Does anyone reload .22LR?

TXAZ · July 14, 2016, 03:33 PM

I heard the question asked today, and thought that has to be pretty hard to do. But maybe someone does reload .22LR?

Anybody?

Brian Pfleuger · July 14, 2016, 03:36 PM

It's been discussed and there are folks who have done it. You have to make your own priming compound and figure a way to get it spread through the groove. Plus, the bullets are heeled and the brass crimped into them. Seems like using match head material was generally a part of the priming recipe, IIRC.

I've never seen a claim that it was worthwhile. More of a "for when the zombies invade" kind of thing.

briandg · July 14, 2016, 04:01 PM

It can be done and you can buy a very expensive kit to do it and make a few rounds of .22 that are probably the worst ammo seen on the planet since the 1800s. It can be done, but for the price of that silly kit you an set back a thousand rounds of the real stuff. When they first came out, the priming compound was match tips. IN truth, it's harder to find strike anywhere matches right now than it is ammo.

DaleA · July 14, 2016, 07:05 PM

Quote:

it's harder to find strike anywhere matches right now than it is ammo.

That's the truth although my small local hardware store still stocks them.

dahermit · July 14, 2016, 07:20 PM

Quote:

it's harder to find strike anywhere matches right now than it is ammo.

Quote:

That's the truth although my small local hardware store still stocks them.

However, the last strike-anywhere matches I bought at a gun show some years ago were of poor quality...nothing near as reliable as the old "Blue Diamond" (I think that is what the brand name was), strike anywhere wooden matches.

lamarw · July 14, 2016, 08:32 PM

It simply does not seem to pass the common sense test.

Actually, buying .22 rim fire ammunition at current prices does not seem, in my view, to pass the common sense test. I still have a few multi-packs of 525 rounds I purchased for under fifteen buck back prior to the last Presidential election.

reddog81 · July 14, 2016, 09:14 PM

Reloading 22's makes casting and reloading for any other round look like a cake walk.

TXAZ · July 15, 2016, 07:12 AM

Thanks. I figured as much.

g.willikers · July 15, 2016, 11:04 AM

Pellet gun.
A good one will do about the same job.
Some even a better job.

T. O'Heir · July 15, 2016, 12:34 PM

"...strike anywhere matches..." Grocery stores, up here. Still not worth the expense in time and money.
I'm not sure the chemical is percussion sensitive either.

rclark · July 15, 2016, 08:15 PM

Tutorial here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTf62hDhefY

And no I haven't reloaded any .22LR ...

TXAZ · July 15, 2016, 10:57 PM

After watching those 2 videos, I gotta wonder how much spare time you have to have on your hands or how bad society gets to need to reload .22LR...

higgite · July 15, 2016, 11:07 PM

There is a better chance of me using my .22 rimfire rifles for tomato stakes than there is of me reloading .22LR.

TXAZ · July 16, 2016, 08:50 AM

So what material do large manufacturers us for the primer? I'm pretty sure they are not scraping toy gun caps or slicing match heads.

Chainsaw. · July 16, 2016, 10:12 AM

Proprietary stuff most likely. Ammo manufacturers always keep their cards close to the vest.

Are you considering this for a hobby or a "famine" type of tool?

If for days of famine another small caliber would be better, say 22 hornet. A casting pot, a set of moulds primer and powder and you're good to go.

TXAZ · July 16, 2016, 04:06 PM

Neither chainsaw. Just curious. Scraped match heads can be dangerous in quantity.

Scorch · July 17, 2016, 01:12 AM

Quote:

So what material do large manufacturers us for the primer?

Lead styphnate. Very sensitive as it is crystallizing.

July 14, 2016, 03:33 PM	#1
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Does anyone reload .22LR? I heard the question asked today, and thought that has to be pretty hard to do. But maybe someone does reload .22LR? Anybody? __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

July 14, 2016, 03:36 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	It's been discussed and there are folks who have done it. You have to make your own priming compound and figure a way to get it spread through the groove. Plus, the bullets are heeled and the brass crimped into them. Seems like using match head material was generally a part of the priming recipe, IIRC. I've never seen a claim that it was worthwhile. More of a "for when the zombies invade" kind of thing. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

July 15, 2016, 07:12 AM	#8
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Thanks. I figured as much. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

July 15, 2016, 08:15 PM	#11
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,650	Tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTf62hDhefY And no I haven't reloaded any .22LR ... __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.

July 15, 2016, 10:57 PM	#12
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	After watching those 2 videos, I gotta wonder how much spare time you have to have on your hands or how bad society gets to need to reload .22LR... __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

July 14, 2016, 04:01 PM	#3
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	It can be done and you can buy a very expensive kit to do it and make a few rounds of .22 that are probably the worst ammo seen on the planet since the 1800s. It can be done, but for the price of that silly kit you an set back a thousand rounds of the real stuff. When they first came out, the priming compound was match tips. IN truth, it's harder to find strike anywhere matches right now than it is ammo.

July 14, 2016, 08:32 PM	#6
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	It simply does not seem to pass the common sense test. Actually, buying .22 rim fire ammunition at current prices does not seem, in my view, to pass the common sense test. I still have a few multi-packs of 525 rounds I purchased for under fifteen buck back prior to the last Presidential election.

July 14, 2016, 09:14 PM	#7
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,659	Reloading 22's makes casting and reloading for any other round look like a cake walk.

July 15, 2016, 11:04 AM	#9
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Pellet gun. A good one will do about the same job. Some even a better job.

July 15, 2016, 12:34 PM	#10
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...strike anywhere matches..." Grocery stores, up here. Still not worth the expense in time and money. I'm not sure the chemical is percussion sensitive either.

July 15, 2016, 11:07 PM	#13
higgite Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Posts: 1,028	There is a better chance of me using my .22 rimfire rifles for tomato stakes than there is of me reloading .22LR.

July 16, 2016, 08:50 AM	#14
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	So what material do large manufacturers us for the primer? I'm pretty sure they are not scraping toy gun caps or slicing match heads. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

July 16, 2016, 10:12 AM	#15
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Proprietary stuff most likely. Ammo manufacturers always keep their cards close to the vest. Are you considering this for a hobby or a "famine" type of tool? If for days of famine another small caliber would be better, say 22 hornet. A casting pot, a set of moulds primer and powder and you're good to go.

July 16, 2016, 04:06 PM	#16
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Neither chainsaw. Just curious. Scraped match heads can be dangerous in quantity. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes