Anyone know how to remove the wax from the outside of some .22lrs. I have about 2000 rounds of .22lr that have a waxy film on them. I've tried using them but they gum up everything I put them in even bolt action guns.

Any help would be nice

coleman fuel is suppose to dissolve wax. you need to come up with a way to dip them.


Charlie

I think that is actually bullet lube that went on way too thick if it is gumming up even in bolt actions. And I wouldn’t dip them as it is a risk to powder staying dry.

I recently tried to make the switch from bulk ammo, and bought two boxes of the 36 gr Mini Mags. I found that while I was loading up magazines, the wax on the rounds was coming off in my hands. It looked as if I had been rubbing two candles together. I noticed that I could twist slightly on the actual projectile and remove the wax "shell" intact. It kind of turned me away from using them again, although I know it is quality ammo.

Are you guys talking about the lube on the bullets? You know that's there for a reason right?

Yeah, I know it's there for a reason. I must admit that although my hands and the top of my mags looked like I've been chewing on white crayons, my weapon was still fairly clean after shooting 300 rounds.

Lubbed for your barrel's pleasure!

I had issues with the CCI because of this lube....way too thick. I had MANY more problems with the CCI compared to the Fed Bulk.

Winchester Super X that is in those same 100 round plastic boxes (but red) has much less wax/lube and performed the same for me. I think they're priced the same as well. It would be worth a look if you don't like bulk packed ammo and the CCI stuff is depositing too much lube in the action.

you places the lube on it's bullet-do it now

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Forum consigliere

If the powder gets wet from something like Coleman fuel, can it be dryer out and the powder be ok? Of once it's wet it's done?

Interesting that you bring this up regarding the 15-22.

I shoot bullseye in a couple of leagues and this topic is frequently discussed.

Most of us use the CCI Standard velocity, finding it reliable and consistant and economical, except for this excessive wax buildup problem.

Those of us using S&W 41s find that other than actually wiping off each round on a rag as the mags are loaded, it was found that dropping a drop of oil on the nose of the last round in your mag seems to prevent misfeeds & jams, but you still need to clean the chamber frequently to get the wax buildup out.

The magazines also get a lump of wax inside the front edge, about 1/4" down from the lip. You can depress the follower and scrape this out with a dry rod and continue shooting.

Those that use Rugers, find there is no tolerance for the wax, the mag front to back length seems to be less than an S&W mag, they lock up too often and invariably they find some other ammo.

I'd use a well laundered cloth diaper (no lint) to wipe the excess off.

Is this a Buffalo Bill reference?

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This...is my BOOMSTICK

Weird, I've never had issues with it gummin up the works. Is it on all Mini-Mags, both hollow and round point?

I do know that my hands got real dirty the one time I used Blazers as they're not copper-plated.

If the weather ever clears up here in Washington State, I'll push another 600 through and see what happens with mine.

Also, I wouldn't be messin with Coleman fuel (white gas) as that stuff is real dangerous due to it's EXTREMELY low flash point. If that lube really bothers ya, I'll take the rounds off yer hands for ya.

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Jeeps are my other addiction

I had the same problem with the CCI tactical .22 bulk. The wax was gumming things up and they weren't feeding good at all! One evening while watching T.V. I used a soft rag and just kinda wiped 'em down a bit. They ran fine after that. Of course I'm not too excited about buying any more of the expensive CCI tactical.22 bulk anymore! The mini mags work flawlessly as usual though!

Weird, never had a problem at all w/ any CCI ammo in my rifle.

You can definitely tell when I've been shooting it come cleaning time from the wax in the chamber, but it's never caused a problem w/ function and I sometimes wind up put 1000+ rounds through it before cleaning.

I've not run into an excessive wax problem.
As for cleaning it off with solvent-
Many, many (39?) years ago I had a CoolWhip container I kept loose .22 rounds in. One day I decided it would be good to give them a heavy spray of WD40 to, I don't know, keep them lubed and not let them corrode. Young and none the wiser.

Scroll forward a few weeks and most of them were now duds. Apparently it penetrated into the powder and ruined it.

Could you possibly run them in a tumbler to clean the wax off? Just wondering...

It will ruin the bullets. They will be too dry and the fluid would also get into the powder and ruin it too. NOT a good idea. Better to just wipe them off with a clean rag.

You could run the risk of setting off one of the rimfires doing that. Not a real good idea.

Highly unlikely ...

Are you sure it the wax on the 22LR's that is causing the problem? I had issues with Rem oil turning to a yellowish wax and causing my new Browning A Bolt not to fire. I bought a new A Bolt and was sighting it in after getting it back from Gunsmith and having a trigger job and bedding done. I Pulled the trigger an nothing happened, then after waiting a few moments it went off. I took it back to gunsmith thinking something was wrong with the trigger job. After I got it back I sighted it in and hunted with it one time. The next year I was sighting it in and it happened again, pull the trigger, nothing. Back to Gunsmith he couldn't find anything wrong. He took it apart and put it back together and it worked just fine. I hunted with it a few times then it happened again. I was checking it over and noticed a yellowist wax on and in the bolt. I called Gunsmith and asked him what he used to lubricate it with and he said Rem oil. I took it apart and cleaned it completely and used my Breakfree CLP on it and never had anymore problems. You might want to consider if it might be something like that and not the wax on the 22LR. I have never had any issues with 22's in my Marlin Mod 39 lever action, my Kleinguenther 22 bolt, my S&W 15 22 or my Ruger MKIII Bull Barrel.

Jack

(1) In over four decades and close to 500k of .22 LR, I have never run across any particular problem with wax on cartridges that could not be traced to improper storage in high heat situations.

(2) In looking at the five kinds of .22 LR I currently have on hand, none have any noticeable wax buildup. One has to scrape a fingernail across the projectile to even find the wax coating.

(3) RemOil is the LAST gun oil I ever put on a firearm. The only thing I use it for is to occasionally wipe down the exterior of a firearm when I don't have my silicone rag handy.

Your barrel needs that lube the make the ammo work as advertised. If the ammo is too caked with wax type build up (really a lube) then keep the ammo at elevated temps to keep it fluid prior to use, especially in cold weather. The lube helps keep the barrel from getting leaded up for one.
Ditto on Rem Oil. The only thing I use it for is to spray a little lube in my McFadden UCL so the ammo falls thru to the mags as quick as it should.

I also ran into feeding problems with CCI Tactical ammo. I loaded 5 mags with this ammo and 3 of them did not feed well. When I got home I found a significant buildup in the mags which I removed. Bulk Federal ammo ran just fine after this.
By the way, I bought a bulk case of the Standard CCI ammo which I found also heavily waxed. This ammo fed OK as compared to the Tactical version. The difference could be that the Tactical is hollowpoint and a different bullet profile than the solid bullet found in the Standard ammo.
Anyone know what Federal uses on their ammo? The bulk ammo I used does not have this wax problem.

Safe to tumble loaded 22lr?

I had the same issue with cci sv on my beretta neos. I switched to them after a couple hundred blazers had been run through. The second round of every mag failed to feed properly. Switched back to blazer after 150 rounds and no issues.

I wonder how many of the folks having all these problems ever take the time to use an air compressor and blow the accumulated powder residue out of their magazines?

I've had wax issues with Serbol ammunition. Horridly dirty .22 ammo from Serbia of all places.

That being said, any grease remover will remove the wax. You can use parafin if I recall correctly.

Personally I just don't like how it gums up my fingers when I'm shooting in 36 C heat.

I wouldn't run stripped ammo for extended periods in your 15-22 but a 1:10 of waxed to unwaxed would probably still do the job.

Ammo in a tumbler isn't a good idea. With .22 it might not make much of a difference, but with normal high pressure ammo the vibration can break down the powder into smaller parts, which burn faster and lead to a whole host of pressure issues. ( don't think the .22 will come clean with a tumbler anyway)

KBK

Over on this side of the pond parafin IS wax.

I know what you mean, though.

Forgot who I was talking to.

Paraffin for those of you who don't speak the Queen's English.

KBK

The Queen speaks English?????

Prior to using the CCI Tach ammo my mags were clean. After using the Tach ammo I put each mag in cleaner and removed a lot of wax. There is no wax buildup after using Federal so a visual inspection was all that was needed.
I might get out next week to the range since the weather forcast is ****** for the next few days.

Hate to tell you this but CCI-Tactical is not hollow point it is a 40g solid with a narrower bullet profile to aid in loading. Are you sure you did not buy some of the alligator man's hollow point Mini-mags? The boxes are the same size and number of rounds as CCI-Tactical.

Ditto. I never have feeding problems and I shoot year round in any kind of weather. I never have an issue with CCI-Tactical in either of my 15-22s or my CMMG conversion kit. And likely shoot 4-5 times as much ammo as anyone on this forum does in a year. I have to figure it is because most don't know how to take care of all the issues that can come up in rimfire firearms.

I would think you are correct. I have shot all my life but very little 22, so I know I fit into that category of not understanding all the intricacies of the 22lr. Similar to when I started shooting my AR years ago. The direct impingement system was new to me & I had to do a lot of study on other message boards to understand how to keep the gun clean & operational.

So is there any threads here you would recommend? Something that walks us "newbies" thru the issues particular to the 22lr? If not, might I suggest y'all start one? I know nothing of blowing out magazines & would love to see before & after images.

Geez, you drop the floor plate of the magazine, pull the spring and follower out, stick the nozzle of the air gun in the bottom of the magazine and blow compressed air into it.

You need a video for that? Even us West Virginia-born hicks can do it without a video. I have some nephews in Jackson that can teach you how.

Yes, but I am a guy & like pictures much better than words.

I've never taken apart a magazine before. My only experience with magazines is with my PMAGS for my .223 & I've never had an issue with them. So what is getting into them & what is different about the 22lr that causes this issue? Or do you do this with all magazines?

So does the blowback mechanism cause this or is it simply part of dealing with a 22lr? Does more powder residue (or whatever) get in than with direct impingement on an AR?

Sounds like my grandchildren.

All magazines, if used often, collect powder debris, lint and other detris. Blowing all this crud out is pretty common, especially by those that shoot a lot. I do it to every magazine.

Don't have a clue about DP ARs, no experience with them. And yes, blowback actions, especially .22 LR, can put a lot of crud into the actions and magazines. People who lubricate the inside of magazines compound the problem because any wet lube acts as a dirt magnet.

I don't baby my magazines, but I do keep them clean and blow them out every couple of thousand rounds. Takes all of a couple of minutes, even for slow pokes.

Good questions, Jim.

You sound like my dad... an old Marine.

Ah, there it is. When I shoot my AR, I seldom shoot more than 50 rounds at a time. I spend more time on keeping a good zero & perfecting long shots. I normally shoot a group of 3, then go check out results, so it will be quite a while before I run a couple of thousand rounds thru that gun. I shoot in a pasture not some fancy gun club.

However now that I have the 15-22, I run many more rounds thru it. With it, I can see getting to those numbers rather quickly.

Thanks for the info!

ALL gun magazines should be cleaned periodically. Ammunition produces dirt, pure and simple. These mags are the easiest to disassemble by far. Use the raveneyecustom site load assist button procedure for this. It has pictures. Get yourself a nice brush to run through it as well.

AND MAKE SURE YOU WEAR GLASSES!!! The spring is under tension.

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Save time, see it my way. LP

It was Tactical. I was wrong about them being hollowpoint. The ammo and the inside of the box was loaded with wax. I currently have 2 boxes of alligator man's Minimags and they have nothing coating the inside of the box and they shoot fine in my 15-22 and my Ruger handgun.

Jim:

No matter what I am shooting, it's seldom less than 100 rounds, except my .280 Rem and I seldom shoot that one. 9mm and .40 S&W are always over 100 rounds of range ammo plus another 25-30 of the carry stuff.

.22LR? That's almost always 400-500 rounds between the 15-22 and the SR22P. Add some more if I take the match guns along. I will say I HATE cleaning the magazines for the 10/22 and the 77/22. They are a PITB!

The cold and lousy weather the last two months have cut down on my shooting, though. I don't go shooting in below freezing weather, especially with snow on the ground - my range is outdoors.

When I grow up, I want to be like you.

Just eat your Wheaties and drink your milk ...

And pass the ammunition.