.22 LR spitzer bullets

[Oldtimer]

While researching .22LR ballistics, I came across a website that is advertising South African Swartklip ammunition.  It is loaded with a 35 gr spitzer bullet with a MV of 1410 f/s out of a 24 inch barrel.  The price is $30.00 for 200 and the company requires a $90 minimum order.  Here is the url: http://www.armscorpusa.com/Products/oddsand.html.  Has anyone had any experience with this round?

[KYsquirrelsniper]

I don't have any experience with them (have heard of them though), but I can tell you that it's virtually pointless (pun intended) to make a spitzer bullet for a 22LR because of the velocity range in which the cartridge operates. At 22LR velocities the standard old round nose design is about as efficient as you can get. Until you have a cartridge that stays above the transonic zone for a good portion of its flight, there's really no reason to have a spitzer bullet.

Don't believe me? Just look around at other cartridges that operate mostly in the 1000-1400fps range and see how many have spitzer bullets. There's a reason for that

[Zachary]

I don't necessarily think of aerodynamics in the case of a spritzer .22LR.  Some of the ploy-tipped bullets expand much quicker than solid-lead nosed bullets, and that's a great reason to use them.  I guess that you could argue the use of hollow-points, and there's nothing wrong with that, but there should be a 30 to 38 grain poly-tipped .22 bullet specifically made to expand violently at .22LR velocities.

I know that Remington has a .33 V-Max type bullet in its .22 Win Mag line.  I wonder if this same bullet would perform similarly at .22LR velocities.  My guess is that it would not - otherwise Remington would load them up in their .22LR line.

Zachary

[S.S.]

At these low velocities, I do not see the real benefits.
More of a Gimmick than a useful advance in technology I would bet.

[Keith L]

"I know that Remington has a .33 V-Max type bullet in its .22 Win Mag line.  I wonder if this same bullet would perform similarly at .22LR velocities.  My guess is that it would not - otherwise Remington would load them up in their .22LR line."


I recall that there is a diameter difference between .22 and .22 Mag.  I am at work and the network here blocks most things that relate to guns and shooting (this is an outdoors site-the saving grace), so I can't find dimentions here.  But a size difference would account for the lack of that bullet option perhaps.

[KYsquirrelsniper]

I know that Remington has a .33 V-Max type bullet in its .22 Win Mag line.  I wonder if this same bullet would perform similarly at .22LR velocities.  My guess is that it would not - otherwise Remington would load them up in their .22LR line.

I recall that there is a diameter difference between .22 and .22 Mag.  I am at work and the network here blocks most things that relate to guns and shooting (this is an outdoors site-the saving grace), so I can't find dimentions here.  But a size difference would account for the lack of that bullet option perhaps.

Not only is the 22mag bullet slightly larger in diameter, but there's two other things that would prevent the same bullet being used in the 22LR. #1 - The 22mag uses a real copper jacket, while nearly all 22LRs are simply copper washed. The copper jacket would increase friction, which would increase pressure, which would then lead to a decrease in powder charge and very poor velocity. #2 - The 22LR uses healed bullets which are basically held by the case mouth, the 22mag uses a normal bullet design seated into the case.

[S.S.]

.22LR = 223
.22mag = 224
Not much, But enough.
.22LR using a heel type bullet kind
of limits options too.