Thunderbolts (pain in the ass)

[Deplorable Me]

I've run bricks of .22 Thunderbolts through my first Ruger Mark II, a Mark III, a 617 and some long rifles. Zero misfires since I first used it about 1995. I just started using a batch from 2005 in a Ruger Mark IV. They leaded up the barrel with the following results. No prior leading problems.

 

[Deplorable Me]

I spent the evening with Kroil and elbow grease pulling out gobs of lead from the groves.

 

[Darth]

Thunderbolts are horrendous.

 

[Deplorable Me]

My old stock has never given me problems. I'd put two bricks through my original Mark II and just have carbon and grime to clean up. No misfires. Anything 1995 to 1999 no problems. I don't recall any problems in the 2003 batch either. In my first brick from 2005, 5 misfires and a number of light loads, total crap. At least my current stash is built around CCI and Federal.

 

[nortatoga]

I have no 22's in green boxes!

 

[Darth]

Anyone seen that picture of a River MK pistol that the waxy Thunderbolts turned into a smoothbore?

 

[Gonzobird]

funny I won the rimfire yearly shot challenge using a Mk. IV and thnderbolts. Seem to work well for me. With that said there is a reason they are $12.99 for a box of 500.

I have used them since i was a kid though. I can only imagine the amount of lead that I have cleaned out of my marlin 39A(my first rifle my dad bought me for my 10th Christmas). I use better stuff for squirrel hunting though.

 

[Podmonkey]

I'm guessing the recent shortage of .22lr has caused quality levels to drop across the board.
And since those thunderbolts we already shit before the panic any drop in quality at all gives you the above result.
I used to shoot the Golden Bullets, I wonder of the recent production is likewise problematic?
I usually run CCI mini mags anyway. Or I did. I haven't shot any .22lr in years now.

 

[Deplorable Me]

I'm guessing the recent shortage of .22lr has caused quality levels to drop across the board.
And since those thunderbolts we already shit before the panic any drop in quality at all gives you the above result.
I used to shoot the Golden Bullets, I wonder of the recent production is likewise problematic?
I usually run CCI mini mags anyway. Or I did. I haven't shot any .22lr in years now.

My stash was all pre-panic. Good ammo to waste at the range. Going to use my old Mark III.

 

[Podmonkey]

My stash was all pre-panic. Good ammo to waste at the range. Going to use my old Mark III.

Enjoy then. Maybe age is the culprit? Maybe just a bad lot?

 

[@thewheels]

Interesting. I'm going to check to see if I have any of those in my stash.

 

[kev74]

I've shot Thunderbolts that were awesome and others that were constant duds and misfeeds.

It seems like the stuff they've been making since the last drought works better for me than the older stuff did.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Enjoy then. Maybe age is the culprit? Maybe just a bad lot?

2005 seems to be the bad year. The older stuff ran fine. Seems like a super soft batch of lead.

Gun shop is temperature and humidity controlled.

 

[repete]

I haven't shot much .22 in years but Thunderbolts where always good to me and my Ruger MK I loves em! I still have an abundance of old .22s with one bucket of Golden's I picked up for cheap and will probably be around long after I'm gone.

 

[Exonautic]

what range was that at. I'd be hard pressed to say that the bullets may not be the right size if its keyholing that soon and leading up your barrel bad.

 

[HighlandLofts]

The walmart by our house has the 500 loose packsof thunderbolts for $14.58.
For that price i have been stocking up for the next democrap controled ammo shortage.

The last ammo shortage i got $50 a brick trade in on guns at a local gun store.
If I traded ammo for a 22 rifle i got a hell of a deal on the rifle.

At that time i gave some 22 ammo to guys that bought their kid a 22 rifle and couldnt get any 22lr ammo.

My grandson shoots up close to half a brick of the thunderbolts every time we go shooting.
They are dirty, but they are cheap to buy.

 

[timboy]

I despise thunderduds,I didn't even buy them during the .22 dark ages a few years back.

 

[Deplorable Me]

what range was that at. I'd be hard pressed to say that the bullets may not be the right size if its keyholing that soon and leading up your barrel bad.

Range was 25'; 4 inch barrel. Cleaning showed the bore was well leaded and stripping the outside of the bullet. Grooves totally filled. Soaking with Kroll overnight loosened the lead and the bore brush cleaned it out.

 

[Deplorable Me]

My 1995 and 1999 stash is all gone from my inventory. I think I use to buy it for $4.99 and $5.99 a brick. This stash is from 2005. I'll try burning it up in another gun. About 4,500 rounds to go.

Lately I've been buying Federal and CCI.

 

[repete]

Range was 25'; 4 inch barrel. Cleaning showed the bore was well leaded and stripping the outside of the bullet. Grooves totally filled. Soaking with Kroll overnight loosened the lead and the bore brush cleaned it out.

Just for giggles try slugging the barrel, that way you'll know the exact diameter. You can pull one of the lead bullets and expand it a bit by standing it up on a hard surface and tapping it on the nose with a hammer, the oil the bore and push it thru.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I went to cabelas today, the nra set up there and has the join or renew your membership for $35 and you get a free $25 cabelas gift card
I renew there every year. This year i bought another Lyman primer pocket cleaner so I can leave one set up for small primers and one set for large primers.
Cabelas wanted $27.99 for the same 500 loose pack of thunderbolts that our local walmart is selling for $14.58.

For that cheap I am stocking up on them from wally world.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Cleaned barrel, copper plated Federal, 50 rounds. Groups started out loose then sucked right in. Only 25 feet.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Target #3, 50 rounds copper jacketed.

 

[nortatoga]

You should to try CCI-SV.

 

[togmaster]

I try to shoot only copper plated. Helps keep the leading issue down in my 10/22 and Mark 4.