.22 shorts question

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Foilist

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Dec 20, 2004
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Just out of curiosity, is it possible to fire .22 shorts from a Ruger 10/22 if loading them manually without using the magazine?
 
I have used short .22's in a number of my guns, and have noticed 3 things. The rounds that I use are reduced charge, and have to be ejected manually. They are a PAIN to get into the chamber in most of my .22's. They will lead up the muzzle end of the chamber after enough rounds, and I will have to clean my gun. Other than that they are a lot of fun to shoot.
 
Also, shooting shorts through a LR chamber will be less accurate than LRs.

You will need to drop each individual round into the chamber, and rack it out.
 
I agree with michdad, They are a pain to load in everything except a bolt action, difficult to single load in a lever or auto action. They may work in some tube magazines. They are very quiet compared to other 22 rounds.
 
Foilist said:
Just out of curiosity, is it possible to fire .22 shorts from a Ruger 10/22 if loading them manually without using the magazine?
Click to expand...

Possible? Yes. Convenient? No.

It's hard to put a .22 S into the 10/22's chamber with your fingers.

If you can, try to find an older bolt action made for .22 S, L, & LR.

Shorts are fun and useful, but only for the smallest game and pests.

A handful of pistols and rifles were chambered for .22 Shorts only.
 
.22 shorts aren't always easy to find and usually cost as much or more than .22lr.
.22 Shorts can foul the chamber of a .22lr causing feed and extract problems with .22lr (if shorts are used excessively).

Take a look at some of the offerings from Aquila. They offer the CB caps which are .22lr's with just a primer, no powder, the Aquila Sub Sonics, and other reduced velocity rounds.
 
See if you can find cb longs, you can order them online, they are about the same velocity and report as shorts and you can load them in your 10/22 rotary magazine and then just work the bolt like a bolt action. In my 22" barrel ruger they function great and are accurate out to 25 yds and very quite. Chris
 
If you want to shoot .22 shorts, just find a good Remington 550-A semi-auto, with the tubular magazine. They work perfectly in that rifle, which was designed to shoot .22 LRs, .22 Rs, and .22 Shorts, intermingeled.

I got mine new in 1951 as a Chritsmas present from my father, and it still shoots like a new one. :thumbup:

L.W.
 
Thanks for the info - I was just curious if it was possible.

My grandfather had a Remington that took .22 shorts only. It was a break down gun with a tubular magazine that went through the stock instead of under the barrel. It was great fun to shoot. I think my uncle has it now.
 
runningboar said:
See if you can find cb longs, you can order them online, they are about the same velocity and report as shorts and you can load them in your 10/22 rotary magazine and then just work the bolt like a bolt action. In my 22" barrel ruger they function great and are accurate out to 25 yds and very quite. Chris
Click to expand...

My neighbor and I shot some of these in a rifle in my back yard. I live in a residential area. we shot at a phone book wrapped in duct tape from 25 yds. sounded like a pellet rifle.
 
One of the things that happens if you shoot cartridges shorter than the chamber of your rifle is that a "ring"builds up at the end of the brass. When you go back to the cardridge for which the gun was chambered, they won't chamber so you need to clean the chamber really well to get back to zero.
 
There are only two reasons I can see for buying .22 short ammo. One is for firearms marked ".22 Short" and the other is dispatching trapped animals.
 
With all the negatives already listed I would suggest buying some CCI Standard pressure 22LR ammo. In today's market bigger and faster sell great but good ole standard 22LR works great. You don't have to sacrifice to use a little less power and in all my pistols and rifles, they actuall are a tad bit more accurate. I wasonce told it was because they didn't make the jump to super sonic which can destabilise a bullet a little bit. I use em a lot with my suppressor cause they are quieter than the high speed ammo but still will function my pistols and 10-22.
 
You can eliminate the chamber buildup caused by firing short cartridges, by running a .22 caliber bore brush through your barrel.

It's a non issue. But the accuracy is. Try a couple different boxes of .22 shorts, along with CB caps. If they don't shoot to an acceptable point of aim, or group well enough, it's all moot. Good luck with that, it might turn out very well.
 
Foilist said:
Just out of curiosity, is it possible to fire .22 shorts from a Ruger 10/22 if loading them manually without using the magazine?
Click to expand...

It is, but you'll struggle to get them into the chamber.

As others suggested, CCI's "CB Longs" are a better solution. They'll fit and feed from your magazine by manually operating the bolt. They're high quality, accurate, quiet, and won't leave a lead build-up in your chamber.

Good shooting,
desmobob
 
I just use my Henry .22 lever action which can hold and shoot 12 LR rounds, or 15 shorts. Good luck with your .22, J.
 
If you are looking for reduced noise when shooting, there are .22 rounds that are sub-sonic that are offered by remington, also the CB longs. also Agulia makes a .22 sniper subsonic 60 grn round that will funtion in a ruger 10-22. I have been told they are great for shooting out street lights and watch dogs prior to a swat raid...just what I have been told... ;)...not that I would know first hand!!!
 
I shoot shorts in my Henry lever action all the time. It can hold 15 lr, 17 l, 21s. It shoots them with no problem.
 
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