Converting 22 mag to 22 LR

[Wildbuc]

Hi folks, does anyone know if a 22 mag. single shot rifle can be converted to shoot LR's?  I would like to have have a conversion that could be removed from time to time. 

[woodchukhntr]

I imagine that you could make a couple of chamber adaptors and then bore out the existing chamber to accept them, but why bother?  Unless you have a machine shop, it would cost more than buying a 2nd rifle?  .22 LR single shots are readily available and inexpensive.  I would get a H&R with 2 barrels.

[Wildbuc]

I remember reading (vaguely) on the net about taking an existing 22 mag shell, drilling it out, and then using it as an insert for 22 lr's.  It doesn't sound possible but that is what I read.  I have also read that some company somewhere makes inserts to convert 22 mags to LR. 

[dorothy daily]

remember 22lr is .223 and 22mag is .224

[Ladobe]

Harry Owens chamber adapters for doing just such have been around since the 50's.   I have had quite a few of them (not just the rimfire adapters) - still have a few.   How well they work is specific to each firearm.   Some do very well with them, others do very poorly.   Those made from barrel stubs seem to be better than those from solid brass.   Either way they are slow and labor intensive to use.   Current company is called MCA Sports and is in AK.

[SHOOTALL]

I e-mailed them 3 weeks ago and yet to hear back

[mcwoodduck]

For $230.00 I just picked up a Marlin 981 and a Simmons 3-9X32 scope.  It is a tube fed bolt action and it will shoot CB's and Long rifle.
As fast and accuratly as I can cycle the bolt.  there are a lot of used guns out there as well the picture below while bad is a Western auto version os a Springfield #5 (got one of those at the same time but it was in too godd of shape to screw up like this so I gave it to a buddy for his B-day)  But both rifles we $75.00
I think if you search the used rack in your local store a little while you can find something that with a fast coat of paint will work for very little money.  I think the rifle was $30 the mount and the drill and tap were $50 and the paint was $12.  The scope was something I cbought for the pistol to see if I wanted a scoped handgun for targets it's a cheap 2X BSA handgun scope could have been a $30 red dot form walley world.
My point, I know you asked what time it is and I told you how to build a watch is I don't think you are going to be happy with a conversion kit and you may have an oops and stick in a LR when there is no adapter. 

[torpedoman]

i have reamed out 22lr to mag and they shoot great the barrel dia difference  is negligable and if you need to shoot 22lr in a mag just load it and shoot it will work . may foul the chamber a bit so cleaning could be required to go back to the mag.

[Wildbuc]

Well, what about this idea of shooting 22 LR's in a 22 mag gun without modifications.  Any opinions about that?

[Keith L]

I think any time you load a gun with ammo that it wasn't intended to use you are asking for trouble.

Another single shot .22 lr won't cost much.  By the time you get done fooling around you will have less trouble and expense, and more fun.

[mcwoodduck]

I agree.
I think it is a bad Idea.
I have a little Davis O/U derrenger in 22mag and my buddy unloaded it and stuck in a couple of the colibri rounds and shot them out of the gun.  It worked about 1/2 the time.  And the colibri rounds are just a primer.
I would hate to see what could or would happen to a 22LR or one of the hi speed cases in your single shot.  You could ruin the single shot.

[Wildbuc]

Thanks for the tips.  My single shot is actually a Baikal combination gun, with 22 mag on top and 20 gauge on bottom.  I would sure hate to ruin that gun.  My thinking about going to the 22 LR was cheaper cost as well as a wider range of ammo.  Also, if you hit any small game with the 22 mag you could blow it in half.  I suppose if I really wanted to I could get a 22 LR insert for the 20 gauge and have a 22 mag on top and a 22 LR on bottom.     

[Keith L]

I always wanted the Savage version of that.  My Father-in-Law had one in .22lr/410.  When Remington announced they were importing the Baikal the price was quite low and I tried to get one.  No dealer could find me one.  I haven't looked for a couple of years.  Last time I checked I could get a 12 gage centerfire, but they still couldn't get a rimfire model.  Neat gun.

[woodchukhntr]

I agree.
I think it is a bad Idea.
I have a little Davis O/U derrenger in 22mag and my buddy unloaded it and stuck in a couple of the colibri rounds and shot them out of the gun.  It worked about 1/2 the time.  And the colibri rounds are just a primer.
I would hate to see what could or would happen to a 22LR or one of the hi speed cases in your single shot.  You could ruin the single shot.

What happens is the case splits and you get a blast of hot gas in your face.  In case you are wondering how I know that is back in the 60's, as kids, we tried it to keep ammo cost down.  The gun was one of the Savage single shot lever-action rifles in .22 mag.

[pastorp]

The correct reply is only shoot the cartridge it is chambered for in any gun. There are any number of rounds that are interchangable but those are well documented. Like 38spl in 357mag. Unless the gun is old or of inferiour quality that works.

When you begin to shoot rounds that are smaller in diamiter is when you get into trouble. The cases on a lr round will most times split upon fireing in a 22 mag chamber. sometimes they only swell. You are taking a chance and that is your call. It is not wise for any of us to recomend you do it. While I doubt it would blow up you could get hot gasses and bits of brass and powder blown back into your eye.

I have fired 22lr in a 22mag revolver quite a few times with no ill effects to myself. That was my choice and I DO NOT RECOMEND THAT YOU TRY IT. The revolver was further from my eye so I felt it was less of a threat to me. Thats how I know what the lr cases look like when fired in the mag chamber.

In and emergency or survival situation, if thats all you have to work with then you half to decide if the risk is worth it. I will say I own 4 K22's in 22lr, and 2 S&W model 48's to shoot the mags in.

Regards,

[Wildbuc]

Pastorp, I stand convinced!  No 22 LR in a 22 mag for me.