Newbie here and looking for some advice on shooting lead ammo in my M&P 22. I don't imagine it's like burning gas in a diesel motor but there seem to be issues with unplated/unjacket lead according to some folks out there.

What say ye, old wise sages?

You wont find any real jacketed bullets in the 22lr. The plating on most is simply a thin copper was applied over the lead. I can't speak to the MP-22 specifically, as I do not own one, but I have shot un-plated lead bullets out of a variety of 22 rifles and handguns for many years without any issue. Winchester Wildcats have always worked well, as have various 22lr match loads, most of which are un-plated.

Larry

I've put over 2000 rds through mine, unplated, unjacketed, plated and jacketed. They all went through the barrel just fine. A few hiccups with the first 200 or so Winchester M22s, but it went through the next 300 of them just fine. I will say though, that I only shoot 1200 fps or higher ammo. Haven't tried subsonic with my M&P22.

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USAF 1981 - 2001

They shoot fine, even some of the foreign brands, just remember to clean it!

22 lr ammo is all lead. Some have a few molicules of copper pwash.

As long as you don't swallow a brick of 'em you'll be fine.

If you do swallow a brick of 22's, the lead is the least of your problems.

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I've mostly been shooting CCI and winchester plated ammo but came into a few boxes of straight lead and wanted to get some confirmation before firing it. Seem slike I had heard something about micro-groove barrels not liking lead. Good to know I can go ahead and use what I have. Thanks again.

Shot some (100?)Remington Thunderbolts in my MP 15-22. Had to spend way to much time removing the lead from the barrel. Did it "hurt" the rifle? don't think so. Was it a major pain, yup.

Back to the Mini-Mags.

AFAIK jacketed 22 LR's don't exist. The copper colored ones you see are just dipped into copper giving them a thin coating or plating. Some Company's use copper, some a wax, and others nothing. All are fine to shoot in any firearm made in 22 LR.

More important than any coating on the bullet is the velocity they are loaded to. I'm pleased that most companies have begun to list the velocities on the box. With semi-auto's, they tend to function better with the 1200 to 1280 fps rounds. The standard velocity around 1080 may be more accurate, but will often not function the slide on many semi-auto's. Revolvers and bolt actions don't care about velocity, just find the one that groups best from a particular gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

There was some real live full metal jacketed .22 LR manufactured for the U.S. military's aircrew survival weapons back in the 1960's and 1970's, I think. It would be collector stuff now. One reason .22 rimfire ammunition has been affordable is that the bullets used were just lead alloy with maybe a copper wash or thin plate that would not compare to true jacketing.

they shoot fine. these ammo just leave so much residue.