I am sure this question has been asked and answered a hundred times, and I did not see the answer in a search.

I have not bought any 22 amo in 15 years, and when I did, I bought Remington Thunderbolt. I was on my way out of state and grabbed some quick at Dick's. Terrible stuff IMO.

What is the best plain 22 long rifle non match grade on the market today? I know this is an opinionated question, but I want clean consistent ammo that will not put more lead in my barrel than I have in my car battery.

Thanks

I am sure you will get lots of opinions here, but a google search of exactly what you asked came up with several website reviews

My 22s prefer the Federal, usually the 525 or 325 value packs

Out of what guns ?
It matters as some won't function properly with standard velocity.
BTW....I join you in hating Thunder Bolts.
Federal Bulk has been good in many of my guns. Aguilla Super extra standard velocity has also.

__________________
Paul
S&WCA #2726

For my GSG 1911 .22, only Winchester Super X work with no smoke stacks and jams. But there not CHEAP!

__________________
Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

This would be used in a model 17-3, and various bolt action rifles. I do not own a semi auto 22 cal. Yeah, I know, what is wrong with me

CCI Standard Velocity are my preferred non-highspeed, non-match .22’s.

When it comes to highspeed .22’s, I like Federal Champion and Blazer. They’re inexpensive, reliable and they shoot well in all my guns.

__________________
"I also cook."

I've got a few K22 Masterpieces. One of them really likes Federal and another prefers Remington Golden Bullets, go figure. They all like CCI's

IMHO I feel the best combo of bang for your buck and reliability is Federal Automatch.

My Savage Bolt prefers Aguila Super Extra 40 gr CPRN, my revolvers Federal 36 grain CPHP from bulk. CCI Mini Mag 40 gr CPRN is Second best in both. Go figure.

__________________
Certified Curmudgeon

My K-22's love Federal Auto Match bulk pack. So does my AR 22 conversion. My 512 Remington shoots the regular Federal bulk pack really good. For the money I would buy the auto match.

"What is the best plain 22 long rifle non match grade on the market today?"

Depends on one's interpretation of what "Best" means. Cheapest is generally Federal bulk pack. And it groups reasonably well. You mentioned leading. I have never experienced leading in any gun with any ammunition - but you say you did? Do your guns have rough bores?

Regarding grouping performance, it is well-recognized that different guns will have definite preferences for different brands and types of .22 ammunition, so the only way to optimize grouping performance for any guns you own is to do some controlled firing with every brand and type you can find. I can personally say that the best grouping performance I have found for my Winchester 52B is with CCI Standard Velocity LR. It is as good as or better than anyone's match ammunition for me. But the Federal and Remington "Golden Bullet" bulk pack are not far behind. Many claim that the Winchester high velocity LR is very good in many different guns, but it is somewhat more expensive than Federal and Remington bulk pack ammunition.

I have a 44 year-old Ruger Standard. While it's most accurate with high velocity .22lr rounds like CCI Velocitor or Stinger, it also shoots well with CCI Mini Mags. In my experience, the Mini Mags are the the best combination of quality and price, so I look to buy those first when I'm shopping for .22lr ammo.

__________________
What, me worry?

Remington Thunderbolts are notorious for leading barrels. They would be my last choice for purchase. They would be good for barter.

I've run a lot of Federal Auto Match and it works well in my guns but for the price the best ammo so far is Blazer. It's about $20 a brick when on sale and groups fantastic. I no longer buy CCI Mini Mags for matches because the Blazer is working so well in my guns.

To answer your question about rough bores, the answer is no. The Remington 510 that I was using is around 1960 vintage and is a tack driver for a non scoped 22. It is no 52 Winchester, but I have put countless thousands of rounds through this gun in the last 50 years, and never had a problem. IMHO, the Thunderbolt ammo is junk. Before I was done with a single box I had bullets key holeing, and missing the target completely, and the bore was full of lead. This stuff is pure lead and no hardener mixed in. Inventing this stuff was not Remington's finest hour.

Thunderbolt is filthy ammunition. I never use it. Learned my lesson the hard way.

I have had way too many Federal rounds not fire and it NOT being the fault of light strikes so now I don't use Federal, either.

My first choice is CCI Stinger ammunition.

I've had good luck with some of the ammo mentioned, but the best thing to do is try a variety of ammo and shoot groups from a benchrest, 25 yards for handguns and 50 for rifle. It's worth the effort and expense and will tell you what you want to know.

I use various CCI versions. Thunderbolt really messed up one of my pistols, and I gave away most of what I had afterwards.

After shooting most everything I've just settled on CCI minimag, HP or solid, for all my 22s. I don't worry about a $1 or 2 more a box as the ammo is the cheapest part of shooting 22s. Consistant ignition and reliable performance. Works well in my m63, ruger std pistol, 10/22, Rem 550-1, marlin 60 and old browning t-bolt. By the way after your sighted in just get off the bench and stand on your hind legs and shoot like a man. It's a great way to learn humility.

__________________
Well done > well said

I have a lot of 22 ammo from before the panic. The bulk ammo
from that period was decent stuff even Thunderbolt & Cyclone.
Very few if any duds. New bulk is terrible. Everyone in these
parts are going for CCIs. It seems to be the most dependable
and accurate at the price. I think all the Target ammo from the
major brands is fine if you want to pay the price. I have not
herd any complaints on CCI products. I think most of the
complaints are coming from bulk pacs. Companies probably
don't reject anything now. If it's not #1 it goes into bulk pacs.

Thanks for all the information

I shot a few boxes of Thunderbolt in my 1953 550-1 Remington Saturday without a problem $21 per 500 at Walleyworld. I have about 20 kinds of 22 ammo and Browning bulk pack is the worst at 50 yards but no lead in the barrel with any.

I think that every thing everyone said in here is true. But not for all rifles and hand guns. I read a good article that I can’t locate right now that described how gun bores are made. The difference in the material used and the process in manufacturing and why certain ammos don’t work. If I go to the range and take several guns, and I always do, I also take what ever ammo works in each gun. If you are looking for one ammo that will work in all of your firearms, it’s probably or most likely not going to happen. Find out how your gun is made and find the ammo that works for each gun. I know it’s more work but if you want to play and have fun go with it. Everyone has their favorite ammo but it’s really what their guns like. Thunderbolt ammo should only be used on the end of a fishing line. If you get in a gun battle and your only ammo is Thunderbolt, don’t shoot it, through it, and you will be more successful if you through full boxes.

JMO, in Ammunition,

BEST means most accurate,

with SD AMMO, MOST EFFECTIVE means causing most damage with very high level of accuracy,

CHEAPEST is well cheapest and rarely best,

MOST ECONOMICAL is highly accurate at a decent price.

I mean, the point is to hit what you aim at (and incapacitate it in certain situations).

__________________
Certified Curmudgeon

I have a wide variety of 22's, each prefer there own ammo for the most part. They will tell what works well. In general the best cheap ammo I have found that is accurate (for the most part) does not lead or run dirty is SK Magazine. Target rifles, revolvers, and semi-autos. Standard is CCI standard. Auglia standard velocity works well also.

Midwayusa has CCI standard velocity .22 LR right now for $28.99/500 brick. Pretty good price on ammo that almost everyone says is almost as good as a lot of match ammo. Pretty clean shooting for those fully semi-automatics

I'll say that the only 22LR firearms I have are a S&W 15-22 I bought in Feb of 2011, and a Ruger SR22 I bought two years ago.

I've ran more rounds through that 15-22 than I can count. A vast majority of the 22 ran it has been Blazer bulk, I would get 5000rd cases of it and burn through that in a summer. The stuff has given me very little grief. I did run the Federal 550 packs way back when and they were also fine.

Now, since the "panic" of late 2012, I've ran the 325 Federal "Auto match" stuff and so far, it's been ok.

I was able to finally get my hands on another 5000rd case of Blazer bulk last month, I have not ran any yet, I hope they're as good as they used to be.