Same ammo, different guns, different size holes .22

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Cornhusker77

Cornhusker77

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Just like the title says, I used the same ammo, out of the same box and I get 2 different size holes in a paper plate.
The larger holes are a Bersa Thunder .22 that I just bought, and the smaller holes are a Walther P22 that I've had for a couple years.
Shooting Aguila 30gr copper plated hollow point "Hyper Velocity" .22 ammo from 25 ft.
Anybody know why I'm getting different size holes?
Thanks.
GEDC1213.jpg

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Thats what I was thinking too. Put a mic or even a good ruler and take a photo. Bet the big wholes measure atlest .32.
 
No chance that the larger holes came from a .22 caliber bullet. Those holes are almost unmistakeably from .38 semi or full wadcutters.
 
Let me add another wrinkle:
I don't go to a range, I shoot by myself with nobody else around.
Just for a size comparison, a 9mm is a little bigger than the hole.
I had my Bersa and Walther out in the yard shooting yesterday and noticed the Bersa was making bigger holes.
After work I'm going to try some different ammo and see if the same thing happens.
It's just weird that the holes are so round and neat.
Tells me the bullets are expanding when they leave the gun.
The bore seems a little tight when I run a cleaning patch in it, could that have something to do with it?
 
I don't think there is any chance of any of that ever happening.

I think that either someone is playing a joke on you, or that you are trying to play a joke on us.
 
Not a joke, I'm not that guy.
I probably wouldn't believe it either though.
Just thought I'd see if anybody else had experienced anything like this.
 
Couple things that could be going on here... If the barrel on the bersa is longer by enough, maybe you're getting just enough velocity to get a clean hole instead of the normal "ragged" hole. Maybe your Bersa is a .380 and not a .22 as you suspect, though that wouldn't explain the sharpness of the holes, only the size, and confusing .22LR for .380ACP is tough to do for the worst of us.

Really, I don't buy the statement that you don't know what's going on. I've never seen a .22LR make a bigger hole than it's supposed to unless it had already passed through something that deformed the bullet, and those holes aren't clean like yours.

It looks to me like you shot the plate with .38 wadcutters or just attacked the target with a hole punch.

Either way, most people are generally not stupid and pulling a prank that is so obvious isn't going to fly.

All that being said, if someone can explain and duplicate this "phenomenon" and prove that the OP hasn't just tried to pull a prank (I think I saw something similar a few months ago) then I'd love to know how it's done. Who wouldn't want .30cal + holes to result from firing their .22? Can we say new defensive round?! :banghead:
 
I think it's something to do with the ammo.
Here's the same gun using Winchester bulk stuff.
It is in a different type of target, but the holes seem normal.
When I get home this afternoon, I'll do some experimenting
I know a lot of people aren't believing me, and I wouldn't either, but I do appreciate the comments.
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Lets give Cornhusker77 the benefit of the doubt, shall we.
I see no evidence of him being a flake in any of his previous posts over the last three years!

Now, lets try to figure it out.
I have on occasion seen very short barrels actually upset the base of the bullet when it exits the muzzle.
Had a .45 Colt doing it right out of the cylinder when I shot it with the barrel removed.
It was cutting over 1/2" holes in paper clean as a whistle!

It could happen with high performance .22RF ammo if the bullets were soft and had a hollow base.

That could explain what is cutting the holes bigger & cleaner.
Not sure why the 3.5" Bersa would and the 3.4" P22 wouldn't though.
Possibly a difference in the shape or design of the barrel crowns?

I'd suggest you dig some bullets out of the dirt behind the target and see if they look like the base is mushroomed & curled over slightly, enough to be cutting those clean larger holes.

rc
 
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I'm at work now, but when I get home I think I'll load the mag with alternate rounds, Winchester and Aguila and see if I get different size holes.
Maybe I can get it on film.
 
I think you had it right rcmodel.:D
Now the question becomes: Why did it do it with the Bersa but not the Walther?
Maybe the unusually tight bore on the Bersa played a role?
 
From edited post #15.
Possibly a difference in the shape or design of the barrel crowns?
Click to expand...

One crown might be bleeding off gas pressure away from the base of the bullet more then the other one when the bullet exits the muzzle.

Check and see if the Bersa crown is different shape then the Walther.

rc
 
RC hit upon what I was thinking as far as bullet base deformation.

Barrel crown might be a contributor, but so could a tighter bore.

Maybe slug the bores to see.

Have a chrono?
 
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