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.22 Specs from 22ammo.com .22 Bullet
WtCase OverAll Flobert Pb BB .284" .343" Short 29 gr .423" .686" Long 29 gr .595" .880" Long Rifle 40*gr .595" .975" WMR 40*gr 1.052" 1.350" * bullet wt varies: 27-52gr Evolution of the Rimfire Cartridge
The 22 rimfire cartridge is the most popular ammunition product ever conceived. Nearly every one of us started with a ”22” and still use rimfire rifles and handguns regularly in spite of owning more powerful firearms. Experts estimate that the world-wide consumption of 22 rimfire cartridges is in the billions of rounds per year! Yet today's 22 rimfire is the lone survivor of a much broader line of cartridges. 150 years ago, rimfire was the latest advancement in firearms technology. Having bullet, priming system, and propellant in a single unit (known as a fixed cartridge) was a tremendous leap compared to muzzle-loading separate components.
When firearms made the transition from muzzle-loading to fixed cartridges, the first successful fixed cartridge was a rimfire. "Rimfire" means that the priming mix was held inside the cartridge case in a hollow rim. This placement allowed the percussion-sensitive priming compound to be sealed from effects of weather, yet would activate when the hollow rim was pinched between the firing pin and the edge of the chamber.
The concept of the rimfire cartridge was proposed in the 1830's, but its commercial use did not begin until 1845. Flobert (”flow-BEAR”) developed small-caliber, breech-loading target rifles and the cartridges for them. The cartridge case was little more than a percussion cap with a flange or rim containing primer mix. A round lead ball was seated in the case mouth and lightly crimped to hold it in place. The primer compound alone provided sufficient velocity for short-range shooting; no propellant was used in the early versions. Flobert rifles were made in calibers as small as 4mm (roughly 16 caliber). 22 caliber BB caps made in Europe today are practically identical to Flobert's original design.
In 1857, Americans Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson improved on the Flobert concept, using a 22 caliber conical bullet weighing 29 grains. To provide enough energy to move the heavier projectile, they lengthened the case to accommodate a charge of black powder. Their new cartridge is today called the 22 Short. Smith & Wesson's revolvers designed to fire the new cartridge were an immediate financial success and permanently added Smith & Wesson to the roster of famous names in the shooting sports.
The rimfire system quickly expanded into new cartridges, and just about every imaginable bore diameter soon had a rimfire cartridge. Smith & Wesson made 32 RF revolvers that were quite popular with Civil War officers. The 32 revolver, although less powerful than the more common 36 and 44 caliber cap-and-ball revolvers, was accurate and could be reloaded very quickly when things went bad around you.
New 22's appeared, too. The 22 Long was a 22 Short case lengthened to hold more powder. The 29 grain bullet was retained, but the additional propellant meant higher velocity. Later, a 40 grain bullet was used in the Long case to provide better downrange performance when fired from a rifle. They called it the 22 Long Rifle-heard of that one?
Even heavy-caliber cartridges used the rimfire system. The US Military needed a way to convert its 58 caliber M1863 Springfield percussion rifles from muzzle-loaders to fire fixed cartridge arms. Erskine Allin, Springfield Armory's head armorer, developed a system in 1865 to cut away the top half of the barrel and replace it with a hinged breech block that screwed to the original 58 caliber barrel. A large 58 caliber rimfire cartridge was developed to fit the original bore but allow breech loading. Allin later refined his design for newly manufactured rifles using centerfire cartridges-it became the famous 1873 ”Trapdoor” Springfield.
Another successful series of big rimfire cartridge was developed for the Spencer repeating rifles used during the Civil War. The 44 Henry Flat rimfire was the cartridge that started Winchester's supremacy in the lever action market.
Limitations
A large rimfire case could hold respectable amounts of propellant. However, the hollow rim still had to be thin enough to permit reliable ignition, thus limiting how strong the case could be constructed. Another factor was metallurgy. In the 19th Century, metallurgy was still a developing science. The case hardens as it is formed, and must be annealed or stress-relieved to be flexible and strong. Failure of this post-processing step could leave the case brittle. A brittle case could rupture at the rim folds on firing. As more cartridge power was required, priming systems had to be developed that permitted thicker and stronger case. The modern centerfire cartridge was born, and changed.
The massive number of rimfire calibers existing in 1880 began to shrink, starting with the larger ones. The last surviving rimfire cartridges larger than 22 caliber, the 25 Stevens, the 32 Long, and the 41 Short, fell off US ammo lists decades ago. They have been subsequently loaded in foreign countries on special order, but are basically a dead issue. Special order ammo is to keep old guns shooting, not to service the needs of newly-manufactured firearms. As the old guns still being shot become more collectible and move from the range to collections, the need for special order ammo will probably disappear.
Is the Rimfire Dead?
Of course not. The small rimfires will still be around when most of us are gone. Although supplanted by large centerfire cartridges in the high-power regime, the smaller rimfires held their own. Cost is probably a bigger consideration than performance. Small centerfire cartridges are much more expensive to manufacture. Just compare the retail price of 50 rounds of 22 Long Rifle with 50 rounds of 25 Auto. Both have similar ballistics but, in most retailers in the US, a fifty-round box of 22 LR can still be purchased for around a dollar. 25 Auto ammo retails for $7 to $10 for the same fifty cartridges.
To top it off, new rimfire cartridges are still appearing, the last in 2002. In 1960, Winchester introduced the very popular 22 Magnum Rimfire. Its 40 grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 1875 feet/sec. Compare that to the 22 Long Rifle at 1255 ft/sec. Remington came up with the first modern bottleneck rimfire cartridge, the 5mm Remington, in 1970. Unfortunately, technical issues with the rifles, the cost of the ammunition, and the 10-year headstart of the 22 Winchester Magnum doomed the 5mm Remington to the collectors' table.
In 2002, Hornady introduced the 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire. It's a 22 Magnum case necked down to hold a 0.172” bullet. Its rated muzzle velocity of 2525 feet/sec with a 17 grain bullet makes it the fastest rimfire around.
What's Next?
It's fun to gaze into crystal balls and try to say what the future holds. Will new rimfire cartridges appear? Count on it. Just as lead-free technology has meant changes in centerfire ammunition, the rimfire group will see similar offerings. The Rimfire cartridge is still at the core of the shooting sports, so development will continue. It should be an exciting time, and you can count on CCI being an integral part of it.
Tips for Rimfire Success:
Accuracy Testing and Sight-inFor some people, rimfire shooting is a casual diversion that, at best, keeps the eye sharp for other shooting disciplines. Yet many regularly use rimfire firearms for small game hunting, varmint shooting, pest control, or competition. Regardless of the kind of shooting, you want to get the most out of your rifle or handgun. Great accuracy is part of that goal.
Accuracy
First, let's get the concept of accuracy straight. Accuracy means that all the bullets hit the target relatively close to each other. It doesn't mean hitting the bullseye. Go for good groups first. When you find a combination that has all the hits close together, then you can move the sights to make them land in the place you want.Testing
Accuracy testing need not be burdensome. All you need, outside of the firearm and some ammunition, is a safe shooting venue with targets set at a known distance, some appropriate targets, and a steady shooting rest (preferably on a bench that allows you to sit). Paper targets are best for accuracy testing. For rimfire sighting, choose a target with a number of small round bullseyes if your firearm has iron sights or a "red-dot" optical sight. If you have a traditional scope with crosshairs, pick one of those sight-in targets that has hollow squares. These make for accurate placement of the crosshairs and improve your load analysis.Take a Rest
A gun rest can be as simple as a rolled blanket or jacket. Some people use a simple wooden rest made of a couple of 2x6 boards nailed together to form an inverted "T." Of course, there are very nice commercial rests that offer more versatility. The rest should be tall enough to allow you a comfortable position; too low and you'll strain your back. If testing a rifle, slip a sandbag under the buttstock at the point where a sling swivel would mount. Squeezing the bag with your non-shooting hand is a great way to make fine adjustments in your aim.The rolled blanket is a great choice for handguns. However, don't rest the pistol-rest your arms between the elbow and wrist, with the pistol ahead of the rest..
For rifles, place the forearm-not the barrel-on the rest. If the rest touches the barrel it will induce variables that you don't want. Avoid "canting" the firearm (tipping it side to side) during testing. Keep it vertical to get best results. The real key is consistency. Keep everything-grip, position on your shoulder, trigger pull-as consistent as possible for the shot strings.
Shoot!
Once you are satisfied that you have a good rest and a consistent shooting position, it's time to fire. The distance you choose should be realistic to your shooting sport. Remember, at this point we're looking for a combo that puts the bullets as close together as possible at ranges you will see in the field. You're going to shoot for group size first; if you don't like where the group hits, we'll tell you how to move it later.With a slow and deliberate pace, fire several 5-shot groups onto different bulls with each load; that way you have enough data to make a valid decision. A three-shot group may look great, but won't be representative of the entire ammo lot or your firearm. A statistical study conducted by our QA department showed that the fewest shots you can fire into one group and have a high level of statistical confidence for repeatability is seven. Your minimum shooting for each ammo type should be one 7-shot or two 5-shot groups. More is better.
What's a good group? At 50 yards, most decent-quality bolt-action sporting rifles with the "right" ammo will put five shots within a inch or less. If you're there, and the rifle is essentially as-issued, you should be pleased. Sporting handguns will usually do under two inches at 25 yards. Dedicated target firearms should do much better.
Once you have some groups, look for the smallest, most symmetrical ones. Note the ammo brand and type that produced the best groups. The reason you test is that many rimfire firearms show a distinct preference to ammo brand and type. Try different ammo until you find one that produces tight groups with a bullet appropriate to your sport. Once you have the desired group, then it's time to move the sights (possible on most firearms) to put those tight groups in the middle of the bull.
Flyers
A "flyer" is a shot that lands well outside of an otherwise good group. It can be a problem with the ammo, or you could have simply muffed the shot. If you know the shot "felt bad" when you let it off, it's okay to ignore the flyer. However, if the shot "felt right" and you can't find any fault with your technique, shoot some more groups with the same ammo.A damaged bullet could cause the flyer. Repeating firearms, especially semi-autos or those with tubular magazines, are notorious for beating up soft lead bullets. If the gun marks the bullet in roughly the same place every time, accuracy may not suffer. For this reason, group analysis and sight-in should be done the way you shoot in the field. Feed from the magazine instead of single-loading.
Final Sight-in
Here, the distance becomes critical. Rimfire competition can be at 50 feet, 25 yards, 50 yards, or 50 meters (about 55 yards). Flat-terrain varmint shooters should consider a 100 yard sight-in. Fifty yards is a good "generic" sight-in distance if you use one rifle for everything.Here's something that some iron-sight shooters often forget. The most accurate sight picture with post or bead front sights is obtained with a round bull perch atop the front sight. This is called a 6-o'clock hold. The little sliver of white between the bull and sight is a good way to look for vertical misalignment. You can move the firearm until the sliver just disappears.
However, with this alignment, a "dead-on" sight-in will plant the bullet at the bottom of the black, out of the X-ring for target shooters. If you're going bullseye shooting, set the sights to hit a little high with a 6-o'clock hold. If the bull is 2 inches in diameter, you want the rifle to shoot one-half that distance-one inch high in this case-so the group is centered on the X-ring. On the other hand, shooters who need the bullet to hit exactly to point of aim should set iron sights accordingly.
Let's review the rules of site movement. First, get it in your mind that you want the group to move relative to point-of-aim. Some firearms have rear sights that allow both vertical (elevation) and horizontal (windage) adjustment. Any sight in a dovetail slot has windage-you can move the site in the slot by tapping it with a nylon drift to move it. In some cases, you may have to drift the front sight to achieve proper horizontal alignment.
There are two rules for moving sights to change point-of-impact:
- Move the rear sight in the same direction that the group needs to move. Example: if the group must move right, adjust the rear sight to the right until the group strikes the bull.
- Move the front sight in the opposite direction that the group needs to move. Example: if the group must move right, tap the front sight left until the group strikes the bull.
Trouble-shooting Accuracy Problems.
Sometimes, you can't get a good group regardless of your sight-in technique or choice of ammo. There are some things you can check:
- Follow-through. Are you jerking your head up to see where the bullet hit? Proper follow-through means holding your sight picture and grip for at least a full second before moving. An old-timer said, "Hold until the bullet hits and cools down!"
- Unload the firearm and remove the bolt if possible. Check the bolt face for a build-up of bullet lubricant and other residue. Check the back face of the barrel at the same time. Remove any residue
- If you can remove the bolt, flush the spring area with degreaser to remove residue build-up that can cause inconsistent ignition.
- Some rimfire rifles have a rudimentary stock attachment system, often a single large screw. In addition, mass-produced rimfire rifles may have considerable clearance between the metal and the wood. Tighten all screws that mount the barreled action to the stock. If the action is still loose in the stock, consider having a gunsmith bed the action in the stock to reduce play.
- Check scope mounts (or iron sights) for looseness, and correct if necessary.
- The firearm could have excessive headspace. If found, this is not a user-correctable condition; you need the immediate services of a competent gunsmith or the factory before shooting the firearm any more. Excessive headspace is much more than an accuracy problem; it affects safety as well.
- Stringing of shots (where the bullet holes are in a line instead of a symmetrical cluster) can be a gun problem. However, the first thing to check is your shooting position. Barrel touching the rest? That will often cause vertical stringing. If you adjust your position and still get vertical stringing with most ammo types, you may have a loose stock (see 3 above). Horizontal stringing can be caused by a stock fit problem, jerking the trigger, or it could be crosswinds. If the latter, wait for the wind to die down. Sighting should be done with no crosswinds whenever possible. If you try to correct for a 20 mph wind at the range on Tuesday, you'll be all over the place when you get to the hunt on Saturday.
- In revolvers, the barrel/cylinder gap must be no larger that 0.012 inch. An excessive gap can cause vertical stringing due to velocity variation and, worse, could cause a dangerous bullet-in-bore condition.
Last, but certainly the most important, is gun condition There are many old, worn, or abused firearms that are potentially unsafe to fire with ANY ammunition. If Grampa's rifle falls in this category, hang it in an honored place over the fireplace; use a newer model in top condition for your shooting sports.
RIMFIRE FAQ
Q: I bought a box of 22 LR Stinger ammunition and want to hunt coyotes out to 300 yards. How high will I need to hold to be "dead-on" at 300 yds?
A: Rimfire varmint loads are not 300 yard "coyote killers." Unless your scope is different than mine (sighted-in at 100 yds), the coyote will not be visible in the scope when you hold high enough to hit it. A hit at that range will likely only wound. Know the limitations of the ammo and your rifle.Q: I just purchased a box of your part number 0069 and it says 22 WRF. Is not the same as the 22 Magnum I usually shoot, is this a "short" 22 Magnum?
A: The 22 WRF is a unique cartridge. It was made a century ago for the Winchester model 1890 and some others. Shoot those cartridges only in guns so marked. 22 WRF and 22 WMR are different cartridges with different bullet diameters. While we are on that topic, we advise against the use of the jacketed CCI 22 WRF ammo in revolvers marked for that caliber, as we have found such revolvers have bore diameters well under the 0.226" bullet diameter standard for WRF.Q: I purchased an after-market barrel for my rifle and it says on the barrel "ejecting an unfired round may leave a bullet in the barrel," or words to that effect. Why is that warning on the barrel?
A: Many of the after-market barrels use a "match chamber" to enhance accuracy. When the cartridge is fed into a match chamber, it will "pre-engrave" the bullet into the rifling. When you attempt to remove the unfired cartridge, the bullet may stay wedged in the rifling and only the unfired case will be withdrawn from the gun, spilling powder in the action. This is a greater issue with semi-autos than bolt action rifles. The semi-auto's bolt spring may not have enough power to completely seat the cartridge in match chambers.Q: I've used Stinger's on tree squirrels and it tears them up so bad they aren't fit to eat. I have a suggestion: reduce the velocity of the Stinger, so I can put some squirrel meat in the pot that is fit to eat.
A: We've already done that. Look at this web site and bear in mind that the higher the velocity, the more meat damage you can expect. Try our Sub-Sonic HP (part number 0056) or the Small Game Bullet (0058) for your squirrel hunting. Show it to your friends, and tell them "....that was my idea, ya know".Q: I saw these cartridges called 22 Short CB's and 22 Long CB's. My rifle says it will shoot S,L and LR. It doesn't say anything about CB, can I shoot them?
A: Yes, you can shoot CB Shorts or Longs in your pistol/rifle. These are a reduced velocity load at about 710 feet per sec. They are designed for both low velocity and low noise. While they have proved to be very accurate, they will usually not function a semi-auto gun. You may need to single-load CBs in some firearms.Q: The 22 LR Stinger case is longer that a regular 22 LR. Why?
A: To get high velocity, we use a lighter and shorter bullet in Stinger. For proper feeding, a 22 LR cartridge must be close to one inch long. We stretched the Stinger case to compensate for the shorter bullet and keep the total cartridge length within industry specs.Q: I want to use CCI 22 LR shotshells for short-range pest control. Will the pellets damage the barrel?
A: Absolutely not. The lead pellets and plastic shot capsule are much softer than the poorest grade steel and will not hurt your barrel. However, some leading may occurring in rough bores. Normal cleaning will remove any lead fouling.Q: I'm having accuracy problems with my rimfire rifle. Where can I go to get information on accuracy problems?
A: In the "Education" section of this web site is a series of articles called "Tips for Rimfire Success." One is on accuracy testing and troubleshooting.
Tech Tips
- The accuracy of 17 caliber rimfires is tied to cleanliness to a far greater extent than other rimfire firearms. Clean the bore often, as much as 2 to 3 times per box of ammo.
- CCI rimfire plastic boxes are designed to be reused. Take out the grid and store small parts, tools, fishing tackle, etc. Be environmentally conscious and pick up your trash.
- Oils will "wick" into the powder and make the cartridge inert, or cause erratic performance. Store all ammunition away from sources of oil and moisture.
- Sight-in at the distance you find most of your targets, then test closer and farther away to learn your point-of-impact at those distances.
- Be sure of your backstop. NEVER shoot over water. You can bet the bullet will ricochet and not lose much, if any, velocity.
- Pick the ammunition that is suited to your target. That is why CCI has such a broad offering of rimfire ammunition. The rounds that will rid you of pests may prove too potent for the game you want to put into the pot.
- Accuracy in rimfire ammunition is tied to how the bullet is presented to the rifling. If one bullet style or velocity is not giving you the results you're looking for, try another. Subtle changes in bullet style or velocity can make an appreciable difference in accuracy.
- Placing lead-bullet ammunition in direct sunlight or a hot car trunk can melt the bullet lubricant and allow it to permeate the powder. That can cause misfires.
- If you have a malfunction and need to manually eject a fired case from a semi-automatic firearm, check the bore for obstructions BEFORE firing another round. In some circumstances, this condition could point to a bullet-in-bore.
- Both our Short and Long CB rounds are loaded to the same velocity. Depending on the gun, one may feed better the other better in repeating firearms. That's why we make two types They will not cycle most semi-auto guns.
- Make sure primers are seated .003" to .005" BELOW FLUSH to insure reliable ignition.
- Cleaning primer pockets with an RCBS primer pocket brush removes residue build-up that can cause hard seating.
- Don’t use a knife or screwdriver blade to clean primer pockets. These damage the pocket walls and can cause gas leaks.
- Remove crimps found on many military primer pockets before reloading the cases. RCBS makes a dandy Pocket Swager to do this efficiently.
- Shotshell primers marked "57" or "157" will only fit in older Remington cases (60's and early 70's vintage). They are too small for use in newer shotshell casings.
- Both CCI "Mil-Spec" rifle primers (Nos. 41 and 34) are MAGNUM primers and intended for use in military-style semi-auto rifles where a slam-fire may occur. Don't substitute for standard primers without adjusting the load.
- Mixed-up your rifle and pistol primers? CCI pistol primers have a light red paper disk under the anvil. Next time, keep then in the original box until you load them.
- No, it's not a good idea to substitute Rifle primers for Pistol primers, even though they may fit in the primer pocket. There are several differences that affect safety and reliability.
- Hunting in the rain? A dab of masking tape over the end of the barrel will keep the rain out. Shoot through it if needed, or remove before firing.
- The 22 Long Rifle is NOT a low-pressure cartridge. The industry pressure limit is 24,000 psi, greater than the 45 Auto +P.
- The engineer who developed CCI Stinger® in 1975 was looking for a more effective rimfire jackrabbit round. He definitely succeeded.
- Store primers in their original packaging, and away from heat, sparks, open flame, or from hands of those who shouldn’t be playing with them!
- For most 22 LR hunting, a 75 yard sight-in is just about right for a reasonably accurate rifle.
- The man who invented the primer system common in Europe was an American, Col. Hiram Berdan. The man who invented the primer system used in American ammo was an Englishman, Edward Boxer.
- A typical centerfire primer creates temperatures between 3000 and 3700 degrees F.
- The original 22 Short cartridge was developed for a Smith & Wesson revolver.
- Misfires? The most common cause of rimfire misfires is a poorly maintained firearm.
- Don't attempt to fire 22 LR ammo in any 22 Magnum firearm. The LR case is smaller and can swell to the point of rupture--never a good thing,
- Never store any ammunition in leather belt loops unless the cases are nickel-plated. Residual processing chemicals in the leather will attack brass or aluminum cases, weakening the case walls.
- The standard rifling twist for a 22 LR is one turn in 16 inches.
- CCI Blazer® was introduced in 1981 with one load, a 38 Special lead RN.
- Rimfire shotshells are short-range cartridges. With the small shot charge, patterns begin to degrade after 15-20 feet. Shotshells are not designed to cycle semi-auto firearms, but can be hand-cycled if needed.
- An oversized primer pocket in a fired case is a near-certain sign of too much pressure!
RimFire Ballistics
Usage Key:
- Plinking
- Target
- Silhouette
- Varmint
- Small Game
- Medium Game
- Large Game
- Indoor Range
Part# Cart SubBrand Wt. Gr. Bullet Usage General Purpose Ammo 0027 Short Short HV 29 GLRN 7 5 1 0028 Short Short HP 27 GLHP 7 5 1 0029 Long Long HV 29 GLRN 7 5 1 0030 22LR Mini-Mag HV 40 GLRN 7 5 1 Pest Control Ammo 0026 Short CB 29 LRN 5 1 0038 Long CB Long 29 LRN 5 1 0039 22LR Shotshell 31 #12 5 1 RF Magnum Ammo 0023 22Mag Maxi-Mag 40 TMJ 7 3 1 0024 22Mag Maxi-Mag 40 JHP 4 1 0025 22Mag Maxi-Mag 52 #12 shot 5 1 0052 17 HMR HMR GamePoint 20 GamePoint 1 4 7 0053 17 HMR HMR TNT 17 TNT HP 5 4 1 0059 22Mag Maxi-Mag +V 30 JHP 5 4 1 0063 22Mag Maxi-Mag TNT 30 TNT HP 5 4 1 0069 22WRF WRF 45 JHP 7 5 4 1 Small Game Ammo 0058 22LR SGB 40 LFP 7 1 Target/Match Ammo 0032 22LR Std Velocity 40 LRN 2 1 0033 22LR Green Tag 40 LRN 2 1 0037 Short Short Target 29 LRN 2 0051 22LR Pistol Match 40 LRN 2 0065 22LR Silhouette 40 GLHP 3 2 Varmint Ammo 0031 22LR Mini-Mag HP 36 GLHP 5 4 1 0050 22LR Stinger 32 GLHP 5 4 1 0056 22LR Subsonic HP 40 LHP 7 4 0064 22LR Quik-Shok 32 SLHP 5 4 1
CCI # 0033 0032 0030 0047 0039 0053 Caliber .22 .22 .22 .22 .22 .17 Gr 40 40 40 40 31 17 Bullet LRN LRN GLRN GLHP #12 TnT_HP V0 1070 1070 1235 1435 1000 2550 V50 1001 1001 1104 1249 . 2199 V100 945 945 1026 1112 . 1892 E0 102 102 135 183 . 245 E50 89 89 108 139 . 183 E100 79 79 93 110 . 135 X100 3.9 3.9 3.1 2.4 . 0.3 V6 940 940 1060 1130 . 2040 Name Green
TagStd
VelMini-
Mag HVVelocitor Shot
ShellHMR
TNT