22LR in a 22MAG Revolver?

[just-an-illusion]

Ive heard that you should not fire 22LR ammo in a 22MAG relvover. Is this true? IF SO WHY? Thanks in advance

[mechanic]

No...not safely anyway.  The magnum chamber is larger in diameter, and the magnum is a tapered case, vs. straight for the LR.  There is a possibility of case splitting, allowing  hot gas to go where it should not....like your face or body.

Dimensions, LR, vs. Mag
Bullet             .223,  vs. .224
Neck               .225   vs. 240
Base               .225   vs.  241.

It's a real shame they didn't make these interchangeable, as the firearm that would shoot both would be much more useful...

Ben

[Graybeard]

You better betcha it's true. The why is the case of the .22LR will split as a minimum and at times does worse. Rimfire guns are really not made to properly vent gases safely in such a situation or at least most aren't. It's definitely not a recommended practice unless your life is endangered and it's the only way you can fix the problem.

[just-an-illusion]

thanks guys for clarifying

[hillbill]

you CAN fire a 22 wrf otherwise known as a 22 special in the mag chamber.ive got a old win model 90 that i keep sum wrf ammo around for. but its ussually the same price as mag ammo when yu can even find it.

[Spirithawk]

When I first bought my Rough Rider .22 convertible I let my son shoot it first. He accidently loaded .22 LR's in the magnum cylinder. Luckily no damage was done but you want to know what clued us in almost right away? At 10 yards you couldn't hit the side of a barn with it! The shots were all over the place. Most cylinders are marked and it's the wise person that checks to make sure which is which. On my Rough Rider it's really easy at a glance. The .22 LR cylinder is fluted, the mag isn't.