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Lead, or Copper coated .22lr

rameleni1
I have been told that the copper coating on .22lr bullets is very thin. Because of this, it is no help to protect your barrel from "leadding". What is correct, and why is the copper coating on some .22lr's. I had a .44 mag. The owners manual said not to use full power loads with lead bullets, only copper jacketed. The manual said it could ruin the barrel with heavy lead deposits. I do use Remington Viper .22lr's, and they are copper coated. They also go around 1300 fps. If this is a fps issue, what is the cutoff for using lead?. I'm also assuming this is only for rifles, and not pistols.

Rameleni1
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • shootlow
    rameleni1
    i shoot PMC zappers they are copper coated in all my.22 competion guns i have no leading problems i may run a boar snake every 1000 rounds

    LT shootlow RRG
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  • ATF
    I have never seen a .22 barrel lead.I knew a man years ago that never put a cleaning rod thru his Hi-Standard target pistol and had fired over 40,000 rounds thru it.He was the top shooter on the pistol team.




    ATF
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  • jonk
    I shoot almost solely lead bullets and have virtually no leading. Velocity and temp just ain't there to do it. I clean my barrel after about every 1000 rounds, the action on the semi autos when they start to jam, and it rarely takes more than 2 patches of Hoppes and 2 dry to clean the barrel, then a little oil.

    Same results with copper plated.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • rameleni1
    Why do they sell copper coated .22lr ammo then? If there is no leading, why use the copper?. This didn't make sence to me, that's why I'm asking.

    Rameleni1
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  • JudgeColt
    The reason is probably marketing. The plated bullets look pretty, hence "The Golden .22," etc..

    It may be the power of suggestion, but I think the plated bullets take longer to foul the floating chamber on a Colt .22 conversion kit, or a Remington M550, etc..
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  • Henry0Reilly
    I had a .44 mag. The owners manual said not to use full power loads with lead bullets, only copper jacketed. The manual said it could ruin the barrel with heavy lead deposits.

    I thought the main reason not to shoot lead bullets with hot loads was because of the increase in pressure????

    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.

    Gun control is hitting your target. Semper Fi
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  • drawn
    I've been scrubbing lead out of a Winchester Mod 1906 for hours and hours and am finally starting to see what may be some grooves.

    "LIFE IS NOT A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE WITH THE INTENTION OF ARIVING SAFELY IN ONE PRETTY AND WELL PRESERVED PIECE, BUT, TO SKID ACROSS THE LINE BROADSIDE, THOUGHRLY USED UP, WORN OUT, LEAKING OIL, SHOUTING GERONIMO!!"
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  • Pearyw
    I use to have a Colt 22 conversion kit for a 1911 Colt 45. It had a floating chamber that was suppose to simulate the recoil of a 45 acp round. If you did not use the copper coated bullets, the floating chamber would have enough lead build up in about 20 rounds that it would not function. This is the only place that I have seen a real need for the copper coated bullets.
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  • Laredo Lefty
    I have shot probably 100,000+ 22's over the years and have settled on copper plated. I like in order of preference Federal .22LR, CCI Stingers, CCI Mini-Mag, and Rem Golden Bullets.
    I used to use Win Wildcats, and Federal Lightning and found both to be much dirtier than coated ammo. This may be due to different powder compared to the more expensive ammo. The copper coated ammo seems to shoot much cleaner. I would rather pay a little more for the cleaner shooting stuff. As far as leading goes, I have not noticed a big difference between coated and non-coated ammo.
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  • Iroquois Scout
    The real reason for the copper washed .22 caliber rimfire cartridges is this: Lead bullet cartridges in this caliber are coated with a beeswax type of lubricant and if carried loose in the pocket can pick up all types of dirt and lint. Dirty cartridges do not work well in semi-auto arms, therefore the companies began to copper wash the lead bullets to eliminate the problem.
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