Trying to decide between a Bersa Thunder 22 or a Ruger SR-22. Reviews continually slam the BT-22 RE ammo. Is the slide too heavy to cycle rounds? What shells work best (if it's ammo)? Is it a lube problem? Or is all the complaining coming from Ruger or Walther P-22 owners who hate cheap South American guns? Advice? Thanks.
BT 22LR - Why Can't It Shoot Bullets (some)?
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Hi VisitNixa, if you believe all the reviews out there on every gun made you would carry a baseball bat for protection and not a gun. As for the Bersa Thunder 22LR, I have fired the Firestorm 22LR ( same as BT 22LR ) and Beretta Bob Cat my wife and I have and yes I have gotten jams. However sometimes I have fired several hundred rounds without a jam during a range visit. Both guns are mechanically sound but I have notice that the quality of the bullets are not as good as the larger caliber bullets. Not sure if it is the QC or the process to make cheap ammo, the bullets are not as smooth as say a 9mm bullet or larger which may cause some of the mis-feeds.
Any way I have found that the CCI Stinger 36gr works the best on my guns but all the CCI bullets I have use work very good.
I have used with fair results (jams at times) Blazer 40gr, Winchester 36gr, Federal 36gr, Remington Yellow Jacket HP 33gr.
P.S. I have but not lately have found some 22LR bullets to be loose. Did not use them but can not remember who made it.
OK.IMO heres the scoop the ruger sr 22 that my friend has that we have been trying to get it to shoot with out fte & ftf so far only CCI Mini Mags only.
I have been doing my research and I like the Bersa 22 the best nickel or bk but due to not having met my requirerments to feed anything. To today we can't choose what ammo we can get today due to the shortage around i found the best for me was the ruger 20/45 lite it will eat anything as long as it has power in it will fire it no problem. The 20/45 give you the feel of a normal gun not a target gun like ruger II or III or any of the target guns so to practice with relates to my carry gun win win all around
All the ruger 20/45s work the same alot of choices models that is...
Every gun is the best for someone.
Tim
I have been doing my research and I like the Bersa 22 the best nickel or bk but due to not having met my requirerments to feed anything. To today we can't choose what ammo we can get today due to the shortage around i found the best for me was the ruger 20/45 lite it will eat anything as long as it has power in it will fire it no problem. The 20/45 give you the feel of a normal gun not a target gun like ruger II or III or any of the target guns so to practice with relates to my carry gun win win all around
All the ruger 20/45s work the same alot of choices models that is...
Every gun is the best for someone.
Tim
OK.IMO heres the scoop the ruger sr 22 that my friend has that we have been trying to get it to shoot with out fte & ftf so far only CCI Mini Mags only.
I have been doing my research and I like the Bersa 22 the best nickel or bk but due to not having met my requirerments to feed anything. To today we can't choose what ammo we can get today due to the shortage around i found the best for me was the ruger 20/45 lite it will eat anything as long as it has power in it will fire it no problem. The 20/45 give you the feel of a normal gun not a target gun like ruger II or III or any of the target guns so to practice with relates to my carry gun win win all around All the ruger 20/45s work the same alot of choices models that is... Every gun is the best for someone.
Tim
Hmm, I'm going for the Bersa 22. Tried out the Ruger III 22/45 and Ruger SR-22. Passed on the Walther PK22 (too small; don't like the sights; price).
I have been doing my research and I like the Bersa 22 the best nickel or bk but due to not having met my requirerments to feed anything. To today we can't choose what ammo we can get today due to the shortage around i found the best for me was the ruger 20/45 lite it will eat anything as long as it has power in it will fire it no problem. The 20/45 give you the feel of a normal gun not a target gun like ruger II or III or any of the target guns so to practice with relates to my carry gun win win all around All the ruger 20/45s work the same alot of choices models that is... Every gun is the best for someone.
Tim
Hmm, I'm going for the Bersa 22. Tried out the Ruger III 22/45 and Ruger SR-22. Passed on the Walther PK22 (too small; don't like the sights; price).
So you have found that the BT 22LR has the reliablety to shoot all kinds of ammo. if that is true i'd like to hear more if good things i will order one myself.
That will make my very happy....
The coating on the .22 ammo (usually in bulk boxes) is supposed to be a lubricant, so wiping it off completely doesn't make sense. If there appears to be too much coating on the ammo that gets wax-like, , then simply wiping with a dry rag ought to remove the excess.
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I have noticed that the few misfires I had with my Bersa Thunder 22LR were from my bulk ammo box's. I have several box's of Winchester 36 gr plated hollow point ammo ( 555 rounds per box ) that I checked and found that just about every round in the box had nicks or very small dents in the bullet. They were FMJ but still had those marks on them which I believe was caused by the ammo bouncing around the box. Either in manufacturing or shipping. My 22LR ammo that I have in box's of 50 rds which have the plastic that keeps the rounds from touching each other were smooth with no marks and most of them were not FMJ just plain lead bullets. Out of a box of 555 maybe I got a dozen bad rounds so all is OK with them. Bersa's will eat just about anything provided you keep them cleaned and lubricated, that goes for the Mags too.
OK, Tony1990 It seems like you like the BT22lr so all i'm looking for is a gun that wiil eat mostly CCI standard. some will say that EZ NOT. I'm good with guns that i can do some fine tuning ,but i just need it to work to begin with. don't mind some bad ammo but not bad gun to begin with. I have a BTUC45 and a BT22lr in my cart ready to order.... just looking true imput...I have noticed that the few misfires I had with my Bersa Thunder 22LR were from my bulk ammo box's. I have several box's of Winchester 36 gr plated hollow point ammo ( 555 rounds per box ) that I checked and found that just about every round in the box had nicks or very small dents in the bullet. They were FMJ but still had those marks on them which I believe was caused by the ammo bouncing around the box. Either in manufacturing or shipping. My 22LR ammo that I have in box's of 50 rds which have the plastic that keeps the rounds from touching each other were smooth with no marks and most of them were not FMJ just plain lead bullets. Out of a box of 555 maybe I got a dozen bad rounds so all is OK with them. Bersa's will eat just about anything provided you keep them cleaned and lubricated, that goes for the Mags too.
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Well I have been very happy with my BT22LR over the years and my wife likes hers too. Since the Ammo shortage and high prices I have used my BT22LR most of the time and I have fired several thousand rounds at the range in the last year. Also the look and feel of the BT22LR and BT380 are the same since the specs are almost identical (1.0 oz lighter, .2" less in Hieght ).
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Regarding ammo, I had some SERIOUS problems with the CCI Blazer loose, bulk box of 550. It leaded up the barrels of my Ruger MkIII pistols terribly about a year or two ago. It was a major chore to get that lead out of the barrels so I wrote to CCI/Speer and told them. Oddly enough it was ONLY the bulk LOOSE box and not the individually boxed 10 boxes of 50 rds that leaded. Same box, same manufacturer except one was 550 rds loose one was 500 rds individually packaged.
Speer admitted they had had some problems with the loose bulk and told me to send it back. They would make it right. So I sent the remainder of the box that was causing all the leading and another, unopened box to the Speer/CCI factory in Idaho. After a couple of months they sent me four (4!!!) boxes of the individually boxed 500 round (I asked for that) ammo. So I sent in about 750 rounds of defective ammo and they sent me 2000 rds of good stuff. Works for me.
So all this wordiness is to say that perhaps you got ahold of some of that (or other) defective ammo and it is causing problems in your gun? Clean the barrel really good and then after you shoot 50-100 rds (that's what I did...) look up the barrel for build up or trash or whatever. You may need to just clean more frequently while using a certain ammo, use it up, don't buy it again and find another that works and STICK WITH IT!!! Good Luck!
Speer admitted they had had some problems with the loose bulk and told me to send it back. They would make it right. So I sent the remainder of the box that was causing all the leading and another, unopened box to the Speer/CCI factory in Idaho. After a couple of months they sent me four (4!!!) boxes of the individually boxed 500 round (I asked for that) ammo. So I sent in about 750 rounds of defective ammo and they sent me 2000 rds of good stuff. Works for me.
So all this wordiness is to say that perhaps you got ahold of some of that (or other) defective ammo and it is causing problems in your gun? Clean the barrel really good and then after you shoot 50-100 rds (that's what I did...) look up the barrel for build up or trash or whatever. You may need to just clean more frequently while using a certain ammo, use it up, don't buy it again and find another that works and STICK WITH IT!!! Good Luck!
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BT22 orSR22
The BT 22 needs high velocity ammo at 1200fps or higher. It is more accurate than the SR22. I have not had any problems after 200 round break in. Actually no problems out of the box except when using cheap ammo. Stay away from federal champion blue box and cci standard velocity. I tried many brands. Just experiment.
Good 22ammo has gone down in price so don't be a cheapskate. I use a lot of Blazer round lead nose at $4 per box. Works well in both guns. I clean the gun after every range trip. They really get dirty-even the mag.
Actually, in a pinch I would use the BT22 for defense. You can empty the whole mag accurately in just a few seconds.
Replaced the grips with grip with a 3 finger grooves in front. Great feel.
Good luck. Be safe. And keep shooting until the mag is empty.
I own bought of these. The SR22 eats almost any ammo. Fairly accurate and fun to shoot.
The BT 22 needs high velocity ammo at 1200fps or higher. It is more accurate than the SR22. I have not had any problems after 200 round break in. Actually no problems out of the box except when using cheap ammo. Stay away from federal champion blue box and cci standard velocity. I tried many brands. Just experiment.
Good 22ammo has gone down in price so don't be a cheapskate. I use a lot of Blazer round lead nose at $4 per box. Works well in both guns. I clean the gun after every range trip. They really get dirty-even the mag.
Actually, in a pinch I would use the BT22 for defense. You can empty the whole mag accurately in just a few seconds.
Replaced the grips with grip with a 3 finger grooves in front. Great feel.
Good luck. Be safe. And keep shooting until the mag is empty.
Why Can,t it shoot bullets
As we used to say, many years ago, "When all else fails, read the manual."
You can DL it from Bersa Web Site.
A couple of things that you may not see on other gun manuals.
1. Clean the gun before you fire it.
2. Clean the gun after each firing.
3. Needs High Velocity ammo.
4 Recommended ammo:CCI Stinger,Mini-Mags,Tactical. Remington Viper, Remington Golden.
I suspect that about any copper jacket will work, but I don't know that.
oldnewbie (in NC, where we can't tell our sexes apart)
As we used to say, many years ago, "When all else fails, read the manual."
You can DL it from Bersa Web Site.
A couple of things that you may not see on other gun manuals.
1. Clean the gun before you fire it.
2. Clean the gun after each firing.
3. Needs High Velocity ammo.
4 Recommended ammo:CCI Stinger,Mini-Mags,Tactical. Remington Viper, Remington Golden.
I suspect that about any copper jacket will work, but I don't know that.
oldnewbie (in NC, where we can't tell our sexes apart)
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98 Posts
I have been shooting since I was 8 (55 years ago). In all those years, I have had more FTF, and other malfunctions from 22 LR than all other calibers put together! Those other calibers include untold tens of thousands (f not hundreds of thousands) rounds fired in 7 years military and 22 years Law Enforcement (much of the time as a firearms instructor and range master), and as a competition shooter. Quality control on 22 LR is not to the standards of other ammo. The cartridge design itself (small powder charges, heeled bullets, and iffy rimfire ignition) also lends itself to having issues. Blame the 22 ammo, not the weapon.
As far as 22, I have had great luck in a Ruger MK I semi-auto pistol with CCI Mini-mag (round nose) and CCI Stinger.
Additional: .38 S&W (not .38 Special) is another caliber that started as black powder cartridge switched to smokeless. I have loaded .38 S&W for my 1890 vintage top break H&R pocket Pistol. It has tiny smokeless powder charges, and is difficult to load consistent loads without actually weighing each powder charge.
As far as 22, I have had great luck in a Ruger MK I semi-auto pistol with CCI Mini-mag (round nose) and CCI Stinger.
Additional: .38 S&W (not .38 Special) is another caliber that started as black powder cartridge switched to smokeless. I have loaded .38 S&W for my 1890 vintage top break H&R pocket Pistol. It has tiny smokeless powder charges, and is difficult to load consistent loads without actually weighing each powder charge.
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