.22 Magnum versus .22 LR Ruger Assemblies

[keninsb]

Hi. I am building a Ruger 10-22 and was wondering if the receiver from a 10-22 Magnum could be replaced with a 10-22 Long Rifle? Would it use the same bolt, barrel, etc? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken

[ojisan]

The .22 Mag has about 3/4" longer receiver than the .22LR.
The bolt is also about 3/4" longer (and heavier) than the .22LR bolt.
So is the firing pin and other related parts.
The trigger groups are physically the same.
I think the hammer spring may be stiffer on the .22Mag to try and keep the breech closed a little longer.
The barrel does include the chamber, so those are different, too.
The .22Mag bullet is slighter larger than a .22LR so some barrels are also a little bigger in the bore....I'm not sure if the Ruger 10/22 Mag barrel is this way or not.
Same design, but not the same inside.

Keep in mind that if you venture into playing with the .22MAG in a semi-auto blow-back design, you wll be fighting against premature breech opening.
Several manufacturers have made semi-autos and wrestled with this problem with out a whole lot of success.

[Yoteman]

Great advice ojisan!

[keninsb]

Thanks Ojisan, that makes perfect sense. I had someone tell me that the only thing different between the Ruger .22 mag and the LR was the receiver. That made no sense to me at all when looking at the size difference in .22LR and .22MAG ammo. You explained it perfectly. Much appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken

[dfletcher]

The bolt release of the 22 Magnum is a touch longer than that of the 22 LR. Just wanted to mention that separately since buying an aftermarket is often done.