S&w 22a

[sxcamaro05]

Well I am new here, but I recently decided to purchase a Smith & Wesson 22A in the camo finish (mainly because that was the last one they had left). Initially, I was tight with groups 1-2'' with cheap bulk ammo but my groups got wider after about 150 rounds. After I got home I noticed the "camo finish" is coming off near the end of the muzzle and inside. Is this a big deal or just normal wear?

Also I a have a Beretta 96 on layaway that I plan to pick up in the next few weeks. They wanted $650 but it was new, never fired so I talked them down to $500. Good deal or no? Gun looks excellent but comes with no case/instructions.

 

[REAPER4206969]

I have 21,000~rds. through my camo 22A-1 and it only shows finish wear on the muzzle, rails, breech face and a little on the grip tang. As to the increasing inaccuracy, make sure the sight rail is tight. I recommend blue thread locking the screws as they do loosen over time. It is an excellent pistol.

 

[wally]

If your cheap ammo was Remington Thunderbolt, after 150 rounds your barrel is probably leaded and in desperate need of cleaning.

With decent ammo (Federal bulk pack) I go 1000s of rounds without cleaning. Its my favorite .22 pistol despite having been sent back to S&W twice, once for an early production issue that cropped up immediately, and the second for a broken firing pin, but since they pay the shipping both ways and turn it around very fast (6-10 working days) it wasn't painful.

 

[sxcamaro05]

I shot 50 rounds of CCI Blazer .22 (the cheap $2 stuff) and a 100 ct box of Remington High Velocity (that looks dead on like the Thunder Bolt). Yes, the gun was very dirty when I cleaned it and I'm hoping that with better ammo I get better results. My last group at 40 ft was pushing 5-6 inches but I blame that more on myself than the pistol. Even the 25' was acceptable, 3-4 inches on a firearm I only first fired today.

I think the next pack I buy for bulk will be the Federal Premium copper flat nose bulk pack. (400 rounds) Anyone hear anything good about those? The range hand told me the serious guys and those looking for reliable performance only use CCI Stinger or CCI Premium.