Bore Slugging Request - .22RF

[wookie76]

In case you don't follow the wildcat section, there's a nice ongoing salon wondering about a suitable donor for a possible 5.45x39 to take advantage of the cheap commie ammo.  The initial speculation was that a .22 Hornet would work.

There was some confusion on the bullet size, so I bought a paper pack out of a spam can at the gunshow today.  A quick caliper check showed .219-.220 against some reference Prvi .223 I had on hand that ran .222-.223.  We were wondering if the .22RF barrels were slightly smaller and would work as a donor, as many of the custom barrel makers show their .22RF as slightly smaller than the .223 offerings.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[gcrank1]

In my experience the soft steel barrels of .22 rimfires are quickly shot out with hotter jacketed loads. This is a generalization on older .22 barrels, not H&Rs specifically. I think the sizes dont match good enough either, gas will be getting by the bullet base and that is hard on the throat and grooves.

[wookie76]

Hmm, it's looking more and more like a no go without a barrel stub, then.  Which of course negates the point of cheap commie ammo.

[PHATINJUN]

My M157 .22 hornet is .221 as is My M158 .22 Rem Jet. Although a guy should be strung up for rechambering either of those 2 Models. Kurt

[gcrank1]

Here is some info from C.E. Haris in Gun Disgest 1994, p.11; bore/groove dimensions:
.22LR are .217/.222
.22WMR   .219/.224