Author Topic: Fed HP's or Rem? (Read 1839 times)

44 Man · « **on:** October 11, 2004, 04:15:50 PM »

Ok, let's throw another one out there. I have a whole box full of many brands of .22s. When I get a new gun and want to see it's accuracy potential, I drag all of these out and see which ammo the gun likes the best. Sure, some of them like the $8 a box target ammo, but for regular shooting most seem to shoot their best with Federal bulk HP's or Remington Goldens, HP's or solids. Is this what most of you have found? I have never been satisfied with Winchester .22s in any style, and most of the hyper velocity stuff shoots poorly in most of my guns. (Exception is a Marlin 60 bull bbl that absolutely loves the CCI mini-mags) So the short version is; I will try the Federals first, the Remington HP second, then the Rem solids. If the gun still doesn't shoot up to par, I put it away until I can run it through all this other ammunition, or sometimes I just consider selling it. Has your experience been the same with reguard to Federal and Remington? 44 Man

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2004, 02:02:34 AM »

I'm not much on the Remington stuff. It's proven accurate enough in a few guns, but not impressive at all. It's also given me enough misfires, and squib loads to decide that it'll never be used for hunting in my guns.

On the other hand, I'm a very big fan of the Federal bulk HPs. I buy tons of them from Wal-Mart every year. Out of tens of thousands of those, I've had exactly one misfire(last year), and not a single hot, or sqib load at all. It's been at least fairly accurate in nearly every gun I've tried it in(dozens), and shoots extremely good in most. It also performs very nicely on small game.

My current 5.5" Stainless Single-Six really shines with the Federals, and I've gotta stock back up on them now that I think about it! LOL

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2004, 02:30:21 AM »

Because of poor reliability in firing, it's not likely that I'll ever buy Remington rimfire ammo again. Federal is excellent.

Jim101 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2004, 06:29:24 AM »

I'm a Dynapoint shooter, just picked up another 4 bricks, when I can find them, I buy them. Now, for everything I have been reading about Federal bulk HP's I will try them out. In Walmart are they just "Federal HP's" or is there some kind of name for them?
Also, just went through a brick of Dynapoints and they all fired great, no FTF or anything.........

Jim

44 Man · « **Reply #4 on:** October 13, 2004, 12:54:20 AM »

I have to jump back in here and say that I have not had any problems with the Remingtons with FTF or squib loads. Any FTF problems I have ever had were with my H&R 999 double action with a soft mainspring, since corrected. And it didn't care what brand I used, it would fail to pop one out of 7 or 8 pretty regularly. That same H&R and an old Ruger Bearcat seem to shoot tighter with the Remingtons. But most of my guns shoot the Federals best and I probably use them 4 to 1 over the Remingtons. If I were restricted to only buying one brand of .22s the rest of my life, I could get by happily with the Federals. 44 Man

dave375hh · « **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2004, 04:25:59 AM »

For some reason I've not been able to get any Remington .22's to shoot good in any of my guns. I've got a couple thousand sitting around because the wife collects the tins they used to put them out in. On the other hand all my .22 seem to love the Fed. American Eagle HP's. I have two 10-22's (the only parts still Ruger are the bolts and action bodys) these two will shoot Elly 10X 10 shot groups into .44 and .49 at 50 yds. When I switched to the Fed A E hp's they shot .52 and .56 at 50 yds. I didn't bother to buy any more 10X, but I did buy 2 cases of the A E hp's!(8000 they come 40 to a box). I also had some success with Dyanpoints but one lot would be good and another would be so-so. The Fed AE's are always good(knock on wood).

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2004, 07:39:33 AM »

I bought some old and I do mean REALLY old Remington target ammo once about 20 years ago. At the time it was likely well over 20 years old and I had no clue how it had been stored. It was some really poor shooting ammo but I didn't blame it on the brand. Most likely was stored inproperly.

I began having trouble with Winchester HV solids back in the early 80s I guess it was. I bought them by the case (5000 rounds) in those days and got a couple cases that had way too many that sounded like bloopers and didn't hit in the same group as others. I was using them in competition and this just didn't cut it. So I pretty much quit using them. But in fairness I have bought another case made long after those and it is as good as ever.

The Wallyworld buck pack Federal HPs seem to do well in most guns. Seldom the most accurate in my experience but never far behind and never bad.

But I guess the CCI Mini Mags especially the HPs are about the over all most accurate and most consistent I've run across. They have often shot as well as the more expensive specialty target ammo in my guns.

WD45 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2004, 02:35:02 AM »

To answer one of the above posts ... I believe 44man is talking about federal classic ammo which Wally World sells in bricks. I to have found it to be the most consistent in my guns. The only remy's I have shot in a good while is the subsonics which I like. None of the winchesters in LR shoot as well as the federals. The stingers are right behind the fed classics.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2004, 02:41:59 AM »

Quote from: WD45

To answer one of the above posts ... I believe 44man is talking about federal classic ammo which Wally World sells in bricks. I to have found it to be the most consistent in my guns. The only remy's I have shot in a good while is the subsonics which I like. None of the winchesters in LR shoot as well as the federals. The stingers are right behind the fed classics.

Yep. That's the stuff I'm talking about.

bgjohn · « **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2004, 04:35:02 AM »

Remington Thunderbolt 22 lr ammo = misfires, squibs, etc. I'll buy anything except Remington rimfire ammo. They know they have problems and won't fix it. They suck!
JM

Jim101 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2004, 06:47:19 AM »

Well, I'm gonna have to stop at Walmart on the way home and get a box of Fed. Classic and try them at the range...........

Jim

papajohn428 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2004, 07:57:09 AM »

Me Too! The funny thing is, I bet I've shot 10,000 of the Federal bulk stuff, but never even tried the American Eagle stuff! And call it my luck, I have yet to own a single 22 that likes CCI Mini-Mags. I love the ammo, and the way it hits, but won't shoot worth a foop for me.

I've also not tried the Blazer 22's, never had much luck with the centerfire stuff. Sounds like a trip to the bullet store is in order! Yay, now I have an excuse! :grin:

Papajohn the Perenially Penny-Pinching Potbellied Potshot

ppcrusa · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2004, 10:03:22 AM »

I used to like Federal Ammo. The last batch I bought that was any good was the 525 rd. bulk pack. Not seen anymore like it since. So I bought some in the little 50rd. boxes. The bullets looked all black and cruddy. They shot bad too.
Remington stuff really sucks. I tried some of that subsonic ammo and believe it or not it did fair. A lot better than the golden bullets.
The best luck I ever had with any rimfire ammo was Fiocchi subsonic HP's. They would shoot wonderfully in my Marlin 25N rifle. Tack driving accuracy. Can't even buy those now.
I've tried the CCI Blazers and they also shoot pretty good in my Marlin 25N.
I bought some Winchester dynapoints too, but have not had the chance to try them extensively yet.
If it were just between Federal bulk and Remington bulk, I would take the Federals. How are you guys finding the bulk Federals anyway? My local wal-mart doesn't sell them anymore.

MH WASH · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2004, 03:05:37 AM »

If given the choice I will always buy the Rem golden bullet hp. I must be lucky but I don't have any problems with the stuff. Saturday I took my 10/22 with aftermarket barrel, and shot several 5 shot groups with all five shots touching. I cant ask for anything more for $8 for 550 ammo.

Matt

Questor · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2004, 07:56:14 AM »

My opinions are rather bland on this topic: Buy Federal. Don't waste your money on Remington.

Chris · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2004, 03:09:07 PM »

Go figure...I think Federal bulk .22's make good fishing sinkers.

For picnic shells, I like CCI Blazers the best.

...Chris

Old Griz · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2004, 08:55:20 PM »

:cb2: I have one semi-automatic .22, a S&W 2206, that shoots everything except Remington. I have had great results with anything Winchester, from Wildcats, Dynapoints (which I haven't found around here for years), and Xpert Hollowpoints. Federal Classics are really great, as well as CCI Subsonics, Small Game, and anything slow.

Had a Mark II once, and all it would shoot were CCI Blazers. Too much trouble. Got rid of it.

However, being a basic wheelgunner type fellow, my Ruger .22 Bisley, SP101, and S&W 617 will shoot anything. So if all I have is Remington, I leave the automatic at home. (Seems I do that most of the time anyway.) The SP101 gets most of the action, unless I'm squirrel hunting. Then I pull out the scoped 617.

I really don't care what I shoot in the 10/22 or the 77/22 Varmint. They're just rifles, and don't count for much.

Old Griz · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2004, 09:21:24 PM »

:cb2: Ooops! I should have said CCI Standard Velocity Â— not CCI Subsonic.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2004, 10:18:47 PM »

I finally did some serious testing in my Rem. 511 last month, and the results pretty much bear out what's been said here. The bulk federal HP shot the best groups, some as small as .33". The Remington bulk also turned in some half-inch groups, but wasn't nearly as consistent.

Anybody shoot the W-W "Expert" stuff? I bought some a year or two back, and found that out of my six 22's, it wouldn't feed in any of them. Their T-22 Target stuff is pretty good in most of my guns, but a little pricey. But friends of mine swear by the even pricier Power-Point ammo, one guy I know bought six cases of the stuff, and uses it for all his hunting.

When I first started shooting, I found an ad in the weekend paper that said they (K-Mart, I think) were selling CCI Stingers for a buck a box! I called the store to verify it, and the manager said it was a misprint, but they were going to honor that price, because they had so much of it. I bought most of what they had, and managed to batter a Winchester 290 to death over a period of a year with them. But it shot great out of that cheapo rifle, and it was instant death on any rabbit or squirrel within range! We ate pretty good that winter!

Papajohn the Battering Bunny Blaster

powderman · « **Reply #19 on:** January 01, 2005, 04:46:50 PM »

I am not a competitive shooter,mainly hunting and plinking. Most of my 22 shooting is with my Marlin mod 60, and the Ruger competition model mk 11. I NEVER buy target ammo, only bulk. My favorite is the Win dynapoint with the federal Hps a close 2nd. I won't buy the remingtons any more.Way too many misfires and squib loads. I've found this true in 3 pistols and 4 rifles. I finally shot up all the remingtons I had last summer. No more remmies for me. I bought some more dynapoints. In all honesty I've probably killed more game and shot more of the Federal HPs than all others put together. POWDERMAN.

Graybeard · « **Reply #20 on:** January 02, 2005, 01:30:25 AM »

papajohn428 you have elected to have e-mail notice sent to you of all replies to this thread but you have an invalid e-mail address on file. You must either stop asking for notice via e-mail or correct your e-mail address in yor profile.

Old Griz · « **Reply #21 on:** January 02, 2005, 08:00:24 AM »

:cb2: I'm with powderman. Unless you are a competition shooter, why spend as much (or more) for .22 ammo as you would for centerfire stuff? That's the main reason I have never owned a .22 mag. I'd rather take out a .38 and go plinkin' and even do it cheaper. For me, a box of Federal Classics is a high $ round when it comes to .22ing. Bought a 22 Hollowpointer from E.A. Brown, and with that you can make incredible hollowpoints out of anything, even Winchester Wildcats, or CCI Blazers. But then, it's all just for fun anyway!

powderman · « **Reply #22 on:** January 02, 2005, 04:53:59 PM »

I'm glad to hear I'm not alone with bad luck with the remmies. Back when I was growing up the federals were so much cheaper than the winchesters or remingtons. I bought a brick a week. Killed all kinds of small game with those federal Lrhps. I used to shoot a lot of federal short HPs too, great for squirrels, rabbits, even ground hogs, head shots only. Shorts cost more than the LRs do today, about $2 a box for solids. POWDERMAN.

rimfire · « **Reply #23 on:** May 21, 2007, 07:46:37 AM »

The Remington Bulk Pack golden bullet HP constantly slipped past the extractor on a single shot I have and locks up my kitgun making it really difficult to punch out the empties with the ejector rod. I think they must expand and grab the chamber wall too tight causing both problems.

I never had had an issue with the Federals in any gun I have tried them in.

My buddy just tried the Remington golden bullets in his T/C Classic and they slipped the extractor on that and got stuck in the chamber. I am sticking with the Federals.

backstrap · « **Reply #24 on:** May 21, 2007, 09:02:00 AM »

I shoot both bulk pack feds, and rem and have had no problem out of either 1 of them i shoot the Rems out of my ruger 10/22 and it shoots them well no miss fires and shoot the Fed,and Rem out of my Ruger MKll slabeside pistol it shoots them well also so i cant knock either 1 of them down in my guns