Scorch said:
TOU said:
Now caliber that is truly new and improved...is the 22 TCM
22 TCM has been around for almost a decade. It's not new. Cute, yes. Impressive? No. Basically a 22 Spitfire reworked. Didn't work then because there were no rifles chambered for it. Same thing with the 22 TCM.
Yeah, Scorch, you're definitely correct that 22 TCM is not truly
that new I guess as in it came out some 10 years ago. It really is new to most people though. I think I disagree on it not being impressive and that it is a 22 Spitfire/5.7 Johnson reworked.(1963); which is basically a .30 Carbine case necked down to take the Hornets .224 bullet. (FN's 5.7 is a closer but definitely a different case.) The Spitfire is a longer case than the 22 TCM though and was really only available in converted M1 Carbine or as conversion kits. Really pretty cool though.
Off topic but I have the semi-legitimized 19 Badger which is also 30 Carbine-based...which I love and is a great repeater. The 30 Carbine case is an excellent parent case for many applications...too bad Garin's couldn't make it stick with their multicaliber offerings.
The 22 TCM though, is essentially a .223 Rem, cut in half & and .224 40g JHP bullet that looks closer to what you see on the end of the 22 WMR. Some comparisons.
.22 Spitfire/5.7 Johnson
- Case length 1.29 in (33 mm)
- Overall length 1.65 in (42 mm)
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
- 40 gr (3 g) 2,850 ft/s (870 m/s) 720 ft⋅lbf (980 J)
- 50 gr (3 g) 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s) 810 ft⋅lbf (1,100 J)
22TCM
- Case length 1.022 in (26.0 mm)
- Overall length 1.265 in (32.1 mm)
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
- 40 gr (3 g) Pointed flat nose 2,800 ft/s (850 m/s) 696 ft⋅lbf (944 J)
- 40 gr (3 g) Pointed flat nose 2,070 ft/s (630 m/s) 381 ft⋅lbf (517 J)
- Barrel length: 22.75" rifle (higher velocity) and 5.0" pistol (lower velocity)
That said, you are so right regarding the limited offerings. Retrofitted M1 Carbines for the Spitfire. TCM is...very limited to several Armscor Rock River pistol offerings and their rifle was an absolute disaster in many ways. Besides poor QC barrels, light strikes
(a converted rimfire), awful triggers they had ridiculous super slow twist rate like the 22 Hornet & the Spitfire. The feed and magazines were kinda cool though.
(I have destroyed 2 CZ 527 magazines trying to get mine to feed...with no joy and finally just went with a SS sled.) Very few are willing to do what I did...rebarrel/chamber a CZ 527 in a fast twist barrel. No one will build it until it is SAAMI. Much like the 20 Vartarg, which is another story.
Next, what's not to like on the TCM's performance? Over 2000fps out of a 5" high-capacity handgun and defeat Class III...few pistols can. (I haven't heard of any semi-auto Spitfires pistols.) In a rifle it is basically a hotrod Hornet with a stronger easier to reload case that is shorter. It is fantastic for a walkabout with a pocket full of ammo...much like a pocket full 22 LR & 22 WMR. With a fast twist barrel, it is a whole new cartridge that delivers devastating results under 200 yards with good enough accuracy for my needs. It has become one of my favorites for this application. Lastly, bullets are cheap ($6/100), unlike hotrods it sips powder which means the barrel stays cool shot after shot. Both rifle and pistol have nearly zero recoil. What's not to love?
Sorry so long and hopefully not too much of a derail to the original topic.