Alternative to .22 LR Federal Bulk Packs?

[Animal Mother]

I've given up on seeing any Federal Bulk Packs at my local Wal-Mart, at least for the next few months. I prefer the Federal Bulk Pack to the Winchester Xpert or Remington Golden Bullet. I haven't seen any of those on the shelf since November '08, with the exception a few boxes of Remington one time in January.

However, I need a quality alternative that is actually in-stock online. Does anyone know if Centurion, Federal American Eagle, or CCI Blazer are comparable in quality to Wal-Mart's Federal Bulk Pack?

If you have another alternative within a reasonable price range please post it. I of course plan on buying a few boxes to try out before committing to a big purchase, but a point in the right direction would really be appreciated.

 

[CB900F]

Animom;

What general area of the country are you in? I ask because what's on the shelves in TX may be radically different than what the local Wally-World in Flint MI is stocking, if you see what I mean. I don't usually shop the People's Republic of China's retail outlet at all & therefore don't know what's normally stocked at the Red Shed here.

However, I did find a local emporium running a special on "Winchester 333" bulk packs for $8.99 & picked one up for testing purposes. My dumb-a$$ meter tells me I shoulda gotten more - now. Always a day late & a dollar short though.

In any case, what works well in one .22 rimfire may not be worth squat in another one, even the next S/N from the one you have. I've found, over a depressingly large number of years, that each gun will make it's own choice as to what it wants to shoot well with. You're just gonna have to test, test, test, and then buy cases of what it likes. Good luck, cases are hard to buy now.

900F

 

[Hutch]

I have tested Federal Champion 510. These are standard velocity 40gr solids. They shoot very well in my CZ-452. I recently bought a case at Academy Sports. They are standard 50rd boxes, 500rd bricks, 5000rd cases.

 

[jnyork]

Federal Champin 510 and American Eagle 40 grain are an improvement on Federal bulk and cost about the same. Not much difference if any between the two.

 

[zminer]

I've had pretty good luck with the CCI Blazer bulk packs, and they're pretty comparable in price around here anyway.

 

[bigfatdave]

The federal target lead round nose are good plinking ammo in both our .22LR pistols.
I don't know the exact name on the box, because I've ran through all I had (which is all my local WM had - I don't like WM, but I do enjoy buying their lead-based made in USA products for cheap).
It comes in a blue box of 50 - or a blue box with 10 boxes of 50.

 

[MAKster]

Finding the "right" ammo for your gun is really only an issue if you are shooting a semi-auto.

 

[CB900F]

MAKster;

From long experience, I beg to differ.

900F

 

[MAKster]

The problem caused by certain brands in certain guns is that the bolt doesn't cycle properly which leads to feeding and ejecting problems. In a revolver or bolt action rifle this is not an issue. Differences in accuracy between brands is a whole different matter and not the question at hand.

 

[bannockburn]

Animal Mother

I've also found the Winchester 333 bulk packs and Federal Champion bricks to be pretty decent alternatives in terms of price and quality. And the way my daughter burns through the ammo with her Beretta Neos, I need all ammo I can get.

 

[fireman 9731]

American Eagle is manufactured by Federal and pretty much the same thing.

 

[hometheaterman]

I like the Winchester Xperts but you said you didn't like those. The reason I like them is that my rifle likes them. It for some reason stovepipes every few shots with Federal bulk packs. Does a lot better with the Winchester Xperts.

However, it it wasn't for those I like the Federal 510's which are the model number. They are the 40grain Champion high velocity rounds.

The others I like are the Federal 38 grain Game Shok hollow points although I don't know the number on those.

The Winchester Super Speed ones I also really like but they cost around $6 for a box of 100.

 

[Furncliff]

CCI Blazer shoots good in all my .22's. Midway notified me they were on sale (bricks), $21.59.

 

[jnyork]

Finding the "right" ammo for your gun is really only an issue if you are shooting a semi-auto

Only true if you are not interested in accuracy. There IS a vast difference!

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Please note that Animal Mother did not post what type of firearm(s) were being used. She didn't mention semi-auto's at all. That comment came from MAKster. Personally, I'm glad that jnyork chimed in with his comment, it's dead on the money. A vast difference indeed can be noted about ammo preference when doing accuracy testing with one's .22 rimfire.

Your gun may be damn near bench accurate with Super-Blammo solids. My gun, same make, model, and the very next serial number, may only shoot patterns with the stuff.

900F

 

[raveneap]

>> Furncliff - "CCI Blazer shoots good in all my .22's. Midway notified me they were on sale (bricks), $21.59...<<

just checked online - "Out of stock - back order ok."

 

[Titan6]

I have a few .22s including 3- 10/22s. Two of them like different types of ammo and the stainless will digest just anything without complaint. The single shot does not care and the bolt gun hates only one type that I know of. The lever gun is a whole other story.

I guess what I am saying is that you don't know till you try it. Cheap bulk .22 is out of stock out at Walmart here and will be soon where you are as well. So go ahead and buy what you can.

In 2007 bulk pack Federal was $9.99 at China mart and $12 at Cabelas.

In 2009 there is none at Walmart and it is $26 at Cabelas.

 

[ghoster]

the key is buying plenty of different 22's.
you cant have too many and they can be found pretty cheap.
i buy any brick of rounds available knowing that i have a 22 that will shoot it just fine.
there isnt a gun out there that is any more fun to shoot at the cost per shot equation.
i have lots of different cal. guns but only the 22 can i drop $20 and grab a buddy hit the creek and shoot all day, blazing away.
didn' mean to stray. yes any gun will tell you what i likes best. once you find it, buy several boxes when you can. my bolt rifle loves yellow jackets but the semmi's will jam every other round, my pistols dont like them either. one semmi likes stingers the other dosent. all the pistols like the rem gold.

 

[lions]

There was a thread on finding ammo at Wal-Mart not too long ago. Basically you just have the clerk scan the barcode on the price tag and they can tell you if there is any coming in the next shipment.

This has worked twice for me in the last month or so. It would have only been once but I don't want to be the guy who walks in and buys everything on the shelf. Just keep at it and you will find some.

 

[jackstinson]

I buy CCI Blazers now locally for $14.99 whenever they are on sale, usually every other month. 1,000 rounds costs me $32 even with tax. I stocked up a couple months ago, along with like eight bricks of Walmart Federal 550-packs.
Natchez normally has Blazer bricks for $14.99 + shipping...but they are out now also.

 

[lamebums]

However, I need a quality alternative that is actually in-stock online. Does anyone know if Centurion, Federal American Eagle, or CCI Blazer are comparable in quality to Wal-Mart's Federal Bulk Pack?

The trick with Wal Mart is to get to know the sporting goods guys and when the truck comes in. Typically, the sporting goods stuff is unloaded early in the afternoon, between 3 and 5 PM everyday. Ask him to check the WIRE and see if there's any ammo coming in on the truck the next day. I just got 5 bricks of Federal 22's that way - I knew they were coming in yesterday.

I got four bricks of Centurion at Knob Creek - I'll run them through my 10/22 and see how it goes.

Remington golden bullet is iffy - I somehow got three cartridges jammed in the chamber once, although I'm not sure yet if that was a magazine or ammo issue.

If you're willing to pay 20% higher than Wal-Mart prices, Dick's Sporting Goods usually has bricks of 22's in stock.

 

[22LRFan]

I like Remington Thunderbolt. I think it's equal to or greater than Federal bulk packs.

 

[CB900F]

22LRFan;

You sir, have a miracle gun. Never get rid of it, and treat it like the wonder-gun it is. If it likes Remington Thunderbolt, it should eat anything! Now what it's most accurate with may be a different story, but if it's most accurate with T-bolt's, check it for a halo.

900F

 

[Titan6]

Remington Golden Bullet was on sale at Cableas for $16/ brick. At least it was. I think they are all gone now.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would suggest you try the Winchester bulk packs or CCI Blasers. But honestly, I would gear my buying toward getting something that works until things are back to normal and you can buy what you normally buy.

I generally do not buy bulk pack ammo of any brand.

Keep an eye on Centurion ammo. I think you will be seeing a lot of it in the coming year. It's loaded by Aguila in Mexico. I believe it will be the next "PMC" -like brand that you see at stores.