? for you .22 Gurus

[snuffer#1]

I went from shooting HP in my .22 to rn bullets. I've got unheard-of accuracy from them. I'm using win. wildcats.  But the question I have is; is the lead bullets more prone to lead up the barrel, than say the copper clad bullets?It's been a long time since I bought my last rimfire. What I have now is a rem. 511 scoremaster. Bolt action with a 5 and 10 round clip. I believe the rifle was made back in the early thirties ( 1930s) This rifle was my grandfather's. Most accurate rifle I have including all my rifles. I did get a marlin 60 when I was at Ft. Sam. It was used. Put a 4x32 scope on it. It shoots really good too. Now my son has it! I plan on getting another .22, probably a savage. It will get a scope too. I don't mind cleaning copper out of a barrel, but I'm not into deleading a barrel all the time. Also, if you would give me some bullets selections that I should try in the newbie .22.
                                                                                                                         thomas

[navylawdog]

Snuffer,

To tell the truth yes the copper clad bullets will create less fouling than the lead bullets but you also have to look at the big picture. You have a .22 that is approx. 70 years old. Back then lead is mostly what they used so any damage done to the bore from lead fouling will have already been done. They didn't have the heavy duty bore cleaner back then that we have now. Not to mention I don't know how well your grandfather took care of the weapon like cleaning it everytime he shot it but it is a sad fact that most people don't clean their bores (especially .22's) everytime they shoot them. And then there are the guns that shoot better with a fouled barrel so it is really your personal preference. And to answer your last question there is another thread in this forum stating the answer to that question and seems like the Federal HP bulk pack from Wally World is a good place to start.

Navylawdog

[navylawdog]

Sorry about that my mistake the .22 ammo thread was under the small game hunting forum.

Navylawdog

[backstrap]

i used to shot the fed in the bulk pack from wally world through my 10/22 and they started to jam and no my gun wasnt dirty so i bought the rem bulk pack from wallyworld and not a jam 1 u shoot the fed and the rem in the same gun back to back and u can tell the rems are hotter  so they sounded to me any way by the louder bang they have so i switched to rem  bulk pack they shoot great in my standerd ruger 10/22

[Ratltrap]

If you found a round that shoots in your gun - stick with it. That's kind of the creed of 22 shooting. The copper washed bullets may foul less, but you are more likely to damage your barrel cleaning it than shooting lead bullets through it. I never clean my 22s until the accuracy starts to go downhill - and then it sometimes takes half a box to get it shooting good again.

[snuffer#1]

Well, yesterday I ended up with a Model 925 Marlin BA.  Didn't have the money for the scope, but I planned on cleaning it real good and polishing the barrel, which I just got through a few minutes ago! As far as my rem. 22, my grandfather always kept it in great condition. He din't let it get too dirty at all. Since he was a tool and die man, he made sure that the rifle was in tip top shape. I guess the reason it's so accurate, he made sure that the bore stayed polished! I would say, that's the reason it so darned accurate.
                                                                                    thomas

[SuperstitionCoues]

Sounds like you may want to improve your cleaning approach, to remove the 1930's era lead fouling and to keep the fouling out of the new gun. 

Here's something I swear by: 

Shooters Choice solvent and Break Free.  It will remove the lead fouling out of the lands and grooves of a Marlin .22, better than Hoppe's or Outers will.  Your accuracy will be restored.  My Marlin bolt action shoots as good, if not better, now than it did when I first got it 25 years ago.  These two products won't hurt a blued or wood finish, unlike some of the super strong stuff today.

[snuffer#1]

Thanks, I will go get some the next time I go to the gun shop.  Even though my stuff don't get fired a whole lot, I like it ready to go when I'm ready to go!

[bscman]

The thing about .22's is that most quality rounds you'll be shooting are LUBED. They are designed to foul less, as well as clean out the bore with each shot.

There was something said earlier in this thread that holds very true--you do more damage CLEANING a .22 than you do by shooting it. Most people ONLY clean their .22's when they begin to malfunction. I know first hand that with all my .22's (and I'm a junky) 90% of the cleaning I do is only the action and the external parts. The only time I clean the bore is when it's a brand new rifle, or if I know first hand something got in the barrel that shouldn't have.

I'd say just find a round you like, and shoot the heck out of it. Very few people have ever been able to "wear out" the bore on a .22 rimfire...it just takes WAYYYY too many rounds.
For plinking I generally use the Federal (CHAMPION!!!) Bulk packs...they seem to be the most consistant, and accurate of the bulk pack stuff that I've shot. When I take things a bit more seriously (hunting or shooting for groups) its usually CCI stuff (hunting--velocitors, SGB's, etc) or Aguila Subsonics or Wolf MT (for groups).
I'm severly disappointed in the remington stuff. Very inconsistant, dirty (on your fingers, and your action), and low quality. I have more misfires, and low velocity flukes with remington than any other. I give golden bullets as gifts....to people I don't like.