Which is the dirtiest .22LR?

[MoondogIndustries]

https://youtu.be/S8F_m7GX4ps

A few months later I added an additional test of Aguila Super Extra HV

https://youtu.be/ApYQlSxr6uc

We all like to buy .22LR when it's on sale or there's a special promotion. But we also know that cheap ammo can be dirty, that fouls your gun and barrel faster, and can cause misfeeds, failures to cycle, etc. But which ammo is the dirtiest?

It was hard to objective just from casual shooting. I decided to go with a more systematic approach. I brought together 5 types of bulk ammo that I've bought at various times on sale at Bass Pro, Dick's and Big-5. I used CCI Mini-Mags as a control as I think they're the cleanest and most consistent brand you can buy in bulk packs (though not always the cheapest.)

I fired 50rds of each in the following order:
1. CCI Mini-Mags
2. Remington Golden Bullet
3. Remington Thunderbolt
4. Federal "Range" LRN
5. Winchester Super-X


TESTING PROCESS
After firing 50rnds of an ammo type through a Walther P-22, I ran a cotton cleaning strip soaked in Hoppe's Bore Solvent and snaked it through the barrel exactly 20 times, then stored it for review later. I then thoroughly cleaned the barrel with a solvent-soaked pipe cleaner and swabbed it until I could see no residue on a clean cotton swab. Only after I made sure the barrel was clean did I proceeded to the next brand of ammo.

I don't know anybody who cleans their gun at a shooting station at the range? I managed to shoot one brand of ammo and clean the barrel during each 15min shooting period before the range cease-fire forced me to pause and step away from the station. It took a little over 1.5hrs to run the test.

[hunterb]

Cool video thanks. Yep, that Rem stuff is dirty, dirty, dirty!

[hermosabeach]

What about shooting a .22 until failure due to carbon build up?

[hermosabeach]

So 22 LR always has a wax lube on the bullets.

Is what you removed the harmless lube or carbon build up that will gum up the action.

[kcheung2]

Thanks for keeping the video short and to-the-point.

[Carcassonne]

Did you paint that P22 yourself, or did you buy the colored frame from Walther?


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[MoondogIndustries]

Did you paint that P22 yourself, or did you buy the colored frame from Walther?


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No, that's a new Angel Blue colored frame from Walther. I bought it at City Arms a few weeks ago and had to break it in anyway, so I figured I'd do the ammo test video with it.

[MoondogIndustries]

What about shooting a .22 until failure due to carbon build up?

I wonder how one would "test until failure" to gauge the dirtyness of an ammo. I would think such as test could be skewed because some guns only like certain brands of ammo and will fail to cycle if run with an ammo it doesn't like, instead of carbon fouling?

To your point, the Thunderbolts have been shown to leave a very heavy wax buildup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjbsuJhr_zE

When wax burns at high temps doesn't it become a component of the carbon buildup given that wax's chemical composition is heavy in carbon CH3(CH2)24COOH

[MoondogIndustries]

Thanks for keeping the video short and to-the-point.

I figured who would want to sit there and watch somebody fire 50 rounds of ammo and then stand around and clean it. And then do it again 4 more times.

[Carcassonne]

No, that's a new Angel Blue colored frame from Walther. I bought it at City Arms a few weeks ago and had to break it in anyway, so I figured I'd do the ammo test video with it.

Which City Arms: Pacifica or Pleasant Hill?



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[MoondogIndustries]

Pacifica. I got it as a future birthday present for my daughter. When she says she's old enough to date boys. ;-)

[bamashooter]

Had my 10/22 since mid 80s and fired several thousand rounds ranging from basic box to the hottest of loads. Cleaned it the first time last year. Wasn't as nasty as I thought it would be but dirty enough. Perhaps every 3-4 months I'll put a few drops of oil on the bolt. I recall 2-3 failures to eject and that's it.

[sovereign2b]

Awesome, and to the point - thanks for testing and sharing!

[MoondogIndustries]

Had my 10/22 since mid 80s and fired several thousand rounds ranging from basic box to the hottest of loads. Cleaned it the first time last year. Wasn't as nasty as I thought it would be but dirty enough. Perhaps every 3-4 months I'll put a few drops of oil on the bolt. I recall 2-3 failures to eject and that's it.

Wow! You haven't cleaned your rifle in 30 years? I can understand not taking it down but did you at least run a rag or brush through the barrel?

[JTROKS]

I’ve bought my basic model 10/22 in the late 80s. All those years shooting it I only had 2 ten round mags for it. Started having problems with those old mags so I bought a couple of BNIB ten rounders. Gun running solid as ever. I don’t shoot as much anymore but when I bring the 10/22 all my kids want to come and shoot. A 500 round value pack is not enough for 4 of them.

I recently disassembled those old mags just to see what’s wrong with them. Lots of crud build up inside and binding the followers. After getting them cleaned I put a half turn more for the old spring. Running good again.

When my 10/22 and Buckmarks are shooting Remington Thunderbolts they need a couple of drops of light oil to keep them reliable.