.22 Long Rifle
.22 Long Rifle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Designer | J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Designed | 1887 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Produced | 1887–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent case | .22 Long[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case type | Rimmed, straight[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | .223 in (5.7 mm) - .2255 in (5.73 mm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Land diameter | .212 in (5.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Neck diameter | .226 in (5.7 mm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Base diameter | .226 in (5.7 mm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim diameter | .278 in (7.1 mm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim thickness | .043 in (1.1 mm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case length | .613 in (15.6 mm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall length | 1.000 in (25.4 mm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rifling twist | 1:16"[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Primer type | Rimfire[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum pressure | 24,000 psi (170 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Test barrel length: 18.5 in (470 mm) Source(s): [2][3] |
The .22 Long Rifle, also known as the .22LR or 5.6×15mmR,[4][5] is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of firearms including rifles, pistols, revolvers, and submachine guns.
In terms of units sold, it is by far the most common ammunition that is manufactured and sold in the world. Common uses include hunting and shooting sports. Ammunition produced in .22 Long Rifle is effective at short ranges, has little recoil, and is cheap to purchase. These qualities make it ideal for plinking and marksmanship training.
History
American firearms manufacturer
Popularity
The .22LR cartridge is popular with both novice shooters and experts. Its minimal recoil and relatively low noise make it an ideal cartridge for recreational shooting, small-game hunting, and pest control. .22LR cadet rifles are commonly used by military cadets and others for basic firearms and marksmanship training. It is used by the Boy Scouts of America for the rifle shooting merit badge.[8]
The low recoil of the cartridge makes it ideal for introductory firearms courses. Novice shooters can be surprised or frightened by the noise and recoil of more powerful rounds. Beginners shooting firearms beyond their comfort level frequently develop a habit of flinching in an attempt to counter anticipated recoil. The resulting habit impedes correct posture and follow-through at the most critical phase of the shot and is difficult to correct. With high recoil eliminated, other errors in marksmanship technique are easier to identify and correct.
Available for this round are
A wide variety of .22LR ammunition is available commercially, and the available ammunition varies widely both in price and performance. Bullet weights among commercially available ammunition range from 20 to 60 grains (1.3 to 3.9 g), and velocities vary from 575 to 1,750 ft/s (175 to 533 m/s). .22LR is the least costly cartridge ammunition available.[9] Promotional loads for plinking can be purchased in bulk for significantly less cost than precision target rounds. The low cost of ammunition has a substantial effect on the popularity of the .22 LR. For this reason, rimfire cartridges are commonly used for target practice.
.22LR cartridges are commonly packaged in boxes of 50 or 100 rounds, and are often sold by the 'brick', a carton containing either 10 boxes of 50 rounds or loose cartridges totaling 500 rounds, or the 'case' containing 10 bricks totaling 5,000 rounds. Annual production is estimated by some at 2–2.5 billion rounds.
Performance
The .22LR is effective to 150 yd (140 m), though practical ranges tend to be less. After 150yd, the ballistics of the round are such that it will be difficult to compensate for the large "drop". The relatively short effective range, low report, and light recoil have made it a favorite for use as a target-practice cartridge. The accuracy of the cartridge is good, but not exceptional; various cartridges are capable of the same or better accuracy. A contributing factor in rifles is the transition of even a high-velocity cartridge projectile from supersonic to subsonic within 100 yd (91 m). As the bullet slows, the shock wave caused by supersonic travel overtakes the bullet and can disrupt its flight path, causing minor but measurable inaccuracies.
When zeroed for 100 yards (91 m), the arc-trajectory of the standard high-velocity .22LR with a 40 gr (2.6 g) bullet has a 2.7-inch (69 mm) rise at 50 yards (46 m), and a 10.8-inch (27 cm) drop at 150 yards (140 m).[13] A .22LR rifle needs to be zeroed for 75 yards (69 m) to avoid overshooting small animals like squirrels at intermediate distances.[13]
As a hunting cartridge, rimfires are mainly used to kill small game up to the size of coyotes.[14] Although proper shot placement can kill larger animals such as deer or hog,[15] it is not recommended because its low power may not guarantee a humane kill.[16] In 2013, an elephant was killed by multiple shots from a .22 LR rifle.[17]
Because a .22LR bullet is less powerful than larger cartridges, its danger to humans is often underestimated. In fact, a .22LR bullet is easily capable of killing or injuring humans. Even after flying 400 yards (370 m), a .22 bullet is still traveling at about 500 ft/s (150 m/s). Ricochets are more common in .22LR
Rimfire bullets are generally either plain lead with a wax coating (for standard-velocity loads) or plated with copper or gilding metal (for high-velocity or hyper-velocity loads). The thin copper layer on plated bullet functions as a lubricant reducing friction between the bullet and the barrel, thus reducing barrel wear. Plating also prevents oxidation of the lead bullet. Lead tends to oxidize if stored for long periods. On a plain lead bullet, oxide on the bullet's surface can increase its diameter enough to either prevent insertion of the cartridge into the chamber, or – with high velocity rounds – cause dangerously high pressures in the barrel, potentially rupturing the cartridge case and injuring the shooter; for that reason, standard and subsonic cartridges usually use a wax lubricant on lead bullets.
Variants
The variety of .22LR loads are often divided into four distinct categories, based on nominal velocity:
- Subsonic-velocity: under 1,100 feet per second (340 m/s).
- Standard-velocity: 1,120–1,135 feet per second (341–346 m/s)
- High-velocity: 1,200–1,310 feet per second (370–400 m/s)
- Hyper-velocity/Ultra-velocity: over 1,400 feet per second (430 m/s)
Subsonic
Subsonic rounds have a muzzle velocity of less than the speed of sound (about 1,080 ft/s or 330 m/s). These rounds are sometimes equipped with extra-heavy bullets of 45–60-grain (2.9–3.9 g) to improve the terminal ballistics of the slower projectile. Conversely, these rounds may contain little more than a primer and an extra-light bullet.
Subsonic rounds are favored by some shooters due to slightly superior accuracy and reduction in noise. Supersonic rounds produce a loud crack which can scare away animals when hunting. Accuracy is reportedly improved with subsonic rounds because a supersonic bullet (or projectile) that slows from supersonic to subsonic speed undergoes drastic aerodynamic changes in this transonic zone that might adversely affect the stability and accuracy of the bullet.[21][self-published source?]
Because the speed of sound in air at 68 °F (20 °C) is about 1,115 ft/s (340 m/s), the subsonic round's muzzle velocity is slightly below the speed of sound under many hunting conditions. However, under cold air conditions at 32 °F (0 °C), the speed of sound drops to 1,088 ft/s (332 m/s), approximately muzzle velocity. Hence, a "subsonic" round used below this temperature may be supersonic, and during the transition from supersonic to subsonic velocity, it may become unstable, reducing accuracy. To counteract this, some cartridge manufacturers have lowered the speed of their subsonic ammunition to 1,030 ft/s (310 m/s) or less.
Various combinations of subsonic rounds and semiautomatic .22LR firearms result in unreliable cycling of the firearms' actions, as the result of insufficient recoil energy. Some subsonic rounds use heavier bullets (achieving lower velocities) to ensure, as a result of increased bullet mass, that enough energy is produced to cycle common blow-back actions.
Two performance classes of .22 rimfire subsonic rounds exist. Some subsonic rounds, such as various .22 short and .22 long "CB" rounds, give about 700 ft/s (210 m/s) velocity with a 29 gr (1.9 g) bullet providing relatively low impact energy (41 J at muzzle). These may not use any, or only small amounts of gunpowder, and have the characteristics of rounds intended only for indoor training or target practice rather than hunting. Where these are in .22 LR form, it is only to aid feeding in firearms designed for the cartridge, rather than older .22 CB shooting gallery rifles. The Aguila SSS gives about 950 ft/s (290 m/s) velocity with a 60-gr bullet offering energy (163 Joules) equivalent to many high velocity .22 long rifle rounds using standard 40-gr bullets. Other heavy-bullet subsonic rounds give similar performance, and are intended for hunting of small game, or control of dangerous animals, while avoiding excessive noise.
Standard velocity
The velocity of standard-velocity .22 LR rounds varies between manufacturers. Some standard velocity ammo may be slightly supersonic-around 1,125 ft/s (343 m/s), other ammo such as CCI Standard Velocity .22 LR ammunition is rated at 1,070 ft/s (330 m/s). Most standard velocity ammo has a bullet weight of 40 gr (2.6 g). Standard-velocity cartridges generate near or slightly supersonic velocities. These rounds generally do not develop these velocities in
High velocity
The .22 long rifle round was originally loaded with black powder. The first smokeless powder loads were intended to match the standard velocity of the original black-powder rounds. Smokeless powder is more efficient than black powder, and the cartridge cases could hold more powder. Smokeless powder loads, called "high speed" or "high velocity", were offered by the major ammunition makers, giving a typical velocity increase of 8% (1,200 feet per second (370 m/s) to 1,300 feet per second (400 m/s)) while still using the standard 40 gr (2.6 g) solid or 36 gr (2.3 g) hollow-point lead bullet.
Hyper-velocity
Many .22LR cartridges use bullets lighter than the standard 40 gr (2.6 g), fired at even higher velocities. Hyper-velocity bullets usually weigh around 30 to 32 gr (1.9 to 2.1 g) and can have a muzzle velocity of 1,400 to 1,800 feet per second (430 to 550 m/s). This higher velocity is partially due to the use of lighter bullets.
The
Later hyper-velocity rounds were introduced by other makers, based on the long rifle case with lighter bullets in the 30-gr weight range and slow-burning rifle powder loadings. The overall length of many of these cartridges was less than the overall length of the standard 40-gr bullet long rifle cartridge. One example is the Remington Viper; another is the Federal Spitfire.
The CCI Velocitor hyper-velocity round uses the standard long rifle case size and a standard weight 40 gr (2.6 g) bullet of proprietary hollow-point design to augment expansion and trauma. This cartridge has a muzzle velocity of 1,435 ft/s (437 m/s) and matches the overall length of the standard long rifle cartridge.
Shot cartridges
Special .22LR caliber shot cartridges, usually loaded with No. 12 shot, have also been made. These are often called "snake shot," "bird shot" and "rat-shot" due to their use in very short range pest control. Such rounds have either a longer brass case that is crimped closed, or a translucent plastic "bullet" that contains the shot and shatters upon firing.
Full metal jacket
During World War II, a
The 1961 Army/Air Force Technical Manual/Order on ammunition lists three types of rimfire CARTRIDGE, CALIBER .22: Ball, Long Rifle:
- Long Rifle (Lead Bullet), propellant: 1.7 gr smokeless, bullet: 40 gr, overall length: 0.984 inches (25.0 mm).
- Long Rifle (Commercial), propellant: 2.1 gr smokeless, bullet: 40 gr, overall length: about 1 inch (25 mm).
- Long Rifle, M24 (Jacketed Bullet), propellant: 2.5 gr smokeless, bullet: 40.5 gr, overall length: 0.995 inches (25.3 mm).
The first type specifies standard or target velocity .22 LR while the second is common high velocity commercial ammo. While these soft lead round nose bullet types were suitable for training or target practice, they are not legal for use in a war zone. Since .22 LR air crew survival weapons would probably be used in a war zone and could be used for defense, the M24 round is loaded with a hard lead-antimony alloy core bullet with a gilding metal jacket.[26]
Tracer
Tracer ammunition is also available in .22 Long Rifle rimfire.[27]
Cartridge construction
The traditional .22 rimfire cartridges (BB, CB, short, long, long rifle, and extra long) differ in construction from more modern cartridges in the way the bullet is constructed and held in the case. Bullets for traditional .22 rimfires are the same outside diameter as the case but are constructed with a narrower cupped "heel" on the base of the bullet which is inserted into the case. The case mouth is then crimped around the heel, leaving exposed the majority of the bullet bearing surface that contacts the barrel of the gun. The bearing surface of .22 rimfire bullets is often lubricated and the surface is exposed to contamination. This was a common design in the early black powder cartridge era.
In later cartridges, including the .22 Winchester Rimfire and .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire rimfire and modern centerfire cartridges, the bullet body is a uniform diameter and the bearing surface is inserted completely within the neck of the cartridge case, held in place by tension from the case neck around the bullet bearing surface (in some cartridges the case mouth may also be crimped into a cannelure (groove) in the bullet). The heeled bullet cartridge is considered weaker than the uniform diameter bullet cartridge which encloses the bearing surface of the bullet within the cartridge neck. Overall reliability of heeled bullet rimfire ammunition is high, but it is lower than the reliability of most centerfire ammunition.
Cartridge length
The .22 Long Rifle uses a straight-walled case. Depending upon the type and the feed mechanism employed, a firearm that is chambered for .22 Long Rifle may also be able to safely chamber and fire shorter rimfire cartridges, including the .22 BB, .22 CB, .22 Short, .22 Long. The .22 Long Rifle may also be used in firearms chambered for the obsolete .22 Extra Long.
Usage
Today, rimfire rounds are mainly used for hunting small
As a
Most semi-automatic rifles firing .22LR cartridges will often only work properly when firing standard or high velocity rimfire ammunition, as the low recoil of subsonic rounds is insufficient to cycle the weapon's action. Rifles with manual actions do not have this problem. Due to the low bolt thrust of the .22 LR cartridge, most self-loading firearms chambered for the cartridge use the direct blowback operation system.
The tiny case of the .22LR and the subsonic velocities (when using subsonic ammunition) make it well suited for use with a
The .22LR has also seen limited usage by police and military snipers. Its main advantage in this role is its low noise, but it is usually limited to urban operations because of its short range.[29] One study suggests a single head/torso shot suffices, more often than not.[30] [31] [32] [33]
The Israeli military used a suppressed .22LR rifle in the 1990s for
Cartridge dimensions
.22 long rifle maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimetres (mm).[35]
The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 406mm (1:16 in), six grooves, land width = 2.16mm, Ø lands = 5.38mm, Ø grooves = 5.58mm.
According to the official
Because the .22 long rifle round commonly uses a heeled lead or lightly plated bullet, the nominal bullet diameter is larger than the nominal bore diameter to prevent excessive lead fouling that can occur when shooting lead bullets that are the same or slightly smaller than the groove diameter. SAAMI specifies a nominal bullet diameter of 0.2255 with a tolerance of -0.004, while the specified bore diameter is 0.222.[36] In practice, 0.224 or slightly larger bullets are common, with barrel groove diameters commonly around 0.223.
Muzzle velocity (nominal)
- 40-grain (2.6 g) lead: 1,082 ft/s (330 m/s) .22LR subsonic
- 36-grain (2.3 g) copper plated lead: 1,328 ft/s (405 m/s) .22LR high velocity
- 32-grain (2.1 g) copper plated lead: 1,640 ft/s (500 m/s) .22LR hyper-velocity CCI Stinger
Note: actual velocities are dependent on many factors, such as barrel length of a given firearm and manufacturer of a given batch of ammunition, and will vary widely in practice. The above velocities are typical.
See also
- .22 BB
- .22 CB
- .22 Short
- .22 Long
- .22 Extra Long
- .22 Magnum
- .22 Hornet
- .25 ACP
- .220 Rook
- 5 mm caliber
- .17 HMR
- .17 HM2
- Cadet rifle
- List of rimfire cartridges
- Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k SAAMI/ANZI. "American National Standard Z299.1-1992." SAAMI (Newtown, Connecticut USA) November 24, 1992.
- ^ a b c d "Federal Cartridge Co". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
- ^ a b c Simpson, Rich. "Remove pesky rodents with sure-shot rimfire rifles". Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho, USA) March 28, 2008.
- ^ Capt. Nick [Morton] (April 22, 2020). "Let's talk about … ammunition". Campbell College Combined Cadet Force. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Bartocci, Christopher R. (July 18, 2014). "Conversion in .22 Long Rifle for the Black Rifle: Part 1". SmallArmsReview. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-58160-122-0.
- ^ Ava Flanell. "History of .22". smith-wesson.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-8395-0004-9. Archived(PDF) from the original on April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ "Top 5 .22 Long Rifle Loads". Americanhunter.org. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-309-09079-7. Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
- ^ Simpson, Layne. "Rimfire Hunting Cartridges". Petersen's Hunting. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
- ^ Grant, Jim (January 18, 2017). "Top 3 Calibers To Stock In 2017". Shooting Sports Retailer. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ a b "Hornady's New .17 Mach 2". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
- American Hunter. Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, M.D. (October 19, 2012). ".22LR: The Best Survival Ammunition?". GunDigest.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
- ^ "Best .22LR Rifles For Hunting Small Game & Survival: Rimfire Rifle Reviews". WildernessToday.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ Fredrickson, Terry (March 26, 2013). "Elephant killing probe heats up". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "17 HMR vs 22 LR: The Ultimate Battle and Which is Better!". Patriotic Hunter. December 17, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-88317-149-3.
After the bullet glanced off of the water, its remaining velocity was 1195 fps. Only 43 fps were lost... The missile remains lethal after a ricochet.
- ^ "Range of a Handgun Bullet". The Physics Handbook. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- OCLC 1020871429.
- ^ "The Pros and Cons of Subsonic Cartridges". Fieldandstream.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ ".22 Long Rifle - Close Focus Research - Ballistic Testing Services". Closefocusresearch.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
- ^ Stinger - Rimfire Research & Development. "Rimfire Research & Development". Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ a b Kokalis, P. G (August 2002). "OSS Silenced Pistol" (PDF). The Small Arms Review. 5 (11). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
- ^ Army Tech Manual TM9-1305-200 / Air Force Tech Order TO 11A13-1-101 June 1961
- ISBN 978-1-4402-1414-1. Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ "Federal Premium: Ballistics Detail". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
- ^ a b "Ruger 10/22 Suppressed Sniper Rifle". Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ Ellifritz, Greg (July 8, 2011). "An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power". Buckeye Firearms. Active Response Training. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023.
- ^ Ellifritz, Greg (August 23, 2013). "Using the .22 for Self Defense". Buckeye Firearms. Active Response Training. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023.
- ^ Why A .22 LR Pocket Gun Should Not Be Underestimated Archived 2 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Why A .22 LR Pocket Gun Should Not Be Underestimated Video Archived 30 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 978-0-87349-131-0.
From the Mossad (Israel's intelligence agency) to US Navy SEALs, the silenced Ruger is now reported the favored tool for clandestine operations.
- ^ "C.I.P. TDCC datasheet .22 Long Rifle" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ .22 LR SAAMI specification (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on August 24, 2015, retrieved June 5, 2014