Winchester .22 lr ammo quality

T

Tuzo

New member
Bought a 1958 Winchester Model 62A slide action rifle last weekend. In about 95% condition and very pretty. Cleaned it and tested the action with Remington .22 short and Winchester white box .22 long rifle. Function (not "functionality") was as it should be except for ejection of Winchester Western .22 long rifle 36 gr plated HP. Two out of ten cartridges would not eject. Loaded the Winchester with Federal bulk pack .22 lr and no ejection problems.

So what is the cause of non-ejection of the Winchester cartridges? I measured the rim diameter of the Winchesters and the rims measured between 0.267 and 0.278. The smaller rim diameter cartridges were the ones that would not eject.

The Federal cartridges (cheaper by $5 for the bulk packs) measured a consistent 0.276. Every one ejected.

Winchester white box ammunition has been mentioned many times on TFL and criticized for poor performance and quality control. This has now been proven to me.
 
IIRC, the .22LR spec for rim diameter is .272". Apparently you got ahold of a batch of WWB with undersized rims. I would contact Winchester about the discrepency. At the least, they should replace your ammo, and may issue a recall for that batch.
 
I've been hearing and reading complaints about that ammo for years. Some guns like it and some won't tolerate the lousy, loose specs like the ones you measured.

John
 
I shoot alot of 22 target. Federal Bulk 550 22lr is the ticket in semi autos. In my bolts I use the Federal Lightning 22lr 40grain. Plenty accurate and the price is right. You want premium accuracy then you get to pay a bunch more.

Just my .02 David
 
For general plinking and practice I've had great results and reliability from Federal 550 bulk, in both rifles and semi-auto pistols. Unfortunately lately it has been hard to find locally. Some of the other brands....not so much.
 
Patient to doctor. "It hurts when I do this."

Doctor. "Don't do that."

That's why you need to shoot several different brands of ammo in any gun, but especially in 22's. If it doesn't work, don't use it.
 
I never equate the words "Winchester" and "quality .22 ammunition" in the same sentence. Both Winchester and Remington have been producing crappy .22 ammo of late. I'll stick with Federal and CCI.
 
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