chp5 Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Moderators - I'm not sure where this thread fits, so please feel free to move it. WARNING - Remington Thunderbolt .22lr I recently shot 200 rounds of this ammo out of my brand new Advantage Arms ("AA") .22 lr conversion for my Glock 22. At first it shot dead on. After 200 rounds, it was all over the place. I called AA and told them what happened. They said that they've had EXTREME leading with recent Rem Thunderbolts - as quickly as 50 rounds - to the point where they can't get a bore brush down the bore. I looked in my barrel and saw the worst leading I've ever seen. When I tried to put a patch of Hoppes down it, it got stuck in the barrel and I had to hammer it out. I can't even get a cleaning rod down the gun. I taped up the muzzle end of the barrel and rigged it so it stood on end. I then poured Hoppes down the barrel and I will let it soak for 24 hours or so. I hope that will loosen up the lead. Two questions and one statement: 1. Don't shoot Rem Thunderbolts! 2. What can I do to get the lead out since I can't get a rod down the bore? 3. If I can't get the lead out, should I contact Remington and ask them to make it right? Thx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loves2Shoot Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Do a search on vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, this might be a good time for using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calhunter Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Outers makes a electronic unit - Foul out III. Works great! I use it on my .45ACP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Balko Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 I've heard of starting with a 17 cal rod and brush to get you going in a situation like this. Gonna be a long cleaning session! Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pisgahrifle Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Whoa. When I first read this, I freaked out a bit. I bought two bricks of this stuff about a month agoon a $10 a brick deal, and so far I've shot nearly a brick's worth out of my .22/45. (as a note, i've had a FTF in almost every box. Woo-hoo Remington!) I had a brick of W-W T22 down before that and haven't cleaned it since. So i figure I'm not going to be able to drop a rod down the bbl., right? Wrong. I ran a rod through and it came out just fine. Then i put a light in the breech and checked the barrel- smooth as a baby's a$$. I'm by no means advocating this stuff- Rem. rimfire's always been rather inconsistent, I've thought, and doesn't shoot as well as W-W or Eley- but it didn't lead up my barrel. If nothing else this proves how inconsistent Rem. factory loads can be. Try it in another .22 and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chp5 Posted June 7, 2005 Author Share Posted June 7, 2005 Whoa.When I first read this, I freaked out a bit. I bought two bricks of this stuff about a month agoon a $10 a brick deal, and so far I've shot nearly a brick's worth out of my .22/45. (as a note, i've had a FTF in almost every box. Woo-hoo Remington!) I had a brick of W-W T22 down before that and haven't cleaned it since. So i figure I'm not going to be able to drop a rod down the bbl., right? Wrong. I ran a rod through and it came out just fine. Then i put a light in the breech and checked the barrel- smooth as a baby's a$$. I'm by no means advocating this stuff- Rem. rimfire's always been rather inconsistent, I've thought, and doesn't shoot as well as W-W or Eley- but it didn't lead up my barrel. If nothing else this proves how inconsistent Rem. factory loads can be. Try it in another .22 and see what happens. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep - I think Rem just had a bad run, but I'm not the only one having this issue. It sounds like your lot is fine. I WON'T be shooting mine out of any other .22 though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HQBrass Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Lead in Glocks [shakes head] Just kidding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chp5 Posted June 7, 2005 Author Share Posted June 7, 2005 Lead in Glocks [shakes head]Just kidding <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep, but this is not the Glock barrel. It's a stainless barrel for a .22 LR conversion upper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Ellis Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 Pass your eyes around rimfirecentral.com. You'll find the Rem Thunderbolts have a bad reputation generally. Chrono results reveal a large SD for .22 ammo. If you're not itching for the last .05" smaller group, consider Federal Champion (formerally Lightning) part number 510, or Winchester Dynapoints. Dynapoints are only available at full stocking Winchester dealers and Wal-Mart. The thing to remember about .22 firearms is that each one is unique. You have to spend the time to try several different makes and models of ammunition to find what your gun likes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Murphy Posted June 7, 2005 Share Posted June 7, 2005 I had a double charged round of thunderbolt blow up a S&W 22A. S&W gave me a new gun though. I don't like that stuff much. Ted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 CCI Mini Mag the only .22 rimfire I use in any pistol from AA Glock conversion, CZ Kadet , Walther P22 or Beretta 21A. It is flawless in all of them all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chp5 Posted June 8, 2005 Author Share Posted June 8, 2005 CCI Mini Mag the only .22 rimfire I use in any pistol from AA Glock conversion, CZ Kadet , Walther P22 or Beretta 21A. It is flawless in all of them all the time. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I can't seem to find them locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chp5 Posted June 12, 2005 Author Share Posted June 12, 2005 Follow up: After soaking the barrel in a small lake of Hoppe's for 36 hours and using a hammer to get the brush through the bore, I eventually got all the lead out. I took it to the range and shot 300 or so rounds of Federal high velocity 36 grain HP out of it. It shot fine and did not lead up. I don't think I'll ever shoot Thunderbolts again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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