Issue with Aguila Super Extra ammo

[plinker49]

I recently encountered a problem with my MkIV 22/45 when using Aguila Super Extra ammo. I started experiencing a rash of failure-to-feed problems that seemed to come out of nowhere. I thought at first that it was a cleaning issue but it persisted even after a thorough cleaning. I even tried applying extra dry-lube to the interior of the magazines but that had no effect. Last week at the range I had absolutely no issues and then realized that on this visit I was using CCI mini-mags but had been using Aguila Super Extras when the problems occurred. Previously I had used Winchester Super X rounds with no problems. This morning I was comparing rounds from each brand and noticed that the Aguila ammo seems to have a waxy coating on the bullets that is not present on either the CCI or Winchester ammo. I did a little experimenting and the Aguila ammo was consistently binding within the magazine after about 5 rounds were loaded. This problem does not appear to occur on any of my other .22lr guns nor on my MkIV with any other brand ammo. Has anyone else encountered anything similar?

 

[arfmel]

Rimfire pistols can be finicky critters. I've never encountered problems with CCI Minimags, but have with numerous other brands and types, partlcularly with greased or waxed lead bullets. There's really nothing wrong with your pistol, you just found one brand and type of ammo to avoid.

 

[hittman]

…. What Arfmel said ….
You may not have trouble with other “types” of Aguila or even the next batch of the same stuff.
It’s the world of 22LR in semi autos.

 

[krw]

I bought case of aguila super xtra at an auction. Shot couple hundred and sold the rest. No aguila for me

 

[Mobuck]

All depends on the individual firearm. AGUILA sub-sonic is 100% accurate and functional in my RAR 22lr. In an 8.5" barrel AR 22 'pistol' it has feed issues and 30% fail to fire on the first try.

 

[plinker49]

…. What Arfmel said ….
You may not have trouble with other "types" of Aguila or even the next batch of the same stuff.
It's the world of 22LR in semi autos.

I absolutely agree with the "next batch" scenario...I've used Aguila ammo successfully for years without issue only to have this particular one pop up recently.

 

[rugerguy]

nature of the beast and much like gasoline in your car, us what works for YOU....

some guns like the old High Standards, you could NOT use "hi speed 22 ammo and many others, ammo like Yellow Jacket or Stingers, made the action cycle too fast..

 

[jav]

I had trouble with Aguila ammo I really like cci blazer it’s my favorite

 

[KIR]

Aguila which you speak of, was recommended to me to use in my Jennings J-22 pocket pistol. My son and I have only fired one box, but they worked great.

 

[plinker49]

Ammo woes continued at the range yesterday. This time with Winchester Super X ammo. Out of 100 rds I had two feed issues (rounds failed to feed into the chamber and ended up bent by the slide impact), two rounds failed to fire (good, solid firing pin impact but no detonation), and one squib - the first time I've had one of those. The squib did clear the barrel but made a noticeably off sound and threw some intriguing sparks from the barrel. I was the only one on the range at the time and the RSO even recognized that something was off and came to offer assistance. I keep a 3/16 dowel in my range bag and was able to verify the barrel was not blocked. I continued shooting for a bit but did notice a wider dispersal in my hit pattern which I'll be investigating when I clean everything later today. The squib occurred in my TX22 but the other four problems all occurred in my 22/45.

 

[Mobuck]

Current production ammo or older 'stored' ammo?

 

[gunman42782]

My Mark 2s hate that stuff, but like everyone said, .22s are finiky. Luckily I have plenty of other .22s to shoot them in. If nothing else will feed them I always have 5 different .22 revolvers that will shoot anything!

 

[jav]

as much as I like ruger my lcp2 is a really crappy gun . I tried every brand in it still sucks . So it’s my p22 to the range every trip snd the blazers cci is the best but all this talk about Aguila I might pull so out and try it again yea never know

 

[Mobuck]

I haven't bought much 22 since 2000 except some sub-sonics. I don't notice any degradation of performance other than a really old lot of Remington SV that came from CMP decades ago.
I discovered that a new(ish) AR22 I recently assembled doesn't have enough 'OOMPH' to ignite AGUILA consistently but that's most likely a result of a 'light pull' trigger spring kit and NOT an ammo issue.
Other than the obvious age related problems with the 30-40 year old CMP ammo, I generally look at mechanical causes for seemingly ammo related issues.

 

[jn 41]

it is most likely just that ammo. But mark your magazines. And see if it happens more with one mag.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

I buy a lot of it for backyard plinking sessions. Oddly, the only issues I seem to have with it are failures to eject from bolt action .22 rifles. My Lever Action rifles, semi-auto rifles and pistols typically gobble it up with nary an issue.

 

[gunzo]

I've found Aguila LR ammo to be very dependable. The standard velocity is usually as accurate as most that's anywhere near it's price range. In a good rifle it sometimes shoots way above it's price point.

As others have said, 22's can be finicky. Not necessarily a gun or ammo problem, just incompatibility. Heck, I used to keep a list of what each of my 22's were sighted in with, & with the auto's, what ammo they didn't like or wouldn't function with.

 

[plinker49]

Current production ammo or older 'stored' ammo?

All purchased within the past year.

 

[DaveyDug]

Check and make sure the barrel isn't heavily fouled with lead. That can cause your groups to open up into patterns.

 

[plinker49]

Check and make sure the barrel isn't heavily fouled with lead. That can cause your groups to open up into patterns.

Checked and cleaned thoroughly. Found no fouling at all. Not very dirty, either, but that's not surprising since I hadn't taken this particular pistol to the range for a few months and had cleaned it well after last range trip.

 

[DaveyDug]

Wow. Sounds like your 22/45 just doesn't like that ammo. I had a Marlin Model 60 that would feed everything I put through it except Federal American Eagle. The same ammo fed flawlessly through all my other .22s.

As others have mentioned,.22 auto loaders can be finicky guns. I wouldn't give up on the Aguila ammo if you shoot other .22s, though. It has a good reputation and it's one of my "go to" choices.