Federal AutoMatch vs Winchester 333 vs CCI Blazer: Which Bulk .22 Runs Best?

Bulk .22 is the one purchase almost every rimfire owner makes over and over, and the brand on the box usually comes down to what was on the shelf. That works until a new semi-auto starts stovepiping, or a pistol that ran fine last month will not finish a magazine. Then the differences between bulk loads start to matter.

These three are among the most common plinking packs you will see. This is a paper comparison built from the manufacturers' and retailers' published specifications. We have not run these loads ourselves, and no published source can tell you how your specific gun will behave. What the specs can do is tell you where to start.

The specs side by side

Velocities are what the makers or retailers list, typically from rifle-length test barrels. Expect less from a pistol. Our guide to ammo that cycles in .22 pistols explains why that matters.

Federal AutoMatch: the name tells you the goal

Federal sells AutoMatch under its Champion Training line, part number AM22. It is a 40-grain lead round nose at a listed 1,200 fps, packed 325 rounds to a box. The name signals what Federal is aiming for: feeding semi-automatics. Retailers commonly pitch it for the Ruger 10/22 and other semi-auto rifles.

The round-nose profile is the friendliest shape for feed ramps and tube magazines, and a 40-grain bullet at high velocity gives most blowback actions plenty of energy to cycle. The 325-round box is a convenient size: big enough for an afternoon, small enough to carry.

When we checked Ammunition Depot's .22 LR catalog for this article, we did not find AutoMatch listed. The closest Federal equivalent there was the Federal Champion Training 40-grain lead round nose range pack, listed at 1,200 fps in an 800-round box. Same bullet type and listed speed, different packaging.

CCI Blazer: brass, not aluminum

Blazer is the CCI name most shooters associate with aluminum-cased centerfire ammo, which confuses people at the .22 shelf. The .22 LR version uses brass cases. Rimfire ignition depends on the firing pin crushing the soft rim, and retailers note aluminum is too hard for that job.

CCI lists Blazer 22 LR as a 40-grain lead round nose at 1,235 fps, with a ballistic coefficient of .133, in 50-round boxes. Retailers also sell it in 500-round packs. CCI's own product text says the loads "cycle particularly well in semi-automatic rifles," and it frames the round for plinking and small-game use.

Of the three, Blazer comes from the same factory family as CCI's better-known rimfire lines. If you are curious about that history, read our CCI brand story. If your gun is fussy and you want to step up within CCI, CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain is the usual next move.

Winchester 333: the odd number with the hollow point

The Winchester 333 pack is the outlier. Instead of a lead round nose, it is a 36-grain copper-plated hollow point. Ammunition Depot lists it at 1,280 fps and 131 ft-lb, with 333 rounds per box and ten boxes to a 3,330-round case.

Two practical differences follow from that bullet. The copper plating keeps lead off your hands and reduces lead fouling compared with bare lead. The hollow point gives a flatter nose, which can matter in guns with tight feed geometry; most modern semi-autos handle it fine, but if yours is picky about bullet shape, this is the one to test first rather than last.

Which suits which action?

Here is how the specs map onto action types. This is a starting point, not a promise: individual guns vary, and the only reliable test is your own.

How to buy bulk without regret

1. Buy small first. One box of each candidate. Run at least a few full magazines through each gun you own.
2. Write down what happens. Failures to feed, failures to eject, duds and rough groups, by load and by gun. A simple log beats memory.
3. Clean before you judge. A dirty chamber can make good ammo look bad. Start each test with a clean gun.
4. Then buy the brick. Once a load runs in your gun, a case of it is cheaper per round and saves you from guessing next time.

Ammunition Depot's bulk .22 LR category is where cases and range packs live. The broader .22 LR ammo category has the single boxes for testing. For working out true cost per round across packs of different sizes, use the method in Is .22 LR back under a dime a round?

The bottom line

AutoMatch and Blazer are close cousins: 40-grain round noses at high velocity, built to cycle semi-autos. Winchester's 333 pack takes a different route with a lighter copper-plated hollow point at a higher listed speed. None is the universal winner. The winner is whichever one your gun eats without complaint, bought in the largest pack you can store properly.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer information, retailer listings and published reporting. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices aren't influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.