.22LR Ammo quality after the drought

[Targets Guy]

CCI mini-mags have not failed me yet.

 

[BigMuddy]

I've used a lot of Federal Auto Match and thought it was pretty good. A recent "find and purchase" resulted in a bulk box that will not cycle a semi auto handgun. Not one round worked. They all fired but none had enough power to cycle the action. I suspected a cost cutting reduction in powder.

The Thunderbolts bring back memories. When I was in college I got my first handgun, an H&R .22 M950. I used to buy a brick of Thunderbolts every week when I got paid before I wasted my money on things like food and rent. I shot that gun at least 500 rounds per week. Good times!

I also remember having to sign for ammo. When that started (1968?) my mother would get so mad every time my brother and I needed .22 ammo because now SHE had to go get it for us.

Dan

 

[NJM15]

My wife and I went shooting her virgin M&P 22 yesterday at the range and bought Federal cheapo ammo half way through the 50 rounds the ammo refused to cycle. We noticed the rounds were loose in the cartridges I have been shooting big bore handguns my whole life I never had much experience with the 22 other than .223 Winchester, not even close. But I knew what was happening was the bullet was not seated in the cartridge properly and was having sealing issues. We were experiencing blowby and it concerned me that we could have a bullet lodge in the barrel due to insufficient pressure. Talking with the manager about the problem he claimed 22's were always loose. I tended to not believe him and felt he was trying to keep a sale. But he did say that all M&P guns were high quality, which I already knew. We returned the two unspent boxes for refund. When we got home later that afternoon, I proceeded to shoot four clips of CCI Choot-ems with no issues. The CCI's were paraffin dipped and has substantially tighter seats than the Federals we bought. My thought is they are cranking out ammo so fast that the machinery may be out of spec, way before they realize it and poor quality control is letting junk get out there. Was it a fluke or have anyone else seen this problem too.

The only .22 ammo I have seen with loose fitting bullets
were Remington Goldens I have two buckets of them
they shoot out of revolvers , or my Henry but forget anything else
semi auto with one exception my GSG AK 47 .22 I put 50 through it with no malfunctions. I use the Federal auto match , they are pretty close to CCI's , even my Sig Mosquito likes them

 

[NJM15]

CCI and Aguila

The only .22 ammo I have seen with loose fitting bullets
were Remington Goldens I have two buckets of them
they shoot out of revolvers , or my Henry but forget anything else
semi auto with one exception my GSG AK 47 .22 I put 50 through it with no malfunctions. I use the Federal auto match , they are pretty close to CCI's , even my Sig Mosquito likes them

Two of the best .22 rounds I have shot were the Aguila
super maximums, and CCI stingers the CCI's 1640 fps velocity
the Aguilas 1700 fps . The CCI's actualy have a longer case then the standard to hold more powder, and believe me they sound like it too. Tried my Henry with a 3-9 40 scope on the 100 yds range with the Stingers and could punch 3" groups
Just a problem finding them

 

[mrchuck]

2 hours ago, I bought 3 boxes of Winchester 22lr.
Each box has 555 rounds of 35 grain hp's.1280 fps.
Price was 27.95 per box purchased at my Walmart, plus tax.
So, ammo is becoming more available.
And EVERY table at the last gun show had plenty to sell,,,,but at a much higher price.
Adding this to my current inventory, I think I now have enough for a lifetime.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I can't tell you about the quality of 22LR ammo post shortage because where I live the shortage is still going on. We have none.

As for the bullet being lose, they use a healed bullet in rimfire ammo, not the same same bullets in other ammo.

 

[susieqz]

i use the upper end of medium priced ammo.
there are no loose bullets.

bulk is bulk.

 

[RV4driver]

Regarding MrChuck's remark above about lifetime supply of .22...

It occurs to me that as we age, having a "lifetime" supply of ammo is easier to achieve! I'm 62 now, and doing the math, I likely will not have to buy .22 again.