What options for .22 short ONLY rifles?

"... several thousand rounds..."

and a gun you like shooting it in?

I'd think about making it a"project gun" and get a barrel "liner" from Brownells then chamber to short only. One can always re-ream to LR later.

Short answer though (NPI) would be drill & ream the chamber then sweat in a new chamber blank and ream to Short. There'll still be un-rifled bore from rim to lands but not the over-bored gap you currently have.


Todd.

I have seen Winchester model 74's in 22 short. It is a semi auto. They are not common but once in awhile they show up.

Do you happen to have a 10/22?

https://www.volquartsen.com/products/155-22-short-kit-for-10-22

Does anyone have any experience with the Volquartsen 22 short conversion for the 10/22? It leaves you with a .22LR chamber so you would still have a jump for the bullet and likely iffy accuracy.

handi rifle or contender is the route I would go. Not sure how well that stays in your budget, but it might fit since you can get other barrels for it later.

I've always wondered why there aren't .22 rifles chambered just for the .22 short.
It seems to me that it would be a popular collectors type gun because the .22 short was the first self contained cartridge manufactured. They originally were sold for 5 for a penny.

watch gunbroker

The Opening Post question is finding a .22 Short only rifle to utilize a cache of .22 CB Short ammo (not the .22 Short standard or high vel, but the way downloaded "zimmerpatronen" or shortrange practice round .22 CB Short).

I have shot .22 CB Longs in a .22 Long Rifle Remington Nylon 66. The CB did not generate the recoil to operate the semi-automatic action. It did eject and feed when operated as a straight-pull bolt action.

I wonder if a Browning .22 Short semi-auto rifle could be used in the same way? That's a lot to invest in to test an idea, though. Brownings are not cheap.

Bottom gun is a well used Model 62 .22 short only. It is not worn out, it was used a short time in a shooting gallery as the gun the barker used to show the rubes thae target would go down if hit right. The sights are DEAD on . I believe the barrel was cut down to 20" by a very skilled smith as it looks factory except for a really good target crown. Nothing like flicking shorts in a model 62 Winchester, trust me
bottom gun is .22 short, I kept it in a barn 20 years. Top is a model 90 .22 WRF left to me by a relative. Middle gun is a 62 I was given as a kid 55 years ago

I have a old Savage rifle that is listed for .22 short, long or long rifle. It's semi auto for LR only. I see them on gun auctions once in a while for under $300.00.

Hamms;

At one time Volquartsen either made, or modified, Ruger 10/22 like guns to be short only I think. Any version would be way outside your budget figure though. You might try a direct contact with Volquartsen to get accurate information about today's availability.

900F

A Winchester 1890 .22Short is just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Just don't expect to find one for $300 or less.

"...shooting without hearing protection..." Isn't a good idea even with CB's.

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Nonsense. CB's are perfectly hearing safe as long as the barrel is not too short.

Check CDNN. They have new Browning SA-22 rifles chambered for .22 short only. I bought one from them a few years ago. Really nice gun and runs 100% with CCI .22 short CB.

Dan

Yes, CDNN has them at a premium over their LR version which currently is on sale at eighty clams cheaper and comes w/500 rnds of LR. The maple version is an additional 20 spot premium if you care for blonde.

However, their Browning SA-22 short model still uses the 1:16" rifling of the LR instead of a proper 1:24". Weight/lengths the same and at 5 lbs 3 oz w/19.375" barrel it isn't exactly lightweight. I own a 26" 20 gauge O/U w/13" butt stock that tips the scale at five ounces more[Yildiz youth though currently model only available w/24" brls at an advertised 5lbs].

I like the Browning look, but I have a Remy 552 Speedmaster 23.5" brl[currently offered in 21" claims of 5 3/4 lbs].If I had no means to shoot shorts in a semi-auto rifle then I would definately consider the Browning. It is over half a lb lighter than the 552 & the receiver is of svelte design.

This model is where I'd enjoy seeing a lightweight aluminum receiver, as the Yildiz, w/long brl as 26". You would offset the weight of additional brl length and have an arm even quieter. Yet, if the SA-22 would cycle the CCI 22 CB Short reliably that might well be enough persuasion.

But, at least the side ejecting, w/rear mounted deflector, Speedmaster has never dropped a hot case down my shirt sleeve. I do on occasions load CB Shorts. Most of the time the 552 will eject though not cycle and load the rnd. Occasionaly it will almost eject only to pin the spent case sideways w/bolt. Other times the bolt comes back only enough to push the case back in battery again requiring manual ejection of tilting the muzzle up whilst turning CW 1/4 turn to help facilitate the ejection.

The CB Short is a potent little rnd. Through my 552 it will punch holes at 25yds in mild sheetmetal of approxiametly 22-20 gauge and quiet as a mouse. At least from the buttstock.
YMMV

Old thread but IMHO, 5lbs is extremely light, even for a rimfire. I don't know why anyone would compare it to an aluminum framed shotgun.

Twist rate is irrelevant.

The Belgian Browning .22 Auto Shortshooter actually has a longer barrel than the LR model. I bet it has the right twist, unlike the Miroku.
By the way, what IS right for Shorts? I have seen 20 and 24 inch twists mentioned.

Not really relevant, but I recall an old article by a guy who put a LR barrel on his High Standard Olympic Shortshooter. He said the faster twist improved accuracy at pistol velocity, more than the long chamber gave away.

I don't see the 1-16" twist being a potential detriment in any way.

The absolutely correct twist is the least amount in order to stabilize the chosen projectile. In a short that's usually a 29 grain LRN.

The consensus appears to be that the .22 s/l/lr rimfire is not fast enough for speed to be a factor in rifling.

I would just trade all your Shorts for some .22lr or Aguila Super Colibri, which is even quieter than .22 short but feeds like a .22lr.

I have a Winchester 74 in 22 short only. I haven't tried it with CB Shorts, mainly because I don't have any. Browning does offer SA22s in 22 short from time to time. Personally I'd consider trading the ammo and getting 22 CB Longs which would improve the chamber situation.

HammsBeer said:

I was hoping there were some quality old .22 short rifles out there, but most of what I've seen are beat up carnival shooting gallery guns.

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Howdy

Good luck trying to find anything of recent manufacture chambered only for 22 Shorts. There simply is not enough demand to make it worthwhile for any manufacturer to make them. And one reason is it is really tough to find 22 Short ammo anymore. When I was a kid, I could buy 22 Shorts at the local hardware store, but those days are long gone.

Here is one of those 'beat up carnival shooting gallery' guns. A Winchester Model 1890, chambered for 22 Short. This one was manufactured in 1906. 22 Short was the most common chambering for this model because so many of them were used in shooting galleries, not much of a backstop was needed. This one is a bit shot out, not as accurate as some of my other 22s, but it still puts a good spin on the bullet.

Browning FAQ- Nr. 77

What are some advantages of aluminum receivers?
They are lighter, they do not rust and are very durable.

http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rimfire/22 Short - 22 Short CB - 22 Short Gallery.pdf