I don't normally complain about things like ammo that for one reason or another proves problematic. However as the following thoughts reflect not just an isolated instance but several experiences with Winchester ammunition, I think the question is legitimate.
Last year I found some Winchester 333's for sale at a small store. I purchased the three boxes permitted and headed for the range. Firing in a Marvel 1911 conversion unit, I had numerous failures to extract and occasional failures to fire. Then I had a rim blow out in the middle of a string of fire so I ceased firing. I contacted Winchester and was told to send the ammunition in. I shipped the ammo back to Winchester and a few weeks later three new boxes of 333 arrived via UPS. It fired no better in the Marvel. I used it all in my 18-3. It proved difficult to chamber but fired without incident with no misfires.
Just before Christmas I found a single brick of Winchester Super-X .22 LR ammunition. It did not chamber well in the revolver. In the Marvel unit, it fired when it chambered. There were a number of instances where it recoil was oddly light, the slide would not go back far enough to strip another round from the magazine. The rest of the ammo was fired without incident in a 15-22. Occasionally there were failures to fire. The rim was very well struck. Turning the round in the chamber and trying to fire the round produced maybe a 50% success rate. After three tries, I discarded the failed rounds.
Today I went to the range with some Winchester Super-X .22 LR 36 gr. HP copper plated ammo. You would not believe the problems experienced. It produced numerous failures to fire in both the Marvel and my 18-3. The hammer springs in the 1911 frame and the 18-3 are both exactly as received, nothing has been altered. In shooting the 18-3 (purchased ca. 2000), there has never been a failure of any sort in many many thousands of rounds fired. In one three year period I fired three and sometimes four bricks a month in the 18-3. Not once has there ever been a misfire or hangfire ever. Today I had numerous failures to fire with the Winchester ammo in the 18-3. Partially removing the failed round and turning it 180 degrees in the charge hole and then trying again yielded 100% discharges. No round failed to fire the second time.
I will not comment on accuracy as every .22 LR firearm will demonstrate better results with some brands/loads of ammunition. However, the failure rate from the brick fired today was in excess of 70 rounds. I could excuse these failure if the handguns used had been altered with light springs, etc. However, the RIA 1911 frame uses the standard weight hammer spring used for a 1911-A1 chambered in .45 ACP. The 18-3 has never been altered in any way other than having a bit of white paint put on the sights and the original magna grips replaced with S&W target grips. Both pistols were thoroughly cleaned last night.
My wife kindly found and bought several bricks of this Winchester ammo which she gave to me for Christmas. It was not cheap. But, it seems to be of less than good quality.
Has anyone noted any particular problems with Winchester .22 LR ammunition? It doesn't make sense. The boxes and individual rounds of ammo are all very clean and dry, not greasy or sticky in the least. I'm going to try this ammo in my 15-22 and hope for the best. I've heard of problems with the Remington Golden Bullet ammo, but that which I've used has presented no problems. It has all fed, fired and extracted perfectly. I am surprised at the many problems experienced today with this Winchester ammo.
Last year I found some Winchester 333's for sale at a small store. I purchased the three boxes permitted and headed for the range. Firing in a Marvel 1911 conversion unit, I had numerous failures to extract and occasional failures to fire. Then I had a rim blow out in the middle of a string of fire so I ceased firing. I contacted Winchester and was told to send the ammunition in. I shipped the ammo back to Winchester and a few weeks later three new boxes of 333 arrived via UPS. It fired no better in the Marvel. I used it all in my 18-3. It proved difficult to chamber but fired without incident with no misfires.
Just before Christmas I found a single brick of Winchester Super-X .22 LR ammunition. It did not chamber well in the revolver. In the Marvel unit, it fired when it chambered. There were a number of instances where it recoil was oddly light, the slide would not go back far enough to strip another round from the magazine. The rest of the ammo was fired without incident in a 15-22. Occasionally there were failures to fire. The rim was very well struck. Turning the round in the chamber and trying to fire the round produced maybe a 50% success rate. After three tries, I discarded the failed rounds.
Today I went to the range with some Winchester Super-X .22 LR 36 gr. HP copper plated ammo. You would not believe the problems experienced. It produced numerous failures to fire in both the Marvel and my 18-3. The hammer springs in the 1911 frame and the 18-3 are both exactly as received, nothing has been altered. In shooting the 18-3 (purchased ca. 2000), there has never been a failure of any sort in many many thousands of rounds fired. In one three year period I fired three and sometimes four bricks a month in the 18-3. Not once has there ever been a misfire or hangfire ever. Today I had numerous failures to fire with the Winchester ammo in the 18-3. Partially removing the failed round and turning it 180 degrees in the charge hole and then trying again yielded 100% discharges. No round failed to fire the second time.
I will not comment on accuracy as every .22 LR firearm will demonstrate better results with some brands/loads of ammunition. However, the failure rate from the brick fired today was in excess of 70 rounds. I could excuse these failure if the handguns used had been altered with light springs, etc. However, the RIA 1911 frame uses the standard weight hammer spring used for a 1911-A1 chambered in .45 ACP. The 18-3 has never been altered in any way other than having a bit of white paint put on the sights and the original magna grips replaced with S&W target grips. Both pistols were thoroughly cleaned last night.
My wife kindly found and bought several bricks of this Winchester ammo which she gave to me for Christmas. It was not cheap. But, it seems to be of less than good quality.
Has anyone noted any particular problems with Winchester .22 LR ammunition? It doesn't make sense. The boxes and individual rounds of ammo are all very clean and dry, not greasy or sticky in the least. I'm going to try this ammo in my 15-22 and hope for the best. I've heard of problems with the Remington Golden Bullet ammo, but that which I've used has presented no problems. It has all fed, fired and extracted perfectly. I am surprised at the many problems experienced today with this Winchester ammo.
