Transition from standard velocity to high velocity. .22LR ammo & .22/32 HFT

[BC38]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I've never seen a ballon head .357 or .44 Magnum cartridge.

Truth be told, I've never seen either - a million dollars OR 357 balloon head cases.
I've just read that they existed WAY before my time.
Preventing rim blowouts was the purpose behind the recessed cylinders in magnum revolvers. But again, that is just what I've read - I wasn't there when S&W decided to recess their magnum cylinders.

 

[Muley Gil]

Truth be told, I've never seen either - a million dollars OR 357 balloon head cases.
I've just read that they existed WAY before my time.
Preventing rim blowouts was the purpose behind the recessed cylinders in magnum revolvers. But again, that is just what I've read - I wasn't there when S&W decided to recess their magnum cylinders.

I have a bag of ballon head .44 Specials that I bought just to have. I haven't loaded any and doubt I ever will.

The cash I saw was actually around $3,000,000. It was kept in a vault in Kabul back when I was a contractor in Afghanistan. It was quite impressive, seeing all those stacks of $100 bills. We paid all of our bills in cash & the Afghans would only take new money. In a lot of third world countries, the government would issue new currency and the old bills were worthless.

 

[JSR III]

FWIW, .22/32 HFT cylinders were heat treated in 1920 around serial number 321,000. The charge holes were recessed in April of 1935 around serial number 525,600. I do however have several guns listed in my database after 525,600 where the chambers are NOT recessed.

I once reported, in error, to the authors of the SC of S&W that I had a gun in the mid 300,XXX range with recessed chambers. I failed to realize that this modification was probably done when the gun went back to S&W as was evidenced by the * before the serial number. I think that they have corrected this error in subsequent editions.

I would not be concerned with high velocity ammo in any S&W .22 made after 1921.

 

[Truckman]

I once reported, in error, to the authors of the SC of S&W that I had a gun in the mid 300,XXX range with recessed chambers.

I own S/N 238317 which went back to Springfield 2/12/1962 for a new cylinder with recessed chambers...Total charge with a new cylinder stop, rebluing, freight and tax was $22.93...I have a letter being processed right now for that gun......Ben

 

[mrcvs]

FWIW, .22/32 HFT cylinders were heat treated in 1920 around serial number 321,000…I would not be concerned with high velocity ammo in any S&W .22 made after 1921.

So, I am guessing that heat treating of the cylinders in 1920 beginning around 1920 led to the second statement that any S & W .22 can digest high velocity ammunition without a hitch.

I had not seen that statement before. Is that the general consensus? Can others support, modify, or refute?

 

[OFT II]

I own S/N 238317 which went back to Springfield 2/12/1962 for a new cylinder with recessed chambers...Total charge with a new cylinder stop, rebluing, freight and tax was $22.93...I have a letter being processed right now for that gun......Ben

In 1962 $22.93 was more than a week's pay for me.