Interesting Chrono Results- .22 Mag NAA Mini Revolver

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.455_Hunter

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I took my NAA Mini Revolver in .22 Mag with the 1 5/8” barrel out to my company’s ad-hoc firing range for some afternoon fun. I measured the velocity of six different factory loads using my trusty chronograph- with quite surprising results. I expected there to be a great difference in energy between the loads, especially comparing the supposedly hot 30 gr. JHPs to the supposedly under loaded 50 gr. JHPs. The surprise is that the average energy for all the loads differed by only five fpe, ranging from 87 fpe to 92 fpe.

Here are the averaged results:

A. CCI 30 gr. TNT JHP- 1151 fps (88 fpe)
B. CCI 30 gr. +V JHP- 1183 fps (92 fpe)
C. CCI 40 gr. JHP- 1015 fps (91 fpe)
D. REM 40 gr. PSP- 1016 fps (92 fpe)
E. CCI 50 gr. Gold Dot- 883 fps (87 fpe)
F. Federal 50 gr. JHP- 897 fps (89 fpe)

Note that visible portion of the bullets in loads B,C & F are identical in appearance (all owned by ATK), using a belted ring with a small JHP opening. The different weights are achieved by varying the overall bullet length.

The bullet used in A looks just like a 125 gr. .38 Special Gold Dot, just scaled down.

The bullet used in E looks like the shallow JHP used in the 158 gr. .357 Mag Gold Dot. It has been discontinued by CCI, but can still be found on some smaller dealers shelves.

The Remington PSP bullet looks like it came from a .22 Hornet load.

It looks like you can please both the light/fast camp and the big/slow camp with the above loads since they all have essentially the same energy.

I will do some water expansion / penetration depth tests in the near future.

In case anybody is wondering, I decided to load the Mini with the 40 gr. Rem PSP for “combat” use when I left the range. I strongly believe that any gun is better that no gun, so the Mini accompanies me when a larger weapon would not be appropriate.

Please comment.

Thanks,

Hunter
 
Interesting. I would love to see a penetration/expansion test. I never seen one done for the Magnum Minis.
 
I would use a 40 gr or heavier SOLID for combat use.You don't want it to expand,you want it to penetrate.
 
I would use a 40 gr or heavier SOLID for combat use.You don't want it to expand,you want it to penetrate.

Problem is then you get a small in and out hole, and .22 is real small. If .22wmr JHP coming out of NAA mini fails to expand, then its a moot point, your better off with a solid. But if you get decent penetration and expansion then its a bonus. Your not going to know unless someone does a test.

I heard of one test (Old Grandpa from one of the Kel Tec boards, but all his post are gone) where a .22mag JHP from a NAA penetrated 11" of wetpack but failed to expand. Penetration might not be the problem.
 
Most of the data (what little there is) that I have seen on the terminal performance of .22 mags out of short barrels (2" or less) is that the JHP/JSP loads do not expand, especially when fired into a tissue simulant, not dry phone books. Sometimes folks can get the large cavity CCI loads to do some expanding, but it is usually hit or miss.

Steelcore is right though- You definietly want penetration. I have seen tests where the 50 gr. Gold Got load has rough equivalnet penetration depth to .32 acp ball in wet pack tests, and much greater that some of the JHP loads in more "effective " calibers.

I would love to test some .22 mag ammo loaded with the special AP bullets from Soviet 5.45x18mm ammo for the very unique and cool PSM.

I will do my own tests soon.

Added- *LONESTAR and I must of had a mind meld when we were typing at the same time*
 
Sometimes what your looking for is right under your nose.:banghead:

After all this searching I noticed someone did a wetpack test right here on THR in 2005. Real interesting results. Also check out the bottom of the thread. Someone linked a site with tons of Gel test. Expansion with wetpack was good on some brands, but the Gel test says otherwise. Penetration seems decent on both test.

http://www.thehighroad.org./showthread.php?t=123515

http://www.brassfetcher.com/NAAminiRevolver22Magnum.html
 
A rimfire cartridge has an inherent pressure limit. The brass has to be thin enough to be dented by the firing pin yet strong enough to contain the pressure. That essentially limits the pressure to a fairly narrow range.

So, if pressure can't be raised without bursting the case rim (which is where they blow), how do the makers satisfy the demands for a "hotter" cartridge? Simple, they reduce the bullet weight, which increases the velocity without increasing pressure, and they call the result "hyper" or "super" or "lightning" or something like that to impress the multitude.

But energy, which is essentially momentum, tells the real story.

Jim
 
Don't look too much hotter than .22LR, which I'd expect out of such a short barrel and the reason I'm not warm on .22 mag out of handguns for self defense. But, beats nothin' I guess. I'd carry one for a third gun or even last ditch backup, but I have a .22 LR model that fills that role. Not as big a bang, but it could keep the BGs away if I had a problem with my primary and was barricaded, the thought behind it anyway. And, hey, it's so easy to carry, why not???? The loud bang of the magnum could be a psychological plus in such a situation. They might think they're being shot at with a .38. :D I mean, not that anyone in his right mind would want to risk being shot with ANYthing, .22 short, whatever. But, you never know if the crook is "in his right mind", likely not if he's doing what he's doing.
 
I have the .22 LR cylinder for this gun as well, so I will chrono some popular loads (Stinger, Viper, etc.) to see how much more "umph" the Mag rounds provide. This should be good data, since gun is the exact same weapon for both tests.
 
I have the .22 LR cylinder for this gun as well, so I will chrono some popular loads (Stinger, Viper, etc.) to see how much more "umph" the Mag rounds provide. This should be good data, since gun is the exact same weapon for both tests.

That would be interesting, fired out of the same gun over the same Chrony. I'm going to guess about 60 ft lbs. I've never Chronyed my .22 mini.
 
I would really like to see a set of direct comparisons on 22WMR and 22LR out of that pistol. Thanks for making this post.
 
It will be interesting, I have chronographed some CB's in the house and IIRC just over 700 in a rifle about 600 from a Bearcat and in the 500 FPS range from the 1 5/8 barrel NAA.

Side note, if you ever do this use a soft wood or phone books for a back stop and not pressed board as the CB bullet will bounce back. I did have the board inside two thick cardboard box's to catch rebounds "just in case" and was glad I did.
 
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