Rimfire "Slugs"?

[Lewis]

It seems to me that we are getting very close to being able to shoot .22 40 grain ammo at 100 FPE. This would be in perfect alignment with rimfire benchrest where they shoot sub moa consistently. We should be able to improve on those groups based on consistency of standard deviation which is nearly always double digit with rimfire. This also makes me wonder why rimfire ammo, even decent ammo is cheaper than we are currently paying for slugs without powder or brass. I understand the economy of scale but maybe we can get bare "slugs" from Eley or Remington at a good bit less than we are currently paying.

Thoughts?

 

[heavy-impact]

.22 rimfire heel base bullets would cause feeding problems in many airguns and may not fit magazines due to length. Their weight ranges from 29 to 50 grains.

I doubt you could get ammunition manufacturers to sell them as components but the worst they could do is say no.

 

[badammo]

I have an old barrel from a 10/22 I was thinking of fitting into my airforce condor. The single shot would feed whatever can be fitted. I also have a 40 grain .22 mould that I cast for .22 hornet and .223 rem. 

I think it would be an interesting project.

 

[Lewis]

I would love to see how that turns out!

 

[JamesD.]

Rim fire ammo is cheaper because the biggest companies in the world produce it as opposed to a few guys well set up with mold or casting, or even JSB, Crosman, H&N.

RWS is the only company that makes both pellets & rim fire ammo.

There are Aguila’s SSS Sub Sonic Sniper which are 60 grain but a 1;14 barrel is needed instead of 1;16 for them to be as accurate as they can.

 

[EdLena]

Also rimfire bullets have a larger diameter than the airgun barrel which are .217" not to mention the choke.

 

[Spray1Mark]

It was done by DAYSTATE years ago, as above .22RF barrel with no chamber works fine with 40g RF bullet heads.

The problem is getting the 40g RF heads alone, Eley wont sell unless you buy a few hundred thousand, DAYSTATE did this and marketed them as Eley Manums or something of the like, someone on here will know I suspect.

 

[bubblerboy64]

Interesting discussion. Might consider that when you shoot a rimfire bullet at or near rimfire velocities you might just as well shoot a rimfire . There might be a reason to do this but it’s not immediately apparent to me and it certainly would be the more expensive way to skin that cat.

 

[Yote]

So I wonder if the black powder 22 bullet would work ?

 

[Lewis]

Interesting discussion. Might consider that when you shoot a rimfire bullet at or near rimfire velocities you might just as well shoot a rimfire . There might be a reason to do this but it’s not immediately apparent to me and it certainly would be the more expensive way to skin that cat.

A few of the reasons I am interested:

Air rifles can be legally suppressed in more places. They usually have a more controlled extreme spread (which should lead to better accuracy) and they can be turned down to shoot much lighter ammo or slower speeds or both. No brass to police. There may be other benefits for hunters where air guns are allowed to hunt during a pre-season or bow season.

It may be more expensive to begin with but if it were to catch on it could (should) be less expensive.

Plus it's just more fun to be a little different.

 

[Bowhunter73]

I have bought some of the 22cal bullets from Freedom arms for their Blackpowder revolver a ran them through a sizing die I have for my Huben they shot pretty good in the Huben I've been planning to resize them with my NOE push thru sizer and try them in my P15 22 and my Prod. I'll resize some today and see how they do and get back to y'all on the results.

 

[Bowhunter73]

Well fellas just a quick test these boolits mike at 222 so sizing to 217 in one step wasn't the way to go but that's all I have right now shot a group at 18yds my backyard is a swamp right now here's the group with 1 flyer. The bullseye in the middle second row is the one. That's 9 shots

 

[jking]

You could just buy some el cheapo Remington sub sonic 22LR ammo and pull the bullets. I had a couple of 100ct boxes and some of bullets were loose already. Didn't shoot worth a dime so I gave them all away. Might be worth a try if you want to tinker.

jk

 

[fxairgunner]

I never thought of trying .22 slugs but it will be interesting to see if this works out for anyone.

 

[D-RIG]

It was done by DAYSTATE years ago, as above .22RF barrel with no chamber works fine with 40g RF bullet heads.

The problem is getting the 40g RF heads alone, Eley wont sell unless you buy a few hundred thousand, DAYSTATE did this and marketed them as Eley Manums or something of the like, someone on here will know I suspect.

Here is the 223 Daystate that was mentioned its the gun in the middle with the green stock 

And here are the Eley 40 grain hollow points , yes they are impossible to find 

nowadays I still have 5-600 rounds still .

The gun on the right is a Daystate Wolverine 303 that has been converted to a 224

it shoots the MP slug thats 35 grain and 5.55mm very good the barrel is a Green Mountain 

10/22 replacement barrel thats stainless and fluted . Dale 

 

[edosan]

This also makes me wonder why rimfire ammo, even decent ammo is cheaper than we are currently paying for slugs without powder or brass. I understand the economy of scale but maybe we can get bare "slugs" from Eley or Remington at a good bit less than we are currently paying.

Thoughts?

IMO Slug shooting on Airguns is in his Early stages (on accuracy), still a Baby, with different results but a huge and bright future, buying bullet heads usually need resizing and in some places bullets heads are controlled (for example I can have Slugs/Pellets freely but I can not have bullet heads without gov. permission). As soon as H&N and JSB start making slugs (already announced) prices will come down probably.

40gn 0.22 cal @ 1.061fps and submoa accuracy will be an interesting project

As today, several of us are shooting Slugs submoa 0.22 consistently 

this was yesterday @ 100mt/110y with slugs (dirty nail wide 0.5 inches)

and around 50 yards goes like this (30gn slug)