22 LR Wadcutter

[Kenny D]

For some reason, can't get Search to work. So why can't you find 22 caliber wad cutter ammo like 38 Special wad cutter for target shooting? Love those perfect .357 holes and would like the same in 22 caliber.

[Muss Muggins]

Never heard of it . . .

[505Gibbs]

Originally Posted by Muss Muggins

Never heard of it . . .

TOTALLY AGREE!
After all these years its HIGHLY unlikely you'll ever see it. It's ballistics would stink, wouldn't likely feed well in an auto loader rifle or pistol and it would be a major headache for current manufacturers to adapt its seating with existing equipment.

[Muss Muggins]

I think everybody has to remember the schematic of a wadcutter. Every millimeter of the bullet is inside the case, because the flat bullet nose is flush with the case rim. And wadcutters aren't just standard bullets with the nose cut flush. The case would have to be .22 WMR length. Ponder that for a minute . . .

Originally Posted by 505Gibbs

TOTALLY AGREE!
After all these years its HIGHLY unlikely you'll ever see it. It's ballistics would stink, wouldn't likely feed well in an auto loader rifle or pistol and it would be a major headache for current manufacturers to adapt its seating with existing equipment.

[s&wchad]

I've never seen factory .22 LR wadcutters either, but Gary Reeder sells a device called The Flattop Tool. I stumbled across these last week while checking out his site.

They allow you to modify 3 or 4 rounds at a time, depending on which tool you buy. The tool trims the front of the round nose bullets and converts them to flat points. Reeder claims increased power, while maintaining the same accuracy. I'm sure they decrease penetration and may cause feeding issues with some semi-auto's. His regular price is $65 for the 3 round unit and $100 for the one that holds 4.

Here's a couple of photos from his site:

[target tech]

Also you have to remember that 22lr is a heeled bullet. It wouldn’t be the correct caliber if the entire bullet was in the case like a true full wadcutter.

[Speedo2]

The closest that you may find is "SK-Flatnose". That is, if they ever show up again. They shoot great in my Kidd Supergrade as well as my bolt action riles.

SK AMMO 22LR 40gr SOLID FLATNOSE MATCH 50/b 100/c - Graf & Sons

[yam476]

Bullseye North | SK Flatnose Match Ammo 22LR 40gr Lead Flat Nose 420157 - Box of 50

Availability In Stock: 373 Available

I don't know the dealer/seller... just wanted to show it's availability.

[kraynky]

Originally Posted by yam476

Bullseye North | SK Flatnose Match Ammo 22LR 40gr Lead Flat Nose 420157 - Box of 50

Availability In Stock: 373 Available

I don't know the dealer/seller... just wanted to show it's availability.

Just checked. NO SHIPPING TO UNITED STATES

[Nevada Ed]

I tried making a RN into a FN design on the "Quiet" lead bulets , to see if they would dispatch the pesky ground squirrels in the area.

At 50 feet or less, the "new design" did not improve and the accuracy went down hill, also, out of a Winchester and Marlin rifle.

Factory stuff might be a lot better ?

[reddog81]

The a wadcutter cartridge wouldn't feed in semi-auto's and the bullet would not engage the rifling of the barrel. The heeled section of a .22 bullet is smaller then the bore diameter.

[LittleCooner]

Because of the heeled bullet design, this is an impossibility in a 22 long rifle.

[Skeet 028]

I have had a flat pointing tool for years. You put a round in the file die and file it off. The darn thing does a good job of flatpointing the bullet and they really do shoot well out of my Rem M-504 bolt gun and they do feed in my Marlin 39 but I usually use 'em in the bolt gun...and they are truly devastating on the maurauding wabbits when they are in their high number years. I had so many a few years ago they ate my entire garden before it got started. We replanted and I went on a witch hunt. Shot 74 one day with the 22 LRs filed flat. one shot one kill as they say. Worked well but most all were 25 yds or less. You could hear the difference in the sound of them hitting. Gotta hunt that jigger up. Might need it this year. No not a real wadcutter but close as you can get fairly easily.

[murphydog]

The flatnose trimmers look to be the best solution, but depending on the gun and distance I'm not surprised accuracy may suffer, with changing the center of gravity of the bullet.

[gnystrom]

Buy higher grade target paper, the kind used in airgun competitions. It tends to break cleaner and give a better looking hole.

[max]

These are semi-wadcutter style:

remington viper ammo - Bing images

[robertrwalsh]

Never seen it. Never even heard of it. Semi wad cutter, yes. Full wadcutter, no.

[ggibson511960]

I don't know why you couldn't make them with a pocket knife. Just whittle off the ogive above the driving bands. Should shoot a lot faster which might not bode well for barrel leading. .22 LR bullets are generally dead soft lead.

Demerits for those on here who say it can't be done because .22 LR is a heeled bullet. If you cut off the bullet flush with the case you would get an under caliber disk that would careen down the barrel. Doubters should examine the bore diameter driving bands above the case mouth and the heel.

[deadin]

What's wrong with hollow points for varmits??

[ralph7]

Originally Posted by ggibson511960

I don't know why you couldn't make them with a pocket knife. Just whittle off the ogive above the driving bands. Should shoot a lot faster which might not bode well for barrel leading. .22 LR bullets are generally dead soft lead.

Demerits for those on here who say it can't be done because .22 LR is a heeled bullet. If you cut off the bullet blush with the case you would get an under caliber disk that would careen down the barrel. Doubters should examine the bore diameter driving bands above the case mouth and the heel.

Your next sentence made your case against you.

[THE PILGRIM]

In that Zone - probably don’t want any - but would like to see some.

[ggibson511960]

Originally Posted by ralph7

Your next sentence made your case against you.

-10 for spelling.

[Walter Rego]

I don't know if it is still available, but there was also the Paco Kelly Acu-Rzr bullet tool:

You are being redirected...

It is slow, just one round at a time. Probably more useful for varminting as it does increase the smackdown effect. I did find that it improved accuracy from a couple of Ruger Single Six revolvers when the bullets were sized to fit the cylinder throats.

On the Old Models anyway, the Ruger cylinders are bored straight through. That's right, no throats. You can take the cylinder out and actually chamber a round from the front side. Bullets sized to fit the Rugers won't chamber in my Colt Peacemaker or New Frontier .22. Haven't tried them in any rifles. They used to be able to be ordered in different diameters so I would think carefully which guns you want to use them in.

[Nevada Ed]

Originally Posted by Imissedagain

They look like Rem's Yellow Jackets.

I have shot the Viper and Yellow Jacket in my pump and semi rifles
and was not a happy camper with the accuracy at 50 yards.

However I did have a "Slow" 40 gr. LHP from a factory that had a pattern that was 68% smaller at 50 yards, that both my .22 rifles liked.

[typetwelve]

Originally Posted by max

These are semi-wadcutter style:

remington viper ammo - Bing images

I had awful luck with those many years ago and as a matter of fact, I still have some to this day in storage. The odd shape of the round caused some funky feeding issues in both my 15-22 and at the time, my Buckmark. It's funny because my 15-22 will darn near eat anything.

[PeteC]

Originally Posted by kraynky

Just checked. NO SHIPPING TO UNITED STATES

SK Match ammo is (was) also available in the US. Now it is mostly sold out, or selling on gunbroker for 2~3x the Canadian price, like the 22 lr Mini Mags, or the 9mm also in stock at that seller.

Not sure about that specific round, but I would guess it was probably available a year ago, and will be again sooner or later.

[mi2600]

YouTube

[Dan in NY]

Have some old Eley 22 Short Wadcutters. Cant bring myself to shoot them..

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by Dan in NY

Have some old Eley 22 Short Wadcutters. Cant bring myself to shoot them..

It says "reduced velocity" on the side of the box. Does it say how reduced?

[Jeff423]

I shot a few CB caps out of my bolt gun and at 50 yds the POI was 6-8" lower than .22LR.

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I recall seeing an reader's question about them in American Rifleman years ago. The answer was they were discontinued at the start of WWII, not revived afterwards due no doubt to lack of demand, semiauto pistols become more popular than revolvers, etc.

[Dan in NY]

Muss.. ..concerning the 22 short wadcutters..doesn't say on the box the fps or anything else to know how much they're downloaded.