22lr in a 22mag revolver?

Will a 22lr round go off in a 22magnum cylinder

YES


But it will swell the case sometimes splitting it as a 22mag is bigger around at the base than a 22lr case.

Accuracy will be nonexistent as the bullet is unsupported till it finally reaches the end of the cylinder.

So you see while technically possible its far from optimal.




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complains about

Get a revolver with the conversion cylinder

Don't bubba it and stuff a 22lr case in a 22mag chamber, the 22wmr is NOT a bigger 22long rifle case, they're competing rimfire designs, there is not a "parent case" relationship like there is with 38spl and 357magnum or 22short and 22lr

Read up on the rimfire articles on Wikipedia for more detail, but the short version is that the two cartridges are not compatible. Different bullet, different bullet seating, tapered vs straight case, different rim width and thickness, etc etc
All the two cases share is an approximate bore size and rimfire ignition.

You can technically do it, but it is not safe. You don't want to do something that is not safe, right?

One other LGS said you could.

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The folks at gun shops say alot of things....hopefully you realize that the guy behind the counter isn't 100% all-knowing on firearms.

I would never go back to a gun shop that told you that you can fire 22 Long Rifle from a 22 WMR chambered gun. I also would tell everyone I know about that shop.

Like bigfatdave says, the industry doesn't help. Yup. You can shoot .38s through a .357, because they are the same caliber. (!?) But not .22lr v .22 mag. Just because they are the same caliber doesn't mean they are compatible. You're so silly.

Like bigfatdave says, the industry doesn't help.

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A long time ago, I realized that caliber designations are marketing, not descriptive.

In an ideal world, everything would be the same format for caliber naming. I'd prefer {bore size in millimeters} {cartridge length in mm} {descriptive add-on, like designer name or first manufacturer}
But any standardization would be a huge improvement, even if we went to {bore size in decimal inch} {black powder equivalent charge} {inventor or major use}

Until then, you get to research parent cases and backwards-compatibility, then take your chances trying it out.

MCA Sports makes an adaptor that will allow you to fire 22LR in a 22 mag single shot or revolver.
Or I've heard that you can take fired 22 mag brass, grind off the head and a 22LR will fit inside the 22 mag case. Then you can load the whole thing in your revolver and the case won't split when you fire it.

Yes, that sounds....SO worth the trouble.

so I get out the 5 or 6 chamber inserts, load 22lr rounds into them, load the inserts and incorrect rounds into the chamber, fire off the rounds, eject the empties and inserts, get all the inserts off of the empties, and refill the inserts?

Hey, here's an idea, just get a gun that has a conversion cylinder, or just shoot what the gun was designed for in the first place!

so I get out the 5 or 6 chamber inserts, load 22lr rounds into them, load the inserts and incorrect rounds into the chamber, fire off the rounds, eject the empties and inserts, get all the inserts off of the empties, and refill the inserts?

Hey, here's an idea, just get a gun that has a conversion cylinder, or just shoot what the gun was designed for in the first place!

so I get out the 5 or 6 chamber inserts, load 22lr rounds into them, load the inserts and incorrect rounds into the chamber, fire off the rounds, eject the empties and inserts, get all the inserts off of the empties, and refill the inserts?

Hey, here's an idea, just get a gun that has a conversion cylinder, or just shoot what the gun was designed for in the first place!

colorado_handgunner said:

I am looking into getting a 22 revolver, and was wondering if you can shoot 22lr out of a 22 magnum revolver.

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You CAN shoot .22LR out of a .22WMR revolver, but just because it is possible does not make it a good idea. The increased potential for something bad to happen from doing so would I believe far outweigh any possible benefit derived, save for some kind of life or death / last ditch situation.

On a highly embarassing and marginally related note, I once found out that you CAN fire a 9x19mm Luger cartridge from a .45 ACP 1911 pistol. There were no significant ill effects that resulted from doing so, but it is NOT something I ever want to do again. Or to put it another way, I sincerely hope that I am never in a situation where I am desperate enough to even consider doing so intentionally (or stupid enough to do so again unintentionally).

I have fired .22LR out of .22Mag. Because of the pressure differences the .22LR cases were usually split, although not all of them. All of the .22LR cases were harder to extract than the .22Mag cases fired from them. Also .22LR rounds fired from .22Mag are going to be less accurate that I noticed firing from a .22Mag mini.

You CAN shoot .22short/long/long rifle out of a .22Mag gun.

Good idea? No. For the reasons stated above.

Proved it to myself with my Ruger Single-Six. Didn't notice I had the .22mag cylinder installed. Accuracy was not as good, and cases were spilt.

"so I get out the 5 or 6 chamber inserts, load 22lr rounds into them, load the inserts" etc.

Not me, I'm lazy. When I was in college some people would file pennies down to dime size for the candy machines.

I thought it was easier to get a part-time job.