Putting a priming compound into the rim of a metallic cartridge was first patented in 1831 - and in 1845 Flobert developed the .22" BB Cap using only the priming compound (no powder) to fire the low velocity ball. - I had a single-shot target pistol once (a Webley I think) in that chambering and it was a lot of laughs to fire - about as powerful as an air rifle?.
- Victorian Gents used to pop-off after dinner (all that roast meat) indoors at targets mounted in front of heavy drapes, while enjoying their cigars in good company. - The ladies having 'withdrawn'. - No doubt all that blue cigar smoke masked the smell of the "popping-off".
The Flobert BB Cap was followed by the .22" Short, .22" Long, .22" Extra Long, and then the familiar .22" Long Rifle that is currently our standard. - The .22" Long Rifle is apparently the heavy bullet from the 'Extra Long' mounted on the same case as the .22" Long.
Now I am aware that many shooters regard the .22" R.F. as a near useless and weak muscled round - but there are very good reasons why there are more guns sold in this calibre and more rounds of this ammo sold every year than in all the other calibres put together.(My guess - so don't quote me)
Where shall I start? - It's a round that EVERYONE can shoot comfortably. Learners and indeed experienced target shooters achieve excellent accuracy at close ranges. - The ammunition can be bought in bulk much cheaper than centre-fire calibres. The .22" rim-fire ammunition can be bought in target grades (round nose), Hunting hollow points, High Velocity, - and Sub-Sonic for discreet use - great through a 'silencer' . - You can even get shot-shell loads and blanks.
Nobody should ever get careless with these rounds just because they are not as loud as centre-fires - they remain fatally dangerous out to nearly a mile down range - and the velocities are not generally high enough to shatter the projectiles - so there can be a risk of ricochet.
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- While ideal for shooting rabbit and possums - this is also the round of choice for putting-down cattle beasts in the outback - and I know for a fact from my childhood that red deer can be taken with a .22" rifle (and that deer liver tastes great fried in Irish butter over a glowing peat-fire long after bedtime when aged nine visiting Eire).
Greg Ellifritz in his Study of Handgun Stopping Power quotes 31% One Shot Stop and Accuracy of 76% for .22" shootings. - For comparison his figures for 9MM are 34% One Shot Stop and 74% Accuracy - and .45ACP at 39% and 85%. - There is nothing in these results that suggests you can laugh at a .22" rim-fire.
Effective range for the .22" rim-fire is limited to 100 yards - because it is difficult to provide for the bullet drop at longer ranges. A 40gn bullet fired at 1100 ft/sec will drop nearly four inches at 50 yards. - Stick to moderate ranges when rough shooting and know where you are sighted-in - and you'll be fine.
Velocity drops-off progressively when shooting from shorter barrels. A 'Stinger' round that makes 1510 ft.per sec from an 18 inch barrel can only achieve 1191 ft.per sec from a 4 inch pistol barrel. - there really isn't much to gain by using high velocity .22" ammo in a handgun. Take a look at the 'Ballistics By The Inch' website - where I got these last figures.
Marty K
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?
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