Shooting a .22 Tip up

[Rambler42]

I know you can't shoot a .22 Tip Up with modern .22 short ammunition but can you replace the smokeless powder with black powder and replace the bullet and use them? I wouldn't put more than 15 rounds a year through it, but I would like to be able to if I wanted to.

 

[cjwils]

Not sure why you would bother to do that, when you can buy .22 CB shorts that are ok to use in a .22 tip up. CB shorts and related types of ammo generally use only the primer as a propellant. Some might have a tiny bit of powder.

 

[murphydog]

Correct - except BB Caps are .22 Short case length, and CB Caps are .22 Long/LR length. If the ones you get don't seat fully you'll know which you bought.

 

[cgt4570]

I use BB caps in my tip ups and CB caps in my Ladysmiths. Shoots just fine and no worries.

 

[cjwils]

CB shorts , which I mentioned above, are shorts. Made by CCI, they are presently available from Midway.

 

[Rambler42]

I was considering that because I didn't know about BB caps. I appreciate the education. I learn something everyday on this forum. Now I need to get educated on Model1's and start looking!

 

[McShooty]

Incomplete and lots of personal opinion: There are three versions of the Model 1, usually called 1st, 2nd, and 3rd issue. The three have essentially the same design characteristics. The 1st issues cost way more than the 2nd and 3rd and are probably too valuable to shoot. The 2nd issue has an octagon barrel, unfluted cylinder, and square grip. It is the best looking of the 3 issues. The 3rd issue has a round barrel, fluted cylinder, and bird's head grip. Some may think it is the best looking of the three.

All versions suffered from the same faults that developed with use. The hinge at the top front of the frame and the latch at the front bottom of the frame get worn and loose. Either could be frozen by rust. The latch had a spring that may be broken in these oldsters. The cylinder had no axis pin; it was secured at the front by a little round nubbin that fit in a depression in the frame. Wear causes the front of the cylinder to move a bit and wear in the hammer end of the frame can cause poor indexing of the chambers with the barrel.

You want none of these things, of course, in a Model 1 that you would want to shoot and such can be pretty scarce.

Mark Twain had some interesting things to say about this weapon: "If somebody shot me with one of these, and I found out about it, I would be very angry." Or words to that effect.

 

[Rambler42]

This from "Roughing It" and is one of my favorite quotes.

I was armed to the teeth with a pitiful little Smith & Wesson's seven-shooter, which carried a ball like a homopathic pill, and it took the whole seven to make a dose for an adult. But I thought it was grand. It appeared to me to be a dangerous weapon. It had only one fault--you could not hit anything with it. One of our 'conductors' practiced awhile on a cow with it, and as long as she stood still and behaved herself she was safe; but as soon as she went to moving about, and he got to shooting at other things, she came to grief.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

CB Shorts

CB shorts , which I mentioned above, are shorts. Made by CCI, they are presently available from Midway.

The man knows what he is talking about. I might add that they shoot really great, I have used them in a S&W 10 inch barreled model of 91 single shot target pistol.

 

[first-model]

I'm a bit late to the party. That said ...

... please think twice about shooting a Model 1 with any sort of live ammunition. Model 1's are spindly little contraptions, and the 1st Issue of the Model 1's have especially delicate articulated hammers.

These are precious pieces of American's industrial past, and shooting them is only going to subject the survivors to more wear and tear.

And yes, I know that there are those that swear by shooting CB caps through their Model 1's. I'm not arguing that it won't work, and that the wear and tear won't be minimal at best. But why risk a cracked cylinder or broken hinge?

Mike

 

[gmborkovic]

Mike, I have to agree with you. They were made of brass and cast iron
And those beautiful, fragile little rosewood grips. Why shoot it?

 

[first-model]

Mike, I have to agree with you. They were made of brass and cast iron
And those beautiful, fragile little rosewood grips. Why shoot it?

Don't get me wrong ... I've been tempted a few times. But I just don't have the heart to subject that spindly little thing to ballistic pressures, mild as they may be from a CB cap.

Mike

 

[gmborkovic]

I use to collect them and all ways admired the work those old guys could do with belt driven machinery powered by water or steam. like I said, why shoot it?

 

[Rambler42]

I believe these are machines manufactured for a purpose and under the right conditions, can be used for that purpose. I think old cars should be gently driven, old planes should be gently flown, and old guns should be gently shot. I have several antique handguns that I shoot once or twice a year with the appropriate ammunition. I don't have a Model 1 yet, but when I do, I will gently shoot it too.

 

[MCM]

Check the timing prior to use. lol lol
If you plan to shoot..........
I have way to many other things to blast with.
Not going to bother. My model 1 1st issue would be last on the list If I did. Would shoot a 1-3rd issue if I was forced to shoot one of them....

 

[Rambler42]

Will definitely check the timing and make sure all aspects of the firearm are up to snuff before I shoot it. If there is any concern at all then it goes in the safe.

 

[mmaher94087]

Surprisingly these little revolvers are strong but I can't risk a 7 cent round ruining a $1500, 1st Model, 1st Issue revolver. My 1st, 3rd that I bought from the owner has digested a cylinder full of modern .22 Remington shorts but the idiots that tried this stunt also were arrested for Theft. I'm with Mike; why tempt faith? It's sort of like poking a stick at a sleeping bear.