Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires .22 Rimfire jacketed ballistic tips

Probably silly of me---but now and then I start wondering why some ammo company doesn't bring out a premium jacketed ballistic tip load for the good old .22 rimfire.

Surely it would have to improve both the accuracy and performance over any of the standard lead pills?

I realise that the base of the rimfire projectile is recessed into the shell so I wonder if thats the only reason? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I would not presume to know the specifics of why this isn't done but will throw some idle speculation your way on the subject.

As you mentioned, the .22 rf bullets have a rebated bullet base, the case and bullet O.D. being the same for practical intents. Making a swaged copper jacket bullet ECONOMICALLY for such union would be problematic at best, but in my opinion virtually impossible. A big reason that the .22RF has been so popular over the decades is it's ammo cost, even today in the few pennies a round realm. Compare that with ammo of the .17 HMR and Mach 2, or even the .22 WMR and you see the effect of jacketed bullets on ammo cost. I'd opine that the profits from manufacturing RF ammo are thin, and require volume sales to avoid red ink, but that's just a guess.

Next there is the question of what purpose this would serve. If you are seeking accuracy the current fodder has that covered in spades. I seem to recall reading of a sub 1/2" group at 200 yards recently fired, that claims some sort of record, but don't know the particulars. I have fired groups sub MOA at 100 yards with a 10/22 and WW Powerpoint ammo, one measuring slightly less than a 1/4" for 3 shots. Long strings of sub 1/2" groups at 50 yards are quite common in any case, and given the power level of the Long Rifle, it begs the question of application when considering range and accuracy. Beyond 100 yards it starts getting a bit feeble, wind has it's way with the low BC bullets. Hitting something beyond 200 yards begins to enter into the realm of luck for most of us, and if you do, what damage is done?

The .17 HMR/Mach 2 bullets have a solid reputation for poor terminal performance as velocity drops down to the 2000 fps range and lower, often failing to open up at all. The case of the .22LR in NEVER going to generate 2000 fps+ velocities with a .22 cal bullet, so I assume any jacketed bullet will leave expansion waiting in the wings. I'm not saying that such perfomance could not be engineered, just that as frangible as the HMR bullets are they fail to expand at LR velocities. More R&D dollars down the tubes... In any case, conventional .22 LR HP loads will offer some expansion out to 100 yards or so, and are undoubtably superior in regards to terminal performance as compared to jacketed counterparts. That they have wider meplats, and a hollow point certainly helps, but if you take this approach with a jacketed bullet, you lose the benefit of polymer tips and higher BC. A vicious circle indeed.

A last consideration is the process some have used in the past on WMR ammo, and some pistol fodder as well, and that is electroplating copper onto a lead core. As those who deviated from Winchester's swaged jacket process for the .22 WMR found, it does not generate good accurate bullets. What it does for terminal performance I have no idea. What the process does is generate higher chamber pressures than lead bullets, just as it would for swaged jackets. The .22 RF thrives on low pressure and not high...it an apple cart that need not be upset.

Anyway, that's my take on it. Another thought just occurred though, perhaps it is a sly marketing ploy by the ammo makers to force us into buying centerfire rifles.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Just my take on this, the .22lr cartridge is the most tweaked out in the world. For just pennies a round you can get ammunition capable of sub-MOA performance in relatively inexpensive firearms. What more can you ask of any cartridge in any caliber? The problem is mostly caused with trying to use the .22lr for something it wasn�t designed for. It was designed for paper, plinking, and SMALL GAME. The .22LR is a sure and efficient killer when applied correctly. From 1995 until August of 2003 it was the only caliber I used in animal control work that consisted of 95% whitetail deer. But that was under very special conditions, at night using suppressed guns at very short range. Does my experience indicate that the .22lr is suitable for whitetail deer under hunting conditions NO but I constantly hear of shooters using it on coyotes at long-range. There seems to be a different mindset when shooting so called trash animals is involved. A BT bullet wouldn�t make the .22lr into anything it isn�t already is plus the cost of such ammunition would take it out of the realm of �every man�s� fun shooting cartridge.

DigitalDan,crawfish,
Thanks for the response you have put my idle musings on the subject to their final rest. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />



Interesting,perhaps they are loading the same projectiles as the .17hmr rather than a lighter constuction designed for the mach2?
I've been thinking of getting one, but I'm not sure if the mach2 offers enough over the .22 to make it worth the extra cost in ammo.

Ah now GETTING one of the .17 rim fires is a whole different ballgame. I have a Savage 93 in .17HMR. Have had it for a bit over two years now. That little gun has taken over my rim fire shooting big time. The year I got that 93 was the year that I started three different rim fire projects, a ticked out .22lr 10/22, a customized .22lr CZ 452 and the Savage. The project was to build squirrel killers and I got three sweethearts BUT that .17HMR cartridge just calls to me every time I�m about the grab up a squirrel killer it jumps into my hands. The first season I used it was the very first season I killed a whole season limit and my longest kill shot on a squirrel ever. Head shot at a leaser ranged 117 yards. I practice for squirrel hunting by shooting black walnuts out of the trees at this time of the year. IMHO the .17HMR is just about the most fun thing around to shoot. It constantly surprises me with its accuracy and it is sure death for squirrels and rabbits out to as far as I have ever shot them.

I have a .17M2, and have seen no problems whatsoever with bullet expansion at any range or velocity. Have killed several squirrels, crows and assorted blackbirds with it, and the results are always the same, instant death and a big exit hole. Here are some pics of a squirrel I shot at 110 yards, where the velocity should be down to around 1500 fps. Damage was far less than I would expect with a .17 HMR, but then this is why I bought a Mach 2. http://www.picyard.com/main/data/510/156Squirrel_wound_damage_17M2_004-med.jpg http://www.picyard.com/main/data/510/156Squirrel_wound_damage_17M2_002-med.jpg http://www.picyard.com/main/data/510/156Squirrel_wound_damage_17M2_001-med.jpg
Pictures are of skinned squirrel showing exit wound, unskinned exit wound, and entrance wound (right side).

Phillip, you clean your squirrel neater than a chest cutter I used to hunt with down near Chuckoluskee a few years back cleaned deer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Sometimes I expected them to get well after the operation...

Well, it sure looks like the bullet expanded, have you ever recovered one? Other than printed reports on the Net and in magazines I have a couple of friends who use the HMR, and they all have experienced inconsistant expansion with that round out about 175 yards or further. Sometimes they do, often they don't. Reason I asked if you had recovered one(tongue in cheek), spitzer boat tails are often very unstable in the terminal phase and tumble easily. I really don't know if that is the proper discription of the 17 gr pill that Hornady loads, it is a spitzer, the base looks rounded, sort of boat tailish, sorta blunt/something or 'nother. Not saying yours did that, but I've seen similar performance on hog and deer with the M-16 and issue Ball ammo. No way is that bullet going to expand, yet they often leave a messy hole on the off side. Lots of pelt hunters won't use FMJ's for that reason( www.CoyoteGods.Com ask S. Frame if you want).

Anyway, I stand by my earlier statement about the terminal performance of the subject bullet at low(er) velocity, but wouldn't argue your success. Placement always trumps expansion IMO.

From looking at your pictures and from seeing the squirrels I have killed with the HMR I'd have to say you didn't get any expansion. Those .17 caliber bullets used in the HMR and HM2 literally explode when they expand. The largest animal I have used the .17HMR on to date was a feral dog that had dug under my fence to get on to the farm. Range was 91 yards and the hit was right to the base of the neck front on. It dropped at the shot. There was no blood and I really had to look for the entrance wound. No exit wound. A necropsy of the animal seemed to indicate that the bullet entered the body then expanded violently when it contacted the base of the windpipe. The only bullet evidence found was very small pieces of copper jacked and lead, did not find the plastic tip. On small animals like squirrel and rabbit they will be decapitated with a head hit out to 117yds and 75yds (longest shots on those to date). Crows, sparrows, starlings and barn pigeons will disappear in a puff of feathers with a point of breast hit out to 75yds. With the larger pigeon you will usually find the feet and wings and sometimes with the crows but with the smaller pests birds they seem to completely blowup. I�m in no way badmouthing the HM2. In fact I already have a new 10/22 in hand and I�m waiting for a Volquartsen bolt, barrel and trigger group on the way to build a .17HM2. That will be my summer project gun. Still haven�t decided if I�ll put a fancy walnut or some kind of composite stock on it yet. IMHO there is a place for both .17s, .22lr and .22M in every rim fire shooters battery. I like them all, shoot them all but just now I�m having lots of fun with the .17HMR.<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Remington does have them for the .22 WMR.

Similar experiance with a big boar coon I related awhile back. Hit him under the right front leg as he was trying to push the lid off my garbage can. Bang, flop. Tiny entrance and no exit, just blood out the nose, it must have literally exploded inside him.

Nope, never have recovered a bullet. That squirrel is shore clean ain't he! I rinsed off the blood with water so it'd take a good picture! It wasn't all that clean just after the hide came off. I killed a crow at 80 yards the first weekend I bought the rifle, results small entrance hole, approx. 1-1/4'' exit hole, with insides extruded from the exit wound. Bang flop like the squirrelly whirly. In shooting water filled jugs and aluminum drink cans at 50, 75, and 100 yards, I never recovered an entire bullet, just jacket fragments from the one gallon milk jugs. Some pieces went all the way through though. The drink cans just explode into pieces, akin to being shot at very short range with .22 CCI Stingers.

Over at Rimfirecentral, a bunch of guys are compaining and wanting a 20 grain non ballistic tip bullet that won't cause as much meat damage. ?? Personally I'm quite happy with the 17 grain ballistic tips. Groups run from 5/8'' to 1'' at 100 yards, and that's great shooting ammo with me behind the trigger. An expert could probably cut those groups in half. So, expansion or not?? I don't know for certain, but the exit hole are about an inch to an inch and a half, and that's certainly a lot bigger than a .17 caliber hole. Whatever is happening, it seems to work.