Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires 10/22 velocity loss

Can anyone tell me approximately how much velocity loss (if any) there is with a 40 grain projectile from cycling the action in a Ruger 10/22 as opposed to a bolt action, all other things being kept equal? Thanks.

None. The bullet has left the barrel before the action has fully opened: (Not a 10/22 in the video, but you get the picture)

But some of the energy must be used to cycle the action, reducing the forward pressure of the gas?

The theory has been tested. If it makes any difference, it is too small to measure.

Lots of video on you tube. I can't get it to load.

I thought that it might make a bit of difference with a .22LR because there's not much energy in the first place (compared to a centerfire), for some of that energy to be used to cycle the action.

The cycling energy is mostly recoil energy which happens anyway - instead of just pushing the rifle back, the energy pushes the bolt back first.

Gas operated systems (non-rimfire) are a bit different but they only draw a very small portion of the gas off, and have negligable effect on loss of velocity.

Non issue
Tens of thousands and gazillions of birds and
animals and humans have been rendered
by gas operated, and recoil operated firearms
of many configurations for many many years

They used to chirp that myth about semi auto
rifles not hitting as hard on game animals
when I was young

Only time i heard that argument was when a Fudd was claiming 870 superior to 1100 for deer hunting, due to THAT reason.

I just laughed.

Buy a slingshot.

Easy enough to quantify - lock bolt and chrono test.

Found a good video on it using a Stevens 87B - locked and also in semi-auto with 2 different brands of ammo. Result: No statistical difference!

Surprised to hear that as Stingers are much slower than advertised in my 10/22.