.22 Mag and .22 LR from same barrel?

[epochelyptikal]

Evenin'

So in working on my Single Six lately, I was doing some research into .22 magnum vs. .22 LR and I got two quick questions...

The bullet size of a .22 mag is ~.224 and the bullet size of the .22 LR, S, and L is ~.218.  I assume the .22 LR cannot be fired out of the .22 Magnum cylinder due to the fact that the .22 LR is too narrow for a solid fit in the chamber.  Is this the only reason?

And this leads me to the second question:  How, if the .22 mag bullet is larger than the .22 LR, can both rounds be fired down the same barrel without one losing desired accuracy?

I suspect the barrel is sized for the mag round and the .22 LR just kinda' rattles around in there a bit more than in a dedicated .22 LR barrel?

OK, I guess that's really 3 questions.  Thanks!
Epoch

[Bullseye]

Not sure you have the 22lr diameter right, it is smaller than a mag but I thought it was bigger than .218.  Other than the first question you are Right and Right.

I have had two SS and Magnums always shot better than LR's.

[Jerry Lester]

I've measured quite a few different styles of 22 long rifle bullets over the years, and .222" is about average for most, although they can, and do vary slightly.

The Single Sixes are bored at .224" for the magnums like you said. The magnum rounds use jacketed .224" bullets. The 22 LR rounds use soft lead bullets, and on firing, they slug up to fit the barrel so they tend to shoot just fine.

Actually, it's not at all uncommon to find the 22 LR's shooting better than the magnums in a Single Six.

[Robert357]

And this leads me to the second question:  How, if the .22 mag bullet is larger than the .22 LR, can both rounds be fired down the same barrel without one losing desired accuracy?

I own a 32 Auto subcaliber insert that can be used in a 30-06 rifle.  That insert allows me to shoot a .312 inch bullet in a .308 rifle barrel (0.004 difference).  In rifles, people regularly shoot jacketed .312 bullets (wide .303 brit) in .310 barrels (MN1891/30).  In fact for cast lead bullets you are suppose to be at least 0.01 to 0.02 inches larger than the barrel grove to "seal" the barrel.

I have fired .308 bullets and .310 bullets in an MN1891/30 with a .310 bore and the size difference at 100 yards on a group of 5 shots may be about 1/2 inch with iron sights (i.e 2 to 2.5 versus 2.5 to 3.0 inch 100-yard groups).

You measured size difference .224 versus ~.218 is about 0.06 and the lead on most 22's is pretty soft. That is about what my .32 Auto insert difference is in my 30-06 and that is a jacketed bullet not soft lead.

[Lloyd Smale]

its the main reason you will never get target grade accuracy out of a singel six.

[epochelyptikal]

Thanks, all.  What started this was the idea that .22 LR might be able to be shot out of the mag cyclinder, but that was obviously quickly dispelled.  As far as the bullet/barrel dimensions, thanks for the updated info.

I will say that with the exception of Federal 50 grain magnums, the LR has been much more accurate from my particular single six.  Many magnums were in a 5" pattern at 10 yards!  But the Federal 50s sucked right up and printed nicely.  All Winchester variety LR printed in the 1-2" range.  Not too shabby, IMO.

Thanks again, everyone.  It's appreciated.
Epoch

[mparks]

Good info.

I also have a Single-Six that shows good accuracy with every LR round I've tried but terrible with every WMR load.  I'll have to try the 50 grainers because I want a little more pop for woodchucks.  All in all, I bought the Single-Six for practice and I'm happy enough the cheap Rem Lightning LR shells are accurate enough for squirrel hunting and targets.  A great six-gun if I never use the WMR cylinder!

[Jerry Lester]

Good info.

I also have a Single-Six that shows good accuracy with every LR round I've tried but terrible with every WMR load.  I'll have to try the 50 grainers because I want a little more pop for woodchucks.  All in all, I bought the Single-Six for practice and I'm happy enough the cheap Rem Lightning LR shells are accurate enough for squirrel hunting and targets.  A great six-gun if I never use the WMR cylinder!

Not trying to hijack the post, but have you tried the CCI TNT 22 magnums? They're awsome in my 5.5" Single Six in both accuracy, and performance on game. Winchester Supremes are also very accurate.

One more note;

I've found that if I don't thoroughly clean the barrels on Single Sixes after shooting long rifles through them, the magnums can really shoot erratically. After a very good cleaning, I've seen 22 magnum groups, depending on the ammo, shrink from 3"-4" at 20-25 yards down to 2" or less.

[mparks]

I shot some 50 gr Federals yesterday from my 5.5" Single-Six and am happy to report that accuracy was very good.  I think the 50gr load will be just the ticket for woodchucks at short range.  I bought this revolver for practice so I plan I doing most of my shooting with .22LR.

I did have to clean out a ton of leading just forward of the forcing cone before I shot.  I've been shooting cheap Rem Thunderbolt .22LRs that are very accurate but apparently I need to get out the wire brush every 500 rounds or so :-)   I did clean the barrel before my previous tests with CCI 40gr JHP and Win white box 40gr JHP and accuracy was non-existant.

[Robert]

The main problem is that the cases split on the 22 long-rifle ammo if used in the 22Mag cylinder.  But.....you can use CCI's CB ammo in the mag cylinder.  They are not powerful enough to split the cases and get stuck in the cylinder, but they are still very effective for patroling my chicken coop.  I tried to get a 22 rf cylinder from other sources than Ruger, but so far no success.  If I send my single into Ruger, they will do the hammer conversion whether I want it or not, and that is not acceptable...It is MY gun....I want it to stay original.

[Jerry Lester]

I shot some 50 gr Federals yesterday from my 5.5" Single-Six and am happy to report that accuracy was very good.  I think the 50gr load will be just the ticket for woodchucks at short range.  I bought this revolver for practice so I plan I doing most of my shooting with .22LR.

I did have to clean out a ton of leading just forward of the forcing cone before I shot.  I've been shooting cheap Rem Thunderbolt .22LRs that are very accurate but apparently I need to get out the wire brush every 500 rounds or so :-)   I did clean the barrel before my previous tests with CCI 40gr JHP and Win white box 40gr JHP and accuracy was non-existant.

Try CCI TNT's or Winchester Supreme's in your magnum cylinder. Both these have been accurate in my Single Six, as well as quite a few others I've tried them in. If you switch from long rifles to magnums, be sure to scrub the barrel thoroughly. I've found that the magnums won't shoot very accurately at all unless youstart them out in a clean barrel. I guess the lube, and fouling of the long rifles causes problems with the jacketed magnum bullets.

The 50g Federals, and CCI 50g Gold Dots penetrate very deeply, but they don't do much damage on groundhog(woodchuck) sized critters so the killing power is not too reliable. Either of the two I mentioned will consistantly thump a groundhog up to 30+ yards with a good chest shot.