Unconventional .22 ammo

[SC4006]

I recently stumbled upon quite an interesting video on youtube from a channel I'm subscribed to, Taofledermaus. Basically the idea here is taking .22 blanks that are normally used for powder-actuated nail guns, and using these to fire a .22 caliber lead pellet out of a .22lr rifle. I've seen these nail gun blanks before at home depot and lowe's, and I actually wondered if they would indeed work in a firearm. Apparently they do work... quite well actually.

Here is the Video

This guy has quite an interesting channel, he does a lot of tests with unconventional ammo, particularly with 12 gauge shotgun shells.

[Aguila Blanca]

Curiously enough, I was thinking about trying this over the weekend. Somewhere in my basement I have a box or two of those charges, but I couldn't find them. Probably just as well ... one less way to get in trouble.

[JWT]

Somehow it doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

[kilimanjaro]

If the only thing between you and a Zombie is a pellet and a nail round, why not?

Otherwise, what for?

[g.willikers]

Maybe the pellet could somehow be bonded to the blank, and the resulting round could be loaded in the conventional manner, from the breach.

[wogpotter]

I'd proceed with a great deal of caution. Nail gun loads come in many different color-coded "power levels" & you don't know what they are in conventional firearms terms.
What is the difference in pressure curve & peak pressure between a "green" & a "red" nail gun charge? Is your firearm sufficiently pressure proofed for either?

[SC4006]

That would be my concern as well. Since it is clearly stated that they are not intended to be used in firearms, I doubt there is any scientific data on how they behave when fired out of a firearm.

Anyone have any guesses as to what kind of powder is used in the yellow loads shown in the video? I'd assume it's probably some sort of fast burning powder, in which case would cause a pretty high pressure spike when used like in the video.

[Woodslab]

Now all those will be cleared from the shelves.

It is neat to see that the pellet kept intact until it hit the target.
And if that was 1/8" stainless that 's impressive!

[Unlicensed Dremel]

Pretty cool, but yeah.....whyyyyy?

[FrankenMauser]

I wouldn't recommend messing with those.

I can't find the post right now, but a fellow on the Castboolits forums tested various cartridges with his Oehler Model 83 'ballistics laboratory'.
With various pellets, pulled bullets, and cast bullets, he saw both predictable and unpredictable pressures, depending on the combination of 'blank' and projectile, often in excess of 45k psi and sometimes in excess of 60k psi.

Those pressures are something that .22 LR firearms are not designed to deal with.

I value my face and hands enough to steer clear.



However.....
There are a couple companies currently making, and a few companies that historically made, adapters to use buckshot and .22 blanks or the cartridges for PANGs in centerfire adapters.
Those, generally, are more than capable of handling the pressure, when properly installed. ...And you can breech-load everything.

[SC4006]

often in excess of 45k psi and sometimes in excess of 60k psi.

Well I had a feeling they would produce higher pressures than normal .22lr, but I have a hard time believing they can produce 60k plus in certain instances, that's similar to what a 5.56 would produce! I've seen those nail gun blanks, and it doesn't look like they can hold much more powder than a normal .22lr cartridge, which IIRC produces on average about 25k psi. Not only that, but a 14 grain pellet isn't going to provide a whole lot of resistance I wouldn't think.

[wogpotter]

To expand on my earlier comment.

If you don't actually KNOW from test data what the pressure, peak, sustained, curve, & variation is then you're breaking one of the cardinal rules of responsible reloading. Heck even you admit you are ignoring the warning label, don't have a clue what powder is being used, & assume "higher than normal" pressures. Let me put it differently.

"Do not substitute, extrapolate, or interpret any known reloading data"!

PURELY HYPOTHETICALLY NOW:
Suppose, for argument's sake I'm offering you some of my reloads. I forgot what powder or even how much of it I used & can't find the load data either, but I kinda-sorta remember they were really hot. I think the bullets were at the light end of whats available though, so you should be safe enough. I only want a nickle a piece for them too.

Would you buy them?

All I've done is put the same situation into a different framework.



There are old reloaders & there are bold reloaders, but there are no old, bold reloaders.

[45_auto]

There are old reloaders & there are bold reloaders, but there are no old, bold reloaders.

Funny, I always thought Elmer Keith was an old, bold reloader. Hopefully I can make it to 85 like he did, I've blown up a lot less guns than him!

[Unlicensed Dremel]

There are old reloaders & there are bold reloaders, but there are no old, bold reloaders.

The only ones are those who own a long string.