^^^^This--- I just went through a 100 rounds of much older CCI last Saturday with 0 FTF. Only have 100 left then I will break into the newer stuff I got towards the end of the shortage--- Sounds like I may have some issues ahead of me.
.22lr Misfires
- Thread starter fabsroman
- Start date
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^^^^This--- I just went through a 100 rounds of much older CCI last Saturday with 0 FTF. Only have 100 left then I will break into the newer stuff I got towards the end of the shortage--- Sounds like I may have some issues ahead of me.
FWIW - Last week I shot 300 rounds of the CCI Christmas ammo from December 2017. Maybe 2 misfires? Not the most accurate product compared to some other brands of SV ammo that I was shooting. But definitely reliable. I can also say that for me old CCI ammo has never been unreliable but I have not recollection how old it was when I shot it. Maybe five years?
Edited to add the rifle I used is a M&P 15-22 PC model
Edited to add the rifle I used is a M&P 15-22 PC model
- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
The only rimfire ammo I have had this type of trouble was a case of Federal American Eagle I bought back in the 90s. My Mitchell High Standard liked the stuff, but I would probably get a misfire every 20 rounds. Rotate in the chamber and try again and 9 of 10 would fire.
Ranchero50
Ultimate Member
Fabs, check your barrel retaining bolts. First 10/22 I got had them so loose that once the barrel shifted forward the firing pin couldn't hit the rim hard enough to fire them. Left a shallow dimple on the edge. Once tight every round went bang. Couldn't tell anything without taking it apart.
Good information.
Back about 6 years ago, when nearly every manufactured 22LR was on the shelf in Bass pro, I took about 10 different brands/models and ran them through my 22s. I found that the more expensive the ammo, the more reliable it was in general. Remington over the years in about 8 22s I've owned has been the worse. One thing I found with ejection and feed reliability had to do with the rim shape. CCI and Ely by far had the flattest rim shape stretching to the edge of the rim the farthest. One of the things that really helps the extractor claw grab the rim. Remington and federal were the worse. Winchester was about in the middle. This is why CCI tends to work best (on average) with semi autos IMO. Bolt actions and revolvers often won't care.
Remington often tended to have the worse priming (hense the nick name "thunderduds")
I never had a problem with CCI in any of those guns (that could not be attributed to the gun itself) although I have seen rare reports of people with guns that did.
Over in the C&R section, I documented a short chamber problem in the old Erma Lugar I had which was fixed by chamber reaming.
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Magnumite
Ultimate Member
I have all kinds of misfire issues with the Winchester 22 LR Rimfire - SuperX, black box, 555, 333.... Even in bolt guns I get misfires. This was 2016 fiasco to the present.
jimbobborg
Oddball caliber fan
I'm not having a lot of problems with Winchester bulk, just one in a few hundred. I am having problems with Federal Automatch that has been through two moves. I bought those about four years ago. Same with older CCI stuff. Too much rattling and the primer gets loose. That's why I don't trust rimfire ammo for SHTF situations.
Well, not to be contrary, but I have a brick of ammo from 1972, made in Austrailia, that we used on the rifle team. I gave some to a friend ( about 5 years ago) to use to try out a new 10-22 he built. He said it was the most accurate tested and no failures of any kind. He was bummed when he found out it is no longer made/imported.
I still have 50 rounds of the Australian stuff and it was always surefire. I also still have about 1500 rounds of PMC target ammo that they don't make anymore. I would love for this to come back and Remington Golden Bullets go away.
- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
I have not shot any newer Rem GB, but in the past, it was about the same as CCI. Good, solid ammo.
I have some of the PMC Target, not sure how much.
I have some of the PMC Target, not sure how much.
Doco Overboard
Ultimate Member
Interesting read here including the article that was supplied earlier in the thread. I just happened to read published information that was placed into print some time prior to the article. I even read some posts that hit nearly on every detail regarding the earlier published material.
What I read about discussed the intricacies of manufacturing 22 ammo but what I thought about that is more inside the control of the end user is shape, profile and movement of the firing pin. The writer described achieving more consistent ignition with various ammo manufacturers though careful observation of the length, width, contact surface and final shape of the firing pin to achieve the delicate balance of not rupturing the case, providing consistent ignition, distance of FP travel.
Basically what it boiled down to was that if a hemispherical FP was used, or even a flat ended pin the depth and surface area and shape of the indentation were the deciding factors for repeatability. Of course other factors need to be considered such as HS, diameter of the rim recess, spring length and strength and distance of bolt travel in semi auto designs. Who would have guessed that simply reducing the radius of a flat ended pin on the edges would significantly reduce the likely hood of mis- fires or inconsistent velocity.
It's like the three bears story but if you have a pin that's short enough to provide ignition but not quite long enough to strike the chamber to eliminate having to iron it things could be unpredictable due to the need to maintain cartridge elasticity and sufficient strength to avoid rupture.
What I read about discussed the intricacies of manufacturing 22 ammo but what I thought about that is more inside the control of the end user is shape, profile and movement of the firing pin. The writer described achieving more consistent ignition with various ammo manufacturers though careful observation of the length, width, contact surface and final shape of the firing pin to achieve the delicate balance of not rupturing the case, providing consistent ignition, distance of FP travel.
Basically what it boiled down to was that if a hemispherical FP was used, or even a flat ended pin the depth and surface area and shape of the indentation were the deciding factors for repeatability. Of course other factors need to be considered such as HS, diameter of the rim recess, spring length and strength and distance of bolt travel in semi auto designs. Who would have guessed that simply reducing the radius of a flat ended pin on the edges would significantly reduce the likely hood of mis- fires or inconsistent velocity.
It's like the three bears story but if you have a pin that's short enough to provide ignition but not quite long enough to strike the chamber to eliminate having to iron it things could be unpredictable due to the need to maintain cartridge elasticity and sufficient strength to avoid rupture.
I was out in the rain shooting my Henry Small Game Carbine this morning. I only took one box of ammo and that was a mistake. The stuff I took was the Federal "Target" 40grain in the 325 round box that Walmart and Bass Pro sell. It is only about 6 months old. I wish I had a tape for how often a round went subsonic and became a flyer. This rifle has one of the hardest hitting hammers I own and the firing pin position is perfect. The ammo is pure crap it is so inconsistent. 
TheOriginalMexicanBob
Ultimate Member
Just because you've had the ammo for only six months doesn't mean it's truly fresh. It could be have been made either during the big shortage or shortly after when production was trying to catch up with demand. It seems very likely that quality control was at least some degree compromised for getting product out. I doubt if this is strictly a Federal problem but probably most manufacturers.
I think you should write a letter to Federal and let them know and give the lot number and other information from the end flap of the box or wherever that information is stamped on the box. If no one complains they won't know if anyone is unhappy with their product.
I think you should write a letter to Federal and let them know and give the lot number and other information from the end flap of the box or wherever that information is stamped on the box. If no one complains they won't know if anyone is unhappy with their product.
Good idea, I think I will.
Doco Overboard
Ultimate Member
I was out in the rain shooting my Henry Small Game Carbine this morning. I only took one box of ammo and that was a mistake. The stuff I took was the Federal "Target" 40grain in the 325 round box that Walmart and Bass Pro sell. It is only about 6 months old. I wish I had a tape for how often a round went subsonic and became a flyer. This rifle has one of the hardest hitting hammers I own and the firing pin position is perfect. The ammo is pure crap it is so inconsistent.
The other part of the text indicated that even with a good strike, the area (I'm not trying to confuse with location) of the strike was very important. I know this to be true in center-fire rifles but with the former abundance of available ammo for 22 ammo maybe the phenomena was easier to overcome, just in the option be able to select suitable ammo for a particular rifle and have it on hand.
I became aware some time ago of Englishmen who practiced and still do small bore accuracy disciplines were keen on this very subject in the 20's. I never thought to bring it up here because I thought nobody would give a damn or unwittingly start a dumpster fire.
I forget what the hell they called type of shooting, midget or bee bore or butter some European terminology, I cannot remember, but it was good stuff to digest.
You are correct as to the part of the rim impacted is important. Some firing pins waste energy by striking too far in from the rim. That is why shaping the firing pin is important for consistency.
JimB
Active Member
A nice letter just might get you some free ammo.
We'll see. 
I was out in the rain shooting my Henry Small Game Carbine this morning. I only took one box of ammo and that was a mistake. The stuff I took was the Federal "Target" 40grain in the 325 round box that Walmart and Bass Pro sell. It is only about 6 months old. I wish I had a tape for how often a round went subsonic and became a flyer. This rifle has one of the hardest hitting hammers I own and the firing pin position is perfect. The ammo is pure crap it is so inconsistent.
Was this the "Automatch" in the black and white box of 325? We bought a bunch of that stuff during the shortage because it was all that we could find...and got abysmal accuracy out of it. We had a few duds, but you could hear the inconsistencies in the report and rifles that used to make golf ball sized groups at 50 yards could barely keep hits on paper plates. In one outing, I was spotting for Katie and, after about half a magazine, told her to stop and asked if she had dropped the rifle or if the scope was loose. A couple rounds of the preciously hoarded (at the time) and rationed Winchester M-22 verified that the rifle was fine.
We've still got a few boxes of it...just waiting for another shortage to pass it on to some other poor sucker
That's the one Art. On the box it says "Target Grade Accuracy", what a lie. They must use the same marketing company that the Demorats do. 
