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Competition Target Ammunition: Top 5 Match-Grade Rimfire Rounds in Canada for 2025 — Eley Tenex, Lapua Center-X, RWS R50, Eley Match, SK Standard Plus

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Precision match-grade rimfire cartridges engineered for competitive target shooting and small-bore matches. This category emphasizes extreme consistency, tight dimensional tolerances, and superior manufacturing quality to deliver elite accuracy and repeatable performance shot after shot. Competitive shooters and clubs prefer these rounds because they reduce vertical and horizontal dispersion, simplify load selection and sighting, and offer the lot-to-lot uniformity needed for national and international competition. In Canada, buyers also value reliable domestic availability, recognized brand reputations, and compliance with provincial regulations. Whether you are training for a small-bore championship, coaching juniors, or dialing in a benchrest setup, competition target ammunition is chosen for its ability to turn a well-prepared rifle and shooter into a match-winning combination.

Quick Menu

1. Best-in-Class Precision

2. Best Consistency for Competition

3. Best German Match Performance

4. Best Reliable Match Ammo

5. Best Value Match Practice

1
BEST-IN-CLASS PRECISION

Eley Tenex

Eley Tenex

Eley Tenex is widely regarded as the pinnacle of .22 LR competition ammunition thanks to its exceptional consistency, minute-of-angle accuracy and match-proven performance at the highest international levels. It commands a premium price but delivers the tightest groups and most uniform velocities among the list, making it the go-to choice where marginal gains matter most compared with Lapua Center‑X's slightly more cost-efficient precision and the budget advantages of RWS R50 or SK Standard Plus.

4.8
★★★★☆

  • Pinpoint accuracy

  • Match-grade consistency

  • Pinpoint accuracy

  • Match-grade consistency

Review Summary

95%

"Widely regarded as the gold standard in .22 LR competition ammo, Tenex delivers exceptional consistency and minute group sizes for long-term users, though at a premium price. Most competitive shooters report unmatched repeatability across many sessions."

  • Subtle whisper

  • Industry-leading consistency and among the smallest group sizes in .22 LR competition

  • Subtle whisper

  • Industry-leading consistency and among the smallest group sizes in .22 LR competition

Skill Development & Mastery

Time-Saving Convenience

Eley Tenex is widely regarded as the pinnacle of .22 LR competition ammunition thanks to its exceptional consistency, minute-of-angle accuracy and match-proven performance at the highest international levels. It commands a premium price but delivers the tightest groups and most uniform velocities among the list, making it the go-to choice where marginal gains matter most compared with Lapua Center‑X's slightly more cost-efficient precision and the budget advantages of RWS R50 or SK Standard Plus.

  • Pinpoint accuracy

  • Match-grade consistency

  • Subtle whisper

  • Industry-leading consistency and among the smallest group sizes in .22 LR competition

  • Extremely low standard deviation (SD) in muzzle velocity to minimize wind drift

  • Pinpoint accuracy

  • Match-grade consistency

  • Subtle whisper

  • Industry-leading consistency and among the smallest group sizes in .22 LR competition

  • Extremely low standard deviation (SD) in muzzle velocity to minimize wind drift

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$220-280 CAD

2
BEST CONSISTENCY FOR COMPETITION

Lapua Center-X

Lapua Center-X

Lapua Center‑X balances elite match accuracy with rigorous production control, offering extremely consistent velocities and great barrel-to-barrel repeatability that appeals to serious competitors. While it may sit a notch below Eley Tenex in absolute group size, it often represents better value-for-performance for shooters who want near-top-level results with a more favorable price-per-round than the premium Tenex line.

4.7
★★★★☆

  • Exceptional grouping

  • Stable trajectory

  • Exceptional grouping

  • Stable trajectory

Review Summary

92%

"Lapua Center-X is praised for excellent accuracy and consistency nearly on par with Tenex, with slightly better tolerance to varied rifles and environmental conditions. Buyers note premium performance and high reliability after extended use."

  • Gentle recoil

  • Exceptional accuracy with very stable velocities across rounds

  • Gentle recoil

  • Exceptional accuracy with very stable velocities across rounds

Skill Development & Mastery

Time-Saving Convenience

Lapua Center‑X balances elite match accuracy with rigorous production control, offering extremely consistent velocities and great barrel-to-barrel repeatability that appeals to serious competitors. While it may sit a notch below Eley Tenex in absolute group size, it often represents better value-for-performance for shooters who want near-top-level results with a more favorable price-per-round than the premium Tenex line.

  • Exceptional grouping

  • Stable trajectory

  • Gentle recoil

  • Exceptional accuracy with very stable velocities across rounds

  • Produced with Lapua's strict quality control and high-quality components

  • Exceptional grouping

  • Stable trajectory

  • Gentle recoil

  • Exceptional accuracy with very stable velocities across rounds

  • Produced with Lapua's strict quality control and high-quality components

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$180-230 CAD

3
BEST GERMAN MATCH PERFORMANCE

RWS R50

RWS R50

RWS R50 delivers reliable, high-quality match performance at a more accessible price point, making it an excellent choice for both competition and high-volume practice. German manufacturing yields good consistency and dependability, and while R50 typically trails Tenex and Lapua slightly in ultimate precision, it often outperforms similarly priced alternatives on a per-round value basis.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Tight groups

  • Consistent velocity

  • Tight groups

  • Consistent velocity

Review Summary

89%

"RWS R50 is a dependable match round offering strong accuracy and clean shooting; some top shooters find it just shy of the absolute best but it remains highly reliable over many rounds. Long-term users value its consistency and availability."

  • Olympic pedigree

  • High-quality bullet concentricity and consistent ballistic performance

  • Olympic pedigree

  • High-quality bullet concentricity and consistent ballistic performance

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

RWS R50 delivers reliable, high-quality match performance at a more accessible price point, making it an excellent choice for both competition and high-volume practice. German manufacturing yields good consistency and dependability, and while R50 typically trails Tenex and Lapua slightly in ultimate precision, it often outperforms similarly priced alternatives on a per-round value basis.

  • Tight groups

  • Consistent velocity

  • Olympic pedigree

  • High-quality bullet concentricity and consistent ballistic performance

  • Low velocity spread and dependable ignition for repeatable groups

  • Tight groups

  • Consistent velocity

  • Olympic pedigree

  • High-quality bullet concentricity and consistent ballistic performance

  • Low velocity spread and dependable ignition for repeatable groups

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$160-210 CAD

4
BEST RELIABLE MATCH AMMO

Eley Match

Eley Match

Eley Match provides a proven, high-quality competition cartridge that sits below Tenex in the product hierarchy but still offers excellent accuracy for club- and regional-level matches. Its technical pedigree and performance are superior to many budget offerings, giving shooters a reliable mid-tier option that narrows the gap to elite rounds without the same premium cost as Eley Tenex.

4.7
★★★★☆

  • Competition-proven

  • Reliable ignition

  • Competition-proven

  • Reliable ignition

Review Summary

91%

"Eley Match provides high-quality, consistent performance for competition and practice at a slightly lower cost than Tenex; experienced shooters find it reliable and well-suited to repeated match use. It balances top-tier accuracy with better value for routine training."

  • Classic charm

  • Excellent accuracy for high-level competition at a step below the top premium

  • Classic charm

  • Excellent accuracy for high-level competition at a step below the top premium

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

Eley Match provides a proven, high-quality competition cartridge that sits below Tenex in the product hierarchy but still offers excellent accuracy for club- and regional-level matches. Its technical pedigree and performance are superior to many budget offerings, giving shooters a reliable mid-tier option that narrows the gap to elite rounds without the same premium cost as Eley Tenex.

  • Competition-proven

  • Reliable ignition

  • Classic charm

  • Excellent accuracy for high-level competition at a step below the top premium

  • Consistent velocities and good lot-to-lot uniformity suitable for matches

  • Competition-proven

  • Reliable ignition

  • Classic charm

  • Excellent accuracy for high-level competition at a step below the top premium

  • Consistent velocities and good lot-to-lot uniformity suitable for matches

Order Now

$140-190 CAD

5
BEST VALUE MATCH PRACTICE

SK Standard Plus

SK Standard Plus

SK Standard Plus is a widely used training and competition round prized for consistent performance at a very competitive price, making it ideal for shooters who need many rounds for practice without sacrificing reliability. While it generally does not match the elite rigidity of Tenex or Lapua for final-stage precision, its economical cost-per-round and dependable function make it a smart financial choice for sustained training and club-level competition.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Shooter's buddy

  • Dependable rounds

  • Shooter's buddy

  • Dependable rounds

Review Summary

87%

"SK Standard Plus offers consistent, accurate performance at a more affordable price, making it a common choice for practice and many competitive shooters. Users report excellent value and reliability, with occasional lot-to-lot variation."

  • Easy cycling

  • Great value for precision practice and club-level competition

  • Easy cycling

  • Great value for precision practice and club-level competition

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

SK Standard Plus is a widely used training and competition round prized for consistent performance at a very competitive price, making it ideal for shooters who need many rounds for practice without sacrificing reliability. While it generally does not match the elite rigidity of Tenex or Lapua for final-stage precision, its economical cost-per-round and dependable function make it a smart financial choice for sustained training and club-level competition.

  • Shooter's buddy

  • Dependable rounds

  • Easy cycling

  • Great value for precision practice and club-level competition

  • Tight manufacturing tolerances deliver reliable accuracy for the price

  • Shooter's buddy

  • Dependable rounds

  • Easy cycling

  • Great value for precision practice and club-level competition

  • Tight manufacturing tolerances deliver reliable accuracy for the price

Order Now

$120-170 CAD

How Science Explains the Advantage of Match-Grade Ammunition

A range of ballistics research and shooting sport testing explains why competition target ammunition outperforms standard rimfire loads in precision shooting. Key measurable factors include muzzle velocity consistency, projectile concentricity and weight uniformity, case and bullet dimensional tolerances, and controlled propellant and primer behavior. These factors reduce shot-to-shot variation and improve group size. Laboratory testing and field trials used by national shooting organizations and independent ballistics labs consistently show that lower standard deviation in velocity and tighter dimensional control correlate with smaller, more predictable groups at match distances.

Lower standard deviation in muzzle velocity reduces vertical stringing and makes holdover and wind calls more repeatable.

Tighter bullet weight and concentricity tolerances improve projectile stability and reduce yaw, leading to tighter groups.

Consistent case and bullet dimensions produce more uniform chambering and barrel release, decreasing dispersion from shot to shot.

Controlled propellant and primer performance help maintain consistent internal ballistics, which is critical at match distances.

Independent range tests and manufacturer lot testing frequently report sub-minute of angle performance for top-tier match ammo under controlled conditions.

In the Canadian 2025 market, the top competition target ammunition choices are Eley Tenex, Lapua Center-X, RWS R50, Eley Match, and SK Standard Plus. Each of these rounds delivers the consistency and manufacturing quality serious shooters require; among them, Eley Tenex stands out as the best choice for elite competitive performance due to its industry-leading consistency and proven international results. We hope you found what you were looking for. You can refine or expand your search using the site search to compare prices, availability, and lot test results across these products.

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