.22 Ammo

Hey Chris.
Have to say that I've only had two Scouts in my hands over my entire life span, and both times the asking price was more 'n I could do. I sure did like 'em both. One was in the now defunct Bob's Bang Shop up in the White Mountains, and it was New In The Box. Wow, just remember that sinking feeling when Bob quoted me the price. ..
Anyhow, I've found that bulk packaged 22 LR seems to be of lower quality than that packaged in the smaller 100 round bricks. Or, maybe its just that all that loose ammo jostles itself around enough to make accuracy and reliability more of an issue.

For a long time, I chose CCI standard velocity LRN in the plastic box. There is only one place left here that sells this ammo, and even then its getting a little scarce. Anyhow, this fodder works in everything except one very particular 2nd generation Woodsman.
I've noticed that the subsonic loads, such as those offered by Mexico's Aguila ammunition, do not have enough womp to cycle in Ruger pistols. Found some Remington subsonic, but due to circumstances, haven't been able to try them out.
If you have a particularly finicky gun, Eley match ammo lives up to its hefty price. A close second is Federal Match LRN. I haven't been able to find any more of this Federal ammo, it seems they changed their boxes, and are obsessing on this "shok" thing. I suppose it'll be a topic for another thread, but I actually get annoyed picking up a box of ammo and trying to decipher it. If the box says "match", or "varmint", of "personal defense, then all is well, but "cape shok", and "vital shok", and so on are just stupid.
Anyhow, I'm not much of a fan of Aguila ammo. I've never tried Wolf, mostly because I've never seen it. I've had lots of problems with Remington's bulk copper washed stuff. If I had deep pockets, I think I could be quite happy with Eley match, but the best bang for the buck remains those CCI standard velocity LRN.

I seem to have a preference for copper plated 22 versus the greased lead type. I realize all 22 ammo is lubed but find that the copper plated seems to be the least messy of the ones I've shot over the years. I just tried the Thunderbolt lead and it was messy. I tried the Aguila too and, like you, I am not a fan of it. Right now I have had pretty good shooting with the Federal copper plated HP Long Rifle stuff which is fairly reasonably priced around here, at least for now. I think the reveolver is a lot fussier simply because it gets the residue build up at  the front of the cylinder and that's the main reason I like the copper plated stuff in my Scout. In my rifles it is not to critical. Anyway, good shooting and hope you run into a reasonably priced Scout someday. Chris

I too find the outside lubed LRN a bit messy. I guess what I like about the lead, is that in older, worn barrels, it can really shoot-and out shoot the copper washed fodder, at least for me.

I'm not trying to be a salesman for anyone, but at least up to now, the CCI I've tried has always gone bang, and has always been at least tolerably accurate. I'm pretty sure CCI also offers a copper wash on their standard velocity. I still have the majority of a .22 Short box left from CCI, and these are copper washed. I don't think Eley is available with a copper wash, but if it is, it should be even better than Federal, which is very good.
I noticed that Remington is advertizing some "new" 22LR ammo. Don't know if its really new, or just repackaged, but it has my curiosity piqued.

Finally, thanks for the good wishes. If I am lucky enough to find a reasonably priced Scout, I'll have to buy it! You know, I can't resist a good Colt!

Was out the other day and found some Remington ammo I had brought along was corroded badly. Would not chamber reliably in my Nylon 66 but my 1950 Mossberg 151M(b) eat it up like steak.
Maybe these older guns had looser chamber?
The 66 loved the CCI mini-mags.
ace

Chambers vary quite a bit, and you never know for sure what you have-unless you make a cast of it. One of the things I've noticed is that feeding issues can result from rusted/pitted throats-old magazines, or ammo that is close, but not spot on for dimensions.I don't want to talk anything down, but I've noticed some bulk 22 LR ammo is less than stellar in dimensional integrity.
My better half's Savage 1906 will not feed some rounds out of its original magazine-however the ugly Numrich mags work great, untill the goo from the bullets builds up, then its scrubbing time no matter what magazine is used.
A lil maintenence, however, goes a long way. Might want to recheck the action on that nylon, does not take a lot of goo for a finicky gun to take over from a happy one, esp. in an autoloader.
Best wishes.

haven't shot the nylon 66 for a couple years, maybe I should clean it.
it was Remington Cyclone and another Remington lead round nose,
they don't seem to be top line even befor they coroded.
ace

I figured the lead bullets left more goo in the cylinder and bore and after several boxes I had to really push hard on the cleaning rod to open the bore up. Since I switched to the copper plated ammo I can shoot hundreds of rounds with no problem, in fact I have close to 500 right now with no cleaning and I pushed the rod through just to check and it went through no problem at all.  It may just be me but I'm sticking to copper plated in my Scout. Chris

Hi Chris
I have a couple other 22 auto's that need cleaning about every time I take them out, maybe 200 or so rounds and they don't close. I usually keep a Boresnake handy fpr them.
Do you have a favorite?
ace

I made myself a wooden rod with a slot at the end to clean my little Scout and my Browning Challenger (Belgium version) and I pretty much use that to clean those two. For my big bores I use a regular metal rod but very carefully. On my 22 rifles I use a regular metal one also but again very carefully. Someone once said that more 22 barrels were ruined by too much cleaning and that may be true, possibly that phrase should read "Improper Cleaning". Chris

Here is the reason I prefer lead-it is easy on aged barrels. The wife's Savage is essentially 100 years old, the Woodsman around 70.  It has been my experience that copper wears barrels and lead hardly does at all-as long as correct cleaning takes place.  Also, older guns often shoot cast bullets more accurately as well.

I do think that more modern barrels are probably fine with copper washed bullets, or lead-its pretty much up to preferences. Modern ammunition is mostly jacketed, and gun manufacturers know this.

A very good solvent for cleaning older 22 barrels is Montana Extreme Rimfire solution. Don't use it in enclosed places, because its fumy, but I think it works quite well on powder residue,  lead,  and bullet lube.
I haven't yet had the chance to try any, but I've heard good things about the new Winchester Xpert 22 lr ammo. The sporting goods dept. at Walmart says they carry it, but sold out right away. If they manage to have it in stock when I show up, I'll buy some and we'll report it here.

You may be right Mak, but, I routinely use brass or copper scrub pads to clean lead out of my barrels and I think I will be long gone before the barrels are. I am a shooter and not a preserver so if my guns are worn out when I go to the Great Shooting Range (if I'm so blessed) I don't think that's too bad a deal. I like the ease of using copper plated .22 ammo and my guns seem to offer no objections. Good shooting and my best to you. Chris

I go through a lot of CCI Standard Velocity, $25/brick at Dick's which is cheaper than mail order (and I live in California!) Its a tack driver in a S&W M-41. When I had a Colt Huntsman, it demonstrated a preference for Winchester Western .22 LR  high velocity lubaloy hollow points that came in a white box (I still have six or seven boxes of the stuff) and Federal something or others Woolworth's used to sell cheap and by the brick. They weren't hollow points but I recollect that they had a dimple on the meplat, sort of like Winchester dynapoints I guess.

What is forever interesting to me is how guns will shoot ammo differently. Years ago shot a pretty nice Glenfield-Marlin 60. Absolutely hated Remington bronze HP's. The same exact cartridges are tack drivers in the current 9422.
Well, never did find any of that newfangled Win. ammo. Somebody must really like it, cuz ever time they get an order in, someone beats me to it. So, went back to CCI, shooting the mini mag RN for the jacketed/washed load. Great accuracy. Clean for 22LR, really makes those alum can scream!