So is there a reason why most of the magazines for the 15-22 (or any .22lr for that matter) are all single stack? If it were possible, why wouldn't a 10 round sized magazine that was a double-stack magazine be capable of housing 20 rounds?

Just wondering if there has been some kind of issue in the past or during development or even due to the rounds that would prevent a double-stack magazine for the .22lr round.

I think I've heard that rimmed cartridges like the 22LR have issues feeding from a double stack magazine.

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US Navy Veteran
SAF Member

HOLY COW, think of the .22 shortage and hoarding that will happen if everybody had double-stack magazines!
Seriously though, some rimfires barely feed single-stacks. Doubles probably aint gonna happen.

SWCA #1834

The Lee-Enfields have fed the rimmed .303 from double-stack magazines for generations, and the Brens are even full auto. I wonder if it's something to do with the .22s being rimfires?

Larry

Yes but the L-E mags are very short and a rimmed case, especially a tapered one, can feed at least a 6-8 round mag without a problem, not too dissimilar to the 8 round clip of an M1 Garand (even if the 30-06 is not rimmed). All the Desert Eagles shooting rimmed magnum revolver rounds have single stacked mags also.
On the otherhand a .22 LR is a straight walled rimmed case which means the mag has to curve pretty quickly. Imagine have to get a 3 dimension stack of 4 rounds with the rims in just the correct order to feed properly.
The only one I know of is the Keltec PMR-30 .22WMR. 22 Win mag has a much longer case which helps some but they are known to have issues now and then.

Well heck.
Goes to show what I know, I thought these mags were double stacked. Sure looks like it to me, looking in that little window in the back top of the 25rd mags.

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Rick
M&P 15-22, G27 Gen4, G23

No just the rim side of the case is offset, the bullet side are all single stack straight up and down. Its because the rim side is offset that we can even get 25 rounds in one of those mags. If they don't stagger properly you can only get 24 in there.

Ruger have double stacked mags for the 10-22 so it can be done.

I think............
http://www.mexicoarmado.com/attachme...-103-40425.jpg

I recommend you take a look at DoomsdayTacticals thread from a long time ago, practically every aspect of this discussion has been addressed.

Ruger does it but its hard to load so there is a way but why bother. If you need more rounds than just get a 300rd drum and be done with it. For me I like the fact you have to change out the mag at 25rds, just consider it practice.

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15-22 bullpup, "X-terminator"

I found an interesting article about double stack magazines at TTAG (The Truth About Guns). A good part of the focus is on the magazines for the Kel-Tec PMR-30. Maybe something like this could work for the 15-22. The link has several good pictures.

Link: A Double-Stack Magazine For Rimmed Cartridges? | The Truth About Guns

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Semper Fi

I still prefer the 10 round mag size. It would be great for a mag the same size to hold 20 -- even 15 would be nice.

RP

This has happened. I have never used one but here is the info:

Salem 6 - Run. Witch. Run.

Salem 6 - Run. Witch. Run.

I just picked up a 15-22 one week ago and am happy with it but I do not like how long the 25 magazine is... thought about buying some 10 rounders but with this one I might have to buy these instead.

That looks interesting. I ordered a couple. Great value if they work.

This forum had two recent threads on these magazines, including reviews.

Salem 6 Magazines - Reviews

Salem 6 Magazines

Fwiw, my first two mags still aren't working well for the first 5-10 rds. I emailed Salem 6 and they are graciously sending me two more.

I went to buy one and was put off by the shipping amount. They are wanting $10 shipping and these are just BETA (ie TEST) mags... seems they should be selling them for about cost if we are paying to test their products but nonetheless in a week or too I'll probably stop whining and order one.

Just reporting back. Got mine. Tried them this weekend. Couldn't even load them much less shoot them. When I finally did get about 10 into each one, they FTF every single time I fired.

Short version of a long story? Very expensive ***. Pure and simple.

I really enjoy shooting my Walther PP in .22LR - except for loading the magazine.

Unlike the Ruger MK I,II, and III series, the rounds in the PP magazine are fairly level, so you have to take a great deal of care to ensure the rim of the round you are loading in the magazine is placed in front, and stays in front of the round beneath it. If not, you'll end up with the rim of bottom cartridge locking the top cartridge in place so it can't feed.

Bill Ruger used a very sharp up angle for the rounds in his Mk I .22LR pistol (and all subsequent variants) magazines, for exactly that reason - the sharp angle ensure the rim of a cartridge always remains in front of the rim of the cartridge below it.

My CZ75 Kadet and my Kimber 1911 .22LR also use magazines where the cartridge is angled upward, for the same reason.

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When you start talking double stack magazines where the rims are now staggered, the rims are now engaging increasingly farther out and up long the sides, complicating the problem of keeping the rims of the upper rounds in front of the lower rounds.

Then you can add the problem with the taper needed to accommodate the rim. To accommodate both you end up with a very curved magazine with very sharply angled rounds, that then have to level that angle out on the way to the chamber to enter the chamber cleanly.

Anything is possible, but getting it right is not easy, and getting it right in an inexpensive and easy to produce magazine is a lot less easy.

If you look at the Kel-Tec double stack magazine they address that by having alternate rounds feed on alternate sides of a "fence", that prevents the rims from interfacing and overlapping. That however also required separate guides for the noses. It works, but it is wide, especially for a .22 rimfire magazine and that's not always amenable to some designs.

The technical challenges are all well and good. Believe me, I have read them ad-nauseum over the years.

At the end of the day, they promised a product that worked and labeled it as "beta" so they could CTA. I should have known better. Once again, an expensive lesson learned.

The only double-stack I've ever seen work even semi-reliably is in my PMR-30 and even it has its days.

No problems with my PMR-30 using proper ammo.Of course it isn't as much fun loading the mags as it is unloading them.