Rechambering a .22

[cane]

Maybe this has been asked before, if so I couldn't find it. Can you change a .22 RF to .22 mag. by just rechambering it?

 

[JesseL]

Short answer, no.

First problem, I believe that the 22 long rifle uses .222-.223" diameter bullets, whereas the .22 WMR uses .224" bullets. This would at the very least result in abnormally high chamber pressures when the larger WMR bullet is forced down the narrower barrel.

Second, I think the head diameter of the WMR is slightly larger than the long rifle. This would necessitate modifying the bolt.

Third, an action built for .22 long rifle pressures may or may not handle the increased pressure of the .22 WMR.

 

[mete]

Dimensions of the 22 Mag were chosen so people COULDN'T rechamber the 22LR !!!!

 

[grendelbane]

Some people have done it. Some people have gotten away with it. I don't recommend it.

 

[Oldnamvet]

For some particular guns you can. I had my .22 lr TC Contender barrel rechambered to .22 hornet as an example.

 

[Jim K]

Oldnamvet's experience shows what can be done, but may apply only in that one case. Most .22 LR barrels are fairly soft steel, since they are intended for lead bullets at fairly low velocity. They will soon shoot out if fired very much with high velocity jacketed bullets. Also, many .22 LR rifles were not made to handle .22 Magnum pressures, not to mention that the .22 Magnum won't fit in .22 LR magazines.

(The TC contender barrels are all made of the same steel, so one in .22 LR could be rechambered to .22 Hornet if the firing pin adjustment is available.)

As we know, Ruger made a convertible revolver with two cylinders; the barrel size was correct for .22 Magnum. There have been reports that the .22 LR is not accurate, but the ones I tried seemed as accurate as the normal .22 LR guns.

Jim

 

[LeonCarr]

For what it would cost to safely rechamber a .22 LR to a .22 Magnum (depending on bore diameter, action type, etc), you could buy a dedicated .22 Magnum.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Jim K]

Well, just running in a .22 Magnum chambering reamer wouldn't cost more than a few bucks, and it was done fairly often when the .22 Magnum first came out. Most of those folks soon found the problems I mentioned, that the guns wouldn't hold up and if they did, the barrels gave up the ghost pretty quickly.

Not to mention that you would be going from a gun that shoots cheap ammo to one that shoots expensive ammo. The change is NOT reversible, and .22 LR can't be fired in the .22 Magnum chamber without having split cases.

Things have not changed; it is still a bad idea.

Jim

 

[cane]

Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful replies. Think I'll just buy an inexpensive .22 Mag. rifle.