.22 mag vs .22LR ballistics from snubby

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    dirk911

    dirk911

    Active Member
    May 10, 2011
    454
    Church Hill
    I’m curious if there is really that much difference between the .22 magnum rounds and regular .22LR when shot from a 2” barrel. I feel like the magnum rounds wouldn’t have enough barrel length to burn all the powder behind it and it seems like that would tighten the performance gap between the loads with similar grain bullets.
    Does anyone know how much difference in velocity/energy there is between the two rounds when shot from a short 2” barrel or maybe where to find out?
     
    Uncle Duke

    Uncle Duke

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 2, 2013
    11,717
    Not Far Enough from the City
    dirk911 said:
    I’m curious if there is really that much difference between the .22 magnum rounds and regular .22LR when shot from a 2” barrel. I feel like the magnum rounds wouldn’t have enough barrel length to burn all the powder behind it and it seems like that would tighten the performance gap between the loads with similar grain bullets.
    Does anyone know how much difference in velocity/energy there is between the two rounds when shot from a short 2” barrel or maybe where to find out?
    Click to expand...

    It appears to me that you need a 4 inch barrel, before you begin to see real separation between the 2 rimfire rounds.


    You can compare here:

    http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/
     
    Biggfoot44

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    33,137
    Rough rule of thumb - .22WMR from 2in is in same velocity range as .22lr from 4in .
     
    T

    temccoy

    Active Member
    Nov 13, 2020
    103
    .22 WMR is a great cartridge, but only from a rifle length barrel. I used to own an Automag .22 Mag with a 6” barrel. Velocity over a chronograph was 1,200 - 1,300 FPS, and that was in an automatic without velocity loss from a revolver cylinder gap. It was a hoot to shoot because it would put out an 8” ball of fire from the end of the muzzle with every shot. That sucker would light up a dark room. Obviously lots of unburned powder out of a 6” barrel. I came to the conclusion that .22 long rifle had very similar ballistics to the .22 WMR out of a pistol length barrel, so why pay more for .22 WMR ammo? I have used .22 WMR in a rifle for hunting groundhogs, and it is great for that, I just wouldn’t recommend it in a pistol.
     
    M

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,571
    Harford County, Maryland
    Back when I was chrono’ing a bunch I used the following two firearms to chrono loads from time to time. These values are +/- 25 fps of the round figure value I recall below. m
    5.5” Mark II 22LR Ruger semi auto, using typical HV loads.
    6.5” Single Six Convertible revolver with 22 WMR cylinder, using typical HV loads.

    22 LR: 900 fps. (Rem GB, Fed Premium, both 38 grain)
    22 WMR: 1400 fps (CCI MaxiMag, Fed Prem, both 40 grain)
     
    Uncle Duke

    Uncle Duke

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 2, 2013
    11,717
    Not Far Enough from the City
    Magnumite said:
    Back when I was chrono’ing a bunch I used the following two firearms to chrono loads from time to time. These values are +/- 25 fps of the round figure value I recall below. m
    5.5” Mark II 22LR Ruger semi auto, using typical HV loads.
    6.5” Single Six Convertible revolver with 22 WMR cylinder, using typical HV loads.

    22 LR: 900 fps. (Rem GB, Fed Premium, both 38 grain)
    22 WMR: 1400 fps (CCI MaxiMag, Fed Prem, both 40 grain)
    Click to expand...

    Sounds about right.

    What I remember about the 5.5 inch Single Six in 22 Mag that I'd squirrel hunt with is that it was....ballistically at least....pretty much the equal to my rifle chambered in 22LR.
     
    M

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,571
    Harford County, Maryland
    Uncle Duke said:
    Sounds about right.

    What I remember about the 5.5 inch Single Six in 22 Mag that I'd squirrel hunt with is that it was....ballistically at least....pretty much the equal to my rifle chambered in 22LR.
    Click to expand...

    It can be likened to a warm 38 Spec and a 357 Magnum. To get an expected shorter barreled pistol’s velocity:
    Subtract about 25 fps for the 22 LR
    Subtract 40 - 50 fps for the 22Mag

    Of course, ammo and firearms factors vary.
     
    G

    gwfrench

    Active Member
    Aug 21, 2014
    200
    Frederick, MD
    Last month I was shooting a High Standard derringer in 22 magnum. At 21 feet at least one of the rounds was already going sideways. It also shot about a foot high and a foot left. So I figure it's a good defense round within 10 feet. My father bought it about 40 years ago and it had never been fired before. Next time I'll try running it through my chronograph.
     
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