22 shorts in a 22 long revolver - The Firearms Forum

45flint · 08-14-2009, 05:58 PM

I just purchased a H&R Sportsman 999 revolver manufactured in 1981 and marked 22LR. Can I fire 22 shorts in this gun without issues?
Thanks,
Steve

Hammerslagger · 08-14-2009, 11:12 PM

The only issue that you will likely find with shorts is that the chambers will accumulate fouling (condensed lead vapor and powder residue) that will make it difficult to chamber and extract LR length ammo. Through and regular cleaning with a bronze .22 chamber brush and an aggressive solvent should minimize this problem. The longer acceleration of the bullet at the throat of the barrel (aka forcing cone) could cause leading problems as well as a barrel crack; but I opine that a crack is a rather remote possibility. Bronze brushes will remove lead. Also, these revolvers may have cylinders of relatively soft steel. Shooting a lot of shorts may erode the steel just forward of the short case burning a "fire ring" which can make extraction an issue for LR length cases.

Maybe some or all of the above possible issues are why H&R marked the revolver 22LR and not 22 S,L,&LR. I really do not see the advantage of shooting a lot of shorts. They are often more expensive than LR and are not likely to be as accurate in this revolver.

Hope this is helpful

45flint · 08-16-2009, 11:42 AM

My thought was there would be little sound like in a old shooting gallery but in a revolver the sound would pobably be much more than a rifle. Sometimes you are in a situation where you don't want a loud bang. I have often though of a suppressor but I heard that to red tape to get one is thick.
Steve

oldogy · 08-16-2009, 12:51 PM

Shoot 'em if you have them. I have an old Hi Standard revolver that I bought new around 1957, have shot shorts, longs, long rifle through it and it still works just fine. It has probably had half a million rounds through it. Unless you really need to stay quiet, shoot long rifles.
oldogy

Bill DeShivs · 08-16-2009, 04:29 PM

Hammerslagger is correct-in theory.
In reality you won't have any problems other than the cleaning chores.

gazzmann · 08-17-2009, 10:40 PM

Shoot them all the time. Especially CB's....very quiet.

johnlives4christ · 08-18-2009, 12:36 AM

you cant silence a revolver anyways, unless you devised a revolver that moved the chambers forward and sealed against the end of the barrel forcing cone. there was a revolver made like this although i cant remember what it was. if you want quiet. use a knife, for critters go with cb's

Tom Militano · 08-18-2009, 12:25 PM

I believe that was the Nagant revolver your referring to.

08-14-2009, 05:58 PM	#1
45flint Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 30	22 shorts in a 22 long revolver I just purchased a H&R Sportsman 999 revolver manufactured in 1981 and marked 22LR. Can I fire 22 shorts in this gun without issues? Thanks, Steve -->

08-14-2009, 11:12 PM	#2
Hammerslagger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,099	Re: 22 shorts in a 22 long revolver The only issue that you will likely find with shorts is that the chambers will accumulate fouling (condensed lead vapor and powder residue) that will make it difficult to chamber and extract LR length ammo. Through and regular cleaning with a bronze .22 chamber brush and an aggressive solvent should minimize this problem. The longer acceleration of the bullet at the throat of the barrel (aka forcing cone) could cause leading problems as well as a barrel crack; but I opine that a crack is a rather remote possibility. Bronze brushes will remove lead. Also, these revolvers may have cylinders of relatively soft steel. Shooting a lot of shorts may erode the steel just forward of the short case burning a "fire ring" which can make extraction an issue for LR length cases. Maybe some or all of the above possible issues are why H&R marked the revolver 22LR and not 22 S,L,&LR. I really do not see the advantage of shooting a lot of shorts. They are often more expensive than LR and are not likely to be as accurate in this revolver. Hope this is helpful

08-16-2009, 11:42 AM	#3
45flint Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 30	Re: 22 shorts in a 22 long revolver My thought was there would be little sound like in a old shooting gallery but in a revolver the sound would pobably be much more than a rifle. Sometimes you are in a situation where you don't want a loud bang. I have often though of a suppressor but I heard that to red tape to get one is thick. Steve

08-16-2009, 12:51 PM	#4
oldogy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East TN Posts: 309	Re: 22 shorts in a 22 long revolver Shoot 'em if you have them. I have an old Hi Standard revolver that I bought new around 1957, have shot shorts, longs, long rifle through it and it still works just fine. It has probably had half a million rounds through it. Unless you really need to stay quiet, shoot long rifles. oldogy __________________ ue"]If gun laws in fact worked, the sponsors of this type of legislation should have no difficulty drawing upon long lists of examples of crime rates reduced by such legislation. That they cannot do so after a century and a half of trying -- " Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah)[/COLOR] Last edited by oldogy; 08-16-2009 at 12:53 PM..

08-16-2009, 04:29 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,470	Re: 22 shorts in a 22 long revolver Hammerslagger is correct-in theory. In reality you won't have any problems other than the cleaning chores. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

08-17-2009, 10:40 PM	#6
gazzmann V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: So. Fla. Posts: 146	Re: 22 shorts in a 22 long revolver Shoot them all the time. Especially CB's....very quiet.

08-18-2009, 12:36 AM	#7
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: 22 shorts in a 22 long revolver you cant silence a revolver anyways, unless you devised a revolver that moved the chambers forward and sealed against the end of the barrel forcing cone. there was a revolver made like this although i cant remember what it was. if you want quiet. use a knife, for critters go with cb's

08-18-2009, 12:25 PM	#8
Tom Militano Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jacksonville, AL Posts: 1,255	Re: 22 shorts in a 22 long revolver I believe that was the Nagant revolver your referring to.