Only some bolt action for 22 Shorts?

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kicker_92

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I've been searching and not finding a lot of info as to why some bolt actions can properly cycle 22 shorts and others can't?

Background:
I'm new to shooting, so looking to learn on this forum. At a stage of looking to buy my first rifle once the PAL goes through instead of borrowing friends at the range.
I'm leaning towards a Henry 22 lever carbine for plinking, mostly because they look like fun and the price is right.

However:
Also considering a bolt action rimfire with a scope (like the CZ455?) for longer range practice and learning good technique, before stepping into something larger.
I understand that the shorts won't feed nice on a semi-auto, but is there a certain type of magazine, or setup to allow them to cycle nicely in a bolt action?

Looking to keep it quiet for controlling rats and small pests in the evenings. I see that the newer CCI quiets in the full size 22lr case might be a better alternative to avoid this all together.
Is there something specific in certain magazines to feed shorts properly? Or marking on some rifles that work well?


Thanks,
 
Which Henry did you end up getting?
I like that some come with a larger loop that'd fit a gloved hand in winter, but there are so many options out there these days it's a bit overwhelming.

Thanks for the info on the tube fed being the key item there. I'd been trying to find details of the magazines for how some would retain the shorter rounds, but they all start to look the same.
So the CCI 22lr "quiets" feed just like any other 22lr round then for any bolt actions?
 
My hi standard pistol mags for shorts has a filler at front to keep all the shells lined up at rear of the mag, works 100%
few years ago I had one that would cycle CB caps, if it was oiled good, you could hear the slide working, neat as hell.
The Olympic I have now is a little iffy with those, but it has a fairly new spring in it.
A bolt gun, it should not matter where the filler is , front or back, now that I think about it , if it was at back, feed lips may not hold the shells.
The follower would have to be trimmed, and spring could be a problem, as it would have to clear the filler. could be a project
after all this, the simple way would be to make a filler that turns it into a single shot
 
HammerHeade said:
I have an h0001 and often have the .22shorts jam when feeding
Click to expand...

My H0001 feeds shorts just fine - in fact it seems munch on anything I feed it - even the super crappy 333 white winchester box bulk ammo.

to the OP:

You will end up buying both. Both are great. A CZ is a great choice. I have a Ruger American Rimfire that one holes at 50 yards with CCI tactical ammo, so don't limit yourself to CZ. They are awesome, but there are other options too :)

And a .22 semi is just too much fun not to mention either. You see, the problem is, you will want to try them all for various reasons, and then like them all for their own reasons. Bolt is traditionally more accurate, so is lever, lever loads faster than bolt, bolt has feel that only bolt has, semi is great fun and i have seen super accurate semi's.

This is why most of us end up collections and not just one.
 
One problem if you go the semi auto way. They are not reliable with the CCi quiets (740fps). My Browning SA22 will cycle them but my 10/22 or CZ 512 will not
 
TacticalCanuck;14899198... said:
This is why most of us end up collections and not just one.
Click to expand...

I had a feeling that'd be the best option... :)
But I was hoping to put together everything to within a budget of about $2,500. That needs to includes secure storage, a 22lr, shotgun, and a 9mm pistol with a basic range kit.

So, if you have a nice lever action, bolt, and semi-auto, but had to give up one... which would it be?

I have a feeling it might be best to learn on the bolt action, then pick up the lever 22lr as a fun gun later on?
I'd like to get into the Equipment Exchange, just waiting for approval. Hopefully used private sales would let me piece together a nice "little collection" within budget.
I can't do that retail with taxes, etc.
 
My savage mk2 fv cycles shorts just fine however i find i use cci quiets and aguila colbri shells. Theyre very quiet and effective at close range.
For my rimfire needs i prefer my savage fv bolt action. Rossi 37 pump. Winchester 9422 lever. Cooey 64 for a semi. I jave various other rimrifles but they see less use
 
I wouldn't let the idea of a gun shooting shorts...be the deciding factor, ever. There are SO many varieties of 22LR ammo out there that it basically makes the 22SHORT almost obsolete. The list of guns that ONLY shoot 22 SHORT is...well...VERY short. Nothing made in the last 50-75 years...maybe more. It's an antiquated thing, I'm surprised I see as much of it for sale as I do. For tube-mag-fed guns that'll digest it, it naturally gives you a few extra rounds...but it's also a common misconception that the smaller case on 22 SHORT=lower report.

In about 30 years of shooting 22 pretty seriously..I've had maybe 4-5 tube-fed guns. A couple of pumps, at least one lever...one bolt action that I can remember. ALL are gone now, I simply loathe the idea of loading those things. I get it if you're going squirrel hunting and may take less than 10 shots=OK. If there is ANY volume of shooting...or if weather isn't perfect..I just don't see why people tolerate the things. lol I get liking the guns themselves..then putting up with it. I'm guilty of that!

So yeah...don't sweat the "short" thing at all, get a gun that you know will eat 22LR, then buy a variety of ammo to see what it likes. CCI is your go-to with ammo options, but remember there are 3, common velocity "classes" with 22LR, and with them...varying degrees of noise as a result. Using CCI as a starting point;

CCI QUIET 22 (#960) velocity @ muzzle 710 fps. Won't cycle any semis, and is so quiet that often the bullet hitting the target is louder than the gun itself. Low velocity means less than stellar trajectory, but at close-range pests with a little practice=all good. If the rifle has a standard length barrel, most guys I know don't bother with hearing protection using this stuff.

CCI STANDARD VELOCITY (#0032) velocity @ muzzle 1070 fps. Will cycle in all the semis I've owned. Any "standard" velocity ammo will be just under the speed of sound (1125 fps approx) and as a result, won't have the real "crack" of high velocity, "supersonic" loads. Still requires hearing protection. Most of the high-end, match-grade ammo I've tried is in the subsonic category...and I think you'd find that most, if not all, is.

CCI STINGER (#0050) velocity @ muzzle 1640 fps. Substantially faster, substantially louder..and more down-range energy. I've never used high velocity ammo in semis...but I only own 1 semi now anyway. I've also not found that high velocity ammo (for the most part) gives the best accuracy either, but it has it's place for sure. I use CCI Blazer for pest control, it's cheap/fast and my CZ likes it. Where I shoot that stuff~noise is no issue at all.

I might add~there are more options in these speed categories, both with CCI AND with other manufacturers. I remember CCI CB LONGS being equally quiet, and my BOX-MAG-FED bolt guns never had an issue with a slightly shorter case. After CCI QUIET-22 came out, I never bothered with it again.

Lastly~everyone has an opinion on their favorite action...but I'd take a good bolt gun over a safe full of lesser lever/pump/semis. That said, I've also owned all of them just to confirm what I sort of already knew. lol Box-fed bolt guns are my top pick and for the money, I think the CZ 452 is the best among them. (CZ 453 if you can find one, same gun..only a superior trigger)
 
CCI CB Long is another option if you want something quiet. Being a .22 Long cartridge, it has the same case as .22LR and a 29 grain bullet like .22 Short. It may feed better in some guns compared to .22 Short due to the longer case.
 
kicker_92 said:
So, if you have a nice lever action, bolt, and semi-auto, but had to give up one... which would it be?

I have a feeling it might be best to learn on the bolt action, then pick up the lever 22lr as a fun gun later on?
Click to expand...

If I had to give up all but one of my .22's, then I'd have it narrowed down to 2, then I'd have to flip a coin. That's the only way I'd decide between my CZ 452 Varmint and Henry Golden Boy. If there is any field work going on then the bolt-action, with a decent scope sitting on top is the answer, but if you're only going to be shooting at the range then the Henry is the way to go!

Seeing as how you're a new shooter I'd very much recommend a bolt-action to start with as well. You'll be able to concentrate on the basics a little more, and likely cost you less in ammunition, because there is something super satisfying about cycling a lever, and the round count seems to go quite high, quite quickly when I'm shooting the Henry. For a range toy EVERYONE should have a lever .22!

If you only have intentions of owning ONE .22 ever, then I'd have to recommend a lever-action. Rimfire is my relatively cheap, "It's funtime!", type of shooting, and a lever-action just adds to the fun!
 
kicker_92 said:
I had a feeling that'd be the best option... :)
But I was hoping to put together everything to within a budget of about $2,500. That needs to includes secure storage, a 22lr, shotgun, and a 9mm pistol with a basic range kit.

So, if you have a nice lever action, bolt, and semi-auto, but had to give up one... which would it be?

I have a feeling it might be best to learn on the bolt action, then pick up the lever 22lr as a fun gun later on?
I'd like to get into the Equipment Exchange, just waiting for approval. Hopefully used private sales would let me piece together a nice "little collection" within budget.
I can't do that retail with taxes, etc.
Click to expand...
Try to find used on the EE if you can and be patient to find some good deals. I would keep my bolt over any levers or semis if you are trying to learn good form and want the best accuracy. CZ 455 or 452 would be my choice for a cheap yet quality bolt. Make sure you budget for rings, scopes and ammo. Once again try and find some on the EE. Ammo probably isn't worth shipping but you may find some off a person locally.
 
.22 shorts fired in a .22 LR chamber are considerably more inaccurate than LR's fired in a LR chamber. Shorts usually cost more and are hard to find. The only reason they may exist today is for Olympic competition shooting.

Buy a LR chambered .22 and use sub sonic .22 LRHP ammo for best combination of accuracy and quiet.
 
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