.22 Long Rifle AmmunitionThe .22 caliber cartridge was designed by Joshua Stevens, founder of the J. Stevens Arm & Tool Company, in 1887 and it quickly became a popular round for beginners, children and target practice due to its low velocity, cost and recoil.

The .22 caliber has been popular in the news and among gun forums recently due to its affordability and lack of supply. In comparison to other calibers, the .22 is extremely inexpensive to produce and will always be the least expensive round to purchase, adding to it’s popularity. This is due to the relatively low amount of materials needed to manufacture the smaller calibers. As a general rule, larger calibers are more expensive. 22 rounds are great for training or varmint control. Some other calibers can cost up to $1 per round, whereas the .22 ranges between $0.10 - $0.20 per round. When going through 100 rounds of ammunition at your local gun range, being cost conscious can save your wallet.

The .22 is a heeled bullet that is the same width of the case, requiring the “heel” of the bullet to be a lesser width in order to fit in the case.

 

There are a variety of .22 rounds to choose from, including 4 distinct types based on velocity:

  • Subsonic also includes “target” or “match” loads, at nominal speeds below 1100 fps (335 mps)

  • Standard-Velocity Transonic: 1120-1135 fps (340-345 mps)

  • High-Velocity Supersonic: 1200-1310 fps (365-400 mps)

  • Hyper-velocity, Eltra Velocity Supersonic: over 1400 fps (425 mps)

 

Bullet velocityThe .22 is a rimfire meaning this means that the firing pin strikes the edge of the cartridge instead of the center. This method of igniting the primer is usually found in small calibers, whereas larger caliber are set with a centerfire primer.

Rifles, handguns, and even some shotguns are capable of firing .22 ammunition. Almost all firearm manufacturers produce a gun that is chambered in .22. This makes it a very popular caliber and the lack of supply demonstrates this.

Rimfire cartridges are typically inexpensive, primarily due to the inherent cost-efficiency of the ability to make large production quantities. Until the price of metals used in cartridges (lead, copper and zinc) increased in 2002, a "brick" of 500 .22 Long Rifle cartridges typically cost less than $8.00.

Many have recently experienced the strangled supply of .22 ammunition. It disappears off the shelves faster than it can be obtain from the manufactures. Whose fault is it? Ammunition Manufacturers? The Government? Many speculate the low supply is simply due to overly hyped gun owners scared they will never lay their hands on another .22 cartridge again. I’ll leave speculation up to the reader, I really don’t know.

 

.22 for self defense?


.22 for self defenseSelf defense is a big deal for gun owners. For many, it’s the sole purpose of owning a firearm. But how does the 22LR hold up to the competition? One would believe that the larger the bullet, the more effective it is at stopping an attacker. Let’s be clear, this is a very broad statement. A .50 BMG to the foot is not immediately fatal, however a precisely placed .22 is completely capable of producing a fatal injury, whether that be a head wound or extensive penetration on any other major organ.

According to a study done by Greg Ellifritz of Buckeye Firearms Association, there is no conclusive evidence that suggests a specific round, large or small, is better at stopping an attacker. This study was based off data collected from 1,800 gunfights over a span of 10 years. Nick Leghorn elaborates even more on this study by specifically focusing on the .22 in comparison to other rounds.

According to Nicks analysis of the data, .22 is just as effective at incapacitating a target as any other caliber. In fact, .22 actually performed better than average compared to other calibers and performed equally to the .357. As expected, shotguns perform the best when it comes to stopping power.

You can read a detailed breakdown of Gregs study at buckeyefirearms.org or read Nicks breakdown of the .22, detailing caliber comparrison at thetruthaboutguns.com.

Conclusion

The .22 caliber cartridge has been around for a while and it’s not going anywhere. The design itself has been almost completely unaltered over the past century. Calibers have come and gone, but only the best of the best stick around for the long haul. The .22 is definitely a keeper.

Video: How 22LR Is Made

Sources:

http://gunczar.com/22lr.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rimfire_ammunition

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/06/foghorn/ask-foghorn-22l-for-self-defense/

http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7866