[tallguy130]

This may be a stupid question but can you help me understand why some .22 ammo is cleaner shooting then others? For background, I have a SigSauer Mosquito that I really enjoy shooting. Sadly this gun is a real picky eater and only consistently shoots CCI Mini-Mag HP High-Velocity ammo. This stuff costs more then any other .22 ammo I've seen and is becoming increasingly hard to find.

Now I could ask what other stuff would be just as good but I want to understand why the CCI rounds are better and what should I look for in other .22 ammo. Is it a function of it being 'high-velocity'? Is it more about the grain? I noticed the CCI stuff is 36 grain and most others I've seen are 40.

What's the deal? Thanks!

[noshow]

Originally Posted by tallguy130

This may be a stupid question but can you help me understand why some .22 ammo is cleaner shooting then others? For background, I have a SigSauer Mosquito that I really enjoy shooting. Sadly this gun is a real picky eater and only consistently shoots CCI Mini-Mag HP High-Velocity ammo. This stuff costs more then any other .22 ammo I've seen and is becoming increasingly hard to find.

Now I could ask what other stuff would be just as good but I want to understand why the CCI rounds are better and what should I look for in other .22 ammo. Is it a function of it being 'high-velocity'? Is it more about the grain? I noticed the CCI stuff is 36 grain and most others I've seen are 40.

What's the deal? Thanks!

I think clean is the key word. Those CCI MiniMags are about the cleanest 22s I have found! The Remington GBs are about the dirtiest. I think the powder, priming mix and lube all contribute to overall cleanliness. Federal is the sister company to CCI, and I have found good results with the 510 loading (40gr round nose). Others prefer the 36gr HPs in the value packs, both are often found at Walmart. Try them and see if your Mosquito digests them as well

[NGIB]

Actually, the key to .22 ammo is consistency and CCI makes some very good stuff. Note that your Mosquito should have come with 2 recoil springs (mine did), one for "hot" ammo and one for "mild" ammo - be sure the correct spring is installed based on what ammo you're shooting. CCI Mini-Mags use the heavier spring and most bulk ammo will prefer the lighter spring. With the lighter spring installed I've had great success shooting Federal & Winchester bulk packs (Walmart bought) in mine...

A great rule of thumb for buying good .22 ammo:

Avoid any .22 ammo made by Remington

[cpttango30]

Mini-mags are not that bad. Some Eley is over $15 a box of 50.

But yet remington is by far the dirtiest ammo I have ever shot in anything. I prefer Federal bulk and Winchester. I have far fewer FTF with them than Remingtons golden crap bullets bulks ammo.

[tallguy130]

Ya that Remington stuff is nuts. I didn't know you could make bullets out of compressed dog turds.

Thanks for the tips everyone!

[robocop10mm]

Some powders are cleaner burning than others. Cheap powder is generally dirty powder. 22 RF ammo is "outside lubricated" meaning the bullet and case have the same diameter. The lead must have some sort of lube to resist leading up the barrel. The cheap stuff has a waxy lube that gums up the works pretty easily. The expensive stuff often times has a copper plated or copper washed bullet to prevent leading. Those tend to leave less residue.

Of course the Remington GB ammo bucks that rationale as the dirty filthy nasty powder they use more than offsets the reduced bullet residue with increased powder residue.

[c3shooter]

I am paying $18.50/ 50 rounds of Lapua Master .22LR MATCH ammo. Count yerself lucky! Yes, primer, powder, BULLET LUBE all contribute to cleanliness of ammo. PS- the Match ammo feels as if it has been dipped in Vaseline- but DAYUM it shoots good!

[vonfatman]

I like the Federal 550 bulk packs at Wally World...I find they always go bang (1st priority) and they are not any dirtier than anything else.

Bob

[DrumJunkie]

Originally Posted by vonfatman

I like the Federal 550 bulk packs at Wally World...I find they always go bang (1st priority) and they are not any dirtier than anything else.

Bob

That's all I've put through any of my 22's. I've been shooting aspirins glued to cardboard from anywhere out to 50 yards (usually around 35-40). with my 10-22's and my born again 22/45. I just can't justify spending more on 22 ammo when it works well at what I'm doing now. Our next thing is gonna be to try peppermints out to 100 yds. That's gonna cost some ammo..heh

[vonfatman]

DJ,
Peppermints heh? You are going to have fun. I have an Anschutz that would also go through ammo at 100 yards!!

Bob