Ive been dying to fire my No.1. it is in impeccable shape.I was thinking about pulling a few bullets from CCI 22 shorts, emptying the powder, and reloading a fresh bullet. would the primer only be significant enough to put a bullet through the barrel? Or on the otherhand would the modern primer be too powerful?
22s primer only for no. 1 tip up
- Thread starter zracin
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Aquila makes the cartridge that you are talking about. 29 gr. bullet..No powder just primer...Not recommended for .22 rifles as the bullet may lodge in the barrel.
deadin
US Veteran
I think what you want is .22 CB Shorts. CCI makes them.
DWalt
Member
There is a German brand of BB caps called Umarex. The challenge is finding someone who has them in stock. You could try pulling bullets from .22 Short, dumping the powder (or maybe half the powder), then loading the case with .22 air rifle pellets. I imagine you'll get your fill of fun after firing one or two cylinderfuls.
I have shot many 22 rounds in my Model Ones for years. Look for CB Shorts, CB Caps, or BB Caps and they will function just fine. CCI manufactures all, but currently hard to find. You must understand that breaking a part may put these little revolvers out of business forever . . . But they are fun to shoot!
Among others, Mark Twain denigrated the accuracy of the No. 1 S&Ws. I've never shot either of the two I have (one is too nice, maybe unfired, the other has significant corrosion in the barrel/chambers). But I have wondered how a good one shoots with modern CB caps or whatever.
Could you, for example, hit a gallon jug at 10 or 15 yards offhand with one of the little guys?
Could you, for example, hit a gallon jug at 10 or 15 yards offhand with one of the little guys?
Skeetr57
Member
I have fired both my No.1, 2nd issue and my No.1, 3rd issue with CCI CB shorts. Both are tight and have strong rifling, but I don't think I could hit a gallon jug at 10 yards. A loose hinge as many have would only make it harder. A man size target across a card table would be no problem to hit but might just make him mad.
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DWalt
Member
They weren't built for marksmanship. Their main purpose was as a last-ditch up-close defense weapon which offered multiple shot capability in a compact package. They were probably no less accurate (when new) than a similar modern small revolver such as the NAA .22s. Those also have a reputation for abysmal accuracy at any distance beyond a few feet. But that's the idea.
I just wanted to add an experience with trying to remove the bullets from 22 ammunition. First, the 22 is a rimfire and I would certainly not want to use a inertia hammer to dislodge the bullet. Second, the heavy crimp on a 22 bullet makes it difficult to remove the bullet without damaging it and the case. Without any ability to re-crimp the bullet and size the case, they often will not fit in the chambers. Also, I am quite sure the crimp is very important to obtain velociities needed to exit the barrel.
I did this with great difficulty a few years ago for a half box of 22 Shorts, and replaced the powder with 4F black powder to shoot in my Model 1. Even though I got ignition of the black powder, about 50% of the bullets lodged in the barrel and I quickly found this option to be a bad idea. I do not think there is any safe or effective way to pull bullets and re-set them to get consistent velocities and/or accuracy in the 22 rf.
cgt4570
Member
I've ran CB caps through my 2nd and 3rd Models. I can keep them all on paper at 10 feet with a pretty decent group. As others have said, I think that's what they were designed for.
DWalt
Member
"I did this with great difficulty a few years ago for a half box of 22 Shorts, and replaced the powder with 4F black powder to shoot in my Model 1. Even though I got ignition of the black powder, about 50% of the bullets lodged in the barrel and I quickly found this option to be a bad idea. I do not think there is any safe or effective way to pull bullets and re-set them to get consistent velocities and/or accuracy in the 22 rf."
That's essentially the reason I suggested using a .22 air rifle pellet. It's all but impossible to pull a .22 bullet without deformation. Additionally, the case mouth would usually have to be re-rounded, as it also would be subject to deformation. The air rifle pellet should not stick in the barrel, being much lighter. Long, long ago I made up a few .22 loads this way for shooting critters in my back yard. But from a rifle, not a revolver.
That's essentially the reason I suggested using a .22 air rifle pellet. It's all but impossible to pull a .22 bullet without deformation. Additionally, the case mouth would usually have to be re-rounded, as it also would be subject to deformation. The air rifle pellet should not stick in the barrel, being much lighter. Long, long ago I made up a few .22 loads this way for shooting critters in my back yard. But from a rifle, not a revolver.
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I just finished this experiment myself with the same results. what i found if that the primer only aguila rounds have a much larger primer than a regular primer in a powder loaded round. In a standard 22 or 22s case, the primer itself is not significant enough to push the bullet through the barrel. I think a few grains of smokeless would work though, or one could cut down the aguila case with the larger primer to 22s spec, and then reload. I will keep playing with it and let you all know the results. I want to find the miminum amount of modern powder that will send the bullet down range, and ad a grain or two more than that, for prevention of the off chance bullet lodging.
Be very careful about adding an extra grain or two!!! That is the total load for many 32 & 38 S&W, as well as 32 Long cartridges. That is way too strong for a 150 year old Model 1!
Glad you clarified. I was going to tell you that you should count the granules to come up with a working load. It is no fun poking bullets out of the barrel after you shoot, but the best way to work your way up to a load you are comfortable with. The alternative still remains to find and buy some CCI CB Shorts or BB Caps.
I shot the CB Caps out of my first model ladysmith...accuracy was ok, we could hit an 8 x 11 target at 15 feet...the sights are pretty hard to see on these little guns
Ive worked my way up to a full powder load for a subsonic 22lr. Im placing the powder in a 22s casing with a 22s bullet. The bullet gets closer to the end of barrel, but still does not come out. I have not marred the bullet at all in pulling it. Im using only gloved hands to pull the round from the original 22s case. sadly this experiment is over for me. I don't want to go any further, as i fear the pressure escaping the tiny cylinder gap will blow the whole thing to pieces if i ad more powder. just wanted to see this thing go bang once as it was meant with a 22s. Ill just pick up some CB caps...
