Why the .22 Short only?
So every once in a while, a Browning Semi-Auto in .22 short (only) comes up for auction.
Yeah, Browning makes a cool semi-auto. It's a well-functioning design, looks good, and the Winchester (of the same design) I owned some years ago was fairly accurate (although honestly, not as accurate as my Ruger 10-22).
But I can't figure out the reason for this .22 Short SA. It's obviously not a target rifle, .22 Short isn't exactly a great varmint caliber, and it's not a quiet as are low-velocity long rifles. (EDIT) While .22 shorts, 50 years ago...back when I was a kid, were cheaper than LR, they're not now. And Browning currently makes the SA in Short only. A quick look through internet forums has several shooters saying they can shoot LR through their Short-only rifles.
Any ideas? I'm curious![?]
Yeah, Browning makes a cool semi-auto. It's a well-functioning design, looks good, and the Winchester (of the same design) I owned some years ago was fairly accurate (although honestly, not as accurate as my Ruger 10-22).
But I can't figure out the reason for this .22 Short SA. It's obviously not a target rifle, .22 Short isn't exactly a great varmint caliber, and it's not a quiet as are low-velocity long rifles. (EDIT) While .22 shorts, 50 years ago...back when I was a kid, were cheaper than LR, they're not now. And Browning currently makes the SA in Short only. A quick look through internet forums has several shooters saying they can shoot LR through their Short-only rifles.
Any ideas? I'm curious![?]
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Gallery shooting, etc. Remember also that shorts used to be cheaper than long rifle ammo. 0 -
My uncle had one of the Brownings in 22 short in the mid 60's. Used it on rabbits and killed a lot of coons. Carried it coon hunting taken down in a pillowcase.
I don't remember the specifics of why the Browning used shorts but another uncle had a similar rifle(not Browning) and I don't think it used long rifle ammo either.0 -
I'm wondering, why not just the S-L-LR model? Could the reason for a special .22 short model be that it would also handle the .22 CB & BB cap cartridges, which are quieter &, I assume, cheaper, than .22 short?
Neal0 -
I'm guessing it had something to do with the internal operating parts since the buttstock feed and takedown barrel added some distinct challenges to the design. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by nmyers
I'm wondering, why not just the S-L-LR model? Could the reason for a special .22 short model be that it would also handle the .22 CB & BB cap cartridges, which are quieter &, I assume, cheaper, than .22 short?
Neal
The only semiauto .22 I've ever found to shoot LR down to .22 short CB cap is the Remington 550(Series). A floating chamber is required I believe to function.0 -
Yep- Remingtons. The "Floating Chamber" permitted semi auto with S-L-LR. I have 3 of the 550-1s that cycle semi auto with CCI CB Longs. The 552 Speedmaster can also do that.
MOST semi autos will not cycle with Shorts. The "gallery rifles" were used in shooting galleries- and shorts were cheaper, did not ding up the backstop. Some folks liked them for hunting- quieter, less destructive of meat.0 -
I have a Remington semiauto Model 241 .22 shorts only rifle that was manufactured in 1937. It is in great shape and I have to admit that I originally bought it because of the somewhat odd chambering for a semiauto.
It really grew on me.
Once I got it home, I tried out different ammo and found that it will reliably cycle CB shorts! Those are EXTRA quiet and the low noise level is appreciated in the semi-rural neighborhood I live in.
I can now shoot in the backyard without getting any of the neighbors in snit or even knowing that I fired a rifle. It also works efficiently controlling the varmits within a 50 foot range of the house and barn.
It really turned out to be a nice go-to pest control house gun and off hand plinking rifle.
Kim0 -
Short only guns have been arround forever. Shorts were here before Longs and Long Rifles. Shorts were also used for formal target shooting as well as shooting gallery use. I have several early Stevens targt rifles in .22 Short as well as one of the Browning Auto's. Fun guns to shoot and my Stevens are extremely accurate. Only problem is that short ammo is now more expensive than Long Rifle. 0 -
Growing up in the 60's all the neighbor kids and I shot were 22 shorts with a Remington Targetmaster I remember when we got our first box of long rifles we thought we had stepped up to the big time [:)] LOL 0 -
In my tube feed mossberg. It will shoot long or shorts.
Advantage with shorts is capacity is 30. Longs less in the tube.
Its a old gun and back then shorts were common and cheaper.0
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