Colibri performance in a 22/45

[ThreadKiller]

I bought a brick of Aguila Colibri .22 ammo in hopes that this stuff would make a good backyard starling load. The Colibris have an advertised mv of 375 fps. I have no idea what they do out of a 5" 22/45 Ruger though.

I set up a short range target range in the garage and shot a few to see where the POI would be. I used the Fall JC Penney catalog as a backstop. The Colibris seemed to shoot rather well even in my unsteady hands. Seemed to shoot right where the sights were pointing too. They're fairly quiet but you know when they go off.

And these babies are powerful! They penetrated 300 some odd pages of the Penney's catalog. Clear to the lingerie section!

Look out starlings!

 

[Cosmose]

that's my favorite plinking round. i love the fact that you don't have to wear ear protection i've been shooting them in my singel six, i have a 22/45 also but you have to retract the slide each time. will your 22/45 feed them?

 

[RGO]

And these babies are powerful! They penetrated 300 some odd pages of the Penney's catalog.

Man, the last time I shot a phone book with Colibris, out of a Buck mark, the bullet BOUNCED OFF! The Super Colibris did penetrate a little bit though, maybe 1 cm. That must be some flimsy paper in that catalog...

Cosmose, I don't think there's any way that Colibris will cycle ANY semi-auto. They're far too weak. That being said, they are good for their intended purpose (quiet shooting).

 

[ThreadKiller]

No, they don't work the action. Just gives the bolt a little nudge is all.

Apparently the JC Penney catalog paper is not very tough stuff.

 

[BluesBear]

ARe you using Colibri or Super Colibri? As I understand it Aguila is discontinuing the Colibri.

I know that about 1 per box won't make it completely through the barrel of my Marlin 81 Which is no biggie becasuse the next Colibri will push it out.
Having one caught and firing a standard load could be disasterous though.

 

[Stand_Watie]

How far will colibri bullets fly? Are the "super colibri" the ones that are advertised as having 500 fps?

I have a sparrow problem that I've had a few cracks at with .22 birdshot with little luck, and I'm reluctant to part with too much money.

If I lived in the middle of the Kalahari desert I'd shoot them with .22 LR, but I have neighbors within a mile in three directions, so I need something that won't travel more than a few hundred yards. Where did you buy your ammo?

 

[ThreadKiller]

It is my understanding that the "Colibri" load has been discontinued. Apparently too many of the little 20 gr projectiles were lodging in too many barrels. The "Super Colibri" is 500 fps and is still available. The Colibri's are only powered by the primer.

I bought my brick of Colibri's at a gun show about a year ago. I saw a brick at the last gun show I was at. I guess I shoulda bought it.

I think the Colibri's will work fine in a short pistol barrel. Not near as much friction to overcome.

 

[JHill]

The super colibri's work great out of my Marlin m60. I have a small group of pine trees behind my apt and I have taken about 12 crows from 5yds to almost 35yds.
It looses a good amount of steam at that extreme, but I have found it to still be accurate.

I have a 3x9x32 tasco on my rifle and will test accuracy occasionally by shooting at knots in the wood. Even at 15-~20yds away I hit w/in a half inch of where I am aiming.

When I first aquired some of the colibris I fired some at a planter box (existing) on my deck--they were seasoned and 3/8" pine. At a range of 3-5' the bullet completely exited the first piece and hid itself in the rear of the box.

 

[BluesBear]

The standard Colibri rounds actually have a lower velocity when fired from a rifle that they do from a pistol. Standard Colibri from a rifle will often bounce off of a 20oz plastic soda bottle at 20 feet. Same round from a handgun will penetrate both sides.

 

[Stand_Watie]

I have both a .22 rifle and pistol, would I be alright firing the super colibri's from my rifle as long as I was absolutely certain that I didn't have any rounds lodged in the barrel before firing full power ammo through it?

A colibri bullet lodged in the barrel followed by another colibri charge wouldn't pose a risk of barrel damage in and of itself (as long as it was properly removed) would it?

Would you remove it just by pushing it out with a ramrod, and has anybody done this?

 

[cratz2]

I've shot about 100 rounds of each (Colibri and Super Colibri) through my Dan Wesson revolver and a Marvel Conversion unit. Pretty neat stuff but the Super Colibri is definately more powerful. The Colibris, I could easily watch the bullet go down range pretty much every single time, not so with the Supers.

They are pretty neat and a quiet way to spend some time working with a real gun rather than an air rifle or some such.

 

[Selfdfenz]

I shot a brick or so of the reg. Colibris. Some from a 22/25, some from my son's Rossi break barrel rifle.
They were very quiet from the rifle but had no penetration.
Did ok from the 22/45 but made more noise.

The Supers have more zip but strangely were not as accurate as the regulars IMO.

Still, at 15$ a brick they make a fun rat hunting round given that they are so quiet.

I am disappointed the Regulars will be a thing of the past if not already.

S-