DISAPPOINTED IN THE NEW RED BOXED WINCHESTER .22 100 PACKS

chief38 · Jan 17, 2016

About a year and a half ago when getting .22 LR ammo was just about impossible, I stumbled into a store that was just unpacking a small shipment of Winchester 100 pack red boxes of High Velocity 40 grain bullets rated at 1300 fps. I was allowed to buy 5 boxes (500 rounds) and so I did - paid dearly for them too!

Anyway I just got to shoot them for the first time yesterday and was quite disappointed in them. I shot 100 (or at least tried to) them through a Marlin rifle and had 4 duds

I tried repositioning them for another hit - but no dice. For the price I paid they are very unreliable. While 96 of them did go bang, they set no accuracy record either but I guess that could be arguable anyway depending on many factors. The CCI and Federal brand out of the same rifle are far more accurate and much more reliable - and cost me less as well. I still have another 4 boxes of this ammo and sure hope they are better!

Winchester - get back to checking your QC!!!!!

357-RevolverGuy · Jan 18, 2016

Are these their Super X? I had issues with that ammo in both a Ruger 10/22 and Savage Mark. Contacted Winchester over the phone and was told they had been getting a lot of complaints with that particular ammo. They had me send in what I had left and sent me a check to reimburse. Might want to give them a call and see.

When I see it in stores now I just pass. Been buying CCI, Federal, and Aguila, which haven't given me any problems.

chief38 · Jan 18, 2016

Yes they are the Winchester Super-X in the Red 100 count plastic boxes. 1300 fps, 40 grain copper washed, high velocity 22lr. After checking my supply I found more than I thought I had. I have at least 10 boxes - and if I encounter the same problems with the next box I shoot they will be hearing from me. I do not usually buy Winchester ammo anymore because of many QC problems I've had in the past, but 1 1/2 years ago I would have bought anything just to have some .22's.

The best is CCI and Federal. Winchester and Remington are fighting for last place

mauser9 · Jan 18, 2016

Sorry to hear but thanks for the heads-up. Usually buy CCI for my 22 magnums and yes they have proved very accurate. Usually get the 40 grain H.P. Have not had any issues with the Remington 40 grain. Both my guns are bolt action. Know what you mean as we often have to buy what we can get our hands on today.

Gamecock · Jan 18, 2016

I wonder if Remington is making the Winchester ammo?

markepilot · Jan 18, 2016

Red Box

It gets better, shot this **** over the weekend. Had several duds in various guns. Then I had two of them blow the base off of the rim and spray hot powder at my face. This is by far the worst .22 ammo I have used (ever). I thought it could be a particular gun but confirmed it was the ammo. Took my 1911 Nelson Custom, Stoeger Pro 95 (HS Victor clone), Smith 34-1, Smith 18-3, and Taurus 96 to the range and all of them had duds with this stuff. I had 4 100 packs and didn't keep a hard count of the duds but I bet it was 5-7 per 100. Will never buy again.

PS: Wear your safety glasses.

chief38 · Jan 18, 2016

Over the last few years I have been shooting mostly CCI and Federal. I can not remember any FTF with them. Out of desperation I did buy the Winchester's a while ago and now I am sorry I did. The real test will be on the next box and if they are stinkers as well, I'll contact Winchester and see what they will do. What a pain in the butt!

357-RevolverGuy · Jan 18, 2016

It use to be good ammo but as I mentioned earlier I had nothing but problems with it. I could not even get it to shoot from a Ruger Single Six revolver. The brass was so inconsistent in thickness on the rim that I'd fire one or two shots and then the cylinder would lock up and not turn due to the rim rubbing against the back of the frame and cylinder.

If you guys are having the same issues, my advice is contact Winchester and let them know. I'll put the link below.
http://www.winchester.com/Product-Service/Pages/Contact-Us.aspx

coltle6920 · Jan 18, 2016

Thanks for the heads up...

I have 2k rds of the Super X 37gr,1330fps HP's that I haven't shot yet.I think I bought them this past Summer.Hopefully they're "new and improved".

Gamecock · Jan 18, 2016

I have many boxes of different .22 loads that I only bought because I could. Some day I'll try them out.

TTSH · Jan 18, 2016

coltle6920 said:
Thanks for the heads up...

I have 2k rds of the Super X 37gr,1330fps HP's that I haven't shot yet.I think I bought them this past Summer.Hopefully they're "new and improved".

Join the club.

I've got 1,600 rounds (combined RN & HP) that I bought when my beloved CCI Mini-Mags were not to be found anywhere at any price.

Shortly thereafter, I was warned not to use them in any gun I valued by the very person who had directed me to them in the first place.

He sold all he had at a loss. I couldn't bring myself to sell potentially defective or dangerous ammo to some unsuspecting buyer so I hung onto them. Maybe at some point there will be a recall... who knows?

For now, they are my .22LR ammo of last resort.

Who knew?

GypsmJim · Jan 18, 2016

After 3 years of no .22s on the shelf, last week I went to Walmart and to my amazement they had bricks of Win. 555 22s. I have a ton of old CCI plastic boxes, so my usual procedure is to transfer bulk ammo into the boxes.

First off, there were only 553 rounds in the sealed brick. Along with them was a primed 22 case with no powder or bullet. I e-mailed them and they sent me a prepaid UPS label so they could exmine it. Haven't heard back yet.

Two days later in Cabelas I bought a 100 pack bag of Winchester unprimed .38 spl cases. There were 101 in the bag. I guess I got my money's worth now.

G.T. Smith · Jan 18, 2016

Me too

coltle6920 said:
Thanks for the heads up...

I have 2k rds of the Super X 37gr,1330fps HP's that I haven't shot yet.I think I bought them this past Summer.Hopefully they're "new and improved".

My Wife works at Wal-Mart and gets me a 100 box every now and then. These are the 37 grain hollow points and I have had no problem with the at all. My Son has a Marlin model 60 semi auto, and I have an old Sears and Roebuck Ranger bolt action and they both shoot them fine. Probably shot 200 rounds so far. I thought they were accurate and sound pretty good. No duds yet. Everything I have ever put in that S&R Ranger has been accurate though.
Peace,
Gordon

twodog max · Jan 18, 2016

I ran across some 333 round Winchester ammo at WM not long ago and have shot about half of it in various 22 revolvers no problems at all.

Old Corp · Jan 22, 2016

Guess QC goes down on all of them at some time or another,
Years ago I threw away most of a brick of Rem 'Thunderbolt' .22 ammo that apparently were loaded with .23 cal. bullets. Wouldn't chamber in anything.

Wee Hooker · Jan 22, 2016

LGS seems to be getting a steady supply of all flavors of the Winchester super X these days. Enough so where they have been putting it on sale for $750/100 ( Yea , that's not 2005 prices but it's not bad in this environment). I've shot about 400 rounds of it through a pair of 617s, a Ruger MK II and a Sig 1911-22. I have not noticed any more fail to fires than usual with other inexpensive ammo. Good thing as I have another 800 or or so of it left.

flat_topp · Jan 23, 2016

I bought 1000 rounds of Win M22 ammo last fall, and I'm disappointed in them as well. Almost every round I've pulled out of the box has a weak crimp. Some just "wiggle" a little bit, a few will spin around 360° in the case, and I found one round where the bullet easily pulled out of the case. I've shot 40 of these things out of my Ruger 10/22, and to my surprise I had no misfeeds or duds.

I now have a new M&P22 pistol. I also have other 22LR ammo that I plan to use in the pistol before I try the Win M22. I'll be using CCI, Aguila, and Federal before I try the Winchester again (if ever).

TTSH · Jan 23, 2016

This thread brings up a question I've long thought about without coming to a definitive answer. I'd like the forum's opinion on it:

For any questionable quality and/or particularly "hot" .22LR ammo, what is the safest gun (or type/kind of gun) to shoot it in?

I'm coming at that from BOTH a shooter safety perspective as well as an "avoiding gun damage" perspective.

I've heard a few opinions from friends but I'd like to hear more.

Any takers?

arjay · Jan 23, 2016

A bolt action rifle or a revolver would be my guess

BMP · Jan 23, 2016

I used to shoot a ton of the Winchester X-perts. Then quality when down hill. So I ran Federal 550 bulk packs until I couldn't get them anymore. I actually run a ton of the Winchester M-22 black copper washed stuff now. Haven't had one single malfunction in my KIDD barreled 10/22.

TTSH said:
For any questionable quality and/or particularly "hot" .22LR ammo, what is the safest gun (or type/kind of gun) to shoot it in?

I've heard a few opinions from friends but I'd like to hear more. Any takers?

A bolt or lever gun for sure.

As for hot loads, I have shot a ton of Aguila Super Maximum in Ruger 10/22's, bolt guns, pistols, etc. It is the hottest .22LR round available. it pushes a 30 grain bullet at 1750 fps. They are loud and not very accurate as compared to a regular high velocity round.

I once played a trick on my brother with them. He was shooting one of my target rifles and I slipped a Super Max in with the target ammo he was shooting. Let's just say he about crapped himself right there. He thought it was a double charged load! A sub sonic target round is a heck of a lot quieter than the Super Max!

Questionable safety in a rimfire cartridge has to go hands down to the 17HM2 in a 10/22 platform. I had a Volquartsen conversion and had great luck with it. It wasn't the type of gun that you just shot a ton and never cleaned. Kabooms are well documented with this round in a 10/22 platform.

Brad

DISAPPOINTED IN THE NEW RED BOXED WINCHESTER .22 100 PACKS

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