Reloading of .22 LR ammunition???

[orpington]

This is a question, more than anything else. Obviously, .22 ammunition lacks a removable primer (hence, rimfire), but, given the lack of availability of .22 ammunition and the savings of handloading, I am wondering why it is not possible to purchase a .22 LR reloading die, primed .22 brass, .22 bullets, and find in the literature an appropriate powder choice and load your own??? Obviously, just like with factory loads, it would be a one-shot deal, but why is this not an option???

 

[PapaG]

Don't think you'll have any luck finding either primed brass or heeled bullets for starters.

 

[HisStigness]

I'm guessing powder charges would be an issue too. If people hate to load the 25 acp as much as they do, 22lr could only be worse.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Ya know, I was kinda thinking the same thing but for a different reason. Why can't 22LR be loaded to something like 30,000 PSI? New guns can handle the pressure. Heck, 9mm can be loaded to 35,000 PSI for Standard pressure. I have the same thoughts on the 25ACP. If handloaded the 25 ACP can be pushed to ~ 1,000 fps from a short barrel.

Going back to the 22LR. You can actually buy unprimed 22LR brass. I can't imagine it would be too hard to do if you have enough patience. A really hot 22LR round would have uses.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

When I was young you could buy a primer powder for rimfire that could be brushed into the case. I helped reload 22 lr using recovered cases and bullets. I don't remember the powder or charge, and haven't seen the primer advertised in ages. We used single shot bolt action rifles and loaded the ammo so the firing pin would hit an unused spot on the rim.

 

[gamestalker]

I remember way back when I had first started reloading, you could buy primed 22 lr brass, and many who shot competitively did in fact load their own. Beyond that, I don't remember any of the other pertinent details, but yes, it used to be, and might still be a re loadable cartridge.

I also knew this one fellow, kind of a nerdy type, who had figured a way to re prime the brass.

And another guy I knew back then said he used blanks as his source for primed brass. I have no idea what he used for powder or bullets.

GS

 

[Walkalong]

The trick would be the difficulty and hazard of re-priming them.

 

[HellTrain]

Not really worth the hassle

 

[ironworkerwill]

Why can't 22LR be loaded to something like 30,000 PSI? New guns can handle the pressure.

The gun can, however, the brass cannot. Being of ballon head construction, 22 rimfire brass is limited to the pressure it can handle.

I once rechambered a 22lr to 22mag using the same barrel, action, ect. The 22lr is slightly smaller than the diameter of the 22mag. The tight-er than normal, now 22mag, is over the pressure the brass can contain. It shot great! The rims blew out the side near the firing pin strike.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, the danger of reloading them probably outweighs the rewards.

Do you think we will ever learn the truth of why we have no .22LR ammo?

 

[Onward Allusion]

The gun can, however, the brass cannot. Being of ballon head construction, 22 rimfire brass is limited to the pressure it can handle.

VERY good point. I did not think of that. Ok, time to reload 25 ACP.

 

[THe Dove]

I have been reloading for 20 plus years now. The day I have to reload 22lr ammo is the very day that I will sell every 22 rifle/pistol I own. LOL

The Dove

 

[ironworkerwill]

I have been pondering on a .32 or .25acp bolt gun. Possibly takeing the place of 22lr.

I might try someting with the failed Cricket to 22mag conversion. I'd have to get a new barrel and rework the bolt some how.

I know, I'm side tracking.

 

[Robert101]

Agreed. There should not be a shortage of 22LR. It is purely a recreational round with NO military application. It is ridicules that Winchester, Federal, and Remington won't take care of their shooting public. I blame the manufacturers.

 

[Lj1941]

If a lot of the people who are hoarding all of the 22LR ammo ceased doing the deed IMO there would be ammo available. I know one particular person who is proud of the fact that he has >20k rounds. This person hasn't fired a round of anything in several years. Cases such as this are making the whole situation much worse.

 

[Robert101]

For all those people hoarding, there are many more that aren't shooting. It is a zero sum game. Still not enough ammo in 22LR.

 

[Walkalong]

We are not going to do the hoarding thing again.