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-   -   The infamous federal 22LR bricks... (https://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/303394-infamous-federal-22lr-bricks.html)

perfectcircle1 03-08-2013 08:51 AM

The infamous federal 22LR bricks...
 
Ok, finally i believe. Im now a a believer that they have become the lochness monster of ammo.

Since about the first week of January I've been hitting up walmart every morning before work around 7 am. I've managed to score over 1000 rounds of .223 at normal prices as well as 9mm, .38, and .45. Its been good even with their 3 box limits.

I live in a northern small town that stays below freezing most of the winter. I normally stockpile my ammo for summer shooting in this 5 month time. Thank god for walmart and keeping their normal pricing and making it still possible for me to do so.

So, let me get to my point. As far as 22lr I've managed to scrape up a couple thousand rounds of cci from that same walmart throughout the last couple months. Federal, not happenin captain. This morning i showed up at my normal time. The cabinets were loaded with 100 round packs of federal .223, winchester 9mm and .45 (which i don't use anyhow). The lady in that dept tells me the federal 550 bricks sold in 15 minutes!! Are you kidding me??!!. 20 boxes gone baby gone!!

Finding a federal brick is like winning the lottery. I have to say this is just ridiculous lol. 22lr has achieved movie star status. I think when the day comes and it my turn to score a couple i strongly believe im gonna jump for joy, like the old Toyota commercials was it?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/03/08/e3esuhad.jpg

Lenny_D 03-08-2013 09:00 AM

I've put these Federals through a test with two different 22 caliber rifles and out to 50 yards they shoot every bit as good out of my guns as the more costly brands. I've probably got 4K of them in reserve but I am always looking for more. So get to Walmart before I do.

Len

perfectcircle1 03-08-2013 09:26 AM

Re: The infamous federal 22LR bricks...
 
Haha im ramping up!! Im going an hour earlier from now on!

raveneap 03-08-2013 10:10 AM

I've had very good luck with the Federal bulk packs from Walmart. Not so the Remington Golden. my Ruger Mark III would FTF on just about every other round. Called Ruger and they immediately said "You're using Rem Gold aren't you.". I replied that I was
and they said that the Ruger Mark III does not like it. But the mark III as well as my 15-22 love the Federal and will eat it up all day without a problem. Haven't checked the price locally lately but glad I've got several bricks waiting for warm weather.

ChinStrap 03-08-2013 12:04 PM

I like this post alot, even in times of 'shortages' you can still find ammo - you just have put in the leg work. it's out there.

I visit a couple places locally, two or three times a week and have been able to get my personal stock to a level i'm comfortable with.

rburg 03-08-2013 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perfectcircle1 (Post 137073067)
I think when the day comes and it my turn to score a couple i strongly believe im gonna jump for joy, like the old Toyota commercials was it?

I think you misread that commercial. They were jumping up and kicking themselves in the tail for what they'd done.

perfectcircle1 03-08-2013 12:13 PM

Re: The infamous federal 22LR bricks...
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rburg (Post 137073474)
I think you misread that commercial. They were jumping up and kicking themselves in the tail for what they'd done.

Yeah u notice how the commercial stopped while the person was in mid air? That's cause they didn't want you seeing them fall to the ground kicking and screaming

chud333 03-08-2013 12:25 PM

Those same 550 Federal packs are going for 60 bucks and up
now on some auction sites. Maybe why it's so hard to find any
right now. I like them also and so do my rifles. Another vote
for the Rem. brand (golden bullets) not being worth spit....
Someone tested this ammo and found that the priming compound
was not uniform or in enough quantity in the rim of these shells.
I will not buy them even if on sale.

Chuck

Fredo Batali 03-08-2013 05:49 PM

My Remington Model 552 semi-auto (1961 vintage) will shoot Remington "Golden Bullets" all day long without a hitch. I have about 6,000 rounds of the Federal 550 packs on board as well as a like number of Remington Goldens. How long that will last I don't know. Living on the water the way I do. Never know when the weather might come up and sink the boat. All would be lost :(

De Oppresso Liber

brucev 03-08-2013 06:38 PM

Today I was at the shooting range where, wonder of wonders, they had .22LR ammo. The price was $50/brick of 500. I figured... O.K. After all... w/o ammo the range can't stay in business. The brands available were American Eagle and CCI Blazer. I've had very good results with both brands. I've not seen Federal 550's since way before Christmas.

Malpasowildlifer 03-08-2013 08:40 PM

I remember those!

armadillo 03-08-2013 09:58 PM

They were $100 per box at the gun show last Saturday. I didn't get any.

rburg 03-08-2013 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredo Batali (Post 137074313)
My Remington Model 552 semi-auto (1961 vintage) will shoot Remington "Golden Bullets" all day long without a hitch.

Maybe the old golden bullets. The new production just isn't up to the old standards. I attribute it to new machinery that runs faster and is more miserly with priming compound. I could be wrong.

But most of us who have bought and shot recent vintage, like the last couple of years, end up having significant misfires. Not one or two, but sometimes as many as 5 or 6 per hundred.

My time proven method is to take 2 pairs of pliers and grip the case with one and the bullet with the other. Then you bend and the bullet just kind of smears out. Toss it away. Then pour the powder in the nearest flower pot or grassy area. Its good nitrate fertilizer. Now look at the case. Look down inside. Use light if you need to. Then see if you can see any priming compound in the bottom. For the case to fire, the stuff has to both be there and spun into the rim.

What I think you'll see is the absence of yellow or green stuff. The color seems to be different by brand and age. I have no idea if the color is added or just what happens naturally from the chemicals. The point being is if there isn't any, the shell won't fire. And its been my experience that duds almost never have any. Its not isolated to Remington, its just more frequent with them.

If you do that, report back in a new thread what you discover. We'd like to hear it. We all have duds, so tell others what you've found.

brokenprism 03-09-2013 04:21 AM

I just gave one of those bulk packs, and a brick of CCI SV, to pay two transfer fees at my LGS. Ammo is like money now.

I think I paid more for the ammo than the value I got. I'm an idiot, and my dealier is smiling, because a transfer fee is just administrative air anyway.

moxie 03-09-2013 08:35 AM

Good stuff, but I also have had zero problems with thousands of rounds of Rem. and Win. bulk packs.

perfectcircle1 03-09-2013 08:50 AM

Re: The infamous federal 22LR bricks...
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by moxie (Post 137075801)
Good stuff, but I also have had zero problems with thousands of rounds of Rem. and Win. bulk packs.

Just picked up two winchester 555 bulk packs this morning. Never used them. I hope they work ok because they arent very pretty lol

Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk 2

canyonken 03-09-2013 12:52 PM

I went to Bass Pro this morning at opening time. They had a whole shelf full of the Federal 525 Value packs 22LR. I got three value packs for 22.99 a piece. Have no idea how much they had in the store room or if they restock during the day. I won't need to go looking for any more for quite a while. My local Wal Mart said they had a bunch of the Remington 550 packs in stock earlier this week - but it all went out the door that day.

Bush Pilot 03-10-2013 09:18 PM

Stopped by my local Wal Mart this morning, they had one brick of .22 Winchester at $32.70. I'm not going to pay that kind of money for .22 ammo.


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