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Punch of 22 mag

buckeyedave
Hello

Can someone help me understand the punch of a 22 mag? Is it like a 9mm? 38 Special? Or different?

Thanks, Dave
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10 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    It would depend a lot on bullet weight/construction and barrel length of firearm that it's been fired through.

    When I had a .22 Mag years bullet weight(s) varied from very high velocity 30 grainers to lower velocity 50 grainers. They both would be much more effective through a rifle with a 18" barrel then a pistol with a 4" barrel.

    Through a short barreled handgun, I don't see a .22 Mag being much more effective then a .22 LR.
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  • buckeyedave
    Thanks. I should have said I was talking about a short barreled pistol.
    Dave
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  • quickmajik
    velocity should be about 1500 FPS with the fastest 30 grain loads, so about 170 foot pounds of energy is delivered on target for each round that makes a solid hit.

    to compare that with other small rounds


    .25acp/35gr./900fps/63footpounds
    .32acp/60gr./1000fps/140footpounds
    .380acp/90gr./1000fps/200foot pounds
    9mmlugspeclty/90gr./1500FPS/450Foot pounds
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  • 11b6r
    There has been discussion that from a VERY short barreled pistol (derringer) the energy may be LESS than that of a .22 LR fired from a similar weapon. The powder burns at a slower rate than powder for LR rounds, with result bullet may be moving slower.

    I do not know this for a fact, and have not run a chronograph on any really short barreled 22 mags. Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller?
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  • hunterX
    Understand my mind is old and the log book is not in front of me at the moment so I won't be giving you the speeds , at least right now but I ran a chronograph using a NAA 22mag with 1 1/8 barrel and what ever that speed turned out to be was very close to my semi 22LR with 3 inch barrel and of course in a semi that 3 inches also included the length of the chamber.
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  • iwannausername
    22 mag out of a rifle is moving at about the same speed at 100 yards as a 22lr is at the muzzle. Same bullet weight (40grn most common, down to 30, up to 50).

    For small pistol defense use, the bullets tend to be constructed better, with a real jacket instead of a copper wash, so you will get better penetration all else being equal.
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  • tsr1965
    Out of a short barreled handgun it is not much more than a 22LR. Out of a 16-24 inch barrel, it has more punch than a whitetail can take when strategically placed between the eyes, or under the ear lobe out to 100 yards or so.

    Best
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  • RtWngExtrmst
    With CCI Maxi-Mags you can get over 300 ft. lbs.
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  • rsnyder55
    I personally would rather shoot anything out of a handgun then a 22mag. For some reason, at least to me, the sound of a 22mag in a pistol is more uncomfortable than anything else.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
    There has been discussion that from a VERY short barreled pistol (derringer) the energy may be LESS than that of a .22 LR fired from a similar weapon. The powder burns at a slower rate than powder for LR rounds, with result bullet may be moving slower.

    I do not know this for a fact, and have not run a chronograph on any really short barreled 22 mags. Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller?


    This assertion is not true.

    .22 mag from a 2" bbl gun isn't a LOT better than a .22LR from the same barrel, but it definitely *IS* better.

    Here is quite a bit of chronograph data from North American Arms on this very issue that you may pore over:

    http://www.naaminis.com/naaveloc.html

    To me, the most interesting thing about this data isn't that a .22 magnum is superior to a .22LR (that seems fairly obvious), but that from really short barreled guns, .22 *TARGET* loads actually outperform "hypervelocity" loads like the CCI Stinger.

    quote:Can someone help me understand the punch of a 22 mag? Is it like a 9mm? 38 Special? Or different?

    The problem with the question is that .22 magnum was designed specifically as a RIFLE ROUND. Its a totally different round and FAR less powerful when fired from a pistol.

    The best answer to your question is "different".

    Comparing just the energy numbers is deceptive in this case. Since kinetic energy increases proportionately to the SQUARE of velocity, light-fast moving bullets like a .22 magnum can carry a lot of energy. . .but that DOES NOT make them as effective in terms of stopping power against human targets as larger heavier slower bullets.

    For example, standard ball 9mm luger and .45ACP rounds actually yield nearly the exact same kinetic energy (around 300 ft-lbs, IIRC). But most experts believe the slower fatter heavier .45ACP round is the better round.

    Without addressing the specific numbers, and getting back to the question, a .22 magnum fires a small diameter light bullet very quickly. This particular combination is really optimal for shooting SMALL GAME at a DISTANCE. And that is what .22 magnum is best suited to doing, shooting groundhogs and squirrels and such.

    Something like a .38 special fires a medium-diameter bullet that is MUCH HEAVIER, far slower. 9mm luger, is comparable, firing the same sort of bullet significantly faster than a .38 special.

    IMO .22 magnum from a PISTOL, is a very POOR choice as a defensive round.
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