What’s 22long good for?

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Axis II

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I maybe able to get my hands on a full ammo can of Winchester X 22long. I haven’t for a clue about 22long so can I use this for squirrel hunting and punching paper? I own a savage mark II.

should I pass or snatch it up?
 
Your Savage should be fine with it, it will do most things a LR will do. If the Savage is your only option it may be worth it to buy some to try if possible to be sure as it is a bit shorter. If the price is right though it should be easy to move these days if your Savage doesn't like it.
 
You could possibly have mag feed problems since the OAL's are different, but it won't blow up your mark II.

ETA: I should say if the OALs are different. I think a lot of manufacturers (not sure about Winchester) use 22lr cases for 22long, so it may be a moot point. If that's the case then the only difference will be bullet weight.
 
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Won't put a crud ring in your chamber like shorts but has a tad more power. If cheap, grab em. Accuracy, meh.
 
You could possibly have mag feed problems since the OAL's are different, but it won't blow up your mark II.

ETA: I should say if the OALs are different. I think a lot of manufacturers (not sure about Winchester) use 22lr cases for 22long, so it may be a moot point. If that's the case then the only difference will be bullet weight.
What if this stuffs 30-40yo?
 
I killed a lot of jackrabbits in my youth with 22 longs. They worked fine in first "real" gun, my Model 55 Winchester - a single-shot automatic.
I maybe able to get my hands on a full ammo can of Winchester X 22long.
Is it a good buy on the Winchester 22 longs? I can't remember for sure, but it seems like 22 longs were a little cheaper than 22LRs back when I was spotlighting jacks with my folks. But then again, that was 60 years ago - a dime cheaper a box really meant something back then.;)
 
I believe the 22 long rifle was developed by using a heavier bullet in the 22 long case. Apparently one can kill a very large bear with it. https://www.ammoland.com/2014/11/wh...a-world-record-grizzly-in-1953/#axzz6SDzoP5wv I kid, of course.

It was popular when it cost a bit less than the newfangled 22 LR, but is a bit of a rarity these days. There should be no harm to the gun other than perhaps more leading due to desiccation of the bullet lube. If there is any original packaging, that and the contents may have collector value. Otherwise, in the words of Troy Landry, "Choot 'em".
 
Even if you have to pay a modest cost for them I would grab them before someone else does. They are very usable for small game and plinking. They may not work great in some autos but they can be used in revolvers, bolts, and many autos. You can also use them for trade, or sell for a profit. Never look a gift horse in the mouth as they say, and even a cheap buy qualifies in this case.
 
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I have a box of 500 hi speed 22long still.
Accuracy to 30 yds is meh.
But they will feed through most anything manual that'll feed 22lr, autoloaders (my 3 10-22s hate em)malf on em sometimes.
The case length is the same just a lighter projectile (eg slightly shorter).

Shoot em if you got em. Especially if cheap.
 
I have no idea about how good the new long ammo is but as a kid I killed a lot of jackrabbits, ground squirrels, and gophers with it. It was cheaper and I had very little money. When I became a wage earner I put shorts and long behind me for the more expensive long rifle hollow points that allowed me longer range shots where I didn't have to be as sneaky to get close. I would take them if they were fairly cheap just to plink with. They are an effective coke can killer within a certain range.
 
FWIW, my Mark II will cycle shorts with no issues. I know every individual gun behaves a little differently, but there's a good chance yours will be fine with longs.
 
There you go! Even if you can't use 'em, save 'em and trade 'em off for something you can use/need.
I just have to talk my girlfriend Into giving them
to me. They belonged to her dad who sold everything 20yrs ago and she doesn’t want to get rid of them but doesn’t have a use for them. The ammo can was hidden in the house for 20yrs and recently found.
 
Like other folks have said, nothing wrong with them per say. Assuming good storage they should be fine for use in a bolt action. Some of us even have older semis that would eat them up (Click-Clack, Click-Clack!)

Like some others around here past SSI age I bought them as a kid because back when they were cheaper than LR. Small game inside 30 yards will not know the difference between these and LR solids.

Accuracy will in general not be as good as LR at ranges beyond 30 yards with the light and short bullet, but still decent "plinking accuracy" for cans or clay pidgeons on the back stop, just not for making single holes at 50 yards with five shots! Also given the accuracy of some bulk brands today it might not be bad at all in comparison.....

The price is certainly right and as Gunny suggested, if they had been offered to me, I would be sitting here with my feet propped up on the can of them at the moment while typing to you guys about my good luck.

-kBob
 
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