What is the largest caliber rim fire in production?

C

Capt Rick Hiott

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I think they had a .25 caliber years ago,,,,but I'm not sure.

What is the largest they make now?

I know they have the .22 and the .17 But what's the largest?
 
I don't know of anyone who still loads anything larger than 22 WMR any more. Aguila made a run of .30 rimfire about 10 years ago, and S&B made some .32 RF, but that is limited run stuff.
 
The Henry used 44 rimfire and that ammo has been produced from time to time.

In this hobby you can never know the biggest anything.
 
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I think there was consideration of a new 30 rimfire a few years ago, but it just didn't make sense. There is no advantage to rimfire anymore in cartridges that can accommodate a primer. At least that is my understanding.
 
Biggest problem with rimfire is spotty primer.
They can do everything else right, but if the primer ain't right, it's just a PITA.
How many RGB's have been relegated to Revolver Only because you have to spin em
and try to shoot them again??

Reliability level is usually 99 out of 100 for most .22WMR.
Some brands are 95 out of 100 or less...Mostly Remington, from my experience.
How they can make some of the best Centerfire and screw up so much rimfire is beyond me.

Numbers for .22lr are usually worse. I'd swear they just toss factory seconds into bulk packs.
 
Reliability level is usually 99 out of 100 for most .22WMR.
Some brands are 95 out of 100 or less...Mostly Remington, from my experience.
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Although FTF rates on rimfires are significantly higher than centerfires, I don't think they are as high as stated. If I was concistently getting those results with one of my guns I would send it to be checked over by a gunsmith and or change some springs. RGB is bad and I don't buy it anymore, but even it is over 95% in my experience.

To expand upon my previous post. My understanding is the production lines currently in use for 22lr in the US can not accommodate larger caliber cartridges. Centerfire cartidge production lines can not load rimfire. So, to load a 30 cal one of the manufacturers would have to invest in a new dedicated line. It might be economical if demand kept the line running, but that is unlikely. It would likely cost more than a centerfire round and be less reliable in ignition and less consistent in velocity. Not many would buy a new gun using a cartridge wth those characteristics.
 
Remington took a look at a .267 rimfire before WWII.

The .17 Winchester Super Mag is based on the .27 nail gun blank, so they are making rimfires larger than .22.


I got some .22s back out last year. My M41 was 100% on CCI SV; fed, fired, functioned every time at Speed Steel and practice. My Plastic M&P Compact plinker was 100% on CCI HV and I think Aquila HV. After it got broken in, it was cycling SV, too.
I don't recall any problems with my Woodsman and fresh ammo. The High Standard is, of course, very magazine dependent.
 
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Reliability of "good quality" rimfire ammo is excellent. I can go brick after brick of cci std velocity or mini mag with not a single misfire. I cannot calculate the reliability, 99.9999 ?? How many nines? it sure aint 95 and it sure aint 99.0%. Thats nutty talk. Or bulk junk ammo in a 100 year old basket case gun. The same for 22 mag with the ammo I shoot. That is both cci and hornady. Outstanding reliability. I dont remember having a mis fire. Ok, I had a gun problem once. Never an ammo problem with 22mag.

Now, do I think a 30 cal rimfire makes sense? No. but; I will listen. The 17 WSM, I think would have been better as a 22. I would also listen to an argument for a 25/26/27 caliber option on the WSM case.

It maybe that if a rimfire has to keep pressure down to a certain level the best way to up the power is a larger bore? Maybe some else would like to make an argument for that. A 44 extra long that could approximate a 44mag and be used on deer?

And, if it was needed, a rimfire can be designed with a 2 prong firing pin. They did that 150 years ago. IMHO- not needed today. it remains and option. The practical application for multiple primer rim strikes could be for accuracy in some multi 1000 dollar match grade rifle.
 
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