Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Looking for .22 Magnum ammunition for 2" barrel revolver

Looking for .22 Magnum ammunition for 2" barrel revolver for wife to carry. The Amscor 40 gr JHP nickle plated brass @ 1875 fps for 312 ft. lbs looks pretty good at 24 cents a round. I'm not familiar with this brand. Wonder what the more knowledable guys here may now about it or have any experience with it. This is all the caliber she is going to fell proficient with. She just can't handle the .38 well enough to practice with. I've resigned myself to the .22 magnum. She has a small PT-22 now, just not reliable enough to depend on and the slide is to much for her to clear a jam. Can't hardly rack the slide myself, never seen such a spring in a slide in my life. Thanks for any input, Chuck.

Hornady critical defense 22 mag. Hasbeen

1800 fps from 2 inches ?

Betting it's more in line with 90-100 ft lbs

I'm sure that velocity is from rifle length barrel. Just what is published. I'm sure all published data is from rifle barrel length. More interested about quality of ammo and maybe any accuracy reports from people who may have used it.

That's what I think I need. Thanks hasbeen. Wasn't aware of this. Apparently everyone else who carries .22 WMR is because it is hard to find unless paying $6 more than retail for a box. I will get some somewhere. Hornady just seems to be pushing the envelope with their Carry ammo.Thanks again.

I use the Hornady critical D also in my High Standard 2 shooter! shoots about a foot high, but aim for the belly and hit in the chest works for me!

I use the CCI Gold Dot short barrel 40 grain ammo. The Ammo Quest guy did a video showing gel test results out of a 2 inch NAA mini, and I did some Bubba water jug tests using a NAA Pug with a 1 inch barrel that I have posted on some threads here.

Don't think you can go wrong with either the:

Hornady C.D. or

Speer/CCI Gold Dot SB.

The problem is availability. I haven't seen either for sale through normal channels since the ammo shortage began.

Every thing seems to be showing up now. Hornady website show 1000 fps from a 2 inch barrel. Hasbeen

Ballistics of 22 WMR from 2-3" barrel are not impressive.
~ 15-25% more energy than 22LR.
Any centerfire larger than 25 ACP is likely more effective.

Appreciate the replyes and information, Chuck.

Agreed but I do love Armscor .22WMR ammo, the most accurate in my single shot rifle.

After hand and wrist surgery my wife can't handle recoil. She carried a j frame for years. Started her with a 36, then a 60 for ease of maintenance. Then a 637 for weight. Now after hand surgery she has a 651 PD. It's a 7 shot 22 mag. Not the perfect choice but I don't want her shooting at me. Hasbeen

I chronied some rimfire ammunition thru my wife's 2" .22 WM revolver today and was a little surprised at the velocities.
Winchester Supreme 34 gr. @ 1359 fps
Winchester FMJ 40 gr @ 1163 fps
Remington Premier 34 gr @ 1154 fps
Winchester Super X HP @ 1066

The Remington Premier grouped quite a bit better than anything else shot today. Just bringing this back to top because there seems to be a little interest as of late with the .22 magnum ammunition.

I managed to find some CCI Maxi-Mag TNT in a .22 WMR. (Not easily I must admit). They are 30 Grain JHP and rated at 2,200 FPS. I am surprised at that velocity, but without actually Chronographed any I think it's pretty close. Sure are noisy little bugger's.

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2013/07/22-wmr-denim-and-gel-tests-from-naa.html


Saw a mint "used" Ruger LCR in .22 Magnum last week for $329.00...I passed it as I already have a 9mm and .327 Federal...

They have much lighter and smoother trigger pulls than the Smiths do...

Bob