Shooting .22 Shorts Ammo

[Darrell]

I found large quantities of .22 short ammo at a local farm/ranch supply yesterday. No .22 lr, but gobs of .22 short. I haven't shot .22 short since I was a kid, if even then... what will it run in, and what will it not? I assume a tube fed lever action (Marlin 39A) would have no problems. Single shot bolt actions should be good too, I suppose. Revolvers? I seriously doubt they would run in semi autos. Your thoughts?

[HTRN]

There are kits to make a 10/22 run on 22 shorts, which, IIRC, consist of a modified magazine and a lower power recoil spring.

GPC sold at one time, a High Standard "Olympic" kit to convert their pistols to run on shorts. I dunno if it's still available from them, or if the new HS does.

[Yogimus]

No auto, OK for revolvers if the revolver is LR (NOT MAG) and most bolties that can be fed from the top can also feed .22 shorts without issue, The primer alone can clear the barrel, so the short will have no issues

[Denis]

No auto...

Not so, at least for semi-autos. I just bought two Walther OSP target pistols, which run only on .22 short. The stuff is expensive, but worth it to shoot the Walthers...

[Yogimus]

My mistake, no LR autos

[Termite]

The only potential problem is that if you shoot a lot of shorts in a long rifle chamber, you'll have to scrub the chamber. If you don't, the buildup can cause difficulty in chambering LR. Takes a lot, though.

[Windy Wilson]

Ah, the same as shooting a lot of .38 special in a .357 magnum revolver.
Out of curiosity I shot some shorts and longs in a Browning BL-22. I can't recall what happened to point of aim.

[JustinR]

The only potential problem is that if you shoot a lot of shorts in a long rifle chamber, you'll have to scrub the chamber. If you don't, the buildup can cause difficulty in chambering LR. Takes a lot, though.

The Professional Gunsmithing book by Walter Howe I'm reading warns against repeatedly firing shorts in a gun chambered in LR, as over time erosion of the chamber in the area not covered with brass can occur. If enough erosion occurs, when a LR is fired, a case rupture can occur, or a case head seperation when extraction is attempted. The book was written in 1946, but I would assume the warning is still valid unless Chris, HTRN, or someone else can say otherwise.

[Weetabix]

My son can fit about 50 of them in his Henry .22.

I think one of the guns I got from my dad say it's good for shot, long, and LR.

Read the gun barrels.