Poly-Coated Ammo???

[bigslimm]

My relatively new Performance Center 15-22 was working fine. I then used for the first time CCI Clean-22 40 Realtree 40gr 1235 fps poly-coated ammo.

Then things went to hell big time. FTE and FTF occurred immediately. Bottom line is all the jamming resulted in the extractor literally disappering; have no idea what happened to it - just gone.

Problem researching showed some incidents where the 15-22 apparently does not like poly-coated ammo; particularly the Performance Center which has tighter barrel tolerance.

That is supposedly due to the larger bullet dimension attributable to the poly coating. Wondering if my issue is endemic to all poly-coated ammo, or maybe just this CCI brand.

Will appreciate comments on 15-22 compatibility with poly-coated ammo.

 

[dmthomp32]

No experience with the poly-coated ammo. However I have heard of issues with the 15-22 extractors not holding up, especially in the newer pistol variants. I read several accounts when I got mine and went ahead and installed a Volquartsen firing pin and extractor in my rifle, no issues with any ammo I've tried thus far. It was like $20 for the parts and about 20 minutes of my time.


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[bigslimm]

Heard that also about extractors. But this was instantaneous. No gradual decrease in function. Unless I hear something different, tend to think the poly-coated ammo is at issue.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

I don't have a Performance Center 1522, but I have standard 1522 and a new 1522P. I have fired the polymer coated CCI ammo without any problems in both. I'm thinking the tighter chamber of the PC gun is the problem.

 

[bigslimm]

Maybe so. Its good to know that polycoat is not totally unusable. I will give it another very limited try once I get my extractor repaired.

 

[bamashooter]

No experience with a polycoat but excellent experience with CCI Copper-22 22 LR. Faster than Superman but maxed at approx 70m. Listed at 1850 fps but have seen it clocked beyond 2000. A bit pricey at the moment.

 

[bigslimm]

Wow. Thats smokin'. Interesting, I am not familiar with that ammo type. Looking at it, seems that copper projectile is 'standard' 22 cal size, whereas polycoat is layered on top of a standard bullet (my understanding) - making it just a bit larger.

 

[strobro32]

I have not shot any of the poly coated 22LR in my 15-22s but I'd like to. It just pricier than what I normally shoot. I have a friend who does in his 15-22s and he reports no problems.

I personally cast and powder coat all of my pistol ammo. I lover PC ammo. The PC ammo is easy to clean and cheap to make. I really want to try the poly 22 LR because it really helps to reduce leading in my suppressors.

As far as blown extractors, I have lost them from many of my SA 22 LR firearms. It is the result of inconsistent over powered ammo. I have abandoned Remington Golden Bullets because of the frequency of blowing out the case and taking my extractor parts with them.

I am interested in more peoples experiences. I will be trying the poly coated 22 LR soon.

 

[Racer X]

If they messed up the coating on that batch, it could be thick. But even normal coating is 1-2 mils thick. I'm sure they undersize the bullet to compensate.

But, if the coating on that batch was too thick, it might not be fully seating, and the firing pin strike seats the cartridge, but sooaks up some of the kinetic energy, and it doesn't ignite the priming compound. NOW you have an unfired round with the coated bullet possible engraving the rifling, and it is too "sticky" for the extractor to pull it out.

Just a guess. Check un-ignited rounds for proper firing pin hit for one thing, and rifling engraving in the coating.

 

[bigslimm]

Installed the replacement extractor assembly. (BTW, Requested from S&W and they shipped within a week, but only sent the extractor and plunger; no spring. I inquired a week later and they said the spring is backordered [uh... thanks for letting me know...]. Still do not have it. Decided to just buy an upgrade from Tacticool. They shipped the assembly within a week. Go figure.)

Anyway, have not shot yet, but did alot of test cycling the polycoat and seems to be feeding well; no jams. So maybe it is not a polycoat issue. Maybe the extractor just decided to disappear coincident with the first usage of the polycoat.

Also, based on related info, adjusted the ejector. It was making contact with the bolt, so bent it slightly to get some clearence. Actually maybe it really is an ejector alignment issue; causing stovepipes, hence jams, hence impingement and failure on the extractor.

Who knows. Just hope things are back to normal.

 

[bigslimm]

Update. Got some initial range time using the polycoat ammo since installing the new extractor and tuning the ejector. Polycoat shot fine. So maybe it just was a cosmic simultaneous confluence of jam/extractor/ejector mashup...