Federal 22lr quality

[mikeybonez28]

A while ago I picked up a brick of Federal Auto Match 22lr on sale figuring it'll be decent plinking ammo but it kind of sucks. Accuracy is good but reliability is horrible. Mind you I'm shooting a Marlin 780 not anything toyed around with, except for a lighter trigger pull. Today alone, I shot maybe 40 rounds since it was freezing but I had about 10 misfires, the primers became un-seated and some wouldn't even fire after 2 rotations (3 primer strikes). Has anyone else had such a crapshoot with this ammo?

I just had to vent since this is supposedly match grade ammo & I can honestly say I wouldn't use this ammo in any competition. I also dropped my deer gun while I was out there & had to rezero it, so yay!

[TooBigToFit]

My experience is the opposite... Federal AutoMatch runs in all of my guns.

I think that's the thing with .22 guns. Some just like certain ammo. For example... Winchester M22 is marketed as being designed for ARs, but that's the one gun I have that won't run it.

[JDA58]

Federal Auto Match runs good in mine too

[IV_Warrior]

It's all a friend and I have been using in competitions this season, and we haven't had issues. We've been through quite a bit of it this year.

[egon12]

Since you stated in the op that is was freezing out when you had the misfires is it possible that there is oil or grease that is temperature sensitive. The Marlin 780 goes back a few years and the lubricant may be just as old and dried out, the cold weather may have made it worse and slows the firing pin down just enough to reduce the striking power of the firing pin. Just a thought on my part. It could also be a "bad" lot of federal automatch. I have had good luck with federal over the years but it is certainly possible that some bad stuff left the factory floor.

[sota]

I think egon's theory begs further examination, with regards to lube issues.

[abner13]

Marlin 780? Micro-groove barrel?

Clean it!

[Gunowner99]

Never a big issue and at 4 cents or so a round I just trash bad rounds.

[mikeybonez28]

Since you stated in the op that is was freezing out when you had the misfires is it possible that there is oil or grease that is temperature sensitive. The Marlin 780 goes back a few years and the lubricant may be just as old and dried out, the cold weather may have made it worse and slows the firing pin down just enough to reduce the striking power of the firing pin. Just a thought on my part. It could also be a "bad" lot of federal automatch. I have had good luck with federal over the years but it is certainly possible that some bad stuff left the factory floor.

wasn't the first time i ran this ammo through the 780 and it behaved the same way. all my guns are rode hard and put away wet. i clean them everytime i shoot with clp in & on the bolt, fcg and a little through the barrel with a swab for the 22 and 9mm and a bore snake for the '06. plus this 780 ate everything else i shove down it's throat including winchester m22, cci mini mag & hp's without any malfunctions. i could strip the bolt and thoroughly clean it but the rounds usually fire after being rotated

it probably is just a bad lot but it pissed me off since i couldn't get through a 7 round mag without at least 1 misfire. the m22 i had used was much older than these (these are fresh) and i think i had 1 misfire out of 700 rounds

[Gunsnwater]

Marlin 780? Micro-groove barrel?

Clean it!

Why the barrel rifling question. He didn't complain about accuracy. He said it wouldnt go bang reliably enough. Cleaning the action I agree on. I'd also be interested in how the trigger pull was lightened.

Op make sure the rounds are fully seated, if the firing pin is pushing the cartrage home you will get what you got.