Why 22LR doesn't go in 22mag chambers

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mwsenoj

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I always shoot my NAA mini revolver with the 22LR cylinder since it makes a fun plinker. My brother borrowed it and sent it back with the 22 mag cylinder. Stupidly I didn't check. I was actually chronographing the 22LR and got all 5 out with no issue until it came time to take the brass out. I will be checking better next time.

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What kinda velocity did they make? Any weird outgassing from the cylinder?
 
Thanks for sharing. I just recently acquired a S/A revolver (Heritage Rough Rider) with a cylinder for each. I knew you cannot chamber WMR rounds into the LR chambers, but (up until now) I had thought the only repercussions of firing LR rounds in the WMR cylinder would have been poor performance and possible ignition issues.
At least Heritage makes it a little easier by making the WMR cylinder non-fluted.
 
Says exactly that in the manual for the .22Mag minis. You CAN shoot .22LR in the .22WMR cylinder, it just might split and won't be as accurate. Great little pistol though. Wife uses one as her backup and I like the little pea shooter.
 
My NAA Black Widow in 22mag lives in my pants pocket any time I have pants on.
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That's my problem!!!! I hate pants!!!!! That's why I don't own an NAA!!!

My employer is constantly sending me to talk to human resources. Major inconvienience
 
Although the .22LR and the .22WMR use the exact same diameter bullets the outside diameter of the cases are different!

The outside diameter of the .22lr is the same diameter as the .22 bullet. It is called an outside lubricated heel-based bullet because the part of the bullet that goes into the case matches the inside diameter of the case and is smaller in diameter than the rest of the bullet. That part is called the "heel"

Also, since this "heel" never touches the rifling of the barrel the lubricant is on the outside of the bullet where as you probably have noticed it can get dirty. Also, the case does not hold the bullet as securely as with most center fire ammo.

When they developed the .22WMR they wanted the bullet to use lubricant that was inside the case so it wouldn't get dirty and they wanted the case to hold the bullet more securely so they increased the overall diameter of the case so that the inside diameter of the case was .22" just like the bullet.

That means that the chambers of firearms that shoot .22WMR are greater in diameter than the chambers that shoot .22LR.

That is why some .22 rimfire revolvers come with two cylinders. One for .22LR and the other for .22WMR.
 
You sure about that? I thought .22 mag used a .224" bullet and they can have an actual jacket. (But to be honest, I haven't seen one since the 80's when my brother had a single six.)
 
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