Home Forums Gear Free Classifieds .22 Special ammo - anybody got any gathering dust?

Spoke with a buddy this morning and he mentioned he had his grandpa's takedown .22 special - couldn't tell me any more about it other than that, but said he couldn't find ammo anywhere. If you've got some gathering dust, PM me if you'll sell/trade it... Thx.

Marty,
I've never heard of ".22 Special" and I've been around guns for more than 50 years. Could he possibly be referring to ".22 Short"? If so, you might also look for ".22 CB" ammunition.
Jerry/AK

If it's a Savage 99 take-down, it's probably a .22 Hi-Power.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM930-5.html

Could be a 22 Hi Power, good suggestion. You can still find ammo for that one, Norma and S&B.

I'll put my money on 22 Remington Special (AKA 22 Winchester Rim Fire or 22 WRF). Winchester has made special runs of that in the recent past and it can sometimes be found at Cabelas and gun shows. Google it.

I think backtobethel is correct: http://www.chuckhawks.com/22WRF.htm

Old farts learn something new almost every day.
Jerry/AK

I think that CCI still makes it as 22 WRF, but it is the same as 22 Remington Special. CCI doesn't recommend using the current production 22 WRF in revolvers, but I'm assuming that a 22 Special is a Remington 12CS pump gun.

I have bought the CCI 22 WRF ammo from Cabela's for about $6 per box of 50.

Jeff

Winchester made a model 1895 pump action chambered for the 22 WRF aka 22 Special- it wazs a take down model

Winchester made the 1890 pump gun in 22 WRF, but only Remington marked their rifles "22 Rem Special", therefore a rifle marked "22 Rem special" is much more likely to be a Remington 12CS, which is also a take-down, then any other brand and/or model.

Jeff

1890- Thats correct- Haven't laid eyes on that rifle for several years (about 45), but learned to shoot with one

pm sent

22 Remington Special is a bit longer than the 22 Long Rifle, the rifle was made between 1904 and 1909. Ammo can still be purchased from about twelve bucks to about 32 bucks. It is a very well made rifle with an octogon barrel. It is stamped just that, 22 Special!

Jerry/ AK looks like you missed something in them 50 years.Winchester and Remington both chambered rifles for this cartridge.

Forgot to add winchester's were a WRF.

I have two boxes of CCI WRF (45 grain hollowpoint) and 30 rounds of CCI WMR. The WMR is longer than the WRF, so assume they would work in different rifles. Just let me know if either will work for you. TM

I've got a Colt police positive target double action revolver, an 1890 winchester, and a Remington model 12. I have shot 22 special ammo and the newer 22 wrf in all three and haven't had any issues. I haven't been shooting the pistol much any more but I still shoot both rifles fairly regularly. There is almost always 22wrf or 22 special at the gun shows here in Arizona, but it is more like $10 to $15/box.

Bart

I have an old hexagon barrel 22 Remington riffle. Pump. 1911 patent. It requires a 22 special. I did find some on line but they were called a 22WRF at 1.00 each. I'm not sure if they will work or not. the 22 specials that I have a larger flange. A standard 22 will not transition from the tube wo the cartridge tube to the barrel without jamming.

".22 Rem Special" is what Remington called their .22 WRF-chambered rifles to avoid using the "W-word," just like Marlin .25-20s were originally called ".25-20 Marlin." And Colt-made .32 S&W Longs were called ".32 Colt New Police."

DON'T shoot .22 WRM in a WRF or "Special" chamber even if they will chamber. Rimfire magnum pressures are 'way above the original guns' limits and at best you'll wear the gun out fast. At worst, you'll get some crap (brass, gas, powder grains) in your face!

Aside from case length, the WRM ctg is just a bigger, hotter version of the WRF. But the case diameter, and thus chamber diameter of both is bigger than regular .22 RF shells.

In a pinch, you can shoot .22 CB Long or Short in a WRF or WRM chamber and the cases will usually not pop open. Lousy accuracy and little power but no tragedy. BUT if you shoot regular power, high speed, or Stingers in a WRF or Magnum chamber, at best you will get a bulged case, lousy accuracy, and probably a jam, depending on action type. At worst, "crap in your eye." (I've done all this, except the crap part).

On the other hand, .22 WRF or "Special" makes a dandy subload in a .22 WRM IF you can find enough for that. One of my .22 WRMs shoots WRF much better than it does WRM, a 1960 vintage Win Mod 61M. I suspect that in these very first .22 Magnums, Winchester may have used up old Mod 61 .22 WRF barrels with a different twist than the new Magnums. Just a guess.

Winchester made .22 WRF-chambered Model 1885s, 1890s, 61s, 68s (I still have mine), and maybe 67s. '85s are rare. Remington, to the best of my knowledge, made only Model 12s, but I could very well be wrong. And an H&R ".22 Special" top-break revolver is regular .22 LR, not "Special." They cataloged it in .22 WRF. but nobody I've heard from has ever seen one. Colt made .22 WRFs in the Police Positive, Police Positive Target, and a handful in SAA.

There are still lots of shootable .22 WRF/Specials out there. Maybe we should "crowd source" a run of new WRF ctgs. from Winchester or CCI.

looks like these folks have em occasionally:

http://www.shop.ammo-one1.com/product.sc?productId=228&categoryId=86

http://www.gunbroker.com/Rifle-Ammunition/BI.aspx?Keywords=22+WRF


dave

i collect and shoot 1890 Winchesters in 22 WRF(aka 22 rem special). i find the WRF more accurate then the 22wmr.

op if you can't find any currently on line pm me. i have a stash.