Can you shoot 22 LR out of a revolver chambered for 22 mag?

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SwordRapier

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I know that this is probably a stupid question but can you safely shoot 22 long rifle shell out of the revolver chambered for 22 mag? I know you can fire 38’s out of a 357 I was just wondering if the same principal applied?
 
Ruger Single Sixs come with two cylinders so I'm guessing that the cylinder chambers are not compatible. However they use the same barrel. But I seem to remember that the WMC is a hair larger so it needs to swage down to fit. Not an issue given the Magnum pressure.
 
No. It's not like .38 special/.357 magnum.

The .22lr has a smaller caser diameter and rim diameter.
 
As far as bullets go, the LR also swages to fit the barrel. The .22 mag is a .224 inch bullet, and is properly jacketed. The LR, while often nominally called a .223 inch bullet, is heel based, and the outer part is actually around .224 inches. The groove diameter of the barrel is typically .224, the .22 LR obturates to engage the rifling if it happens to be undersized, not so much a matter of the magnum bullet squishing down any more than typical in other calibers.

You might be thinking the magnum is bigger in diameter because the case is, having thicker walls. This causes the LR case to rattle somewhat in the magnum chamber. You can sorta fire it, but it is not recommeded, it will swell and often rupture, and might not extract easy.
 
Also, the .38/.357 principle actually applies to the .22 mag and the .22 WRF (Winchester RimFire) round. But .22WRF has not been made in decades if I remember right.
 
I played around with this in my NAA Mini .22 Magnum just to see what happened. I have both cylinders for it but just had to try it. The .22LR cases split open and were a bit tough to get out. There was no point in testing for accuracy. So, to answer your question, if it was a last resort, it could be done. I'd say that common sense rules against it.
 
It will fire, but the case is smaller in diameter and can split. It is not a good idea.

Yes, they are both .223/224 as far as the bullet, but the .22 LR is a heeled bullet and the .22 Mag is not, thus the difference in case diameter.
 
Not a good idea, but the round will typically fire. My take =
So, to answer your question, if it was a last resort, it could be done. I'd say that common sense rules against it.
Click to expand...
 
Taken from the North American Arms site.

Can I fire .22 Shorts in a .22 LR cylinder?
Yes, Shorts can be fired in a Long Rifle cylinder; the case diameter of the two are identical.

Can I fire .22 Shorts/.22 LR in a Magnum cylinder?
No! WMR (Magnum) cartridges have an incrementally larger diameter (despite firing an identically sized bullet; don't ask me why). While Shorts and LRs can physically be placed into the chambers of a WMR cylinder (but you'll notice a sloppy fit), it is not safe to do so, as the brass case may split when fired.
For guns which have conversion (second) cylinders, the cylinder size is stamped on the end of the cylinder (or use a WMR cartridge as a gauge; if it fits the chamber, it's a WMR cylinder).
Click to expand...
 
22 LR fire out of a mag= split brass= bad. Thank you Ladies? and Gentlemen. That clears that up nicely. Incidentally you may have helped me solve my next revolver purchase dilemma.
 
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