22 WMR Bolt Rifle

Do you rebarrel? I'd go with a Remington in the 58- series. 581, etc.

I wonder if a rem 33 would hold up, it's got the bolt handle and a good size lug. Would be fun with a single shot. I've got one it shoots so good I'd hate to mess it up.

If you could find one, a Savage Cub Youth Model, Cub T for thumbhole (what I have). It’s a full size receiver and bolt (single-shot) with lighter barrel/shortened stock. T/C Hotshot, also a youth model of a scaled down Encore. Unfortunately both are nearly unobtanium and discontinued.

I happen to have two box mag bolt rifles of the "same" make and model with one in .22LR and .22WMR.

Besides the chamber differences, the .22WMR version has a longer bolt throw, longer ejection port, longer magazines (cartridge length), and the bolt face cut for the larger rim size. The bolt handle is the locking lug on both of these guns and they appear identical.

Of course some .22LR/.22WMR guns have a bolt face and bolt throw with a mag well that will accommodate both cartridges. Makes me think of the switch barrel and switch magazine CZ455 rimfire rifles.

Zastava made rimfires. .22WMR on top. .22LR on bottom.
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This is probably not what you have in mind but I’ve been wanting to convert a Savage Rascal to 22 mag. I think it would be a neat little survival gun.

Left is a Savage Rascal, right is the Cub T. The picture isn’t great but the proportions of the Cub are full size, using the newer E-Series receiver. The only issue with the Cub is that the rear peep is unusable, being set too low for my kids to use, thus the scope. Wish I had tracked down more of them.

One advantage of the Remington 58x is that is a scaled down version of the 788 action.

My 582 is a tack driver with the right ammo. But then, so is my 788.

They were built over a very long period of time. Mine was built in the mid- to late-60's, but they were built well into the 90's.

Does the smaller bore of the .22 LR barrel cause any problems when converting to the wider bullet used by the .22 mag.?

I would just look for a CZ 455 combo and enjoy. I have a 455 Lux with both an LR and Mag barrel. Both barrels shoot like a dream.

Seamaster31 said:

Does the smaller bore of the .22 LR barrel cause any problems when converting to the wider bullet used by the .22 mag.?

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Believe there's about .001 in different in the bore spec so that won't hurt but the 22mag is almost twice the psi.

Seamaster31 said:

Does the smaller bore of the .22 LR barrel cause any problems when converting to the wider bullet used by the .22 mag.?

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Not so much, it’s only .001”

Lilja also makes drop-in barrels for CZ (455/457) & Sako Quad Rcvrs. I have had success making a decent target rifle out of the Sako action. A CZ 455 with a aftermarket barrel would be a better starting point. A PT&G bolt in a 40X rimfire receiver would be my first/top pick but then there is finding a receiver. I would also want to see what Bergara could offer as a WMR barreled action.

I have a Ruger American Rimfire in 22 Mag that shoots really well. What is the advantage of converting a 22 LR.

Was going to suggest the inexpensive little Ruger American too. But since you're a man with a chambering reamer, I get it

troy fairweather said:

Believe there's about .001 in different in the bore spec so that won't hurt but the 22mag is almost twice the psi.

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Believe it or not, the PSI is virtually the same between .22 LR and .22 WMR.

https://saami.org/wp-content/upload....1-Rimfire-2015-R2018-Approved-2018-06-13.pdf

The biggest issues I see with such an endeavor are with feeding the longer case using a shorter repeating action to start with. Might become a bit of a money pit for converting a repeater rather than a single shot.

Stay safe.

For what's it worth, I asked my gunsmith about rechambering an H&R/NEF Handirifle in .22 LR and he advised against it due to bore size.

Last ones I measured, it came out to .222 vs .224.

DM

Catpop said:

I am thinking of converting another 22 LR bolt action to a 22 WMR. The last one I did, way back in the 1970s, was a tack driver. A pretty little Winchester 310 single shot I think! But alas I traded it off! Drats!!!
Question: What make and model would you use as a starting point? Prefer single shot, but clip fed would work as a second choice. Don’t want a tube mag. I’ve been looking in all the pawn shops I get to visit, but all I see are autos which will not work for this project.

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Save yourself the hassle and the money. Buy yourself the Ruger Precision Rifle in 22 WMR it is one of the sweetest rifles I have ever shot. And as surprising as this may be. The Rossi RS22 another spectacular 22WMR Rifle which does not break the bank.