Actually, Jim, just the opposite. .22 Short and Long would go into a firearm chambered for .22 WRA (although it might not feed well in a semi-automatic ... but the 1903 became the 1963 when it was rechambered for .22 LR). The real purpose was to prevent chambering and firing the more powerful smokeless powder cartridges in older firearms made for black powder.Jim Watson said:The purpose of these early dedicated Automatic cartridges was to keep still common black powder S,L, LR out of the autos.