Thoughts on .22TCM9R?

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redneck

redneck

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Chances are the price of diesel fuel (and everything else) will change my mind, but I am starting to get ideas about a new pistol. I've been intrigued by the .22tcm since it came out but have never got to shoot one.

I generally keep a ruger sr22 in my truck for use on varmints around the farm. At times it has been a bit under powered for that. My accuracy level with it for things like a ground hog is to get as close as I can and aim for the middle, and .22lr out of a 3 inch barrel requires a little better shot placement to be happy with its performance on things like that. Occasionally I just use my 9mm, but I worry about the penetration of 124gr 9mm and its a bit expensive and very hard to find at times. I have rifles but they are much harder to keep handy all the time.

I had the thought that a .22tcm might make a good truck gun. I feel like it would be better suited to varmint duty than the .22lr or the 9mm, while still being useful for self defense if needed. What is the penetration like though? will it punch through anything a 9mm does? And is it as loud as they say? I keep a set of cheap earplugs with the sr22 and try to never shoot without hearing protection but I also may have to use it in tight spaces like a haymow and don't want to lose any more hearing than I have already.

The rock island tac series with 9mm/22tcm9r combo has my eye at the moment. I like the idea of mounting a light on it also. Any thoughts on that as a truck gun that mainly serves for varmint duty?
 
I have a RIA MAP P1 in 22TCM9r, and really enjoy it. It is accurate and pleasant to shoot. I have other 9mm pistols so don't need the combo, but I have always heard good reports on them.

I think this would make an excellent midrange varmint cartridge, but that brings me to one of my disappointments. Rock Island built a 22TCM rifle based on a rimfire design, and it does not live up to the accuracy potential of the cartridge. The other disappointment is the failure to license the cartridge to other producers, so all the eggs remain in one basket and the future is guarded. If they would license to companies like Palmetto or CZ, I think we would really see this cartridge take off. It is everything the FN 5.7 is and more.
 
I know nothing about the 22TCM, but the scenarios you described might be well served with a 22 Mag.
KelTec makes alot of those 22 Mag semi autos, and I gotta believe 22 mag ammo would be cheaper than TCM.
 
I really want one of those bolt guns as a light varminter and plinker.

Seems like it'd be a fun cartridge to load for.

A modern 22 Hornet. Except the parent brass is practically free.
 
32 S&W long is your friend. It will do way more than a 22, but it is gentle to shoot. It will kill small and medium varmints very effectively.

32 H&R and/or 327 Federal are nice to have available if needed.


Something like this, probably with a shorter barrel. It is very, very accurate with the right 32 S&W longs. It won't break your eardrums as bad as that hyperactive 22, either.

Ruger Single Six 32 H&R magnum

Ruger Single Six 32 H&R magnum



I'm not quite as accurate with this one, but that's just me.

Ruger SP101 327

Ruger SP101 327

 
redneck said:
,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The rock island tac series with 9mm/22tcm9r combo has my eye at the moment. I like the idea of mounting a light on it also. Any thoughts on that as a truck gun that mainly serves for varmint duty?
Click to expand...
One could set up a glock or other 9mm pistols for this. I would first investigate for pistols to see if there are specialty 9x19 loads that fire very light explosive bullets, That is my thinking to try and used the same gun and same barrel. With an RMR on the glock small game to 50 yards should be possible.
 
rust collector said:
I have a RIA MAP P1 in 22TCM9r, and really enjoy it. It is accurate and pleasant to shoot. I have other 9mm pistols so don't need the combo, but I have always heard good reports on them.

I think this would make an excellent midrange varmint cartridge, but that brings me to one of my disappointments. Rock Island built a 22TCM rifle based on a rimfire design, and it does not live up to the accuracy potential of the cartridge. The other disappointment is the failure to license the cartridge to other producers, so all the eggs remain in one basket and the future is guarded. If they would license to companies like Palmetto or CZ, I think we would really see this cartridge take off. It is everything the FN 5.7 is and more.
Click to expand...

Main interest in the combo gun is that if the TCM doesn't pan out or ammo disappears I'd still have a decent 9mm 1911. I have shot a rock island GI 9mm was very impressed with it for the price. I do wish ammo was available in other brands/loadings.
 
ontarget said:
I know nothing about the 22TCM, but the scenarios you described might be well served with a 22 Mag.
KelTec makes alot of those 22 Mag semi autos, and I gotta believe 22 mag ammo would be cheaper than TCM.
Click to expand...
That is my main debate. I do like .22mag, and have a rifle and revolver chambered in it. I think the TCm would be better suited in a defensive role, but that is not going to be the guns main purpose. The revolver is a heritage rough rider single action and while its not horrible, there is a lot of room for improvement. It is also painfully loud, and I don't know if that is the cartridge or the hallway sized cylinder gap :D
 
Tallball said:
32 S&W long is your friend. It will do way more than a 22, but it is gentle to shoot. It will kill small and medium varmints very effectively.

32 H&R and/or 327 Federal are nice to have available if needed.


Something like this, probably with a shorter barrel. It is very, very accurate with the right 32 S&W longs. It won't break your eardrums as bad as that hyperactive 22, either.

Ruger Single Six 32 H&R magnum

Ruger Single Six 32 H&R magnum



I'm not quite as accurate with this one, but that's just me.

Ruger SP101 327

Ruger SP101 327

Click to expand...
I don't venture into revolvers very often but that is an interesting cartridge to look into. I don't think I want to go single action because then it loses a lot of appeal as a back up gun in the truck for uses outside varmint hunting.
 
Ruger has the LCR and SP101. I think Taurus has a new revolver out in one of the 32 magnum cartridges.

I would have no problems with carrying my Charter Arms 32 H&R for SD, but its 2" barrel and fixed sights wouldn't be ideal for varmints.

32acp is also considerably better than 22lr.

I'm more of a revolver guy, but this Beretta Model 81 holds a dozen or so rounds of 32acp.

It has decent sights and good accuracy. I don't prefer 32acp for SD, but I certainly wouldn't be unarmed with the Beretta on my belt.

They sold a boatload of these Italian police turn-ins for about $200 apiece a few years ago.

Beretta Model 81 32acp

Beretta Model 81 32acp

 
I have a RIA .22TCM/9mm commander sized pistol. I have nothing but good things to say about the combo set. I reload for .22TCM, but components are hard to find.

It is a LOUD round. It is also incredibly fun to shoot. I would say you need to invest the time to learn how best to make your gun (pistol) run with it. Mine is extremely reliable with my reloads. I have not shot factory ammo for a while, but I remember cases being sticky if the chamber is dirty.
 
redneck said:
That is my main debate. I do like .22mag, and have a rifle and revolver chambered in it. I think the TCm would be better suited in a defensive role, but that is not going to be the guns main purpose. The revolver is a heritage rough rider single action and while its not horrible, there is a lot of room for improvement. It is also painfully loud, and I don't know if that is the cartridge or the hallway sized cylinder gap :D
Click to expand...

It will make your ears bleed out of a revolver. Never fired it through a semiauto though.
Always wanted to give one of the KelTec 22 mags a try. I think they are railed for an optic IIRC.
Correction, it's railed on the bottom, not the top.
 
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redneck said:
It is also painfully loud, and I don't know if that is the cartridge or the hallway sized cylinder gap
Click to expand...

It’s the cartridge fired in a short barrel.


ontarget said:
It will make your ears bleed out of a revolver. Never fired it through a semiauto though.
Always wanted to give one of the KelTec 22 mags a try. I think they are railed for an optic IIRC.
Correction, it's railed on the bottom, not the top.
Click to expand...

Same bleeding ears, different action type.


Setting up the PMR30 for an RDS takes a single recipe. I attempted an add-on polymer rail and Vortex Venom which was a no-go. The reciprocating slide meant a specialty plate and Romeo Zero in order to function.
E692688E-4773-49C6-943D-FDD1316589BE.jpeg

My ears bleed a little just recalling that day. Range buddy shooting my PMR30.
984ED35B-D2DE-4461-8241-84A498CE4E58.png
 
At one point I was planning to get a 22tcm MAP. However, as it seemed that the rifle was a bit hard to get, I got it, the rifle first. However, by the time I found a rifle, the MAP went out of production.

The result is that I have a 22tcm rifle, but no pistol to go with it. No, I don't want a 22tcm 1911, if I am going to get a1911 I will get it in 45, unless it is something like the Springfield EMP, which is intended for 9mm, or the Browning 1911-380 which is intended for 380 (as a point, I do have a 1911-380 and like it). I wanted the Compact MAP in 22tcm.
 
I was hung up on getting a 22 TCM for a couple years. A $800 handgun to shoot expensive ammo.

So looking at the cases of 223 ammo on-hand, I went with a 223 pistol. I picked this one up new for $400. Put a dot on a longer riser that serves as a peep if necessary. Timney 3 lb trigger makes it right. Mighty fine handgun, IMO. M193 ammo at 2650 out of the 7.5 inch barrel. Can barely hear it with double hearing protection:)

Shown with a Blackhawk 7.5” for comparison.


index.php
 
I'm personally not so much into "boutique rounds"- its hard enough (and expensive) to feed the common calibers nowadays- especially for things like pest eradication. If I had to solve a problem like what you are working with, I would carry whatever my regular handgun is you normally carry, and just keep a 22 rifle with a scope on it or a normal shotgun loaded with whatever will work for the nuisance critters in the truck. Tape a mag light to it if you think you may need to kill a critter in the dark.
 
barnetmill said:
One could set up a glock or other 9mm pistols for this.
Click to expand...

I would not bother trying to use the 22TCM9R conversion slide for the Glock. Those are plagued with issues and most people never get them to run right. And yes you have to go with the shorter 22TCM9R to fit any 9mm/40 sized pistol frame. The standard 22TCM is too long to fit. Armscor has never gotten the slide weight/recoil spring rates correct for their Glock conversion slides to run reliably.

IF you really want the 22TCM then stick with a Rock Island 1911 chambered for it. This is a proprietary round that you can only get from Armscor/Rock Island. With the 22TCM you can use .22 Hornet bullets for reloading. With the shorter 22TCM9R, you are pretty much stuck using bullet made by Armscor. And reloading such small bottle neck pistol cartridges is not something I personally recommend a beginner to try messing with. This advice also goes for the FN 5.7x28 and 357 Sig rounds too.
 
drband said:
Good advice! But it can be done and done well if you know what you’re doing.
Click to expand...

Absolutely one can reload bottle neck pistol calibers. It just takes more attention to detail to do so. And that is why I don't recommend reloading bottle neck pistol calibers to people new to reloading. Learn the basics with straight walled cases first.
 
FL-NC said:
I'm personally not so much into "boutique rounds"- its hard enough (and expensive) to feed the common calibers nowadays- especially for things like pest eradication. If I had to solve a problem like what you are working with, I would carry whatever my regular handgun is you normally carry, and just keep a 22 rifle with a scope on it or a normal shotgun loaded with whatever will work for the nuisance critters in the truck. Tape a mag light to it if you think you may need to kill a critter in the dark.
Click to expand...

I'm in an area where I can shoot legally, but also can't really wander around with a rifle in plain sight. I have several .22 rifles and a precharged pneumatic air rifle with a suppressor even, but they aren't very discreet when coming and going. The goal was something with more range/accuracy than the SR22, with a bit more power, while still fitting in a coat pocket or what not. Starting to get a feeling the .22tcm is too loud to be shooting in haymows even with earplugs though.
I will have to keep an eye out for a chance to handle one of the rock islands in person. It may just end up a fun range gun and the sr22 will keep its job.
 
Skylerbone said:
It’s the cartridge fired in a short barrel.




Same bleeding ears, different action type.
Click to expand...
I figured it was the powder optimized for rifle barrels, being shot out of a pistol, but I think the rough rider might even make it a bit worse. I was dumb and shot it once with no hearing protection and I literally had tears in my eyes and my ears rang for several minutes. I never want to do that again.
 
Just one more bit about the KelTec if you do decide to give it a whirl; bring big hands. As blasts and nasty as it is if you own one you’ll find yourself wanting to shoot it. Honestly with plugs or muffs it’s perfectly fine, but I do keep track of it at the range when the line goes hot. If someone else is shooting it I remember to get my ear pro on before flipping the switch. That’s 2 things but I digress.


Comparing the PMR30 magazine to a full size M&P 40/357 Sig magazine. KelTec on right.
BFC7FA1B-6410-4609-8CA8-9ED620067001.jpeg

KelTec on bottom.
DFAC6968-9CBB-498F-BD32-1A16E6F4EF7B.jpeg

KelTec on bottom.
3FC3181B-B4EB-4BE9-818E-F5DA30D986BD.jpeg
 
redneck said:
I'm in an area where I can shoot legally, but also can't really wander around with a rifle in plain sight. I have several .22 rifles and a precharged pneumatic air rifle with a suppressor even, but they aren't very discreet when coming and going. The goal was something with more range/accuracy than the SR22, with a bit more power, while still fitting in a coat pocket or what not. Starting to get a feeling the .22tcm is too loud to be shooting in haymows even with earplugs though.
I will have to keep an eye out for a chance to handle one of the rock islands in person. It may just end up a fun range gun and the sr22 will keep its job.
Click to expand...
A fun range gun it is! Look for the high capacity double-stack mag models. You might be hooked if you find one. Every time I take it to the range, someone wants to know what it is— and where to get one!
 
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