22 magnum and 22 LR same pressure.

[Bang]

Recently bought a convertible SA cowboy gun (Heritage Rough Rider) with Long Rifle and magnum cylinders. I have zero experience with 22 magnum and got to wondering how much more powerful magnums are in the pressure department and in the heavier loads on the gun parts.

I looked up SAAMI and to my surprise, both are listed at 24k. I guess the larger case of the magnum allows a powder that drives a 40 grain bullet a lot faster at the same pressure levels. I haven't fired (or even obtained) magnum cartridges yet, to compare perceived recoils.

[Tim Ault]

Your thinking is correct bigger case volume of the 22mag allows lower pressures , the same as any other rounds that are similar except for length 380 vs9mm 38 vs 357 44 spl vs 44 mag even rifle rounds like 308 vs 30-06 With the correct powder choice for them the larger can be loaded faster with the same or greater bullet weight and still have the same or even lower working pressures than the smaller case .

[bigandy1966]

For .22wmr the results aren't the same from a pistol length barrel vs an 18" rifle barrel. In a pistol a lot of powder doesn't get burned. I have a Ruger single six, and there's quite a bit of powder on the bench after shooting .22wmr out of it.
where it really shines is out of a rifle., but its nice to have something chambered in the same cartridges.

[SgtRecon]

For .22wmr the results aren't the same from a pistol length barrel vs an 18" rifle barrel. In a pistol a lot of powder doesn't get burned. I have a Ruger single six, and there's quite a bit of powder on the bench after shooting .22wmr out of it.
where it really shines is out of a rifle., but its nice to have something chambered in the same cartridges.

This is due to the 22WMR is designed primarily as a rifle cartridge, I also have a Single Six and a Taurus 941 and they both put out quite a blast due to this. Hornady is making their Critical Defense and Speer has a Gold Dot load specifically loaded for handgun length barrels, I have had very good results from both of them

http://www.personaldefenseworld.com/...nse/#_22-wmr-1

[Bang]

Thanks for the input. This will be a new adventure in guns and shooting.

[Bang]

Shot the .22 magnum cylinder (CCI MiniMag WMR) and I liked it. This Heritage seems more accurate with mags. After shooting 36 magnum cartridges, I switched to the .22LR cylinder. Felt and sounded like BB caps. LOL. I could get hooked on magnums were it not for the price of 50 cartridges.

[McSull]

The 22lr has a slightly smaller diameter than the Magnum. The barrel is made for the Magnum. The slightly smaller LR will function fine, but are slightly less accurate.

[Bang]

Makes sense.

[toadyoforangeville]

I have seen some experiments done that put a 22mag pistol pretty close to a 22lr in a rifle...

Can't for the life of me remember where it was

[dkf]

The 22lr has a slightly smaller diameter than the Magnum. The barrel is made for the Magnum. The slightly smaller LR will function fine, but are slightly less accurate.

The .22lr also uses a heeled bullet, .22mag doesn't. Less bearing surface on the .22lr for the same weight .22mag.