.22LR/Magnum revolvers

[Hunter2011]

Looking at something like a Taurus Tracker with a 6.5'' barrel, or something simular.
Was these revolvers made with the intention to shoot LR ammo or Magnum ammo more accurately. Lets assume If shooting LR and Magnum ammo for groups over a rest at 25 yards. in which mode will you get the best groups? Assuming of course that you use the most accurate ammo in the gun in bot .22LR and .22 Magnum.

If there is a difference, how much is it generally?
Secondly, if zero'd at 25 yards in .22LR mode, how much different will your POI be when shooting at the same distance with the Magnums?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Well, since the bullet diameter is different, the barrel would have to be bored for the larger slug. So one would think that the cartridge that fits the barrel better should be more accurate.

However, you'll really need to shoot both as it varies between manufacturers...and even guns

 

[Bill4282]

I've owned several revolvers that shot both LR and Mag. The LR was always more accurate. In one of my rimfire books, there was an explanation the due to higher velocity, the mag bullet was pushed harder and therefor was less stable in flight.

 

[CraigC]

You'll have to shoot it and see. Point of impact should be different enough to warrant a sight adjustment. Convertibles sound like a good idea but I end up designating each gun to a specific cartridge.

In one of my rimfire books, there was an explanation the due to higher velocity, the mag bullet was pushed harder and therefor was less stable in flight.

That's bogus.

 

[ID-shooting]

I shoot both out of my Single-six. I don't notice that much difference. The thing I would be worried about in a gun that uses the same cylinder is carbon build up from 22lr that could get in the way of 22mag rounds chambering like shooting 38's out of a 357.

"Thats bogus" there is lots of documentation that supports speed affecting bullet stability. Do you have a source to back up, "thats bogus?"

 

[Hunter2011]

It is not really like shooting a 38 special in a 357 as in the case of the .22LR/Magnum combo, the cylinder is changed depending of the round you shoot.
Faster bullets are not less accurate than slower bullets. Look at groups shot with very fast centrefire rifles at 200 meters. There must be another reason other than speed I think.

 

[CraigC]

"Thats bogus" there is lots of documentation that supports speed affecting bullet stability.

Let's see it.

For a given bullet weight and twist rate, higher velocities do NOT make bullets less stable. If there is a discernible difference, they are MORE stable. Sorry but there is nothing to support this nonsense.

...carbon build up from 22lr that could get in the way of 22mag rounds chambering like shooting 38's out of a 357.

I don't see how that's possible, seeing as how convertibles have different cylinders for the two chamberings. Because the .22LR uses a heeled bullet the same diameter as the case, while the .22Mag uses a jacketed bullet seated inside the case. Thus, .22Mag chambers larger in diameter. If you're shooting .22LR in a .22Mag cylinder, well that explains your belief in myths.

 

[murf]

more velocity - less stable (more drag), more velocity - more spin - more stable (gyroscopic effect). they cancel each other out initially, but, since velocity decreases at a much higher rate than spin, the faster spinning magnum bullet will be more stable down range.



murf

source: jbmbalistics.com

go to "bibliography"

in the exterior section click on "how do bullets fly?"

go down to "static stability factor (example)" should explain it better

 

[22-rimfire]

The only revolvers that shot both were ones that the cylinders could be replaced with either a magnum or long rifle cylnder. I have heard both comments about accuracy and they were usually concerning the Single Six.

So, to the OP, current availability in DA is you choose either LR or WMR. You can do both with single actions with two cylinders. Shooting LR in a WMR cylinder will result in split cases, very difficult extraction and it is generally not very safe.

Bill, what books were they?

 

[ZVP]

One thing to remember...

The .22 LR is bored straight through.
The .22 Mag is a "Caliber" and most good revolvers have a definate step at the end of the case. Just like a .357 mag.
Secondly, SIngle Sx barrels are .224 for the Magnum but it really dosen't affect accuracy much because the shape of the Heeled .
22 Bullet. It expands and grabbes the rifling!
For Warm-ups I still shoot for the eagle o the NRA Targets, and expect to hit it once in a while! MY lousy shooting not the Ruger's!
My 6 7/8" Single Six shoots like a rifle with WW .22Mag HP's! Love shooting those thru it!

ZVP

 

[rcmodel]

Taurus does in fact make two models of DA trackers with interchangeable cylinders.

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=844&category=Revolver&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=764&category=Revolver&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=

rc

 

[mljdeckard]

Shooting .22lr in a .22 mag is not safe. It might be nothing will happen, it might be that you will split cases or worse.

 

[22-rimfire]

Taurus does in fact make two models of DA trackers with interchangeable cylinders.

Didn't know that. Good to know. But it's still a Taurus rimfire revolver which has a terrrible reputation as a company with the rimfire DA revolvers. They will probably sell a lot of them.

 

[TennJed]

Didn't know that. Good to know. But it's still a Taurus rimfire revolver which has a terrrible reputation as a company with the rimfire DA revolvers. They will probably sell a lot of them.

I hope to see other companies take Taurus lead and come out with some. NAA has a swing out cylinder in 22lr/22mag. It is single action, but has a DA style cylinder

 

[Ron James]

My 1968 Super Single Six convertible is more accurate with the .22 Mag cylinder. In fact I was never happy with shooting .22 long rifle in it. Could never get a good grouping with the 22 LR cylinder regardless of what ammo I used. Just my experience.

 

[ssyoumans]

My Single Six convertible seems to like CCI Blazer 40gr Solids in 22 LR and CCI 40gr Mini Mags. Shoots either very well. Can hold 6 shots inside a 1" circle target off of a rest at 15 yards using the CCI 22 LR. Does very well with the 22 Mags too, but I haven't tried 25 yard shooting, limit myself to 15 yards.

FYI out of a 5.5" Single Six:
Winchester 36gr PHP "555" 22LR ammo runs 1047fps
Winchester or CCI 40gr 22 Mag runs 1345 fps

Win 36gr PHP 22 LR out of a Marlin 25N 22" bolt action rifle run 1246 fps

So, the 22 Mag ammo out of a 5.5" revolver generates more speed than a 22 LR out of a 18" rifle.

Note: its loud. Enjoy

 

[PapaG]

My super single six,6 1/2", is as accurate in 22lr as a friend's Freedom arms 22. The magnum cylinder and any brand of Maggie's is about half (double group size) as accurate. Mags are still pretty darn good but don't hold a candle to my tracker 17. Each gun is a law unto itself. You have to try them and see. The ss will outshoot my MkI, MkII, and my woodsman.

 

[unspellable]

A few points to consider. With a two cylinder revolver, one may have good alignment, the other not. That would be luck of the draw.

velocity: In the transonic region air drag and wind deflection are not well behaved as they are at velocities above and below that region. That's why target grade 22 LR ammo for rifles is standard velocity, not high velocity. Fired from a six inch revolver the 22 Mag lands in the transonic region.

 

[slickracer]

I purchased a convertible Single Six a few weeks ago and it shoots! I only had one brand of .22WMR with me to test but it shoots better groups with .22LR.

 

[hedrok]

Spellable, what you are saying is that the bullet becomes unstable at or around supersonic speeds but IS stable above and below...correct?
So THAT'S why the popularity of CCI Std. Velocity remains high among Bullseye shooters. As I look up and down the line...everybody has the same ammo...now I know why.
Thank you.

 

[DM~]

Spellable, what you are saying is that the bullet becomes unstable at or around supersonic speeds but IS stable above and below...correct?
So THAT'S why the popularity of CCI Std. Velocity remains high among Bullseye shooters. As I look up and down the line...everybody has the same ammo...now I know why.
Thank you.

Actually, the bullet becomes SLIGHTLY less stable as it comes back under the speed of sound. (goes through the sound barrier) And it's VERY slight and would only be noticed by BR shooters... (you wouldn't notice the difference with your 22 revolver)

This is why many accurate 22's, will shoot GREAT groups at 25 or 50yds, but open up at 100yds. At 25 or 50 the bullet hasn't dropped back under the speed of sound yet...

Using ammo that stays under the speed of sound will control that... BUT the lower velocity ammo is harder to shoot at longer ranges because wind ect. has more time to affect the bullet.

If speed alone ruined accuracy, how would the BR shooters using CF cartridges ever get those great groups???

DM

 

[Merle1]

Greetings,

I have a Ruger Super Single Six convertible with a 9-1/2" barrel. It shoots very well with 22 Mags, but generally poorly with 22 LR. I have tried pretty much every load that is available with little success. Some loads will keyhole by 7 yards, go figure! The only LR it has ever done well with was the old Federal Silhouette, which is long out of production.

Part of the problem is that the bore diameter can only be correct for one or the other. The other consideration is the rate of twist. It seems as if the manufacturer has to decide which cartridge to optimize for - it seems as if Ruger chose the Mag. My nephew has a Heritage Ruff Rider & it is a gem with LR, but does poorly with Mags.

After all this rambling it boils down to this; try everything you can find (I know THAT will be fun in today's market) in both LR & Mag and let the gun tell you what it wants :banghead: which may well not be what you wanted. Good luck!

Merle

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I just recently bought a Ruger Single Six Convertable for my oldest brother, and we put a few hundred rounds through it doing some serious plinking, using several types of ammunition...shorts, long rifle, magnums, shot shells.

The LR and WMR rounds were not noticably different in accuracy in our experience. Both shot well and had reasonably tight groups.