This is a rare beastie but an interesting one: the 5.7 Johnson (22 Spitfire). I have not been able to nail down exactly what is the appropriate bullet diameter for this cartridge? The name 5.7 would suggest it’s something other than the NATO 5.56 bullet. Is it?
22 Spitfire (5.7 Johnson) bullet diameter
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Carl N. Brown
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The Johnson MMJ 5.7mm Spitfire was developed by WWII gun designer Melvin M. Johnson as a way of breathing life into the M1 Carbine. It was introduced in 1963.
It is the .30 Carbine cartridge necked down to take a 40 grain jacketed soft nose .224 inch diameter bullet. Factory ammo is listed at 2800 feet per second from an 18 inch barrel with rate of twist 1 turn in 14 inches. I doubt if it would work with bullets heavier than those used with .22 Hornet.
With a lot of centerfire .22 cartridges, the cartridge name is intended to differentiate the name and does not literally match bullet diameter. Check out a reloading manual for the actual bullet size for the cartridges with .219 .22 .220 .221 .222 .223 .224 5.56mm 5.6mm 5.7mm in their names; it surprised me when I first checked it out.
Seems to be a good varmint round. I have spotted boxes of .22 Spitfire off and on at the local gun shop. I suspect it was special order for a Spitfire owner.
Conversion of an M1 Carbine Caliber .30 to 5.7 Spitfire consists of replacing the .30 barrel with a 5.7 barrel, then finish reaming the chamber to get a precision headspace fit to the host rifle's bolt.
It is the .30 Carbine cartridge necked down to take a 40 grain jacketed soft nose .224 inch diameter bullet. Factory ammo is listed at 2800 feet per second from an 18 inch barrel with rate of twist 1 turn in 14 inches. I doubt if it would work with bullets heavier than those used with .22 Hornet.
With a lot of centerfire .22 cartridges, the cartridge name is intended to differentiate the name and does not literally match bullet diameter. Check out a reloading manual for the actual bullet size for the cartridges with .219 .22 .220 .221 .222 .223 .224 5.56mm 5.6mm 5.7mm in their names; it surprised me when I first checked it out.
Seems to be a good varmint round. I have spotted boxes of .22 Spitfire off and on at the local gun shop. I suspect it was special order for a Spitfire owner.
Conversion of an M1 Carbine Caliber .30 to 5.7 Spitfire consists of replacing the .30 barrel with a 5.7 barrel, then finish reaming the chamber to get a precision headspace fit to the host rifle's bolt.
FROGO207
Member
35 grain to 50 grain bullets. In .224 diameter.
Walkalong has posted some on his 5.7 Johnson reloading trials on here before. You might want to PM him if he does not chime in.
Walkalong has posted some on his 5.7 Johnson reloading trials on here before. You might want to PM him if he does not chime in.
I do Not do such comparisons.. For my use the triple deuce gets cast boolits, the 22/30 gets (.223) Hornet bullets at 2400+fps, out of a 10" Contender, and decimates the critters shot with it!! The 223 has fallen from favor at my house, Don't even own one anymore. As the 6mm-06 does all of my long range critter getter, chores...
Wrong direction for me.. I did Not like the 220 Swift either.. the 22-30 seems a very good match to me... but since I shoot many times more Cast than Jkt bullets. I will not be dropping the 222... the 6mm-'06 is only for dumping larger Vermin (coyote, etc) out in the back field!!!
I dislike the Fire and Roar of the thing, but...it accomplishes all I have asked of it!! Out to 100 Yds the 222 or the 22-30 get the Nod.. Or, whatever milsurp I happen to have at hand!!!!
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