77/22 ammo suggestions?

[Watcher]

What do you guys like to shoot through your 77/22s?


I've got about 2000 rounds of Blazer high-velocity lead ball stocked up, and this stuff shoots great in my Buckmark and is decent in my 39A.

Through the 77/22, it seems like the Blazer noses up and taps the barrel on the way in, I've had it jam a few times, and I've noticed that it tends to be stiff when extracting. I also noticed that the rounds will get damaged in the process and have thin edges scraped off. I am thinking most CCI ammo may be the same since the bullet should be a similar profile/size, or it could just be this batch of Blazer.
Anyone else experience something like this?


I also have about 500 rounds of Federal high-velocity lead ball that I snagged the last box of on the shelf, haven't been able to try it out yet.
This stuff goes in smooth and comes out smooth. The problem with them, though, is that I've only ever seen one box at the store I got them so I don't think I'll be able to find more.

Haven't actually shot anything through it yet. I usually end up buying Federal bulk JHP high-velocity ammo because it's cheap and my Buckmark loves it, anyone have any good luck with that stuff?


Lead vs copper jacketed, any preference or performance advantage there?

High velocity vs standard velocity, I've heard that the SV ammo will perform better. How much truth is there to this?

Will a 77/22 cycle "Long" cartridges? I want to try some CBs in it to see how quiet they are but I can't find any long-rifle locally, just short and long.

 

[WAYNO]

You'll find that you'll have to do your own experimenting on which ammo works best in your particular rifle. What works well in mine may work horribly in yours.

And to compound things, when you do discover a certain ammo that works best in your rifle, the next time you buy the stuff it could be a different batch and lot, and may not work as well.

Even in the brands and types of rimfire ammo that I always swore by, the inconsistency has caused me to have no permanent favorites for any gun. When I go to the range I bring quite an assortment of ammo to cover all the bases. When a certain box of ammo seems to work better than others, I do run back to where I bought it, in hopes of finding the same batch. As red-hot as rimfire ammo sells, I can almost never duplicate batches, one purchase to the next.

Good luck.

WAYNO.

 

[Watcher]

You'll find that you'll have to do your own experimenting on which ammo works best in your particular rifle. What works well in mine may work horribly in yours.

That's what I've been hearing, but in all honesty I don't have a broad idea of what is out there because I have limited experience in shooting. I just want to know what people are buying so I have somewhere to start.

And to compound things, when you do discover a certain ammo that works best in your rifle, the next time you buy the stuff it could be a different batch and lot, and may not work as well.

That is unfortunate, but it makes sense. How do you tell what lot the ammo is from?

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Mine likes Win Dynapoints. It always has.

However, CCI Standard Velocity, and Wolf Match Target, and CCI Blazer, and Win SuperX, and CCI Mini Mags, and Federal Lightning, and CCI SGBs all work pretty well too.

Experiment and feed it what it likes. That's part of the fun and the charm of owning an inexpensive and fun to shoot 22 rifle.

 

[Richbaker]

That is unfortunate, but it makes sense. How do you tell what lot the ammo is from?

The lot number is usually stamped on one of the endflaps on the box.... kinda like the expiration dates on food.

 

[Quattroclick]

My 77/22 feeds everything smoothly. You may have a bad magazine or something. American Eagle HP, CCI Blazer, Mini Mag and Winchester Sub Sonic all seem to be better than average in my gun.

 

[WAYNO]

You'll find that you'll have to do your own experimenting on which ammo works best in your particular rifle. What works well in mine may work horribly in yours.

That's what I've been hearing, but in all honesty I don't have a broad idea of what is out there because I have limited experience in shooting. I just want to know what people are buying so I have somewhere to start.

And to compound things, when you do discover a certain ammo that works best in your rifle, the next time you buy the stuff it could be a different batch and lot, and may not work as well.

That is unfortunate, but it makes sense. How do you tell what lot the ammo is from?

This has become my "go-to" ammo, and I've been loading up on the stuff. Ironically, there is not a lot number printed on this box, so I assume it's hidden in the bar code.

Plated or not-plated? Usually, emphatically, I stick with plated stuff, as it just seems to keep my guns (and my hands) cleaner. But there are exceptions there, too. Recently, we were shooting some SP101's in .22LR. We were struggling with obtaining any kind of group, and in our struggles, we tried some nasty old Thunderbolt ammo. Turns out it was the best shooting ammo.

And Mini Mags? Used to be my across-the-board-favorite-stuff. I've been really struggling with this stuff too, consistency-wise. But my much older boxes of Mini Mags work quite well.

My world is changing!

And...I know it's just sales gimicks, but I've been having good results from recent purchases of both the M-22 Winchester, and the CCI Tactical .22 Ammo.

WAYNO.

 

[rugerjunkie]

I have found the 2 most accurate and reliable feeding in my 77/22 are the CCI Mini Mags and Winchester 40gr Power Points. They are not cheap compared to bulk ammo but are accurate.

 

[Watcher]

Thanks for all the suggestions.


I'll see what I can find at the store next time I go looking for ammo.
Just didn't want to buy at random...

 

[9638]

Mine shoots the SK subsonic and Eley Practice ammo very well. The sad thing is, I don't think Eley makes the Practice ammo anymore. At least I can't find it anywhere.

 

[OldNavy]

Mine likes the Remington Hollow-point 525 round bulk pack ammo. It shoots better than I can hold it, and I can hold it pretty well! This ammo also works well with my 10-22T and my daughter's 10-22 All Weather. This is also good ammo for the Zombie Apocalypse--strongly recommend buying 5000-10000 rounds just in case.

 

[Watcher]

Mine likes the Remington Hollow-point 525 round bulk pack ammo. It shoots better than I can hold it, and I can hold it pretty well! This ammo also works well with my 10-22T and my daughter's 10-22 All Weather. This is also good ammo for the Zombie Apocalypse--strongly recommend buying 5000-10000 rounds just in case.

The last time I ran Remington ammo it was ridiculously dirty. It fouled up my Buckmark with grit in the action in 100 rounds like I would have experienced in 1000 rounds of Federal, so I've been avoiding it.

Does it tend to be dirty in your experience?

 

[mattsbox99]

Most accurate in mine is CCI Velocitor, I picked up a few bricks several years ago and really only shoot it occasionally. Normally I just shoot the Federal bulk pack and it works good enough for gophers.

Any standard velocity should be pretty quiet in it. Since the Federal is 1250 or so FPS I just screw on my suppressor when I want it to be quiet.

 

[Richbaker]

This has become my "go-to" ammo, and I've been loading up on the stuff. Ironically, there is not a lot number printed on this box, so I assume it's hidden in the bar code.
WAYNO.

It may not be printed with ink, may just be stamped and hard to see. But, they have to put a Lot # on the box, in case of a safety recall...

 

[gregs45auto]

If you take the time to mic. the rims you may well be surprised as to the lack of q.c. in many brands. Personal experience with all my .22's ( Beretta,Hi Std., H&R, Ruger Mk I &Mk II, 10/22, andM77/22 ) points to 40gr. solid or h.p. at 1100fps +/- as being the most accurate. The best q.c. for the money has been CCI. The only exception to this has been with my AR-7. It groups well with Rem. Vipers. My experience with bulk packs has been unplesant, the last budget brick produced fifty ( yes 50! ) duds. Thank you Remington.

 

[Snake45]

This has become my "go-to" ammo, and I've been loading up on the stuff. Ironically, there is not a lot number printed on this box, so I assume it's hidden in the bar code.
WAYNO.

It may not be printed with ink, may just be stamped and hard to see. But, they have to put a Lot # on the box, in case of a safety recall...

Yes, and it might be on an inside flap. But I assure you it's on there somewhere.

 

[zzrguy]

Lead vs copper jacketed, any preference or performance advantage there?


Copper jacket 22lr are plated they are slitely bigger then lead some guns love them some love don't, My 10/22 loves them, my Marlin semi shoot better with them, my Henry shoots better with lead. But all my gun shoot good with Remington eley 22lr's.

 

[Snake45]

Lead vs copper jacketed, any preference or performance advantage there?

Your gun will tell you what it likes, if you let it.

 

[Watcher]

Yay! Looks like my Ruger 77/22 likes Federal ammo.

Groups with the Winchester loads I tried sucked and I had a FTF that also failed second strike, the American Eagle I got wasn't too good of a group either.
CCI Mini-Mags were good, Blazer was slightly better surprisingly, Federal Bulk hollow-points put 3 in one hole with one a little off and one flyer, and Federal Lightning left 2 fat holes and one small hole but got the best group.

I also shot some CB Longs but they grouped the size of my fist, LOL! Nice and quiet though.

I couldn't get any target ammo, but I got pretty much everything commonly available to me except Remington ammo. Lucky me, the $20/500 shot the best so far.

So, off to Walmart tomorrow to buy whatever they have left in Federal Lightning.



I have heard quite a bit about checking rim thickness, I'll have to pull out my digi-caliper and give it a go.