Animal Mother
Member
Awhile back I picked up a lightly used Herbert Schmidt revolver model HS-21 S, with instructions and box. It was an inexpensive import from West Germany back in the 1950s through the 1970s. The revolver came with a .22 LR cylinder and the barrel is marked .22 LR, however the manual makes reference to using a .22 WMR cylinder and it is listed as an available part, there is no reference to a .22 WMR barrel in the manual. It is possible that the .22 WMR cylinder was lost before I bought my gun. I've found a .22 WMR cylinder for the HS-21 but I'm a bit worried about changing the cylinder out in my gun since my barrel states .22 LR and not .22 WMR. As I understand, the 22 WMR bullet diameter is slightly larger than a .22 LR bullet (.224 vs .223). Does anyone know if it would be safe to fire .22 WMR (in a .22 WMR cylinder) even though the barrel is marked .22 LR?
I've read posts on the internet where it was apparently very common for these guns to have two interchangeable cylinders, but I'd like to ask someone who actually has an HS-21, because my gut reaction is that if the barrel isn't marked .22 WMR, then it isn't safe to shoot .22 WMR out of it.
I've read posts on the internet where it was apparently very common for these guns to have two interchangeable cylinders, but I'd like to ask someone who actually has an HS-21, because my gut reaction is that if the barrel isn't marked .22 WMR, then it isn't safe to shoot .22 WMR out of it.
But that's okay. For a little background, the HS-21 very closely resembles a Ruger Single Six, which also has convertible cylinders. It is probably a clone of the Single Six design. It's possible that back in the days before society got so litigious, you might find a gun with convertible cylinders that had barrel marked for one cartridge or the other. What do you think?
