Rimfire

[Ak_Red]

Before I start, I AM NOT considering handloading rimfire!

I went with a friend today to pick up his AR-15. While he was waiting on his paperwork I wandered the shop. I overheard a conversation that has got me curious.

The one doing the arguing said that he had in the past handloaded rimfire ammunition. That presses and dies were sold, and empty rimfire brass could be bought. The rest of the group thought he was crazy.

I did a search on the internet and came up with zilch.

How about it? Has the handloading world ever seen such a setup? And if so, I have to ask... why?!

David

[Evan03]

ive never seen or heard of it but thats not saying much, havent been interesting in reloading for very long.

[Rocky Raab]

It is possible, but it's neither safe nor cost-efficient.

First of all, the brass is extremely thin/weak, and where it got crimped by the previous firing is even weaker. So a second firing would almost certainly rupture at the first rim crimp.

Second, you'd have to somehow make your own priming mix. That's neither safe nor easy. They don't sell it.

Third, you'd place a drop of the semi-liquid priming mix in the case and spin it really fast to distribute the mix inside the rim. Let dry.

Fourth, you'd charge the case, but the kind of powder they use is not sold. A substitute wouldn't have the right pressure curve: either way too slow or too fast. Too slow means very low velocity. Too fast means the case ruptures.

Fifth, you'd have to make or have made a bullet mould. Rimfire bullets are heel-type bullets, and once again, not sold.

Sixth, you'd have to make dies, including a crimping die that would somehow crimp the case into the bullet without damaging the bullet (which is the same outside diameter as the brass). It'd take a collet type crimper.

Finally, you'd have all this investment - not to mention risk to life and limb - to re-create something you can buy by the millions for about two cents each.

Just 'cause something's possible doesn't make it smart.

[Evan03]

ohhhhhh yeah the bullets are crimped hard. ive pulled a few 17hmr bullets out of the case. im almost postive this crimp is a smaller diamater than the outside of the bullet

[Ak_Red]

Originally posted by Rocky Raab
It is possible, but it's neither safe nor cost-efficient.

Fourth, you'd charge the case, but the kind of powder they use is not sold. A substitute wouldn't have the right pressure curve:


Just 'cause something's possible doesn't make it smart.

Not solid? What kind of powder is used in those things?

I agree with that, I could not imagine trying to load this stuff.

Still, I got some really interesting info on rimfire ammo.

David

[Catfish]

A while back someone was telling about loading rimfire ammo. Not reloading, but buying primed brass and loading your own. I forget where he said he said he got his info., but he said the componites were available. That is the only time I`ve heard about it untill now, and my question is still the same, WHY bother????

[Ak_Red]

Originally posted by Catfish
A while back someone was telling about loading rimfire ammo. Not reloading, but buying primed brass and loading your own. I forget where he said he said he got his info., but he said the componites were available. That is the only time I`ve heard about it untill now, and my question is still the same, WHY bother????

Maybe a few reasons.. maybe not...

1. Single shot .22's handle more pressure??

2. wildcats??

3. For some, its not done right unless they do it themsleves.

I would like to see what the equipment would look like though. I wonder if the shell hokders would be different.

David

[Lone Star]

A while back someone was telling about loading rimfire ammo. Not reloading, but buying primed brass and handloading your own. Correct. When the development of the .17 Hornady was underway, guys in the slicks wrote about the developers loading rimfire ammo, and at that time some components were available. Reloading isn't feasible for the reasons stated, but handloading is/was possible.

Maybe a few reasons.. maybe not...1) The rifles will handle more pressure than the .22RF can safely generate - the case is the weak link here.

2) The development of a wildcat was one reason in my example.

3) Possible, and a few precision shooters still play with loading their own using loaded ammo and substituting powder and bullets. Some of them claim better accuracy; check out Precision Shooting magazine from time to time for details.

[spike1]

Here is the real reason; A 22 LR is about 2 cents.
If you reload you could get it down to about 1.75 cents.
If you reloaded 1000 rounds you could save $2.50 !

I guess only the most extreme reloading experimenter would consider such an activity.

AND

There are those that are much more extreme than us.

[Ak_Red]

Found this article on the net, for any who are interested:

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/apr96reloading.html

David

[spike1]

Wow,,,, Who would have thought. Good artical ! :eek:

[skeet]

There really is nothing new under the sun. I remember some people back in the early 60's doing this stuff looking for a reliable turkey load with no real meat destruction.I even shot one or two of these loads in an older guys Winchester 22 Mag pump. Think he used a 45 gr hornet bullet. It was even written up in a magazine or Gun digest article If I remember correctly