First page of the tread discusses recommended and non-recommended ammo. Aquila has two in the recommended column. From reading it seams the better stuff to shoot is a little pricey.

I know this is an "area specific" question, but for those 15-22 owners in the San Francisco Bay Area, do you folks know anyplace in the San Francisco Bay Area where I can get Federal ammo? I've only seen Winchester, CCI and Remington for sale at the stores near me, but haven't found a place to get Federal ammo (I'm looking to pickup a bulk pack). Any leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.

Not from that area, but check WalMart if you have one.

Before shooting for groups, you should fire at least 20 rounds of the selected ammo in order to "season" the barrel to the lube used on the cartridge. If possible, clean the barrel between ammo types, but you still have to shoot at least 20 rounds to season the barrel. At that point, you'll see the best accuracy the selected ammo has to offer.

Gander Mountain has the 36 and 40 gr Mini-mags on sale again this week, in-store only. $5.99 per hundred.

Anyone else compare the cci 36hp & 40rn besides the posts on page 3?

ill be honest i put 200rds of winchester wild cats through without a problem.

Just ordered some on-line.

CCI .22LR 36GR MINI-MAG HP CPHP 500 ROUNDS
Item #428675 In Stock $29.99

That's 5.9 cents/round, or $5.99/100
With no tax and free shipping, that's a bargain for Mini-Mags!

Thanks for the heads-up Zamboni!

Although it was said that sub-sonic ammo shouldn't be used, I was wondering if the Agulia 60 grain load would work?
This stuff is murder in racoons!

I've shot a bunch of the Aguila SSS 60 grains with no problems at all. Would be a good solution for coons. I shot one last weekend and it took 3 Federal hollow points to finish him off, but I bet one of the Aguila SSS's would have done the job. Be aware that you will need to adjust your sights as it drops like a rock after about 25 yds.

I was thinking of taking advantage of the Gander Mountain sale (thanks for mentioning it) but have two questions

can they ship right to your home, I live in WA

how much was shipping, I would imagine 5 to 10 boxes would weigh a bit

thanks in advance

I don't know of any shipping restrictions to WA, but I'm on the other side of the country

I ordered four 500-round packs and the shipping was free with their "saver option".. it may take a day or two longer to get there, but that's no big deal. They have a map that shows estimated delivery time for their free shipping option.

What's everyone's thought on using the CCI Velocitors for break in? I wanted to get some Stingers, but they were all sold out. These looked like the next best thing they had in stock.

they are nice but expensive, you get half as many as the CCI minimags for the same price (50 per box instead of 100). Im interested in trying out a box too but haven't yet. I just broke my rifle in a couple days ago on minimags without any FTF

I just ordered 5 boxes (2500 rounds), delivered with tax for $136. I did a quick google on 'gander mountain promo code' and found a $20 off $100 code that worked. I was tempted to double the order to 5000 rounds. The in-store sale ends on the 13th for mini-mags so I would suspect that web sale may end at that time also.

Are you refering to the CCI .22LR 36GR MINI-MAG HP CPHP 500 ROUNDS on sale at Gander ? I`ve used the 40GR are these as effective ? My rifle seems to only like CCI ammo. I`ve been using Blazer but the lead is so messy. You can buy them cheaply at Glenns army navy, $149.90 for 5000. If the 36gr shots as well as the 40 gr I`ll have to get in a nother Order quickly. I ordered 1 box to try but it won`t be here till the 13th. Somebody thought the sale was over on the 13th. Anybody know about this? Thanks Tim

I believe the CCI Mini Mag 40 grain round nose bullets and the 36 grain hollow points are the same bullet. The only difference is the hollow point, which probably accounts for the 4 grain weight difference. Otherwise they should perform essentially the same.

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S&W15-22 RIA 1911
CZ75B SR9

Thank you John

See page TWO of this thread, post number 14. Someone shot both types of mini-mags at different yardage and posted the results along with some other ammo results. Great pictures.

I am guessing on the 13th, only because that is the last day that the mini-mags are on sale in the store.

I just ordered 5 boxes. Using Coupon Code gmh1010 you get $20 off till the 13th.

So far about 1K rounds through my "DURXXXX" serial number blue springs MP15-22.

First 200 or so were Blazers (as far as I remember no issues)
next 400+ were Winchester (550 pack from wally world)- HORRIBLE 2-3% fail to feed (terrible stovepipes)

200 rounds of CCI 36grain minimags. 3-4 fail to load in the mag. Really stuck hard. 1-2 fail to fire and had to re-fire them. 1-3 stovepipes.

Tonight, about 150 Remington gold (at the gun store's recommendation) - 1 stovepipe, 2 bad primers, 1 stuck in mag, 2 fail to feed (stayed in the mag) but no stovepipe, seemingly inconsistent powder charge, some loud, some almost silent.

About 100 rounds of Federal (red box from wally world). So far so good. Only 1 or 2 primer issues, but they went off on the second fire.

Looks like it might be the cheap wallymart federal as the winner. I'd prefer that over the pure lead blazer.

Oh yeah the winchester was SOOOO DIRTY.

I am lovin' this gun! Even my 8yo has a good time with it. And the looks he gets from others at the range when he takes hold of it with the laser sight, bi-pod and forward grip.

g-man

Its funny they recommend an ammo that is clearly stated as NOT recommended in the handbook fo the gun lol.

I myself did try a box of gold bullet just for the hell of it and yep, it sucked.

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Air Assault!

yeah its funny, that old saying "dont trust what you read on the internet"; while i feel it is quite the opposite, i basically get all my knowledge online.

Anyone have any experience with Federal Auto-Match?

Googling M&P15-22 and Fed Auto-Match brings up quite a few reports of OOB incidents, something I'd like to avoid if at all possible.

I ran a couple hundred rounds of Auto Match through my 15-22 without a single problem...

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*Aim small, miss small...

In pure desperation I took 400 rounds of Remington Golden Bullet with me to the range this weekend. 398 of which went through the rifle without an issue. I'm now at 1000 rounds total. 600 rounds of CCI and 400 od RGB. The only downside I saw to the RGB was it's dirty. After a total of 800 rounds this weekend the last 100 the bolt failed to lock back after the last round. DUI serial number.

I know subsonic ammo is not recommended for our guns, but would there be a problem firing Aguila Sniper SubSonics if they were loaded one at a time in the chamber (not fed through mag)?

I don't want to do anything that might cause damage to the gun.

Rifle:M&P 15-22 with a Burris 2-7x, timney trigger.
Pistol:Riger Mk3 Tactical Solutoins barrel, Volq trigger/hammer/titanium dics, etc. C-More red dot with 8moa dot. Keep in mind at 15yards that is almost 2".

Ammo test of 6 different types of ammo. I have currently been using Federal 510 40gr for all my matches and practice.

I will now be using Winchester SuperX(brass stamp) 36gr. Cheap stuff at walmart called Win 333 or 555 box. (bought 8 boxes today)

Ammo tested:
1. Winchester 36gr 333/555 - Best of the 6
2. CCI Blazer 40gr - almost as good as the Win333/555 but slightly more spread out.
3. Federal AutoMatch 40gr- Almost the same as Blazer.
4.CCI Target 40gr - pretty good but not cheap bulk ammo. Similar groups to the Win.
5.Federal Champion Lightning 510 40gr - Not that great as shown.
6.Federal 36gr red box from wally world - sucked really bad. 2x the group size in every direction. Looked like a shot gun.

Attached Images

ammo test.jpg (67.5 KB, 334 views)

The rate of twist (1:14) on the 15-22 dictates that it will like the lighter ammo more. That's why the 36-grain groups so well. The same ammo won't shoot as well in a 1:16 barrel.

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*Aim small, miss small...

Lapua downloadable table
http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...ridges2010.pdf

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Doug

i shot these feed just fine for me DTX with trigger work no FTF or FTE were not very accurate tho, you are talking about the 60grn?

Yeah, I'm talking about the 60 grain. I know they wont be as accurate as other ammo. I just want to make sure I'm not going to damage my gun by using them.

I shot a bunch of Aguila SSS 60 with a suppressed 15-22. No cycling problems at all.

Actually it is 1:15. The faster the twist (the lower second number) the better it will perform with heavier bullets. Not lighter.

from what i understand lower numerically is better for heavier grains, at least on the bigger calibers i assume it applies the same. ie. 1:7 is better for 68grn .223 and 55grn better with 1:9.

Shot 225 rounds of the Federal 550 (Walmart pack) tonight. 225 rounds through 9 clips of 25 each without a single problem. I think we have a winner. I've used my 22 pistol to shoot the left over remington gold and had 2 ft-fire (bad primer that went off with a 2nd strike). I like the price and the quality. Not bad to clean up either. I think this thing is broken in and is really starting to shoot well. 1k rounds later and this rifle is really showing it's colors.

great results i will be using the 333 boxes now, found em for $11.50. comes out ever so slightly cheaper than the 555 boxes, and i can decide to buy less if i want ($30 worth instead of $40 for example.)

The more expensive CCI Target that you used, was that the CCI Green Tag, or CCI Select? came across the CCI select on their website and I am impressed. Trajectory numbers are very nice. I also read somewhere else the following:

" Traditional Match Ammunition for 22LR is generally traveling at "Standard Velocity" of about 1070 fps... As fast as it can go without going super-sonic. Semi-Autos lose a little off this starting velocity due to the blow-back of the bolt. So, CCI developed this slightly faster match-grade 22LR ammo called "CCI SELECT". SELECT has a 1200 fps muzzle velocity. It's not fast enough to be called High Velocity, but just fast enough to give your Semi-Auto the advantages that standard velocity has in bolt guns. This velocity is complimented by the same consistent manufacturing process they use in making their match grade Green Tag ammunition"

Out of all the Bulk ammo I've tried I have also had the best results using the winchester 333/555 cartridges.

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Air Assault!

The CCI ammo says Standard Volocity at the top where others say Mini-Mag and at the bottom it says Target 1070 fps.

emailed CCI about their new "Tactical .22", which also happens to be 1200fps. Sounds promising, i'd like to get a comparison done between cci minimag, standard velocity, and these 1200fps tactical ones that were tested on and likely developed through m&p15-22's

"Tactical is plated to enhance feed characteristics and is packed in 375
count loose pack.

Select is not plated and packed in 100 ct plastic."

So select is just another lead nose. I'll try to get a review up of the tactical, at the very least. the "plated" is just a wash i believe, as i saw someone scratch it off on another forum.

Really mine has been great, I busted the first 500 rounds of cci mini mags to break in, and shot the federal 550 from walmart, then sighted it in with cci mini mags. It eats anything so far, I might sight in again with match grade ammo, but it has been great on cheapo ammo so far

I was just looking at Cabela's web site and they have the CCI tatical with a dry box 375 rounds at $99. Can this be correct? I'm going to have to call them and see. That sounds too expensive to be correct.
Cabela's: CCI .22LR with Dry Box

Okay, the $99. was for 4 boxes of 375, and a dry box. I ordered 2 boxes at $19.99 each and shipping was $8.50. Won't get here until Nov. 18, so I have to wait and see how it works.
I've had good luck with CCI so far, so if this works out as well I'll buy more. If you call, its item number 217741 for 375 rounds.

those dry box deals are stupid, they basically make you pay for the dry box. I just bought my 375 pack yesterday the shelf price was $19.99. So for that $100 you could have just gotten 5 packs instead of 4 + a box.

Good thread. It helped me pick Federal Bulk pack as my ammo of choice. So far so good with no failures at around 200 rounds.

They should be fine, even if you have to do one at a time.

I used to use them on pesky squirrels around the yard, but I stopped using them due to how incredibly dirty they were. Too many times I pulled the trigger and caught the vapor or something in my eyes.

First fail-to-fire with the federal (up to about 400 rounds of the 550 pack). It looked like a massive glob of primer was blocking the firing pin. No problem on 2nd try. I'm not holding this against the ammo. The remington gold never fails to dissapoint. 60 round through my pistol and at least 4 primer fire issues. I'm going to wally world asap to buy a few more packs of the federal 550 (load type 750 FWIW).

g-man-rocks

you guys are so lucky can't order any ammo on line to ship here to HI. Like they say over here, so lucky we live in HI. Yea right, it has its moments though.

I picked up some Tactical 22 ammo from Cabela's last week. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but if it shoots like the rest of CCI's stuff it'll do just fine. If the wind lets up, I may go try some out this afternoon. My 1522 has not been picky at all since I got it back from S&W. I shoot alot of Fed Bulk pack and Lightning for plinking. I have my "Tactical Magazine" charged with Stingers and Velocitors for the night raiders around here(raccoons and possums).