.22 Extra Long- would it be useful today?

[Carl N. Brown]

The chronological development of .22 rimfire was:
1857 .22 short 30gr bullet 3gr BP
1871 .22 long 30gr bullet 5gr BP
1880 .22 extra long 40gr bullet 6gr BP
1884 .22 long rifle 45gr bullet 5gr BP

The .22 LR when mated with the 40gr bullet found a balance of accuracy and small game power that pretty much made the extra long superfluous.

If you go much more powerful than .22 LR hyper velocity like CCI Velociter, you want the thicker .22 Magnum case between you and that much pressure. The Extra Long case is as thin as the .22 Short or Long, just longer in length.


On side track were
.22 Winchester rimfire
.22 Remington auto
.22 Winchester auto
.22 Winchester Magnum rimfire

 

[chicharrones]

I have often hankered for such a cartridge- though it would have to be so long that there is no possibility of it chambering in any .22lr cylinder. I suppose the lawyers might even nix the idea because someone might cram one into a rifle chamber on some old, weak single shot action and blow it up. The .22 Magnum (and WRF for that matter) simply wont because they are too fat.

Still, it would be awesome to have a revolver capable of shooting Short, Long Rifles, and something pushing Magnum velocities. I would call it ".22 Maximum."

I dunno, whatcha think about these options? Of course, I wish S&W offered something similar in a DA revolver, but I'm not in charge there.

https://www.taurususa.com/revolvers...-22-wmr-matte-black-oxide-4-00-in-ribber-grip

https://northamericanarms.com/shop/firearms/naa-mmc/

https://ruger.com/products/newModelSingleSixConvertible/models.html

 

[mavracer]

Like others I'd have no interest. I don't even shoot high velocity stuff much anymore since I got into suppressors

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I have noticed that I don't use the Stingers and Velocitors I have picked up over the years, nor do I use the WMR cylinder in my revolver. ...

If I take a .22 gun to the mountain to plink or small game hunting, it's a .22 LR. If I take a .22 WMR to the mountain, it is usually only in case of varmints, not for plinking or hunting.
Stinger is nice ammo to have in reserve for pest control but wasted for mere plinking, although it is impressive to hit a full aluminum can with a Stinger it isn't cheap.

Historically, the .22 Extra Long has become a footnote between .22 LR and .22 WRF.


(In .22 WMR I have a scope mounted Savage single shot rifle, a Taurus pump action rifle, and a WMR cylinder for my .22 revolver.)

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I dunno, whatcha think about these options? Of course, I wish S&W offered something similar in a DA revolver, but I'm not in charge there.

https://www.taurususa.com/revolvers...-22-wmr-matte-black-oxide-4-00-in-ribber-grip

https://northamericanarms.com/shop/firearms/naa-mmc/

https://ruger.com/products/newModelSingleSixConvertible/models.html

Sure, if you dont mind carrying an extra cylinder around.....lol.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Back in the day when I was a youngster it was legal in Michigan to hunt deer with a 22. My grandpa and my dad piled up a lot of venison with the little rifle. My grandpa was definitely a “Bubba”. He really cobbled up some crude stuff but the worse one was a model 61 Winchester he bored out to 22 Special. Figured to put a little more horsepower in his southern Michigan deer rifle I guess. Anyway he got her a little big and she always split the cases. Didn’t stop him from using it though

 

[Jim Watson]

If you go much more powerful than .22 LR hyper velocity like CCI Velociter, you want the thicker .22 Magnum case between you and that much pressure.

SAAMI maximum chamber pressure for .22 Long, Long Rifle, and Magnum is the same, 24000 psi.

 

[gunlaw]

I have often hankered for such a cartridge- though it would have to be so long that there is no possibility of it chambering in any .22lr cylinder. I suppose the lawyers might even nix the idea because someone might cram one into a rifle chamber on some old, weak single shot action and blow it up. The .22 Magnum (and WRF for that matter) simply wont because they are too fat.

Still, it would be awesome to have a revolver capable of shooting Short, Long Rifles, and something pushing Magnum velocities. I would call it ".22 Maximum."

I’m a lawyer. Don’t see any litigation here.

 

[Jim Watson]

Elmer Keith was right, better to have brought back the .25 Stevens in smokeless HV.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I would like a .22 Mag with a little heavier bullet but everyone seems to be focused on velocity instead. I think a little longer bullet with the same powder charge would give a little more long range accuracy.

 

[TTv2]

I would like a .22 Mag with a little heavier bullet but everyone seems to be focused on velocity instead. I think a little longer bullet with the same powder charge would give a little more long range accuracy.

The goal wasn't long range accuracy, but a heavier bullet would buck winds better, the goal was better penetration either thru shooting a typical .22 LR bullet faster or by shooting a heavier than standard .22 LR bullet at typical .22 LR velocities.

Figure, 1600 fps with a 40gr bullet, 1400 with a 50gr, 1200 with a 60gr.

All while still being capable of shooting and cycling .22 LR.

 

[Nuclear]

Aguila makes a 60 grain 22lr, as I remember not all barrels have a fast enough twist to stabilize them.

 

[TTv2]

Aguila makes a 60 grain 22lr, as I remember not all barrels have a fast enough twist to stabilize them.

Most do tho, only one I've found shoots it exceptionally poorly: a Marlin with the microgroove rifling.

I'd like more velocity with a 60 grain .22 than what the Aguila does.

 

[Sniper66]

Interested? No way. With .22 short, long, long rifle, stingers, 22mag, 17Mach2, 17HMR all out there, I can't imagine what niche Lonnnng Rilfe would fill.