Remington Thunderbolts

rmocarsky · February 25, 2013, 08:53 PM

I have a box of decades-old Remington Thunderbolt .22LR that I opened today and while handling the rounds, my fingers got filthy in no time flat.

Is this normal with Thunderbolts, or are they deteriorating?

They seem so dirty that they would take no time at all to foul a semi-auto.

Rmocarsky

Old Grump · February 26, 2013, 03:45 PM

That's the way they are, you handle them you will get dirty, you shoot them your gun will get dirty. They still work reasonably well for a reasonable price and I will buy a brick if my favorites aren't handy without any qualms. Lava soap or GoJo works well to get your hands clean again. Just don't use the guest towel or the bathroom curtains to wipe off the excess. Women folk get testy about things like that.

Mauser8mm · February 27, 2013, 04:50 PM

Old Grump is correct! Do not wipe your hands on something you or someone else cares about!! You will regret it!

wogpotter · February 27, 2013, 05:08 PM

One of the "oddities" of rimfire is that it's not reloadable. Because of this you have to match whatever factory load is "right", or "best" for your firearm, thus kinda-sorta "reloading for your particular firearm's preferences"

My 10-22 is absolutely thrilled with the super el-cheapo Remington Thunderbolts, so I use them all the time & save a few bucks as well.

Now I know they're poorly thought of in some areas, but they've never actually caused any problems in my rifle, & they are the most accurate of all the variatioins of .22RF I tried! I just ignore the "dirt" & keep shooting them. Its never been a problem so I don't worry about it at all.

Boomer58cal · March 3, 2013, 09:10 PM

I avoid them at all cost. Bad experiences. I love the golden bullets although in these times of empty shelves may reconsider if that's all I could find. I've had allot of fail to fires and vertical strings though. I could hear the difference from shot to shot. My .02

wogpotter · March 4, 2013, 07:45 AM

Just went to the range yesterday. Fired 2 boxes of the "Newer, crappier" Thunderbolts.
Zero malfunctions, excellent accuracy in my plinking rifle, a box standard 10-22, all 10 round groups under 1/2" @ 25 yds.

Anyone benighted enough to be sufffering with these I'll gladly take them off your hands for a small fee.

elDiabloLoco · March 4, 2013, 08:46 AM

+1 for Wogpotter.

T-bolts work great in my 35 year old Marlin model 60. Anyone looking to dump a few cases of them, I'll split them with Wog.

North East Redneck · March 4, 2013, 09:31 AM

I bought some once. IIRC I had about 3%-4% FTF. This in about 300 rounds. Never bought em again.
They are in fact the only rimfire round that I have ever had fail.

Shadi Khalil · May 10, 2013, 08:02 PM

Never had an issue with Thunder bolts in my MKIII, however, my friends model Marlin 60 that will not feed them at all.

BerdanSS · May 13, 2013, 05:50 PM

They are dirty, but I've shot thousands of them without issue....the same can't be said for federal

TX Hunter · May 15, 2013, 02:18 PM

Yep the good ole Thunder Bolt, dirty, cheap, will foul a bore. I know, but I have brought down many a Coon, that My Hounds treed with them. Also killed a few bayed Hogs with them and alot of Squirrels and small other Varmits. I wouldnt worry about the residue, It wont hurt anything.

iShoot17 · May 15, 2013, 04:50 PM

I guess all rimfires are different.. but I have had the exact opposite results as Berdan.

My Marlin M60 absolutely hated Thunderbolts. It was my first rimfire and so I stopped buying them. I switched to Federal Bulk boxes and all of my rimfire .22LRs love them. (Marlin, Henry, CZ, Ruger, and old school Savage 15A.)

I never minded the dirty factor, but hated the accuracy.

February 25, 2013, 08:53 PM	#1
rmocarsky Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Posts: 406	Remington Thunderbolts I have a box of decades-old Remington Thunderbolt .22LR that I opened today and while handling the rounds, my fingers got filthy in no time flat. Is this normal with Thunderbolts, or are they deteriorating? They seem so dirty that they would take no time at all to foul a semi-auto. Rmocarsky

February 26, 2013, 03:45 PM	#2
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	That's the way they are, you handle them you will get dirty, you shoot them your gun will get dirty. They still work reasonably well for a reasonable price and I will buy a brick if my favorites aren't handy without any qualms. Lava soap or GoJo works well to get your hands clean again. Just don't use the guest towel or the bathroom curtains to wipe off the excess. Women folk get testy about things like that. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

February 27, 2013, 04:50 PM	#3
Mauser8mm Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2012 Location: Near Gainesville Fl. Posts: 224	Old Grump Is Right! Old Grump is correct! Do not wipe your hands on something you or someone else cares about!! You will regret it!

February 27, 2013, 05:08 PM	#4
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	One of the "oddities" of rimfire is that it's not reloadable. Because of this you have to match whatever factory load is "right", or "best" for your firearm, thus kinda-sorta "reloading for your particular firearm's preferences" My 10-22 is absolutely thrilled with the super el-cheapo Remington Thunderbolts, so I use them all the time & save a few bucks as well. Now I know they're poorly thought of in some areas, but they've never actually caused any problems in my rifle, & they are the most accurate of all the variatioins of .22RF I tried! I just ignore the "dirt" & keep shooting them. Its never been a problem so I don't worry about it at all. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 4, 2013, 07:45 AM	#6
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Just went to the range yesterday. Fired 2 boxes of the "Newer, crappier" Thunderbolts. Zero malfunctions, excellent accuracy in my plinking rifle, a box standard 10-22, all 10 round groups under 1/2" @ 25 yds. Anyone benighted enough to be sufffering with these I'll gladly take them off your hands for a small fee. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 3, 2013, 09:10 PM	#5
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	I avoid them at all cost. Bad experiences. I love the golden bullets although in these times of empty shelves may reconsider if that's all I could find. I've had allot of fail to fires and vertical strings though. I could hear the difference from shot to shot. My .02

March 4, 2013, 08:46 AM	#7
elDiabloLoco Member Join Date: December 18, 2012 Location: USA Posts: 77	+1 for Wogpotter. T-bolts work great in my 35 year old Marlin model 60. Anyone looking to dump a few cases of them, I'll split them with Wog.

March 4, 2013, 09:31 AM	#8
North East Redneck Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2012 Location: Berkshire Hills Posts: 741	I bought some once. IIRC I had about 3%-4% FTF. This in about 300 rounds. Never bought em again. They are in fact the only rimfire round that I have ever had fail. __________________ NRA Patron Member SAF Life Member GOAL Member

May 10, 2013, 08:02 PM	#9
Shadi Khalil Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 5,210	Remington Thunderbolts Never had an issue with Thunder bolts in my MKIII, however, my friends model Marlin 60 that will not feed them at all.

May 13, 2013, 05:50 PM	#10
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Location: to close to other houses Posts: 1,176	They are dirty, but I've shot thousands of them without issue....the same can't be said for federal

May 15, 2013, 02:18 PM	#11
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,805	Yep Yep the good ole Thunder Bolt, dirty, cheap, will foul a bore. I know, but I have brought down many a Coon, that My Hounds treed with them. Also killed a few bayed Hogs with them and alot of Squirrels and small other Varmits. I wouldnt worry about the residue, It wont hurt anything.

May 15, 2013, 04:50 PM	#12
iShoot17 Member Join Date: May 4, 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 26	I guess all rimfires are different.. but I have had the exact opposite results as Berdan. My Marlin M60 absolutely hated Thunderbolts. It was my first rimfire and so I stopped buying them. I switched to Federal Bulk boxes and all of my rimfire .22LRs love them. (Marlin, Henry, CZ, Ruger, and old school Savage 15A.) I never minded the dirty factor, but hated the accuracy.

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