Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Does .22 LR shot tear up barrels?

Hey,<BR> There is a rumor that .22 LR (or any .22 )loaded w/shot tears up rifled barrels. Is this true? And would #12 shot from a .22 be effective on squirrels at 5-25 yards?

Unless you have a very old gun with an incredibly soft barrel, it should be no problem. The only issue I've heard of is with barrel cylinder gaps on revolvers, but its not an issue of damage, just gumming things up.<P>As far as effective range, the rifling causes the patern to open quickly, and the shot is extremely fine. Effective range would be 10 feet, maybe 15.

Thanks, 458. I don't think my .22 is really old, but I don't know the year it was manufactured. What about chipmunks, as that's the other thing that this person (my friend) wants exterminated?

Thanks, 458. I don't think my .22 is really old, but I don't know the year it was manufactured. Do they make .22 loads with larger shot? What about chipmunks, as that's the other thing that this person (my friend) wants exterminated?

oops.

dsnoek, you called it right it is a rumor and it surfaces from time to time. 22 shot won't hurt your barrel. We used to call them rat shot and that is about all it is good for. Rats inside the barn. You may can hit and kill one at 7 yards. Work good on snakes though if you are close.<BR>BCR

Thanks, Boggy Creek Ranger.

Squirrels are tough creatures and my dad once needed two shots for one, when the first shot was a dead center hit from a modified choke 16 gauge at 20 yards. Don't even try .22 lr shot on them, cuz it will either be too small or too few. If it is safe, use solid bullets. If not, use something more effective, like a .410 probably would work much better.

The OLD .22 shot didn't have the plastic buffer capsule and I think it did more damage than the new shot shells. 2.5" 410 with #8 might be an option. Marlin also makes a .22 WMR smoothbore. They call it the Garden Gun.

If you're talking about the newer style shot cartridges that have a plastic encapsulated shot charge, I don't think it would hurt your barrel. If you're talking about the old style shot cartridges with the crimped case mouth, I wouldn't shoot them in my gun.

dsnoek,<BR>Lead is softer than steel, go figure...Lead cannot hurt or damage steel, end of story...<P>What lead can do is adhere to the riflings and throat of the rifle and ruin accuracy for solid bullets...so if you use rat shot then clean the gun with a solvent that removes lead...rat shot will not usually kill any thing beyond 4 or 5 ft.<P>------------------<BR>Ray Atkinson<BR>atkinsonhunting.com<BR>208-326-4120

Contrary to what others have stated, I have killed MANY sparrows at surprising distances with .22LR shot. You can try it yourself or take the word of others. The choice is up to you. I would only use .22 shot for birds, rats and maybe snakes. If they were poisonous, I would use nothing less than a 10 guage with 3.5" mags.

Hey, thanks for everyone's input. It looks like this thread has died, and you can be guaranteed that your advice has been very helpful. Thanks once again .<P>Doren