Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Choices - 22LR Ammunition for Semi-Autos

Thinking about purchasing a 22LR AR-15 style rifle for plinking and pest control.

What 22LR ammunition would you recommend that will cycle the gun, ground squirrel accurate to 50 yards, less than 0.15/per round and available.

Suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

StarchedCover

Norma Tac is working very well in my 10/22 and is $.09 a pop direct from Norma and Mutiny Machine. It’s cheaper at MM, but you have to pay shipping of $18.99 unless you buy a whole big bunch.

Stay away from the really cheap stuff is my best suggestion. Now, that is not to say ammo like American eagle 38gr hollow points won't work well:



No hang ups either, even when "fast firing" through my rifle:

If you notice on my targets, I like to keep track of rounds down a new barrel and accuracy. I keep that for a record so I know what to buy for it.

Its all about what YOUR particular rifle likes. Mine is not finicky. Yours may be. When shooting ground squirrels and the like, always use hollow point ammo. The reason I suggested the American eagle stuff. Just be sure when you buy it, it says H.P ln the box because they also make solid bullets. CCI mini mag is also a good one. Just not as accurate in my rifle. Last year I bought a box of 300. They were a special run of meat eater tv show bullets and those were less than $30, so I figured I'd give them a try. The Winchester 333's didn't work well in my rifle. The el cheapo Federal 325 value pack ammo did not shoot as well out of my 10-22 either:


That is a 36gr hollow point^^^ Shoots like chidt in my rifle.
The best thing you can do is grab some boxes of various brands and do some testing for yourself and see what your rifle likes. A lot of guys have been buying that Norma Tac, but I don't even know if it is H.P. if not, why shoot it into a critter when Federal automatch will be just as good? At least in my rifle it is..


However, I will never suggest a solid tip bullet for hunting applications. Learned that many years ago. This is even Norma's suggestion on their Tac ammo: According to them, "ammunition mainly for practice and plinking."

For an AR type 22 I’d stick with auto match or minimags just because they’re a little bit hotter to ensure proper function..

However, I will never suggest a solid tip bullet for hunting applications. Learned that many years ago. This is even Norma's suggestion on their Tac ammo: According to them, "ammunition mainly for practice and plinking."

Yeah, me either ordinarily. I was thinking ground squirrels meant something tiny like “squeaks”, certainly not chucks.

Haven’t run into any Auto Match. Their Match Hunter(or whatever they call it) wasn’t much in my guns, more handgun ammo. I’ll look at the well-stocked hardware I frequent. Come to think of it, MiniMag HPs are less than $.15 from CCI and usually do pretty well in most guns.

Still kicking myself for not buying more RWS SSHP and HSHP when SGammo was selling it for $2.50 a box a few years ago.

I have been buying CCI Mini-Mag HP for $10.99 per hundred at my ranch supply and I have seen them some other places for that price, they shoot well in all of my 22's, certainly minute of gopher.

OP - I see that Palmetto State Armory has the S&W 15-22 in 22 LR on sale over the 4th for $399. and it has a couple of extras with it for that price.

drover

My S&W 15-22 will reliably shoot/cycle down to CCI Standard Velocity levels, but lower velocity than that and it won’t.

This, particularly with the plinking and pest control desire. Not chasing fine accuracy for those needs.

Tac22 and/or Minimags for me.

The 36 HP minis are my main hunting ammo. Tac22 for everything else besides matches.

Walmarts have lots of Federal Automatch at around $21 for a 325 round box.

Guess you and I are the only ones that appreciate Fedrral Auto match at wallyworld for 21.16/325. Works good in every 22 I own, not hp ammunition but kills gophers fine. PD's usually make it back to their holes and bury themselves, that's fine too. About 7 cts a rd about as good as it gets these days...mb

i enjoy plinking with a ruger sr22 semiauto pistol. ive had trouble with federal automatch and much more trouble with norma ammo: fte, ftf, bullets that separate from cases upon chambering but before ignition, off kilter bullets & cases.

cci sv, minimag, blazer all are great.

I like Wildcat dynapoints if you can find them. Plenty accurate at 50 yards.

SK Semi Auto, Federal Auto Match

My CZ 512 Carbine favors certain lots of Geco Semi-Auto, but it's hard to find, usually. And it has to be the right "lot number", or it's craponastick. Federal AutoMatch isn't too bad, Norma TAC-22 might, or might not, cycle your new rifle, it doesn't cycle my 10/22 worth a hoot. As a general rule, get and stick with High Velocity stuff, to make sure it cycles, otherwise, you might as well buy a boltgun.

CCI Minimag hollow points are usually an excellent and affordable choice.

That sounds like a good plan; two reliable, affordable, and usually available choices. Lot of great .22s out there, but if you can’t find them they’re no good to you. I have a pretty fair supply of MMs, both HP and solid, but mostly shoot TAC in my 10/22. Just went on sale again on the Norma site.

My 15/22 rifle and pistol AR , my 10-22s , Mark 2 and 3s along with some bolt actions do very well with Federal automatch. I hate Walmart but i go in and pick up some every time I go by one.

I have used the Federal Automatch with good results in Ruger MK II pistols. I’m picking up some Winchester M-22 today. Anyone have any experience with it?

I have had good luck with federal auto
match.