Lead vs plated .22 bullets

[RDM416]

Does it hurt anything to shoot cheap "bulk box" .22 ammo that has plated bullets from a high end target rifle such as a Anschutz?

My daughter's 4-H club leader insists that it does and that only unplated lead bullets should be used. He has been involved in 4-H smallbore competition for 20+ and seems very sure of himself on this issue. However, when I ask him "why" it would hurt anything he does not have an answer other than "I have seen it".

Is he right, or is he putting some events over the years together and drawing the wrong conclusion? My daughter shoots about 100 rounds a day in practice and I want to use the cheap "bulk box" remmington or federal ammo from wal mart, at least when shooting 25 yard standing. At that range a little less accurate ammo makes little difference. However, he insists that shooting the plated bullets will ruin the barrel on her Anschutz target rifle. Yes or no.....???

I already have many thousands of rounds of the bulk box ammo I have horded over the years. I would like to at least shoot it up and replace with fresh ammo, most of it is plated bullets.

 

[J E Custom]

Does it hurt anything to shoot cheap "bulk box" .22 ammo that has plated bullets from a high end target rifle such as a Anschutz?

My daughter's 4-H club leader insists that it does and that only unplated lead bullets should be used. He has been involved in 4-H smallbore competition for 20+ and seems very sure of himself on this issue. However, when I ask him "why" it would hurt anything he does not have an answer other than "I have seen it".

Is he right, or is he putting some events over the years together and drawing the wrong conclusion? My daughter shoots about 100 rounds a day in practice and I want to use the cheap "bulk box" remmington or federal ammo from wal mart, at least when shooting 25 yard standing. At that range a little less accurate ammo makes little difference. However, he insists that shooting the plated bullets will ruin the barrel on her Anschutz target rifle. Yes or no.....???

I already have many thousands of rounds of the bulk box ammo I have horded over the years. I would like to at least shoot it up and replace with fresh ammo, most of it is plated bullets.

Look at it this way Lead is generally softer than jacket material.

So Is he right ? In a sense, Yes.

Will it hurt the rifle ? over time they will wear the rifling more than lead bullets will (25,000+)

Lead can also be troublesome if not cleaned well.

Lead bullets are normally more accurate in the target type rifles because it engraves easier.

There are cheaper lead bullets like the Remington Target that will shoot very well and only
cost 3 to $4.00 a box of 50. Eley even makes ammo in the $3.50 range.

22s are notoriously long lived so an occasional use of jacketed ammo will not shorten the barrel
life enough to notice.

J E CUSTOM

 

[RDM416]

Thanks J E,

That is kind of what I was thinking as well. We do shoot the Remington 6122 target rounds quite a lot and that is what the club uses for practice and it is what the state competitions require, although the national competitions will allow you to bring your own ammo.

The 6122s are still almost $40 a brick and she is going through at least 1 per week. I already have probably 50,000 rounds of bulk box stuff some of it 10 years old that I would like to get shot up and replace with fresh. I can buy bulk box stuff at wal mart for $18 a box so that is pretty good saving anyway over the 6122s.

Thanks again for your reply