22 Magnum

THE PILGRIM · Feb 9, 2025

Anybody shoot 22WRM on a regular basis?
My only 22 Mag is a Model 651.
Over the years I have owned and shot some 22 Mag, mostly in Ruger Convertibles.
On the other hand, I have shot thousands of rounds of 22LR in a number of different handguns and rifles.
Back in the day, my Bro and I shot 22LR in rifles and I don’t recall having Failures to Fire. We didn’t have access to any 22LR Handguns!
Nowadays I shoot 22LR in mostly smaller Handguns and I’ve had significant numbers of FTF.
Not sure if that’s because the smaller guns have less firing pin impact or the ammo is just less reliable.
So at this time, is 22WRM Ammo more reliable than 22LR?

mauser9 · Feb 9, 2025

Might be more reliable. Using CCI 40 grain mostly along with Hornady Critical Defense 45 grain but mostly in my R/A 22 mag rifle. Never had a failure to fire with both. Ruger convertible likes em too. Guns never liked the Armscor for good grouping for some reason.

Bald1 · Feb 9, 2025

I think reliability is related to brand more than caliber. As mentioned CCI is hard to beat for reliability

smoothshooter · Feb 9, 2025

I think .22 Magnum has fewer misfires in revolvers because, compared to .22 LR, has a thicker rim and more priming compound, which works better in guns with marginal firing pin protrusion.

Erich · Feb 9, 2025

Back when I had Bowen convert my (new model) Bearcat to .22 Magnum a bunch of longtime gunny friends on another forum had a big discussion about the relative reliability of .22 LR and .22 WMR. As folks here have felt, it was agreed that different brands and different types (bulk vs. snooty) of .22 LR have different reliabilities, and that some of those were pretty good. It was also agreed upon (universally) that the .22 Mag was at least as reliable as the best .22 LR.

That has certainly been my experience. I cannot recall ever having a .22 Magnum fail to ignite in any gun. There are a few .22 LR types (not brands) that I've never had an issue with, too, but not many. Of course, I've shot far more .22 LR than .22 Mag - I don't think that's the issue, but it should be noted.

diyj98 · Feb 9, 2025

It's not unheard of, but I seldom have failures to fire in 22LR's. I shot a few guns that had issues, but that was a problem with the gun and not the ammo. I don't remember ever having a failure to fire with a 22WMR, but I've shot several thousand more LR's over the years than I have WMR's.

glenncal1 · Feb 9, 2025

If you are using decent quality ammo (especially stored correctly) and are having more than a very occasional FTF in either LR or WMR, there is probably something wrong with the gun. In my experience LR fails a little more frequently than WMR but not that much. Just shot about 75 rounds in my 48-3 (Federal Bulk) 100% reliable.

smoothshooter · Feb 9, 2025

It seems the problem with rimfires in revolvers is the narrow range of proper firing pin protrusion, compared to centerfires.
In rimfire handguns a firing pin that is just a few thousandths too long will strike the edge of the chamber and raise a burr, especially when dry firing. I think most of those chamber burrs are caused more by accidentally or purposely dry firing pin protrusion
Too short. And the rim is not crushed enough to set off the priming compound.

smoothshooter · Feb 9, 2025

Erich said:
Back when I had Bowen convert my (new model) Bearcat to .22 Magnum a bunch of longtime gunny friends on another forum had a big discussion about the relative reliability of .22 LR and .22 WMR. As folks here have felt, it was agreed that different brands and different types (bulk vs. snooty) of .22 LR have different reliabilities, and that some of those were pretty good. It was also agreed upon (universally) that the .22 Mag was at least as reliable as the best .22 LR.

That has certainly been my experience. I cannot recall ever having a .22 Magnum fail to ignite in any gun. There are a few .22 LR types (not brands) that I've never had an issue with, too, but not many. Of course, I've shot far more .22 LR than .22 Mag - I don't think that's the issue, but it should be noted.

For some reason, Ruger refuses to make their compact LCR snub nosed revolvers with a hammer in .22 LR. Maybe someone here knows why?
I would like to get an LCR in .22 Magnum and have a have a long rifle cylinder put in it.
Assuming Ruger would not sell me a long rifle cylinder so I could do the swap myself, would I have to send the gun to someone like Bowen to get the swap done?

nutsforsmiths · Feb 9, 2025

The only times I've had FTF with 22 Mag, it's always been the gun that's the problem. I have S&W 48-3, a 351PD, aRuger Single Six Convertible and a High Standard Derringer in 22 Mag. No issues with the two Smiths, or the Ruger, but have had FTF with the Derringer on occasion. I also have a High Standard Derringer in 22LR and it has been 100% reliable.

erikpolcrack · Feb 9, 2025

I regularly shoot 22 Magnum from a Taurus SS revolver, a Heritage revolver, a Savage BA rifle, and a Marlin BA rifle. No cartridge reliability problems.

BAM-BAM · Feb 9, 2025

.22mag is a great "utility" round IMO, out of a 16" rifle,

I have CZ FS/Mannlicher's and Ruger American in .22 mag, reliable and good groups at 100yds.

Handguns I'll stick to CCI .22lr specialty loads.

Muley Gil · Feb 9, 2025

smoothshooter said:
For some reason, Ruger refuses to make their compact LCR snub nosed revolvers with a hammer in .22 LR. Maybe someone here knows why?
I would like to get an LCR in .22 Magnum and have a have a long rifle cylinder put in it.
Assuming Ruger would not sell me a long rifle cylinder so I could do the swap myself, would I have to send the gun to someone like Bowen to get the swap done?

You can always remove the .22 LR cylinder from your LCR and then send the frame back to Ruger, since you "lost" your cylinder while cleaning it.

I bought a second stainless .22 LR cylinder for my NM Bearcat and reamed it myself for .22 Magnum. The new cylinder was a drop-in fit and I rented the reamer from 4D. If you go that route, rent their handle as well, as I had a bit of a problem using my own handle.

Dvus · Feb 9, 2025

I just recently finished a 2500 rd. test of S&W's M&P .22 Magnum pistol and had ZERO failures to fire. I had seven failures to feed, and they were all out of the same box of Bitterroot ammo. The other nine kinds I tried functioned perfectly.

jeffrefrig · Feb 10, 2025

In the past few years, maybe 10-20, I've been noticing bad .22LR ammo. Whether it be fail to fire or the bullet jamming in the barrel. I haven't shot enough from a magazine fed pistol, but a simple K22 revolver should not have issues like a bullet stuck in the barrel, etc.
I just think the ammo is the issue; at least with my reliable guns. It's getting made pretty quickly. Perhaps there are manufacturing issues.
I have no clue, but when my grandson & I are at the range, I try to remind him of the issue. If it doesn't go bang and just goes pffffttt, don't try to shoot the gun again. I had a bullet stuck in my 22 and it ticked me off enough to make me send an E Mail. That was 3 years ago. I guess they are busy, as I've got no reply yet!
On a side note, I really like the .22 Magnum as it's easy to shoot and it has a little kick so you know you shot the gun. VERY little kick! Love it as I do the .327 Fed Magnum.

Erich · Feb 10, 2025

smoothshooter said:
For some reason, Ruger refuses to make their compact LCR snub nosed revolvers with a hammer in .22 LR. Maybe someone here knows why?
I would like to get an LCR in .22 Magnum and have a have a long rifle cylinder put in it.
Assuming Ruger would not sell me a long rifle cylinder so I could do the swap myself, would I have to send the gun to someone like Bowen to get the swap done?

FWIW, Bowen is not likely to work on polymer-framed Rugers. There are other issues with your plan (count the chambers), but you may have them figured out.

Hawg Rider · Feb 11, 2025

The Ruger LCR .22 Magnum is my wife's choice for an EDC handgun. She is 5'3" with limited hand strength, and doesn't like recoil at all! After a long search, she decided on the LCR. Hornady is her preferred ammo, we've never had a F2F, and she shoots that revolver very well. I put a LaserMax red laser on her handgun, as well as replaced the front sight with an XS Sights Yellow Dot. Even with her minimal hand strength and the LCR's stout rimfire trigger, she has no trouble shooting it.

gwpercle · Feb 11, 2025

It seems to be shoddy manufacturing and poor (non existant) Quality Control ) for both 22 LR and 22 Mag.
The old days they made quality ammo ... cheap ...very few FTF !
now they just make cheap ammo ... but the price is high .

My best Advice is CCI ammo ... they seem to still produce decent , quality ammo be it 22 LR or 22 Mag.
Gary

Mike SC Hunter · Feb 11, 2025

THE PILGRIM said:
Anybody shoot 22WRM on a regular basis?
My only 22 Mag is a Model 651.
Over the years I have owned and shot some 22 Mag, mostly in Ruger Convertibles.
On the other hand, I have shot thousands of rounds of 22LR in a number of different handguns and rifles.
Back in the day, my Bro and I shot 22LR in rifles and I don’t recall having Failures to Fire. We didn’t have access to any 22LR Handguns!
Nowadays I shoot 22LR in mostly smaller Handguns and I’ve had significant numbers of FTF.
Not sure if that’s because the smaller guns have less firing pin impact or the ammo is just less reliable.
So at this time, is 22WRM Ammo more reliable than 22LR?

The ammo is unreliable(mad cheap-no QC)..........Back when I was a Tyke........I go 100% reliability from all major brands.

jimmyj · Feb 11, 2025

The Unit was assigned to a downtown area where an BG had been strong arm and battering victims late at night.
The "Decoy" was issued this Derringer as protection. As luck would have it the BG jumped the "Decoy" at the entrance to an alley. The BG had a knife and observing the knife the "Decoy" drew the Derringer and tried to fire but the round failed to fire. Immediately the BG had a number of S&W Model 64s and Remington Model 870s to comvince Him to drop the knife.
Examination of the .22 Magnum round displayed a faint firing pin notch on the rim. It was discovered that the Derringer rounds were not seated all the way into the chambers. After fully seating the rounds both fired. (lesson learned)

22 Magnum

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