Lead vs. Jacketed

[Intarsiac]

Hi all,
Newbie ammo question---
I have a .22LR conversion kit for a Beretta 92FS and a Taurus 94 .22LR revolver on the way and have been gathering some ammo choices to see what the actions will like/dislike.

So far, I have CCI Blazer Lead and CCI Mini Mag Copper Jacketed to try out. May the bare lead bullets and jacketed bullets be fired in the same range session or do the barrels have to be thoroughly cleaned before switching ammo types? I was thinking maybe a bore snake pass through the barrel before switching round types would be enough.

I read somewhere about lead fouling concerns. The lead seems to be about half the cost of the copper jacketed, so I'm hoping the lead will prove to be a good target practice round.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[alucard0822]

The mini-mags, like other 22 ammo is plated, not jacketed, in fact the only actual jacketed 22lr ammo I am aware of was FMJ issued by the military for suppressed hi-standard pistols. The fact that it is a heeled bullet would make it hard to use a jacket (the WWII stuff had a jacket only covering the front 2/3), and more or less for the velocities involved, lead is better, it takes the rifling better, and deforms better in game. The thin mettalic plating on some ammo does help keep fouling down, but in the case of lead, most of the fouling is from the waxy lube coating lead bullets and powder residue, and not the lead itself. I mostly shoot fedral plated, or winchester x-pert lead, both shoot well, and are cheap bulk pack ammo available most anywhere. As far as cleaning, keep in mind, the best way to ruin a good 22 is by scrubbing the barrel, I take my time and scrub out the action, but the barrel only gets a quick squirt of CLP, and a single pass with the boresnake every time I empty a 500rd bulk pack. It still cleans up well, and there is no appreciable difference in accuracy or POI after a couple rounds are fired to when the brick of ammo is empty.

 

[Intarsiac]

Thanks for the plating clarification! -It seems like the cheaper ammo may be the ticket. I'll have to see if there is any difference on how the different types run through the action on the .22LR conversion kit.