velocity range of 317–330 m/s, tolerances tight enough that it's the cartridge of choice at Olympic, World Cup and World Championship level. That consistency comes from Six Sigma manufacturing controls and electronic visual inspection of every cartridge produced, rather than sample batches, backed by lot-by-lot testing so each box is traceable to a specific production run and velocity reading.

Because barrel harmonics differ from rifle to rifle, no single lot performs identically in every barrel: see barrel testing below for how to identify which lot groups tightest in yours.

A misfire is when your cartridge fails to fire when you squeeze the trigger.

On rare occasions there can be a delay in igniting the primer, so wait at least 20 seconds before opening the bolt and ejecting the cartridge. Check that the bullet is still attached to the cartridge case — if not, check it is not stuck in your barrel. If complete, try reloading the cartridge as a sighting shot, rotating it to enable striking a different point on the rim. If it still does not fire, please seek advice from your local supplier.

Most misfires result from a weak strike of the firing pin on the cartridge rim. This can be caused by a dirty firing mechanism or a worn firing pin spring. If you start to experience regular misfires, clean the bolt and firing pin mechanism. If this does not solve the problem, ask a qualified gunsmith to check and if necessary replace the firing pin spring.

A correctly operating firing pin will produce an indent of around 0.012 in (0.30 mm) in the rim of the cartridge case. A firing pin which produces indents below 0.010 in (0.25 mm) is much more likely to produce misfires.

Wear on the bolt mechanism over time can result in increased headspace. This can affect the performance of your barrel.

Measuring at regular intervals with a suitable headspace gauge is recommended. This can be performed at our Customer Test Ranges. Readjustment by a qualified gunsmith may be necessary.

Firearms should, as a minimum requirement, be cleaned after every use.

Your firearm contains precision mechanical systems which can become clogged by the combustion debris from cartridges. Cleaning ensures the barrel, action and trigger mechanisms remain in perfect working order and deliver optimum performance.

Your firearm should be cleaned with a high quality nitro-solvent using a rod and patches. Care should be taken to remove all debris. Moving parts should be lubricated in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.