Federal Bulk vs. Blazer vs. Minimags vs. ?

[TheBest]

Why is the Federal bulk (walmart) so cheap? I got a 50-round pack for about $2, just to test it out. It was FTF and stovepipes every round... Marlin 795. Yeah, every gun likes a different round, but still, that was bad.

I had a 525 box of Blazer and a 100 of Minimags and those shot great, no problems.

What's the cheapest place to get Blazer and Minimags? I also want to maybe try out the Remington Gold (Walmart) and Winchester stuff, but I haven't been able to find the latter easily and inexpensively...

[chknlyps2]

I have had the same problem with Federal bulk from walmart in 5 different rifles and 2 pistols, one of those rifles is a 795 also. Not ad bad as you are saying but 1 bad round out of every 10 or 15. All I buy is Blazer now, much cleaner on your hands and in your gun and only 1 or 2 ftf in 500 or so.

Look for sales, Big 5 had the 500 rnd bricks (10 50 rnd boxes in a brick) for $16 about 3 weeks ago, I got 8 bricks and a rain check for 6 more. Gun shows have had then cheap also, about $15 per 525 rnd box. There was a thread about 2 months ago on this same subject and there were some people that found the same prices on mail order including shipping if you get a few boxes at a time.

[Distro]

Well you can't compare any bulk .22 to Minimags, minimags are easily the best .22 that aren't match rounds. Problems with .22 ammo brands probably depend on the batch you end up getting and what your rifle likes. I feel I've gotten lucky this month. I've had no problem with Federal, Blazer, or even Remington Gold (shocker) out of a 10/22.

This month only (I'm sure there are people here who shoot way more):

3 bricks of Remington Gold ran perfectly except they leave some lingering smoke.

4 bricks of Blazer, had less than 10 FTF total.

6 bricks of Federal (wal-mart), 1 FTF total.

1500 mini-mags, flawless as always.


If you find your rifle likes Blazer, then feed it that. Luckily rimfire is so cheap you can test many different brands and bullets until you find what you like. And since bulk packs are usually priced around the same it doesn't force you to choose price vs function.

[JAGACIDA]

Federal bulk and all bulk ammo is just that BULK. It's made to be cheap, excuse me, economical and provide decent, not perfect performance. Your results will change from gun to gun. CCI mini-mags equate to almost $35.00 a brick in comparison. I like the bulk for can shooting and steel knockovers. Don't trust your life or your next meal to the bulk.
Search and search some more because prices keep changing and so do deals on .22 LR.

[SideWinder11]

Here you guys go. Merry Christmas!

Blazer 5000 rounds for $164.99 shipped

https://www.shopdunns.com/products/2388/blazer_cci_22lr_40gr_5000rd_case/

[TheBest]

Here you guys go. Merry Christmas!

Blazer 5000 rounds for $164.99 shipped

https://www.shopdunns.com/products/2...r_5000rd_case/

Palmetto has bulk (525) for $15/box.

Is there a difference between the 525 bulk boxes vs. packaged ones?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/1106.php

[chknlyps2]

Palmetto has bulk (525) for $15/box.

Is there a difference between the 525 bulk boxes vs. packaged ones?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/1106.php

I shot a few hundred of each today and if there is a difference I can't tell

[SideWinder11]

Nope same stuff just the packaging. The 525 is lose in the box the 500 is packaged 10 50 round boxes.

I like the 525 lose better as I don't have a need for them broken into 50 round lots.

[Sunday]

plinking ammo vs a high quality hunting ammo. Some times you get what you pay for! I have a rifle that puts certain ammo in one hole at 50 yards [bench rested] and a 2 inch group with others.

[tonelar]

You never know with .22LR. My AR (Spikes dedicated on a Calguns JD lower) LOVES federal bulk and american eagle but won't go through ten rounds of CCI minimags or Tactical without having 2 or 3 nose up FTFs. My 10/22 runs everything well except Blazers (too many FTE/ Fail to Fire per box of 500). So far; my Sig 522 has digested EVERYTHING.

My neighbor's MP15-22 shot Remington Golden and Federal 525 into a half dollar size group at 25 yards while Minimags tore a ragged hole at the same distance, on Xmas eve.

[brianinca]

Unfortunately when Federal 525 Bulk at Wally World was about it for plinking 22LR, I bought 5-6 boxes. Trying to stretch out the 5K of Aquila Gold Eagle I bought from the CMP for my boys, no point in target ammo when shooting at cans in a meadow. MANY FTF issues, even with putting the failed rounds in another firearm. I switched to the Wincester 333 and 525 as soon as they became available, and they work GREAT.

The Remington and Federal are on my permanent do-not-buy list. If your firearm won't function with CCI MiniMags, it's broken.

After all the grief we had, my boys try to sneak the 10/22 target rifle and the Wolf Match Target magazines.....they know what groups best....

Regards,
Brian in CA

[OzzieF]

I had good luck with Blazer bulk pack. If you wait for the Vallejo gun show, miwall was selling them for $14.95/525.

[Bro KV]

I love Minimags. I did buy some Winchester hollow points at Walmart that come in a little wood box. Haven't tried them yet though.

[mnavarre]

Palmetto has bulk (525) for $15/box.

Is there a difference between the 525 bulk boxes vs. packaged ones?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/1106.php

There shouldn't be, but i've had way fewer problems with the 500 rd. bricks than with the loose pack. Could be the loose stuff gets a little beat up bouncing around in the range bag and my 795 is just picky about it.

[pTa]

My .22 experience sare far less than yours/ Federal Bulk works great in my AR15 conversion/ When it was brand new I could not get it to fed minimags/ The'yd bend in the middle coming up the steep ramp/ My dad called friend and he said to brake it in with Federal because they brass is a bit thicker

Since it brokein the conversion now feeds Remington and CCI alot better/