22lr-22mag revolver question?

[bassmatt]

This may be a simpleton question but here goes. I am looking at a 22mag revolver.(smith&wesson 48) Why is it that most 22 cal. Revolvers have a cylinder for the 22lr and another cylinder for the 22 mag? Why is it that you can't shoot a 22lr in the 22 mag cylinder, like you can a 38 from 357 what am I missing?
THANKS,
MATT

 

[Mosinguy]

I think it's because the .22mag is much noticeably longer than a .22lr round. .357 next to a .38 nearly the same lengthwise. I bet you could shoot .22lr in a .22mag cylinder but it would significantly decrease the life of your forcing cone.

 

[VERT]

Very slight difference in case and bullet diameter. A .22 magnum is a different bullet then what is used in a .22LR. The gun will fire if you put .22LR in the magnum cylinder but it is unsafe. The rifling in .22 magnum guns is also different the those in .22LR. It is generally thought that the .22/.22 mag single sixes shoot more accurately with the .22 magnum ammunition because the rifling and bore diameter more closely match the requirements for that cartridge.

 

[sloughfoot]

22LR uses a heeled bullet. 22 magnum does not.

38/357 magnum use exactley the same bullet and both have the same size case diameter. Just not the same length.

 

[UncleMike]

Very slight difference in case and bullet diameter. A .22 magnum is a different bullet then what is used in a .22LR. The gun will fire if you put .22LR in the magnum cylinder but it is unsafe. The rifling in .22 magnum guns is also different the those in .22LR. It is generally thought that the .22/.22 mag single sixes shoot more accurately with the .22 magnum ammunition because the rifling and bore diameter more closely match the requirements for that cartridge.

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I've seen guys fire .22 LR's in a .22 Mag revolver because the LR's were cheaper. (And they were stupid!!)
The cases bulge and sometimes split open allowing gas and brass to escape at the rear of the cylinder.
A good way to lose an eye or get a piece of brass embedded in someones face.

 

[bassmatt]

Thanks for the responses from everyone. I am thankful for everyone's knowledge here on INGO. I had never heard of heeled bullets makes sense, or the cases splitting and causing flying debree and sticking in the cylinder.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[HoughMade]

Due to the "heeled" bullet thing, the case width of a .22 Mag is .242" with a rim of .294".

The .22 LR's case width is .226" with a rim of .278".

The bullets are also different diameters.

The analogy is not to a .38 Special/.357 Magnum where the only external physical difference is case length. The more apt analogy is to .44 S&W American and the .44 Russian (or Special) where the .44 S&W American has a bullet diameter of .434" and the .44 (Russian, Special, Magnum) have a nominal bullet diameter of .429/.430"

 

[kludge]

The bullets are 0.001" different = no big deal, maybe some loss in accuracy.

It's the case diameter --- 0.016" difference.

The .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle's case will split if shot in a .22 WMR chamber.