I've heard that the Rem. Thunderbolts (40gr. LRN-HV) have improved.

I always remember them as dirty and mediocre in the accuracy department. Others have said they have experienced a high rate of misfires with them (I haven't experienced this).

Has anybody here used Thunderbolts lately? And your opinion about the current product?

I've got to admit....... they are dirt cheap!

all i have is the old ones and they aren't worth much

I've had good performance from nearly every imaginable manufacture of rimfire ammunition. The only substandard performance (poor cycling in an auto, noticeable number of failures to fire, mediocre accuracy) has been with Remington-branded ammunition. This is not necessarily just with the leader-priced Thunderbolts, but mostly with their "Golden Bullet" supposedly higher-grade ammunition. As a result, I avoid Remington rimfire ammunition in favor of just about any other brand.

Save your money. Still dirty

I've heard (but don't know for sure) that the Federal bulk are the best "cheap" .22LR out there.

I've got many bricks of CCI .22LR Mini-Mag Solids and HPs currently. But I always like to "stock up".

Also..... I'm really liking those CCI .22LR 40gr. QUIETS for my non-semi-auto .22s.

i can confirm the federal bulk packs sold at walmart are pretty good. they out perform the remington target in both of my built 10-22s. ive shot 9 bricks this year so far and am working on number 10 (i think i may have 1/4 box left) they perform well out of my 2245 also and stay subsonic in the short barrel so they work well with my can. i couldn't be happier with them.

I concur with the quality of Federal rimfire ammo. I'm always on the lookout for new .22LR to try, and the Federals, both the "Lightning" (that I ratted away back in the early 1990's), and the current production "Champion" have by far been the best bang for the buck. They have delivered the highest velocitys, and the lowest deviation of any of the brands I've shot lately- including Winchester, Remington, CCI, Aguilla, and even Eley. By the way, 90% of the lot of Winchester "1300 FPS" I shot last week failed to break 1200 FPS in my 24" M39 and CZ 452 LUX- the Federals beat them by 50 FPS+).

I got the chance to try some 36 grain LRHP from Bitterroot Valley Ammo (which I'd never seen before), and all I can say is: "YES!!!" Average velocity was 1305 FPS, with a spread of only 20 FPS- by far the most consistent non-match ammo I've tried so far.

Accuracy-wise, both of my rifles seem to like about anything they're fed, with the cheap Federals shooting as well or better than the rest.

Porosonik.

quote:

Originally posted by Porosonik:

I got the chance to try some 36 grain LRHP from Bitterroot Valley Ammo (which I'd never seen before), and all I can say is: "YES!!!" Average velocity was 1305 FPS, with a spread of only 20 FPS- by far the most consistent non-match ammo I've tried so far.

I had no idea that BVAC loaded rimfire ammo.

Where can I get my hands on some?

TIA!

I picked mine up in a small local gun shop here in Las Vegas, but Cheaper Than Dirt seems to carry it. Looking at the comments on their web site, a lot of folks were complaining of a high failure to fire rate with it. Mine seem to work just fine. Different lot, most likely. The web page lists it as "Bitterroot Valley/Armscor"..... but the box says "Made In U.S.A." I'll be buying more when I'm done shooting this!

Porosonik.

I really like the Winchester Dynapoints. My CZ shoots them like the expensive stuff. One problem though, you get a good 10 shot group going and you get a flier. This is the only thing keeping it from being as good as most the the match ammo I have tried. They are a good standard velocity 22.

I bought some last spring, I have not had any misfire but some of them definitely sound lighter than others.

I would not shoot a match with them but for casual squirrel hunting (I have not lost any animals due to them, for example) and plinking I am happy with them. Also, FWIW the longest I have shot them is about 50 yards, just haven't had an opportunity to use them at anything longer.