We are coming into peak Prairie Dog season. For long shots you’ll definitely want a centerfire. We like the 20 Practical in an AR and a 22 BR/BRA in a bolt-action. That will have you covered out to 700 yards. But for shorter shots on small critters — say inside 150 yards — it makes sense to have an accurate 17 HMR rimfire rig. Today’s 17 HMRs are capable of surprising accuracy, rivaling a good centerfire rig, but with way less recoil and much lower cost per shot. And the 17 HMR offers more than double the velocity of a .22 LR — up to 2650 fps with a 17-grain bullet.
Top Shot former Champion Dustin Ellerman likes his Volquartsens, and we can see why. With one of his favorite 17 HMR rimfire varmint rigs, he’s seen some outstanding accuracy with CCI ammo. A few seasons back, on his Facebook page, Dustin reported: “Prepping for prairie dogs and I’m floored by this cold, sub-half-inch group shot with the Volquartsen Custom 17 HMR at 100 yards.” This thumbhole-stock rifle features a Bowers Group USS suppressor, and 3-12x56mm Meopta Scope. Dustin tried different types of CCI 17 HMR ammo. This small group was shot with CCI A17 ammo.
What’s the effective range of a 17 HMR on prairie dogs? You might be surprised. in 2015, Dustin took another Volquartsen 17 HMR on a Prairie Dog hunt in Wyoming. He was impressed with the rifle (shown below) and the little rimfire cartridge. Dustin says the effective range of the 17 HMR is farther than one might expect: “I made hits out to 300 yards. 200 yards was easy as long as the wind wasn’t too bad.”
Here’s the Volquartsen 17 HMR Dustin used in Wyoming in 2015:
After that 2015 P-Dog expedition, Dustin became a fan of the 17 HMR cartridge: “Never paid it much attention before now because the ammo is five times more expensive than .22 LR and I mostly target shoot. However, for prairie dogs, the 17 HMR is amazing!” Consider this — Hornady’s 17 HMR ammo pushes a 17gr V-Max bullet at 2550 fps, twice as fast as typical .22 LR rounds.
Prairie Dog Adventure with Savage A17
This video shows a successful Prairie Dog hunt. Watch and you’ll see hits out to 160 yards (00:50), proving the effective range of the 17 HMR cartridge. The host is shooting a Savage A17 semi-auto 17 HMR rifle in a Boyds laminated stock.
Sightron is now offering big discounts on popular scopes with its Summer Instant Savings Promotion. You can save up to $200.00 on select premium riflescopes: the S-TAC, SIII PLR, and S30 RDS. With Father’s Day and graduation just around the corner, now is a great time to save hundreds on some of Sightron’s most popular models. This instant rebate promotion kicked off May 1st and runs through June 30, 2022.
You can get these Sightron deals through an an authorized Sightron retailer, such as Creedmoor Sports, or you can order direct from Sightron, via the Summer Instant Savings Page.
SIGHTRON is offering up to $200 in savings on select premium riflescopes:
Save $200 on SIII PLR (Precision Long Range) — Designed for long-range target and competition shooting, the PLR series offers 6-24x50mm, 8-32x56mm, and 10-50x60mm models (shown below). All models employ a new optical design, Zact-7 Plus Revcoat multicoating technology, internal zero-stop, and illuminated reticles. Sightron SIII PLR scopes offer premium performance at an unbeatable price.
Save up to $120 on S-TAC — Excellent choice for hunting or competitive shooting, the S-TAC 3-16×42 and 4-12×50 riflescopes have the features you need to get on target and stay there. Available in SFP and FFP models, the S-TAC series features Zact-7 Revcoat multicoating technology applied to high-quality Japanese precision-ground glass for excellent, crisp, and clear color-corrected images.
Lifetime Warranty on All Sightron Scopes
All Sightron riflescopes are backed by a Lifetime Performance Guarantee that protects buyers. If you ever have an issue, Sightron’s skilled technicians will fix your scope or Sightron will replace it.
We have all been there — you place a piece of tumbled brass in the shell-holder of your press, raise it into the die, and suddenly it is like somebody hit the brakes. The case is stuck in the die. Your first instinct is to reverse it out. You crank on the handle, and BANG! The rim rips off the case head and you are looking at a piece of brass stuck in the die.
A stuck case is one of the boo-boos that all of us reloaders have faced from time to time. If proper lubrication is applied, then it should not be a problem. No matter if you are a seasoned reloader or new to it, this situation can happen. Take your time, use the proper procedures, and you will be back in business in no time! This article explains how to avoid stuck cases (through proper lubrication) and how to use a stuck case removal system.
What Causes Stuck Cases
One of the first common mistakes reloaders face is the stuck case. It can be caused by too much or too little lube. Too much and a vacuum can be formed causing the case to become suctioned into the die. Too little lube and friction is the culprit. So what is the cure? There is no exact cure, but the best lube that we have found so far is just a dab of Imperial Sizing Die Wax on your fingers and applied in a thin coat on the body of the case, not the shoulder or neck. Too much of this wax can cause the vacuum effect, or can eventually load your die up with gobs of residue. If it is applied to the shoulder area, or the leftover wax moves up into the shoulder region of the die, you will see dents or dimples in the shoulder. [AccurateShooter.com Editor’s Note: For normal full-length sizing of small cases such as 220 Russian/PPC, 6mmBR, 6.5 Grendel, or 6.5×47 Lapua we recommend Ballistol (aerosol) lube. It is very slippery, goes on very thin, and does not gum up the die.]
A great way to ensure that your dies are clean is to use a simple chamber mop with a dab of your favorite solvent on it and clean out the die. Be sure all of the solvent is out after cleaning by spraying the die out with Quickscrub III or use a clean chamber mop. If you are storing your dies, you can apply a thin coat of a good oil to protect the steel such as TM oil or Starrett M1 Spray.
This video shows how to use an RCBS Stuck Case Removal Kit:
Using a Stuck Case Removal Kit
If you do stick a case in your die there are a few good stuck case removal kits available. Each one works in a similar fashion. I have found the Hornady kit very effective and easy to use. [Editor: Forster, Lyman, and RCBS also make good kits for removing a case stuck in a die.]
Basically what you do is remove the die from the press. Unscrew the decapping assembly and pull it out as far as you can. You then need to drill/tap threads into the stuck case head (this is why it is suggested to unscrew the decapping assembly as far as you can to get it clear of the drill bits). Once this is done screw the die back into the press. You then install the included shellholder attachment on the shellholder ram, and thread it into the case via a small wrench. With some elbow grease you can reverse the stuck case out of the die with the leverage of the press, and not damage the die.
However if the case is stuck… REALLY stuck, you may pull out the threads on the case and you are still left with a stuck case in the die without any way to pull it out. If the case is really difficult to remove even with the use of a stuck case removal kit, do not try to be Hercules with the press ram. Here is a trick that may work. Take the die with the stuck case and place it in your freezer for a couple of hours. Then repeat the removal with the cold die. The freezing temperatures may cause the brass to contract, and make removal easier. If this does not work it is recommended to send it to the die manufacturer. They will be able to remove the case without damaging the die.
Another fix if you can remove the decapping assembly completely is to use a tap hammer and a punch or small wooden dowel to knock the stuck case out. This isn’t the best way since it is very possible that you will damage the die internally or externally on the threads, or both. Send the die to the manufacturer to have this done properly. You will be happier in the long run.
This article appears courtesy Sinclair International. It first appeared in Sinclair’s Reloading Press Blog.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Bullet Central — Krieger and Bartlein Pre-Fit Barrels
⏺ Great quality pre-fit barrels, ready to mount to your rifle
Do you own a Kelbly, BAT, or Impact action and need a new barrel but don’t want the hassle (and cost) of having a smith chamber and headspace the barrel? Consider a Krieger or Bartlein Pre-Fit Barrel from Bullet Central. On BulletCentral.com you’ll find a wide range of barrels in various calibers for multiple action types. Place your order for professionally-chambered, custom-grade barrels that you can install yourself.
2. Precision Reloading — All L.E. Wilson Products SALE
⏺ Very good prices on L.E. Wilson dies, case trimmers, and tools
Right now, Precision Reloading is running a good promotion with all in-stock L.E. Wilson products on SALE. This sale currently includes the popular Wilson inline seating dies, FL sizing dies, case trimmers, expanding die (with mandrel), bushings, case gages, deburrers, and other tools.
⏺ Great starting choice for tactical and PRS/NRL disciplines
Interested in PRS/NRL and other tactical disciplines, but don’t want to spend a fortune on optics? The Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm FFP (First Focal Plane) optic is a smart choice. Offered in both MOA and MIL versions, the Vortex Venom ($699.99 MSRP) can be purchased right now for $499.99 from EuroOptic.com. Choose either the MOA model or MRAD version. Vortex claims the new Venom allows new tactical shooters to “get into the game at an affordable price without compromising optical quality”. The Venom boasts a 34mm main tube with 85 MOA elevation for the MOA version, or 25 MRAD elevation for the MIL version.
4. CDNN/LNL — EAA Girsan 9mm Pistols, $429.99 or $485.26
⏺ Choose 4.2″ bbl MC9BX or 4.6″ bbl ported slide MC9 model
CDNN Sports has a great deal on the EAA Girsan MC9BX pistol — just $429.99 complete with installed Red Dot optic and threaded muzzle (for a suppressor). This is a good 9mm defensive pistol with 4.2″ barrel and 17-round magazine. If you compete in IDPA or action pistol matches, you may prefer the deluxe EAA Girsan MC9 Model. This features a longer, ported slide, 4.6″ barrel, and flared mag well. The makes the MC9 better for competition. It is offered for $485.26 at Locked & Loaded, a $195+ savings over the regular $681.00 pistol price.
⏺ Get ready for varmint season with 500-count packs of V-Max bullets
Do you have a favorite varmint rifle chambered in .223 Rem, 22 BR, or 22-250? If you’re planning to load hundreds of rounds for an upcoming varmint safari, you can save big right now at Midsouth. Buy in bulk for super savings. Get 500 50gr .224 V-Max bullets for just $102.99 — that works out to just $21.60 per hundred. Or if you want a little higher BC, order 500 60gr .224 V-Max for $105.49. Both are great deals. These V-Max bullets are ideal for varmint work. Midsouth also has 110gr .270 Caliber V-Maxs on sale.
⏺ Sturdy bench has large top, comfy seat, and swivels 360 degrees.
Here’s a great portable bench you can use in the field while shooting prairie dogs or other varmints. Or use this when practicing on a undeveloped shooting range. Now $160.99 on Amazon, Birchwood Casey Xtreme Shooting bench swivels 360 degrees and has a large, comfortable seat with removeable backrest. Weighing a moderate 46 pounds, this shooting bench boasts a large, 29″ square top with a removable rifle support. This bench, which sells for $180 elsewhere, has earned many positive reviews: “Hands down and far away the sturdiest portable shooting bench I have ever used. It is portable but not exactly light but that is why I bought it. The light benches feel cheap and are not sturdy…”, “It doesn’t feel flimsy or wobble like similarly-priced benches. Overall it’s a great bench!”. The bench includes cup-holder and gear basket.
7. Palmetto State Armory — Norma TAC-22 Ammo, $4.50/box
⏺ Excellent rimfire ammo at a GREAT price — .22 LR Deal of the Year
We are repeating this deal from last week because it’s quality .22 LR ammo at a GREAT price, and it could sell out soon. If you shoot NRL22 or just practice for fun, grab some Norma TAC22 .22 LR ammo at Palmetto State Armory. On sale at just $4.50 per 50-round box (just $0.09/rd), this TAC-22 ammo is a truly spectacular bargain.
Norma TAC-22 accuracy with an older lot from 2017. Photo from Champion Shooters Supply.
Norma TAC-22 is good quality ammo that has shown excellent accuracy in tests (see photo). You’ll have to pay twice as much (or more) to get more accurate rimfire ammo.
8. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Tumbler Kit, $75.53
⏺ Great price on complete kit with tumbler, separator, and media
This Quick-N-EZ Master Tumbler Kit contains everything you need to tumble rifle or pistol brass. Now on sale for $75.53, this Kit contains: Vibratory Tumbler, Rotary Media Separator, Plastic Bucket, 3 lbs. Cleaning Media, and 4 oz. Brass Polish. At $75.53 this is a fine deal — you could easily pay more than that for a decent vibratory tumbler alone. Other vendors are charging $100 (or more) for this full kit.
9. Amazon — Smart Weigh Gem20 Digital Scale, $21.99
⏺ Great little accurate, repeatable scale at amazing price — Watch the VIDEO!
The Smart Weigh Gem20 scale is an excellent option for those looking to reduce velocity Extreme Spread by weighing powder precisely to the kernel, without having to spend $1000 on a laboratory grade scale. At this low price (under $22 currently), this is also great option as a back-up or travel scale used at the range. Verified purchasers, including the maker of the video above, have praised the scale. Watch the video to see how precise it is — the scale can measure kernel by kernel. Use the “mode” button to select grains. The scale can also weight in grams, ounces, and other modes. Use the tare function to zero with powder pan. This scale ships with two 10g calibration weights.
10. Midsouth — Forster Accu-Ring, $14.99
⏺ Unique precision-marked lock ring helps quickly set shoulder “bump”.
The new Forster Accu-Ring has precise markings so you can set your sizing dies with extreme precision. The Accu-Ring makes setting up your sizing die easier by providing laser-etched precision markings in one-thousandth of an inch increments (.001″). This allows you to more easily set the amount of sizing and shoulder “bump” you get when you move a die up or down in your press. In addition, if you have a conventional seating die without a micrometer adjustment, this new Forster Accu-Ring can help you achieve more precise bullet seating. SEE Ultimate Reloader Review.
Big news for High Power rifle shooters — Electronic Targets will be employed at the 2022 High Power Rifle National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. That means faster relays, quicker scoring, and NO PIT DUTY!
The 2022 NRA High Power National Matches will run at Camp Atterbury from July 8-28, 2022. Registration is now open. Click HERE to Register.
Silver Mountain Targets Electronic Targets at Camp Atterbury This Summer
The NRA has confirmed that the Silver Mountain Targets electronic target system will be deployed for the High Power Rifle phases of the 2022 National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The Silver Mountain Targets (SMT) technology, the “fourth generation of Electronic Target System”, is an OPEN SENSOR system fitted to conventional wood target frames. It uses four sensors to plot shot location (and score value) with great precision. Scores are transmitted via a WiFi network to mobile devices placed at each shooting station. Along with shot location, the score values are listed and recorded on the receiving devices.
“The NRA has been working with the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association (ISRPA), as well as the Central Indiana High Power Rifle Shooters (CIHPRS) in order to bring electronic targets to the NRA National Matches”, said Joseph P. De Bergalis, Jr., Executive Director of NRA General Operations.
Over the past three years, the NRA has confirmed that Silver Mountain Targets systems have worked very effectively in rifle competition. The SMT sensor technology is now proven in competition: “In 2019, the ISRPA chose Silver Mountain Targets for our High Power matches including the ISRPA Across the Course State Championships and the Governor’s Cup match in 2019″, said ISRPA President Charles Hiltunen. “We did an extensive comparison of alternatives and Silver Mountain Targets best fit our needs. Since then we have been very happy with the targets.”
“Silver Mountain Targets is very excited to be chosen for the very first deployment of this technology at the NRA National Matches. Our advanced modular architecture represents the latest in electronic target technology,” said SMT’s David Schnelle. “The system is designed to be easily expandable and provide a high level of reliability. System components are battery-powered to simplify deployment on a military range and allows the system to even operate if there is a power outage. Communications between targets and the firing line is a highly reliable WiFi connection, utilizing any WiFi-capable device to display competitors’ shots.”
“The National Rifle Association is pleased to continue our improvements at Camp Atterbury in order to better serve the competitive shooting community and further promote the shooting sports”, said Cole McCulloch, Director of NRA Competitive Shooting.
“With the Silver Mountain Target system, we will be able to run more relays in less time and reduce demands on competitors and staff. We are also very pleased that technical representatives from Silver Mountain Targets will be on-site for the entire championship to ensure optimum performance and to train NRA staff and volunteers on the technology.”
Why You CANNOT Rely on the MV Printed on the Ammo Box!
When figuring out your come-ups with a ballistics solver or drop chart it’s “mission critical” to have an accurate muzzle velocity (MV). When shooting factory ammo, it’s tempting to use the manufacturer-provided MV which may be printed on the package. That’s not such a great idea says Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics. Don’t rely on the MV on the box, Bryan advises — you should take out your chrono and run your own velocity tests. There are a number of reasons why the MV values on ammo packaging may be inaccurate. Below is a discussion of factory ammo MV from the Applied Ballistics Facebook Page.
Five Reasons You Cannot Trust the Velocity on a Box of Ammo:
1. You have no idea about the rifle used for the MV test.
2. You have no idea what atmospheric conditions were during testing, and yes it matters a lot.
3. You have no idea of the SD for the factory ammo, and how the manufacturer derived the MV from that SD. (Marketing plays a role here).
4. You have no idea of the precision and quality of chronograph(s) used for velocity testing.
5. You have no idea if the manufacturer used the raw velocity, or back-calculated the MV. The BC used to back track that data is also unknown.
1. The factory test rifle and your rifle are not the same. Aside from having a different chamber, and possibly barrel length some other things are important too like the barrel twist rate, and how much wear was in the barrel. Was it just recently cleaned, has it ever been cleaned? You simply don’t know anything about the rifle used in testing.
2. Temperature and Humidity conditions may be quite different (than during testing). Temperature has a physical effect on powder, which changes how it burns. Couple this with the fact that different powders can vary in temp-stability quite a bit. You just don’t know what the conditions at the time of testing were. Also a lot of factory ammunition is loaded with powder that is meter friendly. Meter friendly can often times be ball powder, which is less temperature stable than stick powder often times.
3. The ammo’s Standard Deviation (SD) is unknown. You will often notice that while MV is often listed on ammo packages, Standard Deviation (normally) is not. It is not uncommon for factory ammunition to have an SD of 18 or higher. Sometimes as high as 40+. As such is the nature of metering powder. With marketing in mind, did they pick the high, low, or average end of the SD? We really don’t know. You won’t either until you test it for yourself. For hand-loaded ammo, to be considered around 10 fps or less. Having a high SD is often the nature of metered powder and factory loads. The image below is from Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting: Volume II.
4. You don’t know how MV was measured. What chronograph system did the manufacturer use, and how did they back track to a muzzle velocity? A chronograph does not measure true velocity at the muzzle; it simply measures velocity at the location it is sitting. So you need to back-calculate the distance from the chrono to the end of the barrel. This calculation requires a semi-accurate BC. So whose BC was used to back track to the muzzle or did the manufacturer even do that? Did they simply print the numbers displayed by the chronograph? What kind of chronograph setup did they use? We know from our Lab Testing that not all chronographs are created equal. Without knowing what chronograph was used, you have no idea the quality of the measurement. See: Applied Ballistics Chronograph Chapter Excerpt.
5. The MV data may not be current. Does the manufacturer update that data for every lot? Or is it the same data from years ago? Some manufacturers rarely if ever re-test and update information. Some update it every lot (ABM Ammo is actually tested every single lot for 1% consistency). Without knowing this information, you could be using data for years ago.
CONCLUSION: Never use the printed MV off a box of ammo as anything more than a starting point, there are too many factors to account for. You must always either test for the MV with a chronograph, or use carefully obtained, live fire data. When you are using a Ballistic Solver such as the AB Apps or Devices integrated with AB, you need to know the MV to an accuracy down to 5 fps. The more reliable the MV number, the better your ballistics solutions.
This is one amazing .50-caliber rifle. Along with the lever-actuated falling block, it has a massive swing-out breech block like you’d find on a field artillery piece. The action is so wide that the sights and scope are offset. You’ve heard of the “Beauty and the Beast”? Well here the Beast IS a Beauty….
View looking down at the action from above. Note the hinged Breech-Block.
This extraordinary example of gunsmithing art was crafted by the late J.T. (Jack) Smith of Sudbury, Massachusetts. This unique .50-caliber rifle features an aircraft machine gun barrel cut down to 38-1/4″, and turned octagon to round (in the style of Schuetzen rifles). The round portion of the barrel is tapered with a heavy boss at the muzzle. The barrel is inlaid in gold on both left and right side top flats. Custom scope bases are fitted to the receiver and to the top of the barrel. These hold an externally adjusting Unertl 15X target scope in offset scope mounts.
Huge Falling Block Receiver
The massive receiver (8″ long x 2-3/4″ wide x 3″ deep) is remarkable in design and construction. Machined from solid steel, the action incorporates several unique features. Note the hinged Howitzer-style breech block which swings to the right and mortises into the back of the receiver in the loading slot, providing a back-up for the falling block. We’ve never seen anything like that on any rifle. The one-piece floorplate/lever incorporates a Ruger No. 1-style latch which locks into the bottom of the trigger guard. The entire floorplate and lever retract downward. Firing is accomplished by means of a striker mounted in the hinged (swing-out) breech block. This is manually cocked with another lever on top of the breech block. Dropping the falling block activates the extractor which removes the spent case.
Offset Sights
This rifle features a custom-built, windage-adjustable offset front sight plus a custom-built vernier tang sight with aperture offset to the left side. The sights are offset to the left for a right-handed shooter, to correct for the extreme width of the receiver, allowing a more comfortable head position.
Have you ever wondered how Olympic-class position shooters hold their aim so steady? Those bulky shooting coats help, but there is a lot of bio-mechanics involved also. Top shooters employ their body structure to help support the weight of their rifles, and to steady their aim. This interesting video, produced by GOnra Media, demonstrates rifle hold and body alignment for prone, standing, sitting, and kneeling positions. Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Corkish (formerly Jamie Gray) demonstrates the proper stance and position of arms and legs for each of the positions.
Ideally, in all of the shooting positions, the shooter takes advantage of skeletal support. The shooter should align the bones of his/her arms and legs to provide a solid foundation. A shooter’s legs and arms form vertical planes helping the body remain stable in the shooting position.
Jamie Corkish, London 2012 Gold Medalist in Women’s 3 X 20, has retired from top-level competitive shooting. However, Jamie remains involved in the shooting sports as a Public Relations/Marketing representative for ELEY, a leading maker of rimfire ammunition. Jamie also works with shooting clubs and educational institutions to promote smallbore target shooting.
Images are stills from GOnraMedia video linked above.
We think everyone should have a .22 LR pistol or revolver (and probably both). Whether for plinking, target shooting, or self-defense, a good .22 LR can perform a multitude of tasks. Today, with the help of YouTube reviewers, we look at a variety of .22 LR pistols, focusing on compact .22s that can serve for self-protection, as well as plinking fun.
Can a .22 LR be an effective defense weapon? One retired officer posted: “As a police officer I saw more people killed by .22 or small caliber than with a 9mm or larger. I would not want to be shot by one. The benefits I see are minimal recoil, the ability to conceal, easier follow-up shots, [and] cheap ammo meaning more range time and training.”
Top .22 LR Handguns for Self-Defense — Video Reviews
LuckyGunner’s Top Compact Rimfire Handguns
Ammo supplier LuckyGunner.com has a very active YouTube Channel. There you’ll find numerous videos pertaining to .22 LR firearms and shooting. In this video, LuckyGunner host Chris Baker provides specific recommendations for compact .22 LR pistols and revolvers suitable for CCW use. This video focuses primarily on small and light rimfire pistols and revolvers.
Best Small .22 LR Rimfire Handguns for Concealed Carry
Best Six .22 LR Handguns for Defensive Use — 22 Plinkster
YouTube host 22 Plinkster has shot hundreds of thousands of .22 LR rounds through dozens of .22 LR handguns and rifles. Here are his “Pick Six” of compact .22 LR handguns that can work for self-defense. All of these pistols are compact and relatively light-weight. 22 Plinkster adds: “I didn’t list a few handguns in this video for a few reasons. Yes, there are other great options out there, but other guns can’t be concealed as easy as the guns that are in this video. Pistols like the Walther PPQ or the Taurus TX22 will make my top 5 list, just not this one.”
22 Plinkster’s “Pick Six” of .22 LR Pistols
Big Collection of Rimfire Pistols from the Major Manufacturers
This lengthy 53-minute video reviews nearly 20 semi-auto .22 LR Pistols. This is one of the most comprehensive comparison on the internet. The reviewer compares the Glock 44 with many other options on the market, including rimfire pistols from Beretta, Ruger, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, Walther and more. Target-style pistols are reviewed as well as smaller carry-style .22 LR pistols.
Numerous .22 LR Pistols Compared with Close-ups and Descriptions of features
Ten .22 LR Handguns compared including three rimfire revolvers
The next video, below, is another round-up with ten different .22 LR handguns. There are semi-autos from Beretta, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and Walther. This video also features the tiny North American Arms .22 revolver, the classic S&W Model 63 revolver, and the Ruger LCR-22 compact carry revolver. The reviewer praised the Ruger SR22, which his wife carries. He says the “SR22 has so far been flawless — not one misfire. It is incredibly accurate and reliable. At only 0.9″ thick it is very conceable”.
Top Ten Concealed Carry .22 LR Pistols with Commentaries
The Effectiveness of the .22 LR Cartridge is Under-Rated
The folks from Lucky Gunner state: “Pocket pistols and revolvers chambered for the humble .22 LR are easily dismissed as carry guns suitable only for novices and the elderly. While there are some definite drawbacks to relying on a small gun that fires small bullets for self-defense, it also may have significant advantages that even skilled and experienced shooters can benefit from.” This video has been viewed 3.5 million times!
.22 LR Mini-Mag Tested in Ballistic Gel — You May Be Surprised
Here are two videos that reveal how a .22 LR Mini-Mag performs in test gel. In both videos, testers shoot the CCI .22 Mini-Mag into ballistic gel. The results are pretty impressive. This is still a .22 LR cartridge, but the potent Mini-Mag packs some punch, particularly at close ranges.
Of course a larger centerfire round carries more energy. But the Mini-Mag can do the job. One knowledgeable YouTube commenter, a retired LEO with 41 years of service, stated: “NEVER underestimate the power of a .22 LR CCI Mini-Mag. During my career, when working with a Medical Examiner, I [witnessed] bodies riddled with a .22. I don’t have to paint GORY details.”
BONUS Video: How .22 LR Ammunition is Made
If you’ve never seen how .22 LR rimfire ammunition is made, check out this video filmed at the Federal ammunition production plant in Anoka, Minnesota. This narrated video shows every stage of the process, from the melting of lead for the bullets to the final packing into boxes. The video host observes: “We were offered a rare glimpse into Federal’s rimfire plant in Anoka, MN to watch how .22 LR ammunition is made. We all know the basic components involved — each cartridge consists of a case with primer, propellant, and a bullet. Watching them all come together on a massive scale with a choreographed dance of modern automated machinery is a surprisingly gratifying experience.”
Some custom barrel makers are now honing barrels (after drilling) to improve bore diameter uniformity, smooth the interior finish, and reduce barrel lapping times. For years, large-scale manufacturers of hammer-forged barrels have employed honing. Now the process is being used by smaller, “boutique” barrel-makers. This article explains how and why barrel honing is done. Take the time to watch the video. For anyone with an interest in barrel-making, this video from Sunnen Products Co. is an eye-opener.
Barrel Honing Process Demonstrated (Worth Watching!):
For custom barrel makers, honing is a time-saver and cost cutter. A few minutes on a honing machine can cut lapping times in half, leaving a cross-hatched surface finish in single or low double-digit Ra. Honing is the same process used to make diesel fuel injectors with bore roundness and straightness controlled to fractions of a micron (<0.000040"), with surface finish Ra ≤0.15 µm (6 µin).
A key manufacturing process used for hammer-forged barrels is now getting attention from the makers of custom button-rifled barrels. This process is precision bore-honing. Honing produces a high-quality bore surface fast, which is critical to hammer forging. (Why is honing so important with hammer forging? Surface finish is the one feature of the barrel that cannot be controlled in hammer forging. Surface imperfections in a barrel blank tend to be amplified as the blank is formed on the rifling mandrel. And if the bore is chromed afterwards, imperfections in the surface finish become even more obvious.)
Honing dramatically improves bore diameter size uniformity and accuracy, surface finish and roundness throughout the length of the barrel. It can certainly be used in place of a pre-rifling lap. The chief difference between a lapped and honed bore is the direction of the finish lines in the bore. Honing leaves fine spiraling crosshatch lines, while a lap leaves lines going longitudinally in the bore. After rifling the manufacturer can remove the crosshatch finish with a quick lap if desired. Honing is fast, accurate, and can be automated. Its surface quality and geometry can duplicate lapping, except for the longitudinal lines of the lapped finish.
In 2015 Frank Green of Bartlein Barrels told us: “We worked with Sunnen and we did all the initial testing on the prototype machine for them. The machine works great! We ordered and received … a new manufactured machine with the changes we wanted on it and [subsequently] ordered a second one.”
The Sunnen hone secures the barrel blank in a 3-jaw chuck, with honing oil pumped into one end while the tool works from the opposite end. Sunnen’s specialized Long Bore Tool uses metal-bond diamond or CBN superabrasives to quickly remove reamer marks, waviness, tight spots and other imperfections left by upstream processes.
Sunnen states that: “Honing is an ideal replacement for hand-lapping barrel blanks before rifling. It quickly removes reamer scratches and surface waviness without labor-intensive hand lapping. By producing a consistent bore diameter (±0.0001″ or less), parallelism, roundness and surface finish end to end, honing yields more consistent performance from rifling buttons and cutters, resulting in a constant groove depth. The ideal bore geometry reduces distortion of the bullet shape.”
Computer-Controlled Bore-Honing
Honing can be done with great precision through the use of advanced, computer-controlled honing machines. Sunnen Products Company offers an advanced machine for .17 to .50-caliber barrels (see control panel below). The spindles on this machine can correct bore size imperfections so small only an air gauge can measure them. The consistency this allows improves bore uniformity, which, in turn, produces more accurate barrels for the precision market.
Sunnen Products Company is the world’s largest vertically-integrated manufacturer of honing systems, tooling, abrasives, coolants, and gauging for precision bore-sizing and finishing. Sunnen’s customers include manufacturers of diesel and gas engines, aerospace components, hydraulic components, oil field equipment, and gun/cannon barrels. Sunnen employs more than 600 people worldwide.
A stuck case is one of the boo-boos that all of us reloaders have faced from time to time. If proper lubrication is applied, then it should not be a problem. No matter if you are a seasoned reloader or new to it, this situation can happen. Take your time, use the proper procedures, and you will be back in business in no time! This article explains how to avoid stuck cases (through proper lubrication) and how to use a stuck case removal system.
