Best practice ammo with S&W Model 63 revolver(.22lr)

[ron4735]

Name brand, grain weight, LRN lead issues, etc. to consider? Using S&W Model 63 revolver with ammo in mostly indoor ranges. Prefer quality ammo reasonably priced (don't we all). Best legitimate place to order bulk .22lr ammo online having good customer service as well? ANY advice appreciated. Thanks in advance too all who respond & Merry Christmas to all on this great forum! Looking forward to your advice.

 

[rockquarry]

Name brand, grain weight, LRN lead issues, etc. to consider? Using S&W Model 63 revolver with ammo in mostly indoor ranges. Prefer quality ammo reasonably priced (don't we all). Best legitimate place to order bulk .22lr ammo online having good customer service as well? ANY advice appreciated. Thanks in advance too all who respond & Merry Christmas to all on this great forum! Looking forward to your advice.

I use CCI SV in a 63, but it's best to try several ammos, at least five or six, one box each. Shoot some groups at 25 yards using a good solid rest atop a sturdy bench. If you evaluate ammo up close, ten or fifteen yards, you'll only find that even poor ammo shoots well. For a long time, I've bought all my .22 ammo online from Target Sports.

 

[alwslate]

I like SV in rifles and HV in handguns. For price it's hard to beat the bulk
packs of plated HVHPs. Target Sports and sgammo are good places to buy
online.

 

[chief38]

The best quality 22 rimfire ammo IMHO is CCI. For informal target shooting CCI standard velocity 40 grain RN is perfect. Mini Mags which are the high velocity version in 40 grains are great too. I find CCI to be about the best!

Second rank (IMO) is Federal 40 grain #510 Hi-Vel, in the blue box. Federal ammo is also very good quality - accurate and reliable and just below CCI IMO.

I stay away from Winchester and Remington but if you are just shooting cans and plates - it might be fine of you are willing to put up with failures to fire every once in a while. I'm not. I also find Remington and Winchester to be inconsistent as far as velocity goes - even when they do fire.

CCI is a bit more expensive but quality always costs more. Federal is a good compromise but I've seen some great deals on CCI lately!

 

[shocker]

Federal 36 gr "field and range" is the cheapest ammo I would consider "quality", of the ones I have tried. Beauty of a revolver is that is will fire with anything so it's economics vs. purpose. Most of what I do demands "cheap" as the most important 22 LR property.
I have 1000 rds of Armscor in the closet. It's a little less expensive than Federal where I shop (3.0 cents/rd) but I haven't shot it yet.

 

[Rpg]

I’m an outlyer on this subject.

I’ve used Remington SV 40 grain lead rn ammo for all my 22lr shooting since the mid ‘60’s without a problem. This includes hunting, serious practice for rifle and pistol matches, as well as pinking. I usually use Eley Match ammo for matches.

Some folks seem to think that burning through hundreds of rounds of ammo on each range visit is the measure of a good time shooting. If you’re one of these folks, shop for the cheapest stuff available.

 

[fiasconva]

I've had good results with Federal Automatch in my Victory and an old H&R revolver. Look for some sales at BassPro or Dick's if you have one close. If not, SG Ammo is a great place to buy ammo. Walmart will have .22 at good prices too.

 

[bulletslap]

For “non premium” 22 LR I have had good luck with CCI Blazer.

 

[Racer X]

yes, CCI Blazer or Standard Velocity. My 2 go to loads.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I have owned a dozen .22 rimfire handguns over the years. Each one has been a law unto itself when it comes to ammo selection. What one digests easily can cause problems in others, anything from failures to fire to feeding problems (in semi-autos, not applicable to revolvers of course).

A couple of brands/types have been my general "go to" .22LR ammo, those being Remington standard velocity 40-grain plated RN and CCI standard velocity 36-grain. These two have shown the fewest problems overall in a variety of handguns. I will note also that manufacturing lots can vary considerably, so when you find one that gives you the performance you want it is a good idea to stock up on that particular production run.

Another comment specifically about revolvers: keeping the cylinder and chambers absolutely clean (particularly around and underneath the extraction "star") can make a big difference in eliminating failures to fire. Accumulated crud can provide a cushioning effect when the firing pin hits the case rim, in my opinion.

 

[boatbum101]

22's are notorious for being picky . Figure out what kind of accuracy you want & what you're willing to pay for ammo . I'd keep it confined to 40gr lead standard velocity . Aguila SV is cheap & suprisingly accurate , CCI SV , Eley Target / Club , SK Std+ , Wolf Match Target , Fed 711B , usually $5 a bx . Find what you can live with . It's cheaper if you buy more . Brick is 500 rounds , case is 5,000 . GunBot or Ammo Seek you can find sales , specials etc .

 

[wetdog1911]

22's are notorious for being picky . Figure out what kind of accuracy you want & what you're willing to pay for ammo . I'd keep it confined to 40gr lead standard velocity . Aguila SV is cheap & suprisingly accurate , CCI SV , Eley Target / Club , SK Std+ , Wolf Match Target , Fed 711B , usually $5 a bx . Find what you can live with . It's cheaper if you buy more . Brick is 500 rounds , case is 5,000 . GunBot or Ammo Seek you can find sales , specials etc .

^^^THAT^^^

For over the last decade I've only been using the Wolf Match Target (rebranded SK Standard plus), in all my .22s.

I originally got it for use in my M41 since the CCI SV I was using was just giving me so so results. Not bad, but not great either. Another 41 shooter suggested the Wolf MT and there was decided improvement in both accuracy and pistol function. The 41 just ran smoother. Saw similar improvements across the board in all my .22s. Cannot recall ever having a misfire. I'm sure it happened, but I can't name one.

The Wolf is now made by Eley, but I have no experience with that ammo. If I run out of the Wolf I'll just get the SK Standard+, but I still have over a case left.

No M63, but I do have 2 M34-1s, the blue steel versions of the 63. Or rather the M63 is the stainless version of the M34-1, coming a good bit later in production.

Yes, the SK is $5/box ammo, but may well be worth it for indoor target work. It's a bit expensive for just blasting stuff. It's also 40 grain standard velocity, which is also all I've ever shot since jr smallbore in the early 60s.

HTH

Rob

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Anything with .22 on the head stamp.

 

[Troystat]

I use CCI SV in my S&W's both a M-17 and a M-41. From a rest other ammo might be a bit more accurate but off hand at 25 yards it is more than accurate enough. If your not in a state that prevents you from mail ordering it you can get it pretty cheep these days.

 

[22shtur]

model 63 ammo

In the early 1980's, I shot the original Winchester Expediter, that was discontinued for not being accurate. My model 63 shot it very accurately. After my limited supply ran out, I shot Winchester T22 which was great. Since 2005, I have been shooting Aguila, which shoots very accurately in my aging P&R model 63 with 4 inch barrel.

 

[max503]

I like the accuracy, decreased muzzle blast, and ease of ejection from Aguila standard velocity in my Model 34. In fact, I've been happy with that stuff in all my rimfires.

 

[jim lock]

CCI SV is pretty much the "go to ammo" amongst bullseye shooters, seems to be the most consistent in accuracy and dependability. FYI a friend of mine bought bulk box of Reminginton---- had 20 or 25 duds, could not get them to ignite in a couple of other guns.
Jim

 

[hkcavalier]

CCI and Aguila seem to be the best for me, though I pay far more attention to ammo types with the semis due to feeding and function issues.

All things being equal, subsonic match grade ammo is just going to be the most accurate. Eley is great stuff, the Aguila is good, I've had good luck with the Gemtech brand (not sure who the actual manufacturer is).

 

[Green Frog]

Shooting a Model 63 in an indoor range? I assume you are talking about casual target shooting to a maximum range of 25 yards, right? I would enter my vote for the Federal Auto Match mentioned a couple of posts up the line. This is my basic all around 22 ammo that I stock in largest quantities. While it doesn't give the absolute best accuracy possible in each and every firearm from which it is fired, it gives acceptable accuracy in just about anything I put it in. I use it in my 1948 vintage K-22 and used it in my 1920s vintage HFT when I was shooting it semi-regularly, so if I owned a Model 63 or some other J-frame 22, I'd surely give it a go.

Froggie