Getting into shorts

[Mike McLellan]

During the recent run on the ammo stores, where .22 long-rifle ammo was impossible to find, I developed an appetite for the lowly .22 short. I expected to spend a little more time cleaning my model 17 after using them, but didn’t really know what to expect from them at the range. What a pleasant surprise!

Even though the price was about $2.00 more than long rifles, they were still fairly cheap at about $12.00 for a box of 100. The clerk at the ammo counter said that they cost more because they have to hire little elves with tiny little hands to load, sort, and package them. Makes sense to me. The best part was seeing other shooters expressions as I dumped my ammo into a bowl on my bench for easier loading. I think that some of these guys have never seen a .22 short.

While shooters on either side of me were blazing away with their high-octane, anti-tank, home-brew loads, I was getting nice little groups at the far end of the range (50 feet) and making very little noise. For a stealthy, yet manageable round with zero recoil, the .22 short is perfect for paper targets at the range, or tin cans on the river-bank. Plus, it keeps the elves off of the streets.

 

[rburg]

I spent my teen years trying to get into girls shorts. Was fun trying.

If you mean ammo, I've got some of that, too. More than I even should. I've even got some HV shorts, and I have no idea why they ever made those. Even some hollow points. I like CB caps better, with BB caps around, too. I bought a bunch of misc 22s about 4 years ago. I think I may have paid $50 for a few thousand rounds. Everything under the sun. Many names I'd never heard of (before or since.) Doesn't bother me much.

K22s will digest about anything and like it. Feed it in and out it comes. Some makes more noise than others. They all come out fast enough to ruin a beer can or chunk of wood.

 

[alwslate]

I have fired thousands of 22 shorts over the years, mostly because I
own several old 22 rifles chambered for short only, and I have a special
fondness for the little round. Some rifles with a LR chamber will group
well with shorts but most won't. I also have a few small auto handguns
chambered in short. Any 22 revolver will handle them and again some
show better accuracy than others. The best buy in 22 short ammo is
probably Aguila brand, often sold at gunshows by the brick or from
net or mail order dealers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I refuse to pay $12/100 for 22 Shorts when I can shoot standard velocity 22LR for a lot less. I have a lot of 22 Shorts on hand I bought a very long time ago and when they go on sale but for $12, no thanks...

 

[smith17]

AA:
His location probably has a good bit to do with the price he is paying. It would be hard to swallow, however.
Ed

 

[Joewisc]

Er, I was thinking of something else when I looked at the title.

 

[SMSgt]

When I lived in WA state, I burned thru 1000s of .22 LRs shooting at the local ground squirrels with my ancient Win Model 72 and its just as ancient Weaver 4X scope. Taking down the little rats at 100 yards became so easy I switched to .22 Shorts to keep it competitive. Even then, if the wind wasn't whipping, they didn't stand much of a chance.

While the rifle was made for Shorts thru LRs, the Shorts often jammed and quick teardowns were needed to clear it. I never have figured out what the problem is.

 

[labworm]

Nothing like showing up at the club with a Bearcat loaded with shorts.

The looks you receive are priceless.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

AA:
His location probably has a good bit to do with the price he is paying. It would be hard to swallow, however.
Ed

Ahh, yes. I didn't see where he was originally!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Speaking of 22 Shorts, CCI has a brand new load and while it's not a short, it's very quiet. Actually, it's called The Quiet 22. This is a new load added to the 2 very low noise loads they already had. They have a 22 Short CB load w/29gr bullet, #0026, a 22 Long CB load w/29gr bullet, #0038 and the new Quiet 22 load which is a 22LR load which uses a 40gr bullet, #960. The CB loads are very quiet and while the new load is slightly louder you still need no ear protection. It takes a little more powder to push a 40gr bullet to 710 fps than a 29gr bullet after all. lol I have used all 3 and all 3 are very accurate and not that expensive if you need them. (like for pests in the back yard within city limits, not that I would do that)

 

[pharmer]

When I was a kid, I remember conical point BB or CB caps with a copper case and they came in a cardboard tube like the tire flat repair kits did with the serrated lid. I think the manufacturer was Flobert and there had to be a thousand of them in a tube. Had enough power to use them in rifles. Never had a problen getting .22lr then, .69/50 @ R&S (think PepBoys with guns). Joe

 

[Mike McLellan]

...or for plinking tomatoes in the neighbors garden, not that I would do that.

 

[smith17]

AA:
I was pushed to the CCI Quiet round by the veteran Walmart sporting goods codger last year when I went in for some Remington Subsonic. It was a half dollar cheaper and he recommended it. This is the same oldster that told me in 2008 that I needed to buy as much of the Blazer 44 Special with GDHP bullet that I could at $9.87/50. I did.
I am technically rural but have city folks all around me and try to draw as little attention as possible. That CCI has become my go-to round for tree rats. I have an orchard and garden that is continually assaulted by fox squirrels and that Quiet round is deadly, as well as quiet, out of my newest bolt action .22 rifle.

 

[Nevada Ed]

As kids back in the 60's thats all we ever used for plinking with our bolt actions and the old Browning auto pistol that was loaded as a single shot and one old Stevens or Savage auto that did not auto any more,which was very accurate but a bummer to load.
Hollow points did better on larger game than the solids but we were glad just to have ammo,to shoot.

Today cb shorts and regular shorts are shot now and then but I actually get better accuracy with the cci cb long that has the same bullet weight and velosity of the cb short but the extra length makes for easier loading. 710fps with a 29gr bullet has as much energy as a small Ball peen hammer, so if something is bigger than a soda pop can, you need a BIGGER bullet.

Good shooting.

 

[brucev]

Today I happily found some Remington Yellow Jacket .22 LR Hyper-velocity type ammo at $7.99/100, a price which happened to be less expensive that the the various .22 Short's that were nearby. However, I did take note that they had at least 20 or so of the 100 rd. packages of .22 Shorts. Given that most of my shooting with my little Model 18 is out to 25 yds. maximum, those .22 Shorts should do just fine. Hopefully the ammo situation will improve before I have to begin serious experiments.

 

[Sprefix]

I had the wrong thoughts also when I first read the title..... I have a nasty habit of picking up .22's. I love all kinds of them. I have a Model 1890 Wineshiester in .22 short only. Might look at a 41 top end in .22 short also.

 

[rwsmith]

I'd prefer a long or LR

but in these times I would pop shorts. Nothing wrong with them, it's just like me shooting light loads in my center fire.

 

[smith17]

Today I happily found some Remington Yellow Jacket .22 LR Hyper-velocity type ammo at $7.99/100

I have always loved Yellow Jackets. Had a single shot H&R that was a jackrabbit killin' fool with that ammo. There was never any doubt if they got hit.

 

[Marshal Tom]

We shot thousands of them as a kid in my uncle's basement range. I recently had a Rock Squirrel problem at me place and started whacking them with .22 shorts so as not to upset the neighbors. Shooting out to about 25yds or so, they have been great for that purpose.

Tom