Blackpowder .22 LR ammunition

I imagine the demand for black powder .22 ammunition would be low to nonexistent. Fouling in a bore that size would be a serious problem.

I suppose you could pull the bullets on regular .22 ammo, dump the powder, and reload with black. Seating the bullets again might be a problem. Has anyone heard of a .22 LR seating-crimping die?

It is a handloading proposition.
Once upon a time, Armscor imported some .22 LR primed empties, but now the only option is to pull bullets and discard the nitro.

It is a tedious process.
Dies have been made and/or improvised.
Best to cast fresh bullets, pulling a crimped heel bullet doesn't leave much.

Fouling from 5 grains of powder is not a huge problem.
One of the guys working on BP .22 showed a target shot after 50+ rounds without cleaning. It was a bit over an inch at 50 yards, which he said is about what his Marlin 39A will do with smokeless.

Would would you be using these in? What would be the desired purpose?

orphington wrote:
Blackpowder .22 LR ammunition
Any ideas as to a source for this?

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Yes, a museum.

Seriously. Such ammunition is no longer made. As others have posted, you can pull bullets from modern ammunition and replace the powder (but where do you get load data?). Dealers in curios and relics might be able to find it for you, but you are more likely to run across small quanitites in the stock of museum supply companies or the collection of small museums that have a box of old black powder shells but only need a handful for their display and would be willing to sell their excess to keep the doors of the museum open.

Where ever you find it, expect it to be expensive since they are "museum pieces" and you are wanting to destroy something that is irreplaceable.

Museum?
There is the field of cartridge collecting and about anything can be had for a price.

One of the experimenters in .22 BPCR bought some original ammo to serve as a baseline. Little if any of it went off, the priming dead after 90 years or so. He gently pulled the bullets and loaded the factory charge of fine black powder in new primed brass, improvised a seating die, and shot. He then moved on with new components, knowing what to go for.
Here is a thread on the subject.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?167745-Black-Powder-22-s/page2

If you depend on published "load data" this is probably not your game.

I own some .22 blanks which are loaded with blackpowder. I wouldn't want to try to load bullets into them, however.

Tommygunn said:

I own some .22 blanks which are loaded with blackpowder. I wouldn't want to try to load bullets into them, however.

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me too

There is a company that makes .22 rim fire reloading tools and priming compound. If you do a serious search you can find several people who have used their products to reload .22 rim fire cartridges with black powder and learn of their results. I have done this using 4Fg black powder and pure lead bullets with some success, The principal problem I encountered was fouling build-up and accuracy drop-off after several shots. Dipping the bullet in melted crisco prior to loading seemed to help quite a bit allowing 40+ shots without fouling build up and subsequent loss of accuracy. .The reloading process for .22 rim fire is quite tedious, and with the current cost and availability of .22 rim fire ammo, not really worth the effort except as a novelty. Here is the link to the .22 reloader people: http://22lrreloader.com/

Good luck finding 22 black powder blanks. They haven't been available for years. Preferred for track starter pistols because they are loud.
http://www.joesportshop.com/joespor...d=2313&zenid=7e5068a2e5b9f0333876b4fcd05826e3

If you just want to fire your old .22 rimfire that was made for black powder, just find and use .22 CBs. They have no powder in them and should be safe in your gun. I use them from time to time in an old .22 made in the late 1860s.

Or reload once fired .22

http://22lrreloader.com/

Member LAGS here has reloaded 22lr, and I've seen them in action. Not as reliable as factory, but interesting if that is the absolute only way you can go.

Maybe just a cap and ball mini .22 from NAA?

https://northamericanarms.com/shop/firearms/naa-22lr-cb/

This is an interesting question, but what do you plan to do with black powder 22lr? You may get some better answers if you can explain which firearm and your intended use.

Unless you care enough to tool up for handloading BP .22s, you should get on the Marlin board and ask if the gun is strong enough for smokeless; standard velocity at least. Since there is little difference between an 1897 and a 39A except possibly material of construction, you have a good chance of putting it back in action with fresh ammo.

orpington said:

Marlin Model 1897 manufactured in 1901--originally manufactured for black powder.

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Gotcha. Please disregard my previous comment. Obviously.

orpington said:

Marlin Model 1897 manufactured in 1901--originally manufactured for black powder.

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Got any pics?

I'm thinking the low velocity 40 gr stuff from CCI and others would not strain the gun in the least. I believe the box says 710 FPS. That's probably less than the BP load would generate.

I also wonder if 4F would be suitable? That's a really small bore. I've heard of 4F being used in 32 cal cap and ball revolvers.