Shooting .22 Short in Semi-Auto Pistol

[Drakejake]

I think the answer is no, but I will ask:

Will a semi-auto pistol designed for .22LR function properly with .22 Long or .22 Short? I assume the slide won't cycle fully and that there may also be failures to feed.

Thanks,

Drakejake

 

[Jim Watson]

You are correct, the answer is no.

The few US pistols for .22 Short from High Standard and Smith & Wesson had aluminum slides to reduce the recoiling mass. The High Standard had a really strange looking magazine to fit the same well as used on their LR pistols AND feed Shorts.

 

[Gordon]

I've been known to deep carry an Astra Cub in .22 short. They are very reliable and accurate. Same as the Colt Junior. I have a Beretta Camper (950 with 4" barrel in .22 short) that is a fun gun too. My favorite load is the Remington Golden 27 grain.22short HP. The Winchester 30 grain solid Copper solid is also good.

 

[Onmilo]

You can get .22 Longs to feed from most pistol magazines but they will not cycle the action on most guns.
Same goes for CCI encapsulated shotshells.

.22 Shorts will just rattle around in the magazine once you get more than three rounds loaded, forget even trying to get them to cycle into the action.