Federal Champion .22 very unreliable: new M&P .22.

[midland man]

i like the Winchester m-22 as my ruger bearcat like these only! infact most of my other guns like this ammo the best!!

 

[TN Outlaw]

I've never had great results with Fed Champ bulk 22LR. The Auto Match has done pretty well in several of my guns but the Champ have always been kinda erratic. Some dont cycle the bolt/slide and accuracy has never been great. Not as bad as Rem Thunderbolt, to where out of 10 shots maybe 2 sound the same, but still not consistent.

Years ago the bulk Federal always seemed to be a dirty round but i will say they seem to at least be alot cleaner in the last 20 years.

When I'm shooting bulk ammo I like WWB and Blazer. Always had very good luck with both and one or the other if not both are usually very accurate in all of my LR's.

 

[DPris]

I've been using Federal bulk Champion .22 for years, as one of several test standard loads.
It isn't the most accurate, but it's decent & I do not have any problems with the stuff.
At all.
Denis

 

[Ignition Override]

I’m glad too see that it functions well in certain handguns.

Curious about which type of handguns? The context can be quite different than with mine.

My M&P has used about 2,000 rds. Could it be that in guns with somewhat used, weaker recoil springs, that Champion functions much better, with less Short-Stroking?

 

[DPris]

I've never had it short-stroke in anything, pistol or rifle.
And I test it in brand new guns, no weaker springs involved.
Denis

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

I’m glad too see that it functions well in certain handguns.

Curious about which type of handguns? The context can be quite different than with mine.

My M&P has used about 2,000 rds. Could it be that in guns with somewhat used, weaker recoil springs, that Champion functions much better, with less Short-Stroking?

Not necessarily 'weaker springs', but when springs are new, they are a bit longer. Springs need to develop a "working set", or length, at which they work best. So, you are sorta correct. What I recommend, especially with NEW Ruger Mark pistols, is that the owner use CCI Mini-Mags for at least several hundred rounds to get the springs to their working set. Or, any .22 rimfire with the same velocity of around 1200 FPS, but not the hyper-velocity stuff in the Ruger Mark pistols. That ammunition is quite hard on the bolt stop pin and is not recommended by Ruger for use.
Once your springs are "set", Standard velocity .22 rimfire will work just fine along with all other 'normal' .22 rimfire.

 

[bannockburn]

No real problems with any Federal .22 ammo, be it American Eagle, Champion, or Auto Match. Not the greatest accuracy either but it does make for decent practice ammo (especially at the rate my kids go through it)!

My three favorites are Wolf Match Target, CCI Standard Velocity, and CCI MiniMags.

 

[Ignition Override]

Update: American Eagle today--50 rds--from a fairly old box, was a terrible function in the M&P .22, as bad as the Fed. Champion. Very constant short-stroking and slide not locking back.

 

[czhen]

Let see, isolate the failure if it is mag related, try different ammo, field strip it and look it for burrs.
I use CCI std or High Velocity or Federal Automatch only on the Rugers.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I have a Bersa Thunder .22, and my advice on ammo is ...

1) Mini-Mags
2) Mini-Mags
3) Mini-Mags

... in that order.

I have a Bersa Thunder that would only shoot mini mags and Goldens. And then still had failures. I tried every thing to get the gun to shoot more ammo. Later cut about 3 coils off the recoil spring and no problem shooting anything.

As far as shooting Federal, all I can say is this little gun will run circles out of most 22.cal pistols. Eats any ammo and loves Federal of any kind.Great trainers for small center fire guns. They get to the range more than all my 22.cal. Out shoots the heck out of my Ruger SR22,

 

[gunlaw]

Never had any problem with this ammo. Gotta remember 22’s can be picky about ammo.

 

[jstert]

the cheap cure for finicky 22lr ammo is a heritage roughrider single action revolver. the lifetime cure is a ruger single six. one of them is always in my range bag.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

the cheap cure for finicky 22lr ammo is a heritage roughrider single action revolver. the lifetime cure is a ruger single six. one of them is always in my range bag.

Another fix if the LCR22. Another gun and great trainers for my LCR9mm, Love shoot the HYper Vel. Aguila Interceptor out it.

 

[Ignition Override]

This Fed. Champion works fine in the brand-new, retail Ruger Mark IV Standard.

The only so-called issue in this really gun has been short-stroking with about 5% of the "standard" velocity CCI.
But again, none of us are Mossad etc agents.