Lead in .22LR ammo in Single-Six conversion?

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I want to get a Ruger Single-Six convertible, but I would want to be able to use it predominantly with lead .22LR ammo for cheap practice to retard barrel wear. It's occurred to me that using lead .22LR ammo (.222" diameter) in a barrel meant to accommodate the .22WMR (.224" diameter) may cause poor accuracy and leading. Less than perfect accuracy would not be the end of the world, as I'd use the .22LR mostly for practice, but leading would ruin my day. Is my concern valid? This may determine if I ever care for .22LR/WMR conversion revolvers again.
 
Mine seems to do just fine with bulk Federal and Winchester 22's. Perhaps the thin plating helps that are on these. No leading, just the usual dirtiness of a 22LR.

I was surprised that they were as accurate as they were because I too feared 22lr would be undersized, but that doesn't seem to be the case. CCI mini-mag 36gr HP have shown fantastic accuracy.

Win 555's zip along at 1076fps, Win Super X 37gr at 1100fps, Stingers at 1246fps (a little lower than expected).
 
IIRC, the base of the .22LR bullet is a hollow cup, and the heeled bullet skirt expands to the bore diameter when it exits the cartridge case. IOW, .002" shouldn't matter too much in a single-action sixgun. It'll be accurate enough for most folks. I know mine is for me. I was plinking at steel with mine (w/.22 LR cylinder) at 100 yards a couple of Saturdays back, and hitting it often enough to make me grin, even though the crappy Remington loads I was shooting weren't helping matters much.
 
A half dozen jacketed magnums will take out whatever lead you've accumulated. Common practice for us cast bullet rifle shooters....as long as the lead is not really excessive.
 
I'm not sure but isn't most all .22 caliber ammo made from lead? Some is copper washed but not jacketed. And as someone mentioned earlier these guns are plinkers not target guns. Having said that most Single Sixes I've shot were pretty accurate with either short, long, long rifle or the magnums.

As far as shooting the barrels out of a .22 Single Six goes.....good luck with that...I've been shooting the same one for almost thirty years now and except for a cylinder ring and handling wear it shoots and looks just as good now as when new. And that gun gets shot a lot nearly every time I go shooting.

It may very well be the best investment I've made in a .22 in my life. So buy it and try to wear it out!! It'll make you smile every time you pull the trigger....:)

P.S. I've never had a leading problem with mine.
 
I love good news!

IIRC, the base of the .22LR bullet is a hollow cup, and the heeled bullet skirt expands to the bore diameter when it exits the cartridge case. IOW, .002" shouldn't matter too much in a single-action sixgun. It'll be accurate enough for most folks. I know mine is for me. I was plinking at steel with mine (w/.22 LR cylinder) at 100 yards a couple of Saturdays back, and hitting it often enough to make me grin, even though the crappy Remington loads I was shooting weren't helping matters much.
Click to expand...

Squirrel-popping accuracy at 25 yards is all I ask of the .22LR in a handgun.
 
sixgunner455 said:
IIRC, the base of the .22LR bullet is a hollow cup, and the heeled bullet skirt expands to the bore diameter when it exits the cartridge case. IOW, .002" shouldn't matter too much in a single-action sixgun. It'll be accurate enough for most folks. I know mine is for me. I was plinking at steel with mine (w/.22 LR cylinder) at 100 yards a couple of Saturdays back, and hitting it often enough to make me grin, even though the crappy Remington loads I was shooting weren't helping matters much.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is it. The heal based bullets of .22 LR expand nicely to fill the bore and the difference is so little that it is insignificant. At least it is in my 1976 Single Six Convertible (6 1/2" barrel) which I have put tens of thousands of rounds through (90+ percent long rifle).

It has been smack-on accurate since day one and is one of my favorite handguns today out of the many, many handguns I own. Not bad for a 35 year old gun.

Dan
 
I love shooting my single six, both in 22 lr and mag. I doubt if barrel wear would be a concern until until it was over 10 to 20 thousand rounds. Clean the lead out so you don't get corrosion under the lead in the barrel.
 
I'm taking a bunch of .22s to the range tomorrow to initiate my buddy's 12 yr old son into the shooters club. I'll be taking the Single Six for sure. I love it when the cowboy music starts playing in the back of their minds while the lead flies.
 
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