Selecting 22LR for Range Use

[RJ]

I’m going to be purchasing a Glock 44 in 22LR next month, my first 22. It will be a training / range fun gun, primarily, complimenting my Glock 19.

Since I’ve never so much as seen a .22 round, except possibly once at Scout Summer Camp many moons ago, what does one look for when selecting .22 ammo?

Are there ‘better’ or more reliable brands out there?

How about manufacturers? Do Federal, Speer etc names I’m familiar with from 9mm ammo carry over to .22?

Lastly, are there any specific skus or ammo types that have proven reliability and accuracy over the years?

Thanks!


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[Jim Watson]

My Plastic Smith is 100% on CCI Mini-Mags. 40 grain copper plated roundnose high velocity.

People will tell you to "try a box of everything" but I bet if you try a box of Mini-Mags you can stop right there.

[RJ]

My Plastic Smith is 100% on CCI Mini-Mags. 40 grain copper plated roundnose high velocity.

People will tell you to "try a box of everything" but I bet if you try a box of Mini-Mags you can stop right there.

Thanks Jim.

Is it this one?

https://www.sgammo.com/product/22-lr-ammo/5000-round-case-22-lr-cci-mini-mag-40-grain-solid-copper-plated-ammo-0030

[Jim Watson]

That's the stuff.

I am currently shooting Aquila HV because it was available sooner as .22s came back on the market after the Obama-Clinton Panic, but when I resupply, it will be Mini-Mag.

My target pistols get CCI Standard Velocity. There is more accurate ammo available but it is much more expensive and I am not good enough to tell a difference except off a good rest.

Gee, nobody has any.
Aquila is OK as is Federal. I'd look for copper plated high velocity if CCI doesn't come in by the time you get the gun.


I buy from Target Sports, "free" shipping on case lots.
https://www.targetsportsusa.com/22-long-rifle-ammo-c-202.aspx#

[mtnbkr]

Jim pretty much echoed my experience and thoughts. Mini-Mags to start and Standard Velocity if you want a lower velocity and/or quieter load for target shooting. My Ruger 22/45 likes the CCI SV load and it pairs nicely with the suppressor. However, it won't cycle the gun properly once it gets very filthy (500-1000 rounds with no cleaning at all).

I've also found the standard velocity, plain lead Armscor load to be quite good accuracy-wise and cheaper than the CCI SV option, but I can't find it locally anymore.

Beyond that, buy a bunch of different loads and experiment. :)

Chris

[CCT125US]

CCI Standard Velocity is my go to. Remington Thunderbolts seem to suck less now, than they used too. Federal bulk, and Remington Golden bullet seem to fail to feed/fire/extract more than most. This has been in various 10/22 rifles, Charger Take down, Savage MKII, Ruger MKII, H&R 999. My Smith .22c will work with darn neer anything, so it is somewhat gun dependent.

[jandbj]

CCI Minimags are my go to as well. CCI SV is my preferred suppressor ammo. I’ve found CCI Blazer to function well and cost a bit less than the minimags in my experience as well. And I shoot more rimfire than anything else. Around 10-15k per year.

I ordered an extra case of 22 the day the G44 was announced. Chomping at the bit to shoot it ASAP.

[Wake27]

Another vote for CCI. I think I have a bunch of the standard velocity but prefer Mini-Mags. The solid round nose variant has never given me any problems in either my AA G19 kit or M&P 15-22. Golden Saber (Remingotn I think) hasn't been very good IME.

[littlejerry]

I very much like CCIs new "clean" poly ammo. Both in SV and HV flavors. Runs very reliable and results in less lead fouling.

Otherwise you should buy a couple brands and see what runs well. My AA G19 conversion chockes on all SV ammo and really only likes a few HV brands, primarily Remington.

My 15-22 eats pretty much anything.

[rjohnson4405]

Run mini mags until you find a problem they're not solving.

They run a semi auto well and are not the most accurate but unless shooting for groups at 25 and you are a pretty good distance shooter I doubt you will notice.

[BN]

Is it this one?

https://www.sgammo.com/product/22-lr-ammo/5000-round-case-22-lr-cci-mini-mag-40-grain-solid-copper-plated-ammo-0030

Yes, that's what you want. They are the "go to". You could shoot nothing else for the rest of your life and feel happy. ;)

Lots of other good ammo out there, but you won't find anything better for your purposes.

[Zincwarrior]

Both my Brownings and my S&W like these kinds:
https://www.outdoorlimited.com/rimfire-ammo/22-lr-ammo/armscor-22-lr-ammunition-arm22lrhp-36-grain-plated-hollow-point-brick-of-500-rounds/

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/953439553

Almost no failures to fire, and good accuracy.

EDIT: Frankly I would not go more expensive then that for a range pistol. It will still be more accurate than you are.

[MichaelD]

Another vote for CCI Mini-Mags. Federal's higher-end stuff would likely work too, as would Winchester's plastic box offerings. My M&P22 runs like a top on any of them.

[OlongJohnson]

I'm working my way through a bulk pack of Federal blue box that has a lot of duds.

I concur with the Mini Mag advice.

[Doc_Glock]

Thanks Jim.

Is it this one?

https://www.sgammo.com/product/22-lr-ammo/5000-round-case-22-lr-cci-mini-mag-40-grain-solid-copper-plated-ammo-0030

That stuff is the Glock 19 of .22 ammo.

[RJ]

My Plastic Smith is 100% on CCI Mini-Mags. 40 grain copper plated roundnose high velocity.

People will tell you to "try a box of everything" but I bet if you try a box of Mini-Mags you can stop right there.


CCI Standard Velocity is my go to. Remington Thunderbolts seem to suck less now, than they used too. Federal bulk, and Remington Golden bullet seem to fail to feed/fire/extract more than most. This has been in various 10/22 rifles, Charger Take down, Savage MKII, Ruger MKII, H&R 999. My Smith .22c will work with darn neer anything, so it is somewhat gun dependent.


CCI Minimags are my go to as well. CCI SV is my preferred suppressor ammo. I’ve found CCI Blazer to function well and cost a bit less than the minimags in my experience as well. And I shoot more rimfire than anything else. Around 10-15k per year.

I ordered an extra case of 22 the day the G44 was announced. Chomping at the bit to shoot it ASAP.


Another vote for CCI. I think I have a bunch of the standard velocity but prefer Mini-Mags. The solid round nose variant has never given me any problems in either my AA G19 kit or M&P 15-22. Golden Saber (Remingotn I think) hasn't been very good IME.


I very much like CCIs new "clean" poly ammo. Both in SV and HV flavors. Runs very reliable and results in less lead fouling.

Otherwise you should buy a couple brands and see what runs well. My AA G19 conversion chockes on all SV ammo and really only likes a few HV brands, primarily Remington.

My 15-22 eats pretty much anything.


Run mini mags until you find a problem they're not solving.

They run a semi auto well and are not the most accurate but unless shooting for groups at 25 and you are a pretty good distance shooter I doubt you will notice.


Yes, that's what you want. They are the "go to". You could shoot nothing else for the rest of your life and feel happy. ;)

Lots of other good ammo out there, but you won't find anything better for your purposes.


Another vote for CCI Mini-Mags. Federal's higher-end stuff would likely work too, as would Winchester's plastic box offerings. My M&P22 runs like a top on any of them.


I'm working my way through a bulk pack of Federal blue box that has a lot of duds.

I concur with the Mini Mag advice.


That stuff is the Glock 19 of .22 ammo.

46551

Looks like we have a winner. :cool:

Thanks guys. Love this Forum.

[Borderland]

I purchased 5K Aguila HV back when there was a shortage. Still have a bunch. That stuff isn't auto friendly. My buddy and I have both come to that conclusion using Ruger auto loaders. I tried some CCI (SV) and the problems went away. Never tried the HV CCI or mini mags so no opinion.

I was so impressed with CCI (SV) that I purchased 10K before the next banic takes it all. CCI, Speer and Federal are all subsidiaries of Vista Outdoor. I think it all comes out of the same plant in Lewiston Idaho.

[HCM]

46551

Looks like we have a winner. :cool:

Thanks guys. Love this Forum.

I’ve also had good results with Aguila “super extra” it’s Aguila’s version of minion mags. Copper wash bullet at similar velocity as mini mags. It’s worked in every gun that has worked with mini mags including a couple conversion kits and autos that won’t work with standard velocity or bare lead ammo.

[farscott]

.22 LR ammo ranges from bulk to high-end match. Bulk is ammo packaged in a container with no effort given to keeping the rounds from damaging each other. At the other end of the spectrum is ammo made by Eley that is priced like centerfire match ammo.

As others have noted, CCI is a good place to start, and CCI offers everything from bulk to hunting to match ammo. Other good manufacturers are Aguila, Geco, Lapua, and SK. Federal and CCI have the same parent, but I have more consistent results from CCI. I prefer standard velocity because it is more accurate and because it has a quieter report. My general rule of thumb is any .22 handgun must consistently group with CCI Standard Velocity. If it does not, there is an issue with the handgun. But rimfire gun and ammo combos are a law to themselves; some guns provide the best precision with some ammo while other guns of the same model group poorly. Once you find the ammo that works best (value based on precision and cost) for your gun, it makes sense to buy cases of that lot. But until you determine what ammo is the best for you, buy boxes or bricks to see how each ammo performs in your gun. The last thing you need is a case of ammo that performs poorly with your gun.

[peterb]

Something to be aware of: .22 ammo can have a waxy bullet lube which can be sticky, and over time it can build up in magazines. It’s easy to clean out if it does get to the point of causing feeding issues.

[Pistol Pete 10]

CCI Std, Mini-Mags and Tactical work in all my .22s, Win., Rem. and Fed. some do some don't.

[Jeff22]

I'm going to buy one of those Glocks as soon as I can get one. I use .22 conversions or equivalents A LOT in the winter on basic marksmanship drills.

.22 conversion units can be pretty finicky beasts to feed, and usually run best with a higher velocity (1200 fps or better) bullet that's copper plated.

My Colt Ace .22 from 1982 will run with anything. Also true of the Argentine converter for my Browning High Power and the Beretta "Practice Kit" in .22 for my M9.

I have a Sig .22 conversion for 226 pattern pistols. The directions that came with that unit recommended CCI Mini Mags.

I have a Ciener Conversion unit on a G19 frame and an Advantage Arms unit on a G17 frame. They both run much better with hotter ammo, but I still encounter failures to fire caused by the slide not going fully forward into battery.

I've had my best luck with CCI Mini-Mags (especially in the round nose configuration), Winchester High Velocity Round Nose, and the equivalent offering from Aguila. The CCI AR Tactical Ammo (40 grn CPRN at 1200 feet per second) works pretty well too, but I've not shot a lot of it.

[john c]

Probably 90% of my shooting (or more) is .22 LR. Since you're not talking about high end target loads, a whole other topic, CCI is the top brand. Mini-mags are their flagship product, but I also find their Blazer ammo to be cheaper and very good. It's a lubricated lead bullet, instead of copper washed. It makes no difference to me, although I slightly prefer lubricated lead bullets. You won't find any difference.

Federal makes good .22 ammo. I'll choose it when its cheaper. I also shoot a lot of Aguila, mostly standard velocity and subsonic in target guns. Again, the quality is fine. For cost reasons, I usually get Federal, Aguila, or Blazer over CCI Mini-mags, and the performance is fine.

Avoid Remington .22 LR ammo at all costs! It's simply terrible! The bullets are too hard, and the crimps poor. In a brick, several of the rounds will be noticeably canted in the cases (I fire these anyways, but it's not good for accuracy). Plus the powder is very cheap and poor. In a pistol you'll get burning flakes of it out of the ejection port, and it will burn your hands and arms. This is maybe once or twice every 50 rounds. It doesn't leave any marks, but I won't have my kids fire this because it's pretty painful for 1/4 second or so.

[That Guy]

Remington Thunderbolts seem to suck less now, than they used too.

Well that's not really saying much... :)


Run mini mags until you find a problem they're not solving.

They run a semi auto well and are not the most accurate

Actually and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, my Remington 597 seems to really like Mini-Mags. I do get vertical dispersion at longer ranges though, but if you're familiar with the craptastic iron sights Remington puts on these rifles you'll understand that I'm reluctant to blame the ammo until I've had a chance to try the gun out with a better aiming solution. (Plus Mini-Mags are significantly more expensive in my country than standard velocity .22LR, so I don't get to shoot it that much.)

[mmc45414]

Especially if you are getting this new Glock, if there are any teething issues their first question is going to be "what ammo are you using" and you are going to want to respond with "Mini Mags".

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[Jim Watson]

Yeah, well Glock once told me to use WWB like they checked out their guns with instead of cheap foreign ammo, too.

[358156hp]

Since the golden answer has already been given, all I can add is that from my experiences, Federal 22 LR is to be avoided at all costs. I've experienced a huge amount of ignition failures with Federal rimfire ammo.

[MolonLabe416]

I stick with CCI or Aguila. I avoid the promotional ammunition as I never had any luck with it even back in the days when rimfire ammo quality was higher than today.

[Bergeron]

Mini-mags are pretty much the go-to for semi-auto.

My personal preference is for Federal Automatch. I like bulk-pack nature of the product, I like that it was designed for semi-autos, and I like that it’s supposed to be more accurate ammo. It’s the only ammo I’ve used in my semi-autos since it hit the market.

Mini-mags are quoted as 40 grains @ 1235 FPS, Automatch is 40 grains quoted at 1200 FPS.

According to The Firearm Blog video on the G44, Glock has apparently put in the time and effort to get the best possible reliability out of that gun. Good luck!

[LtDave]

I’ve shot a lot of .22 ammo, mostly in rifle matches at ranges from 40 to 300 yards. In my experience CCI Mini Mags and Aguila Super Extra HV are the high velocity rounds to start with in testing a new gun. Federal 710 or 810 were the high velocity rounds I’d try if my gun didn’t like CCI or Aguila. I’ve not had any misfire issues with those Federal loads. In standard velocity stuff, CCI is the gold standard. If you want to try match ammo, Wolf Match Target or one of the various Aguila match loads are a good place to start as they are fairly reasonable in price. In bulk ammo, a lot of people shooting long range .22 had decent results with Federal Auto Match. I’ve never had stellar results accuracy wise with any of the Winchester .22 LR loads. Avoid Remington .22 ammo.

[the Schwartz]

I’ve shot a lot of .22 ammo, mostly in rifle matches at ranges from 40 to 300 yards. In my experience CCI Mini Mags and Aguila Super Extra HV are the high velocity rounds to start with in testing a new gun. Federal 710 or 810 were the high velocity rounds I’d try if my gun didn’t like CCI or Aguila. I’ve not had any misfire issues with those Federal loads. In standard velocity stuff, CCI is the gold standard. If you want to try match ammo, Wolf Match Target or one of the various Aguila match loads are a good place to start as they are fairly reasonable in price. In bulk ammo, a lot of people shooting long range .22 had decent results with Federal Auto Match. I’ve never had stellar results accuracy wise with any of the Winchester .22 LR loads. Avoid Remington .22 ammo.

While I—and my .22 pistols—prefer the 40-grain RN CCI Mini Mags, I've also had acceptable experience with the Federal 810 (40-grain CPRN at 1,240fps) and as you note, misfires are a non-issue. They also have enough power to cycle the most recalcitrant actions reliably.