Author Topic: .22 Magnum? (Read 2560 times)

Mrserenity · « **on:** December 27, 2004, 06:58:45 AM »

Out of a 2 inch barrel revolver, would the 22 mag still have a significant amount more power than the 22lr? If so, how much? Also, what's the best ammo to use for the 22 mag. for target or back up defense?

Jim101 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2004, 03:22:45 AM »

Can't wait to see the answers, I recently got an NAA Mini-Mag. .22 with the 1 1/8th inch barrel. I have been shooting CCI +V's.

Jim

B_Koes · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2004, 06:22:48 AM »

I wish I could remember where I saw the results of some tests, but the unquantified answer to your question is yes. The 22WMR still has quite a bit more power than the 22LR from a short barrel. I want to say that a standard 40gr loading was still going something like 1400-1500 fps from a 2" barrel. A standard 22LR high velocity round is only traveling something like 1250fps from a rifle...much closer to 1050 from a pistol.

Greybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2004, 08:09:29 AM »

More yes. Significantly more? Guess that depends on your definition of significan't I sure don't think the numbers in the post before this one are anywhere near what you'd expect.

From rifle length barrels you're looking at about 600 fps difference. From a 2" barrel? Dunno. Both are gonna be down a bunch but I kinda doubt you'd see more than 200-300 fps difference and am not at all sure it would be that much. That short barrel just doesn't give anyone of them much of a start.

I've never chrono'ed any from such a short barrel and don't recall ever seeing a comparison from anyone who has.

B_Koes · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2004, 09:23:27 AM »

I did a quick Google (search) for ".22 magnum short barrel" and found a couple of helpful links. Paco Kelly wrote about some numbers that I must have been remembering because he was talking about getting 1300-1400 fps from his 6" AMT auto pistol. 22 WMR performance seems to drop off pretty significanly when the barrel gets under 4" because there is a supposed post from a CCI technician talking about their ammo's performance from a 2" revolver yielding only about 900 fps but a 3" barrel would give closer to 1200 fps. Obviously I overestimated the velocity of a 22LR from a stubby barrel...didn't see any specs on that one. So like Graybeard said, I guess it depends what your definition of significant is...

Doc TH · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2004, 06:12:14 PM »

Some time ago, I collected summary data from a large number of published gun tests with chronographed ammo. Given the fairly small sample sizes, it seemed that from 3"-4" barrels, 22 lr hi vel gave max velocity around 950-1000fps. One series of tests reported 1300 fps from 22 mag in 3" barrel. Several other sets reported about 1400 fps from 6" barrel. So, it is not unreasonable to presume that in handguns there will be several hundred fps velocity increase in going from 22 lr to 22 mag. That is, if gunwriters are in general to be believed.

zoyter2 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2005, 08:07:43 AM »

I have a .22 Black Widow which has a 3" bbl. Using my chrono and CCI Stingers vs CCI Maxi-Mags, I hot about 100fps more out of the Magnums. I cannot remember the exact velocities, but if you really are interested, I will test and post. I decided that the extra expence was not worth the small increase.

Win 73 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2005, 03:25:06 PM »

I used to have a NAA Mini Revolver in .22 Mag. It had the (about) 1" barrel. (I don't remember the actual official length.) I bought it because I wanted something small with more punch than my .22 Short Beretta Minx or my Iver Johnson TP22. I don't have a chronograph but I made a slotted box that I could put multiple 1" pine boards in to test for penetration. I then ran penetration tests comparing the Minx .22 Short to the TP22 .22 LR to the NAA .22 Mag.

The LR penetrated most, the Short was second, and the Mag came in dead last! That's right, even the Short penetrated more than the Mag! I even called and talked to CCI. They told me that the .22 Mag was designed as a rifle round and used a slow burning powder. Out of a longer barrel, the Mag has a significant margin over the LR.

I ran my test several years ago. I have been told that now there are loads for the Mag that use a faster burning powder. They might do better in the short barrels. I can't say because I traded the NAA off soon after running that test.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2005, 10:36:22 PM »

A two-inch 22 Mag for defense and target? Is somebody pulling my leg? For plinking maybe, but not target use. As for defense, you'd probably get more reaction to the flash and blast than you would from the ballistics of that dinky bullet going none-too-fast. If you want something for defense, even as a backup, I'd start with something of 38 caliber or larger. A 45 derringer sounds like a better idea!

Papajohn

while99 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2005, 05:43:09 PM »

I had a S&W Model 651 .22 magnum kit gun back in the early 1990s. It had a 3" barrel, I think, but I don't remember for sure. Anyway, with 40 grain Winchester jacketed hollow points I got 1,153 fps. With the Federal 50 grain hollow point load I got 975 fps. I sold the gun because I was an impecunious grad student at the time. I now have a 4" Model 48 and I like it much better than the kit gun but I have not chronographed it.

Tacoma · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2005, 03:08:24 PM »

THANK YOU WHILE99! Actual chrony data for a 22 mag out of anything shorter than a 6" barrel is hard to come buy. Very interesting as that represents a decent drop in velocity from 6"-3" ( Not surprising since the mag uses a slower burning powder.)Sounds like resultant ME from your 3" was in the 100-120 ft-lb range. Probably drop a bit more out of a 2". Not exactly reassuring #'s for PD but good data for comparison.

elyod56 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2005, 05:22:25 PM »

i go by the standard that a long case in comparison to the bore needs lots of barrel. i have a high standard sentnial in 22 mag with a 4" brl and never got a big edge over some of my 22lr pistols. i expect a reward for muzzle blast and noise and the 22 mag in a pistol aint giving it. now in a rifle its a great round!!

Keith L · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2005, 10:19:00 PM »

Gain from a longer barrel is minimal at best in a revolver due to the gap between barrel and chamber. Even with the best lock up you will loose pressure, and with the normal gap a longer barrel's drag may even slow down a bullet. You do get the advantage of better sight radius, but for a defensive weapon that is not a large advantage.