.22 short in .22LR bolt action rifle

[DrVino]

I'm curious: What is the worst thing that can happen if I fire a .22 short cartridge through a .22LR bolt action rifle (Ruger American Rimfire, if it matters)?

[Tekkno]

All .22 ammo other than .22 mag should be able to fire from a .22lr gun (if you feed them as a single shot)

[billybob_jcv]

I used to shoot 22 shorts in a single-shot bolt-action 22 LR rifle all the time. I also used to shoot shorts in an old tube-feed Remington semi-auto 22 rifle. It's just not going to work if you try to put them in a long rifle magazine.

[DrVino]

OK. Is there any reason to worry about damaging the rifling? The chamber?
Since it's a shorter cartridge, the lip of the casing does not come up to where an LR would, so I would expect the .22 Short projectile not to engage the rifling the way an LR would. Subsequently, I'm curious if this poses a risk of damage to the rifling.

[Guns R Tools]

It's soft lead. Damage unlikely. Accuracy might suffer.
Also 22 short tends to be more expensive than 22 LR, used to be anyways.

[nrakid88]

I am thinking that the carbon fouling from firing a TON of shorts would hinder the extraction of firing lr's afterwards... that is until you properly clean the gun. Only reason I say this is a buddy has a .22 rolling block browning that won't extract lr's, but will for shorts. No idea if its well maintained.

[MountainDew]

I'm curious: What is the worst thing that can happen if I fire a .22 short cartridge through a .22LR bolt action rifle (Ruger American Rimfire, if it matters)?

even if it destroys the gun its only a ruger American...no big loss

on a serious note as long as its fed one at a time IE, no mag feeding your probably GTG.

[DavidR310]

It's soft lead. Damage unlikely. Accuracy might suffer.
Also 22 short tends to be more expensive than 22 LR, used to be anyways.

ANY 22 I come across I will buy it, short, long or long rifle and even 22 magnum.

[DrVino]

even if it destroys the gun its only a ruger American...no big loss .

Don't knock it. It's a good rifle. Not some match grade gun, but I zeroed it to 75 yards and I hit a tennis ball at that distance consistently.

It's a good rabbit gun.

[SonofWWIIDI]

My vintage winchester model 69 says right on the barrel
.22 short, .22 long, .22 long rifle.

[MountainDew]

Don't knock it. It's a good rifle. Not some match grade gun, but I zeroed it to 75 yards and I hit a tennis ball at that distance consistently.

It's a good rabbit gun.

Hey buddy whatever sinks your ship. I just know that the ones I've held felt cheap and fragile and when I can pick up a savage for slightly more on sale and have out of the box tack driver the choice is obvious.

[AR22]

There was actually a time way back when .22 shorts were alot cheaper than Longs or LR.

Alot of old antique pumps anjd Bolt Firearms were shot with the old .22 shorts and alot of chambers were corroded because of it. Mostly because of lack of cleaning. And way back .22 ammo was more corrosive than it is today.

Today however you will not have the problems that occurred 80 or 100 years ago. You will have no problem using the shorts in the Ruger..

You could get carbon buildup hindering clambering, extraction of the LR as mentioned, if it is not cleaned really good first. Would take alot of shorts fired a long time without cleaning to hinder the LR though.

[Mr. Beretta]

OP......Shoot the shorts!

[covingtonhouse]

Had a Marlin 60 that loved them. Feed one t a time. Head shots on squirrels all day long.

[Occams Rasor]

If you are shooting shorts to reduce noise, try some CCI Quiets (.22lr).
Shot some with my RAR and no louder than a air gun. No ear plugs needed.
They also feed from the magazine. I think they are about the same price as
.22 shorts. Rated at ~750fpm.