.22 WMR revolver- Impressive accuracy, not so impressive velocity

[fastforty]

For those who want to cut-to-the-chase, skip to the second paragraph; nothing but "neaner, neaner" in the first paragraph

In 1971 my dad bought a sweet little .22 Colt Peacemaker brand new for $74.99. I still have it, along with the box, paper work, original hang tag & reciept. Seems it's worth about $500 now (I saw an identical empty box go on ebay recently for $181- in a lot worse shape then mine is). Anyway, I was 9 y/o when dad bought the gun, & figured out real fast that a .22 mag conversion cylinder was available for it. At the time, they probably cost about $25 but dad saw no need for it. Over the years, we plinked with the pistol occassionally & it wound up being mine upon dad's passing. It's in about 98% condition, so I don't beat it around but I do still occassionally get it out & shoot it for old time's sake. I've been pining for the conversion cylinder for over 30 years, & recently found through online searching that they go for about $150 now (though occassionally a little less through auction sites). So last weekend I find myself bored silly standing in a little boutique while wifey is closely inspecting every lace doily in the place I look up & there's a little out of the way shelf that has a few old shotgun shell boxes displayed for sale. Naturally, I was lured to it, an oasis in a parched desert. I looked over about a 1/2 dozen less-then-impressive not-too-old shell boxes, & among them was a little box about 1-1/2" square. Picking it up, it was quite heavy for it's size- probably a hunk of solid steel inside. Opening it up, a shiney blued, like-new unfluted revolver cylinder slid out into my hand. On it was stamped ".22 Mag"- closer inspection of the faded print on the box read "Colt's .22 Magnum Single Action Revolver". Ok, so for the first time in my life, I found my pulse quickening while standing in a fluffy little botique surrounded by dried flowers & doilies & such. It was marked "$45". I would have bought it on the spot, but there was a chance that it wasn't the right part. Being 11:45 am, I told my wife that we were on the brink of blowing $20 for a crappy lunch for the two of us & our two daughters, so if we were to return home, have ham sandwiches for lunch & return with my pistol- the cylinder (if it fit) would wind up "costing us" $25. She agreed, & upon returning I found that the cylinder dropped right in like it was factory fitted What a find, & it just goes to show- sometimes what you are looking for will be found in the most unlikely spot.

Firing my "new" .22 Mag, 6" bbl Colt Peacemaker was both impressive & unimpressive. Accuracy was astounding, as the attached target picture shows, which was shot unbraced, offhand standing at 25 feet- that's a 3/4" 10-ring, and a 3/8" 4 shot group in it (not counting the slightly high/center "flyer". CCI MaxiMag 40gr bullets averaged 126 ft/lbs @ 1189 fps & Remington 33gr VMAX averaged 129 ft/lbs @ 1328 fps. I know, that's pretty decent for a .22 pistol, but compared to .22lr, it's not as impressive as I had imagined. I'm getting 83 ft/lbs @ 969 fps from cheap bulk Federal 40gr LR's & 98 ft/lbs @ 1049 fps from 40gr Velocitors. I somehow envisioned at least 1400-1600fps with maybe a chance of getting in the 1800-2200 range. I guess that's a little much to expect of a 6" barrel, gonna hafta start looking for a .22 mag rifle

http://www.geocities.com/hostmysmilies/22MagTarget2.jpg

 

[Jim Watson]

Your velocities are typical. Figure a .22 WMR revolver will do about what a .22 LR rifle will.

 

[Tacoma]

Yep, what Jim said.

BTW, Most 20" + rifles will only throw .22 mag at 1500-1900 fps. That slow powder needs room to burn and a revolver just doesn't do it. ( 2" barrel V specs get real uggly!) Still a fun round though.

 

[fastforty]

Oh yeah, it diffinately slings mud out of a puddle much better then even the HP Velocitor

 

[Glock19Fan]

Hello.

If you are looking for velocity, try out CCIs 30 grain bullets. Their 30 grain MAXI MAG +V is the fastest .22WMR round that I know of, followed by their 30 grain TNT (which is slightly slower, but more explosive). Out of a 6 inch revolver, either load should be pushing 1550-1650 FPS. I tested them from my Heritage Rough Rider into soaked newspaper last summer, and the TNT was very impressive. Out of the rounds I tested, which included CCIs 40 grain JHP and Remingtons Vmax, it was the only bullet that expanded, and violently at that. The Vmax and the CCI JHP didnt expand at all, and looked like they could be reloaded. I know that wet newspaper isnt the most scientific medium, but if it expands in wet newspaper, chances are it will expand in tissue.

Also, although its expensive, I have heard that the hottest 40 grain .22WMR round is loaded by RWS, supposedly 2100 FPS from a rifle, which is 200 FPS faster than most loads. I would bet velocities would be approaching 1400 FPS from a 6 inch barrel.