S&W 351C with .22 LR??

AJ

AJ

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With the current state of affairs in the world of ammunition has anyone tried .22LR in their 351C? I have about 600 rounds of .22 Magnum and don't want to shoot it up. I have enough .22 LR to let the Grandkids shoot everyday for the next year and still have a bunch left.

I know the .22 LR will shoot in the 351C. Will just have to clean the chambers with extra care. Just curious if anyone has done so and how it did?
 
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I recall shooting 22LR in a Ruger Single Six Convertible (with the correct 22LR cylinder) and having abysmal accuracy. Accuracy was OK with 22Mags, but they were about 3X the cost of CCI SV's, so that shooting iron didn't stay around too long. My impression was that 22LR projectiles sort of clattered and careened down its barrel. -S2
 
The issue is not the couple thou barrel diameter difference.

The diameter of a 22lr is .226, Magnum .242

There’s a reason conversion cylinders are a thing.
 
22 WRF , if you have any will shoot in 22 Magnum cylinders. My 1890 Winchester is 22WRF so I have lots of that ammo put away. The 22WRF is also much quieter than its big brother magnum, both out of a rifle and a handgun.
 
Kansasgunner said:
22 WRF , if you have any will shoot in 22 Magnum cylinders. My 1890 Winchester is 22WRF so I have lots of that ammo put away. The 22WRF is also much quieter than its big brother magnum, both out of a rifle and a handgun.
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No 22WRF on hand. If I run across some will buy it and try it. I did not have any .22 Mag's until after the pandemic started. Was given the 351C by a friend and was able to find a PMR 30 at a reasonable price. Ammo has gone to absurd prices, most folks in this area start their asking prices at $25 a box. Have more .22 LR then most folks so that is why I was thinking of trying .22 LR in the 351C.
 
lihpster said:
I'd say it would work well enough for the grandkids to plink with. If you're gonna try barking squirrels I'd load the magnums. Just my two cents.
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I was thinking of trigger time for me. The darn thing has a trigger that is stiff as a board. Thought some exercise for the both of us would do it (& me) some good.
 
Well then, I'd say it would do fine. As long as you don't epect match accuracy. We all could use more trigger time. Skills deteriorate. If that's what ya got, go for it.
 
Speedo2 said:
I recall shooting 22LR in a Ruger Single Six Convertible (with the correct 22LR cylinder) and having abysmal accuracy. Accuracy was OK with 22Mags
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Similar results with the Single Six I had. Not sure if it was the .001 inch difference in bullet weight, a longer jump to the rifling or a twist rate optimized for the faster magnums. But the 22 LR was significantly less accurate. I wouldn't go so far as to call it abysmal in the one I had, the gun was accurate enough for plinking with 22 LRs.

That was with all magnums shot with the 22 magnum cylinder. Split cases wouldn't help the accuracy.
 
It's not the lead size ...it's the case size that is wrong. The 22 mag case is not only longer it is a larger diameter. I wouldn't do it. If you want to fire 22 LR I would suggest that you fit a 22 LR cylinder to your gun or get a different gun that is chambered for 22 LR. {a 30-30 and a 308 are also both the same caliber and I wouldn't do it with them either, just because it will fire}
 
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I’ve tried it in my savage model 30 22mag and my 9422M. As others have mentioned above it’s the chamber size that’s the problem. The velocity for the 22lr was about half of what you would except and the accuracy was inches to feet at 40yd. Surprisingly the 22lr cycles thru the mag action of the 9422.
 
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Personally, I would not shoot 22LR in a pistol chambered for 22Magnum. There is a reason that revolvers such as the Single-Six convertible have two cylinders, one for 22LR and one for 22Magnum.
 
Asking only because I am an idiot: Would something like moon clips in this circumstance make any difference?
 
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