Larger rimfire than .22?

[fishinguy]

I have a 22 wmr in my collection and always wondered why a larger or more powerful rimfire was not developed?   Is there some kind of powder ignition limitation with the rimfire design?  I thought that there was a 30-ish caliber rimfire in the 60's but i could be wrong about that. 

[GregP42]

Back a long time ago, late 1800's there were rimfires up to .44 that I know of, the .32 and .38 rimfires were very popular in both rifle and pistol.

[hardertr]

Other than the 22 and 17, the only rimfire cartridge still in production is the European 9mm Flobert.  Here's some good info for you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rimfire

[DWARREN123]

Because the rimfire case must be weak enough to for the rim to be crushed it can not hold higher pressures needed for more powerful rounds people want now days.

[fishinguy]

thanks guys that answers the questions that I had. 

[Oldtimer]

I have a couple of .32 Rf cartridges in my collection.  My wife's grandfather had one, a Remington rolling block, and it was passed on to her uncle.  A neighbor has a .32 and I bought him some cartridges for it some years ago.  I don't think he has even fired one, but wanted to be able to if he took the notion.   My understanding is that the problem with these cartridges in comparison to the .22 LR was that they were more expensive and had a much higher trajectory.  According to Cartridges of the World, Remington was working on a high power .25 caliber rimfire just before WWII, and that the development of the .22 Magnum killed the possibility of continuing the .25 caliber.

[fishinguy]

In my area there are "non centerfire rifle" seasons for hogs and small game.  I am currently using either my .22 mag or a 12 ga.  I was just wondering what other options I had available and was always curious to what else was out there.

[Oldtimer]

If you are looking for something to take hogs with, then there is the old Swiss military round. In the US it was called the .41 Swiss. It was used in the Vetterli rifle, which, if I  remember correctly, had a dual point firing pin.  It was loaded in smokeless powder by weveral American companies into the early 40's and was available through the 50's.  I think that Sears sold it mailorder until the 60's.  The Swiss cartridge was designated the 10.4 x 38R and was loaded with black powder.  I have no idea where you might find a rifle or the cartridges, but it was considered a minimal deer class loading.

[S.S.]

I believe rimfires went up to 56 or 58 caliber.
They were underpowered due to the case material limitations.
Most were copper. I will try to post a pic of the ones I have.
The first Henry Lever-actions were in .44 rimfire Flat point.
I believe the last rimfire to die out was a .32 that was last marketed by
a Canadian firm (Dominion I think)

[Mikey]

I believe the early Spencer rifles in 52 caliber were rimfire but not sure.  Mikey.