22 magnum

Do better asking this in the reload section.

Generally speaking not wise to do what you are talking about given seating depth, crimping, etc. can affect pressures generated and a .22 Magnum rifle chamber nor the brass is NOT built to take AR level pressures. The range limits on .22 WMR are not really the coefficient of the bullet but rather the amount of powder and pressure level limits on the .22 WMR cartridge itself.

Easier to try another .22 WMR factory cartridge from a different make with a different bullet weight as like .22 LR's, they tend to be picky eaters.

I believe those are roll crimped. You could pull the bullet but how to remove the crimp, seat and re- crimp would be the question.

I've heard of many older .22 mag rifles that don't do well with 30 grain or 33 grain ammo.

I'd try some Remington 40 grain PSP ammo. PSP = Pointed Soft Point. It's got a a lead tip instead of poly. In my experience, it shoots very, very well.

It's made in batches, so you gotta get it while the batches are in inventory.

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You know, being that most .22 mag ammo is jacketed, copper fouling of the barrel could be a problem as well.

I wouldn't bother. Just buy new. That priming compound surrounding the inside of the rim could be set off if you slip up.....not worth the $7 imho.

Normally I would say buy different ammo, but given the current circumstances and pandemic panic buying that's going to be increasingly difficult with each passing day. Certainly so with all these shutdowns and quarantines, it's likely that the production of ammunition could be halted for some months depending on the location of the factories.

Normally I wouldn't say this because it costs money, but if you want better ballistic co-efficient in a .22 caliber bullet, look at buying a .22 Hornet and reloading for that. You can very easily load it down to .22 Mag levels and you would never run into ammo shortages so long as you have primers, bullets, and powder.

It's panics like this that was the reason I lost interest in rimfire rifles bought .327 Federal Magnum guns two years ago. Wide power range, not too difficult to reload, CHEAP bullets.

chicharrones said:

You know, being that most .22 mag ammo is jacketed, copper fouling of the barrel could be a problem as well.

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I shot a lot of that 40 gr. ammo in a little Colt rifle that i built a stock for and glass bedded back when acra-glass was pretty new. I never bothered to check for fouling as the accuracy never fell off a bit over the years I owned it. I eventually traded it off and got a 5mm Remington. Dumb move. I wish I still had that little Colt.

TTv2 said:

Normally I would say buy different ammo, but given the current circumstances and pandemic panic buying that's going to be increasingly difficult with each passing day. Certainly so with all these shutdowns and quarantines, it's likely that the production of ammunition could be halted for some months depending on the location of the factories.

Normally I wouldn't say this because it costs money, but if you want better ballistic co-efficient in a .22 caliber bullet, look at buying a .22 Hornet and reloading for that. You can very easily load it down to .22 Mag levels and you would never run into ammo shortages so long as you have primers, bullets, and powder.

It's panics like this that was the reason I lost interest in rimfire rifles bought .327 Federal Magnum guns two years ago. Wide power range, not too difficult to reload, CHEAP bullets.

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I agree with all of this post.

During the first big run on 22 I just got a decently powerful air rifle.

CCI V-max 30 gr. poly tip is out there. Hornady also makes a 30 v-max poly tip but you tried that already...so...

I have experimented once or twice...a 22 mag will fit into a 25 ACP shell holder...just sayin...

I wouldn't want to fool with pulling a rimfire bullet just to reload it with another one, way too many areas things can go wrong.

There are several poly-tipped .22 WMR loads on the market that should fill the niche you're looking for. If one of these doesn't, it sounds like you're hankering for a .22 Hornet....

Stay safe.

I has planned to do this In the future for a couple of my WMR rifles. There’s a quick post on reloading the 22 wmr

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=334755

My use for a "gap" rimfire, which I define as one between .22LR and .223 etc. Centerfires is primarily for critters around the house and otherwise that present themselves at distances mostly between 20 and 120 yards. I bought a used CZ455 American in .22 WMR, but found the ammo lacking in quick expansion on several critters, including woodchucks, skunks, coyotes, coons, etc...even at relatively close ranges. Accuracy at 100 yards was also disappointing, at best, with various brands/types.

So, I bought a .17 HMR fluted varmint barrel for the rifle and immediately upon installation and sighting-in, found that the rifle balances better, the .17 HMR ammo seems to be more accurate across the board, then more effective on various critters of different sizes/distances. I've reported elsewhere about my (lucky) coyote kills, but the increased terminal effects of the bullets is worth mentioning again.

Accuracy of the .17 HMR is still somewhat less than a .223 with handloads, but its so handy to just throw a bunch of rounds in a sandwich bag and into a pocket, and take three 5-round magazines with me on a walk-about, that the rifle has been with me on more outings in the woods/fields out back than anything else.

Yesterday, I made it down to the blueberry fields, potted at a few lichen-spots on boulders, and sat at my benchrest and shot several shots at orange stick-on bullseyes on my (resident) target board to try it in breezy conditions between 3 and 8 mph from about 10:00 direction. It shot a beautiful 5-shot group about 5/8" at 5:00, just outside the 3" dot with my favorite Hornady 17 grain ammo. The CCI 17 grain ammo was nearly as accurate and at about the same POI, so I can rely on using either interchangeably for critters.

Wind pushed most bullets just beyond the edge of the 3" bull at 5:00. That's about what I expected and because I couldn't see the bullet strikes with my 9X scope, due to mirage, there was no attempt to make adjustments/allowances for wind.

All in all, a fun outing, after a very long winter/spring season. Maybe next week it will dry up enough to take the pickup down the nearly mile-long dirt road.

Riomouse911 said:

I wouldn't want to fool with pulling a rimfire bullet just to reload it with another one, way too many areas things can go wrong.

There are several poly-tipped .22 WMR loads on the market that should fill the niche you're looking for. If one of these doesn't, it sounds like you're hankering for a .22 Hornet....

Stay safe.

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That is what my 22 Hornet is, IMO. A reloadable 22 Mag.

TTv2 said:

Normally I would say buy different ammo, but given the current circumstances and pandemic panic buying that's going to be increasingly difficult with each passing day. Certainly so with all these shutdowns and quarantines, it's likely that the production of ammunition could be halted for some months depending on the location of the factories.

Normally I wouldn't say this because it costs money, but if you want better ballistic co-efficient in a .22 caliber bullet, look at buying a .22 Hornet and reloading for that. You can very easily load it down to .22 Mag levels and you would never run into ammo shortages so long as you have primers, bullets, and powder.

It's panics like this that was the reason I lost interest in rimfire rifles bought .327 Federal Magnum guns two years ago. Wide power range, not too difficult to reload, CHEAP bullets.

Click to expand...

The 22 tcm would be another viable option.
I totally agree with the change from rimfire to center fire giving you a better supply chain.

I really like the 22WMR, and there are times of the year here, when you can have a rim fire out in the woods, but NO center fires.

I just keep stocked up on 22WMR ammo, just like with any CF, you have to keep stocked up on primers, powder and bullets/lead.

DM

I've had several .22WMR guns, but don't really like the cartridge. It doesn't seem to kill as quickly as the .17 HMR and tends to ricochet under more conditions. Still, neither is in the league of the .22 centerfires, but I really love to take my .17 HMR for long walks in the woods and smaller fields, where I often find varmints to shoot within 130 yards, and if not, a few targets of opportunity that make plinking fun, especially with small cartridges that carry well...and I don't have to reload.

The simple answer is “yes, it is possible to reload rimfire ammunition. Both tearing down factory ammo and reusing the powder and primer, or reloading fired ammunition.”

*to say it is possible is not to say your desired bullet will fit into the operating limits of the rifle. The dimensional data is out there, but I suggest if you ignore the below (and above from other commenters), you should take the time to investigate the dimensional compatibility of your bullets before committing to purchase the required tooling for this task. Bullets used in 22WMR are stubby for a reason.

The logical answer, is “while it is possible, it’s scantly plausible, and does not come without considerable headaches and potential risks to the point of being illogical for almost all purposes.”

Personally, I would not waste my time.

I like the .22 mag for taking care of pests. As much as I like .22 LR the Mag gives you more range and power for more decisive kills. I am planning of taking my 22 Mag to my cabin this summer. We do have a Black bear problem but I don't expect to have to shoot one. I can always bring a centerfire pistol just in case. Since I don't use it as a range toy or plinker, a couple hundred rounds should last me along time. I don't see much benefit in reloading for it. Like others I would just jump up to a centerfire. I also would like a 17 HMR but don't have the extra money to buy one and the .22 mag is fine.