AMMO TALK

Yesterday I shot some of the crappy Remington Gold (got a box of 100 free with the gun, so i thought why not).

First of, no problems with them, but i did shoot slowly, no rapid fire.
Second, they don't make a nice group at 25 yards, and they have a cheap firecracker smell to them.

Got the best results with the minimags (non hp)/CCI normal and Fed champion.
 
I've used Winchester "555" through mine and get the occasional failure to extract...1 or 2 every 20 to 30 rounds or so.

I've used Remington Yellow Jackets without a hitch, and, Remington Thunderbolts also without so much as a hiccup.

ETA: I forgot to mention the Remington Viper and some cheap Federal stuff that I bought half a lifetime ago from the local hardware store. Both functioned flawlessly as well.
 
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Ammo Test...

I went to my local Scheels today and dropped some serious coin on several different ammos--some in the " Approved" group and some in the No-No catergory

Winchester 333 box
Winchester Wild Cat
Federal 'Red Box' bulk pack
Remington Vipers

doing a full blown test event tommorrow afternoon will keep track of an FTF/ FTE issues and a 5 of failures to proper feeds

So far CCI stinger ammo,CCI AR-22 Blue Box, Aquila bulk ammo have been the best--ZERO FTF or FTE in over 250 rounds in one session

I will post the results tommorrow after the range session to help dispell the mythology and help everyone better enjoy these AWESOME rifles
 
Redbulladdikt said:
I will post the results tommorrow after the range session to help dispell the mythology and help everyone better enjoy these AWESOME rifles
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Please don't get me wrong here, as this is just MHO, nothing more, and your cause is noble. :)

I see no mythology to dispell. It is proven on this forum that each combination of 15-22 and shooter must be different when it comes to ammo. As an example, I have had nothing but trouble with CCI tactical ammo (failures to feed, bent between bullet and case), but absolutely flawless operation with Winchester 555. Others agree, yet others like yourself have had flawless operation with CCI tactical, and others have had issues with Win 555. I have run el cheapo Remington Golden Bullets with no issues, and had CCI Mini-Mag cause issues (not many). Others won't go near Rem GB, because they have had issues, and swear by Mini-Mag.

Just because a particular brand/type of ammo works well for one shooter, in his rifle, does not make it the "beat all to end all," nor do failures on any brand/type for one shooter make it an ammo to avoid. It all boils down to personal preference and what works well for you. As I said in the preface, it's just my opinion.

Another area is availability. many have posted they really like Federal 550 Bulk, and get it from Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, in my area, Wally World doesn't carry it, and I can't find it online. Perhaps someone could point to an online source. If you Google "Federal 550," there's not a single online seller listed. If you click on "Shopping," nothing close to federal 550 comes up.

In any case, good luck with your test, but I'm afraid it will only show what works well in your 15-22, with you as the loader/shooter, but will not prove anything other than that, and not disspell any mythology. Just MHO, and thanks for letting me rant.
 
I agree with G26 100%. Way back toward the beginning of this thread I posted alot of my success with the Win 333/555 bulk but I have heard alot of people say their 15-22 doesn't like it. I think everyone should do what I did when I 1st got my 15-22 and buy a bunch of different types are ammo that are readily available to you and test them out. Doing science at the range can be fun and you will learn for yourself what your 15-22 shoots the best with.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/146665-ammo-talk-2.html#post135559354

I think I lucked out with mine because I get the same accuracy with Win bulk as I do with the good CCI stuff with the same level of reliability.
 
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I've put a 150 rounds through my new 15 22 cci mini mags have made up most of them. I had a few mini mags that seemed like they didn't fit into the mag. All from the same box of ammo and I had two failure to feeds from them. The rounds seems to get stuck down in the magazine and didn't want to pop up into the right angle. Any thoughts?
 
JBRO said:
I've put a 150 rounds through my new 15 22 cci mini mags have made up most of them. I had a few mini mags that seemed like they didn't fit into the mag. All from the same box of ammo and I had two failure to feeds from them. The rounds seems to get stuck down in the magazine and didn't want to pop up into the right angle. Any thoughts?
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If you look under the notable thread sticky , you find some videos on loading the magazine. Proper loading makes all the difference.
 
The federal bulk seems to be the one that almost everyone has no issues with. If you can't get the 550 box at walmart try the 525 box they sell everywhere else.
 
thacheese said:
The federal bulk seems to be the one that almost everyone has no issues with. If you can't get the 550 box at walmart try the 525 box they sell everywhere else.
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this is an issue with the couple friends i have around here--'federal bulk' comes in several flavors around here depending on retail store and i think the confusion locally anyhow is from guys buying different Federal bulks
 
I've only seen the 550 and the 525 bulk, the boxes are slightly different. I think the non walmart ones are federal champion 525. Every store I've ever shopped had the same federal bulk 525 in the blue box(online or in person). I generally get them at cabelas 4 boxes and a free ammo can for $80. Use the ones on cabelas as a reference for the packaging you want.
 
Well I'll be danged!!! I went to my local Wally World to pick up something, stopped at the ammo case, and lo and behold - Federal 550 Bulk Pak red box! I have never seen it there before, and it's sure not listed on their web site. I bought the 2 boxes remaining and am looking forward to trying it.
 
I shot mine for the first time today. Shot 555 rounds of the Winchester 555. Accuracy with those was really good. I had maybe 2 FTE and 4 ftf out of the whole box. I can live with that!
 
Oh, nice. That price isn't bad. Have yet to shoot "match" stuff.
 
Jav said:
Oh, nice. That price isn't bad. Have yet to shoot "match" stuff.
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Saw it one day looking for the 550 fed bulk pack and it was sitting next to it on sale for $13.95, so i bought 3 packs. Asked the sporting goods guy and he said they just started carrying it because that store sells so much ammo. Match ammo is great esp since it says on the box "ideal for semi-autos."
 
yea i saw that Fed AutoMatch stuff too, but for $2.50 more i get 225 more rounds out of the Fed 550 and the difference in accuracy is hardly noticeable.

at any rate no matter what you are shooting it's satisfying to know that you can shoot 1000rnds down range and get tons of practice and fun in for less than $50
 
practice

BXRandall said:
yea i saw that Fed AutoMatch stuff too, but for $2.50 more i get 225 more rounds out of the Fed 550 and the difference in accuracy is hardly noticeable.

at any rate no matter what you are shooting it's satisfying to know that you can shoot 1000rnds down range and get tons of practice and fun in for less than $50
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and tons of practice for $50 total, cost of ammo, rang fees, and gas to and from the range. Now thats what i'm talking about!
 
thacheese said:
I've only seen the 550 and the 525 bulk, the boxes are slightly different. I think the non walmart ones are federal champion 525. Every store I've ever shopped had the same federal bulk 525 in the blue box(online or in person). I generally get them at cabelas 4 boxes and a free ammo can for $80. Use the ones on cabelas as a reference for the packaging you want.
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i wish i had a Cabelas Store closer than 4 hours away! :mad: But when i got to visit the Fam i will have to make a detour and pick up a few cans! Thanks for the tip!

I found out that between that 525 Federal and Winchester Wildcats i had zero feed issues and a single FTF all evening yesterday--And my Walther P22 hated both! silly lil pop gun thinks its a primadonna!
 
the walther was a major disappointment here as well. it was real finicky about ammo, stupid umarex gun. i was pumped about the M&P 22 pistol until i found out that umarex was making that one too. i went with the kadet kit for my cz 75 instead, it works like a freaking charm.
 
Keep an eye out for shipping deals. $150 is a lot to throw down for ammo, but its worth it for cheap or free shipping. I tend to do that beacuase its cheaper than gas. Also keep an eye on gander mountain... they ship free.


Redbulladdikt said:
i wish i had a Cabelas Store closer than 4 hours away! :mad: But when i got to visit the Fam i will have to make a detour and pick up a few cans! Thanks for the tip!

I found out that between that 525 Federal and Winchester Wildcats i had zero feed issues and a single FTF all evening yesterday--And my Walther P22 hated both! silly lil pop gun thinks its a primadonna!
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m-22 Winchester

The dick's spoting goods by my house has it in stock about $50 for the 1000 round box. Is this really any better than the cci Tactical ( cost aside)?
 
i like the stuff. worst i've had with them is maybe 2-3 out of a couple thousand that didn't fire. they have much less lube on them which may help with feeding as the cci tend to have a lot on them. for the price i may like them a little better than the cci even. it's too bad i have to have them shipped. i'll check out dick's cause that would be awesome to get them locally.

vtone97 said:
The dick's spoting goods by my house has it in stock about $50 for the 1000 round box. Is this really any better than the cci Tactical ( cost aside)?
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CCI and Federal more than likely the same

so I guess this is old news to many folks but it was news to me. I haven't shot either of these brands in almost 15years until i picked up my 15-22s. I've mostly shot PMC and Hornady through my weapons up until this point...but yea both the federal and cci brands are owned by the same company(ATK). it would not surprise me if they were made in the same factory.

Back on topic though.

I knew after opening and handling several boxes of both brands that something was fishy! The dang things looked the same, they felt the same, and they sure as hell seemed to shoot the same.

Fed550 = CCI MM?
Fed Lightning = CCI Blazer?

sure appears that way to me anyways. just one more reason to buy those feds at any given opportunity.
 
BXRandall said:
so I guess this is old news to many folks but it was news to me. I haven't shot either of these brands in almost 15years until i picked up my 15-22s. I've mostly shot PMC and Hornady through my weapons up until this point...but yea both the federal and cci brands are owned by the same company(ATK). it would not surprise me if they were made in the same factory.

Back on topic though.

I knew after opening and handling several boxes of both brands that something was fishy! The dang things looked the same, they felt the same, and they sure as hell seemed to shoot the same.

Fed550 = CCI MM?
Fed Lightning = CCI Blazer?

sure appears that way to me anyways. just one more reason to buy those feds at any given opportunity.
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Shoot the federal junk and then shoot the CCI mini mags and you will see a difference.

Chad
 
I just old you that's exactly what i did. In the 15-22 the difference if there even is any is not even perceptible. I would save your money and buy the Federal 550 or the Federal Lightning when you are able to as I'm pretty positive it's the same stuff. I'm going to have a buddy of mine who is a CCI snob come out with me next time i go to the range and do a blind ammo test and see if he can tell the difference just by shooting them.

If you dump 50 round of Fed 550 and 50 rounds of CCI MM out on a table i doubt you would be able to seperate the 2 without looking at the headstamp.
 
BXRandall said:
I just old you that's exactly what i did. In the 15-22 the difference if there even is any is not even perceptible. I would save your money and buy the Federal 550 or the Federal Lightning when you are able to as I'm pretty positive it's the same stuff. I'm going to have a buddy of mine who is a CCI snob come out with me next time i go to the range and do a blind ammo test and see if he can tell the difference just by shooting them.

If you dump 50 round of Fed 550 and 50 rounds of CCI MM out on a table i doubt you would be able to seperate the 2 without looking at the headstamp.
Click to expand...

CCI MM has a pretty obvious additional coating of wax on them compared to the Fed 550. I also find the quality of the brass on the CCI MM to be slightly better and more polished. Whether that's a good or bad thing really depends on your rifle. I also can smell a difference when firing between the two, but then I'm weird and have a really sensitive nose when it comes to smells :p.

Of course none of the above really matters; you and your friend should blind test for group size fired at a set distance on a benchrest with both your rifles rather than just him just guessing what round he's shooting.

As for me, the last time I ran Federal I wasn't having a good time with all the FTF and FTE's I was getting. It's been 99.9% reliable with all the CCI variants (MM, Std, Blazer) however and that's what I'm going to stick as my main round. I might give another Fed bulk pack a shot as my rifle's much much more broken in now.
 
ok well i guess this is a debate that could go on forever. just wanted to put down some observations. like i said when i popped open a new box of the Fed Lightning and a newly Purchased box of the CCI Blazer they were the exact same; same dark color RN bullet; same slick casing; same print on the paper. take it for what it's worth to you i guess.
 
BXRandall said:
ok well i guess this is a debate that could go on forever. just wanted to put down some observations. like i said when i popped open a new box of the Fed Lightning and a newly Purchased box of the CCI Blazer they were the exact same; same dark color RN bullet; same slick casing; same print on the paper. take it for what it's worth to you i guess.
Click to expand...

True about the debate. I do not care how they look next to each other, for "me" the CCI shoots a lot tighter groups then the federal. I know a lot have noticed the same. The federal did shoot fine with only a couple of FTE's/FTF's but the groups were horrible for me.

Chad
 
Just took my 15-22 out to the range for the first time yesterday, worked flawlessly and was a complete blast to shoot. As for ammo, I was using a mix of Federal 550 and Winchester 555, both of which worked great. After 300 rounds for the day only had one FTF which might have been due to a magazine issue.
 
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