Does the military use .22LR at all?

SC4006 · July 31, 2012, 03:57 PM

I was just curious if the US military uses the .22LR cartridge for anything, like possibly target practice? Its just such a popular cartridge I just wondered if it had any use by the military. If they do use it, what do they call it? What I mean by that is you know how they call say the 7.62x51 something like "7.62MM NATO M80", well what is the .22LR called in military terms?

aarondhgraham · July 31, 2012, 04:01 PM

But at one time they did,,,
I have about 18,000 rounds of Military Surplus Remington .22 LR ammo.

Aarond

.

BarryLee · July 31, 2012, 04:02 PM

I have heard that the military used .22 suppressed Ruger Mark II handguns in the past, but not sure if they still do.

ScottRiqui · July 31, 2012, 04:03 PM

This thread over on AR15.com talks about the military .22lr ammo, along with designations, stock numbers, and which ones are still available.

SIGSHR · July 31, 2012, 04:04 PM

When I was in the new York National Guard we had 22LR conversion units for the M-16s. Used them only 1x IIRC to allow the troops to qualify when for whatever reason we couldn't get to the range.

SC4006 · July 31, 2012, 04:08 PM

18,000

I wish I had that many .22 rounds lol. Interesting... a suppressed .22 would make sense I guess, for undercover operations.

SC4006 · July 31, 2012, 04:21 PM

Everybody just about answered my question, thanks. And ScottRiqui, that thread was exactly what I was looking for as far as what the military calls .22LR, pretty interesting.

aarondhgraham · July 31, 2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

I wish I had that many .22 rounds lol.

I hoard,,, eerrr,,, stock up on rimfire ammunition,,,
I never want another summer like the last election year.

Besides this mil-surp stuff I have another 11,000 rounds of Federal Bulk Pack,,,
As well as close to 5,000 rounds of CCI Mini-Mag.

I shoot a lot of rimfire and now that I have amassed a decent bench stock,,,
I replace it as I use it and have a healthy cushion squirreled away

I stumbled upon a real deal last year,,,
5,000 round foil sealed cases,,,
$50.00 per case.

The stuff is great for any of my bolt rifles or revolvers,,,
My semi-auto rifles and pistols don't like it much.

I dole it out sparingly to a couple of 4-H kids I know,,,
Good kids whose parents have no extra money.

I got it cheap enough,,,
And it keeps them out of the bars.

It's this stuff at the bottom of the page.

Aarond

.

Hammerhead · July 31, 2012, 05:18 PM

The only firearm I fired in boot camp (USN, Great Lakes, 1978) was a 1911 style .22lr pistol.
It wasn't until my first duty station (Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico) that I fired any centerfire arms. (M-14, M-1911)

Rembrandt · July 31, 2012, 05:56 PM

At one time many of the ROTC units trained with .22's......

SIGSHR · July 31, 2012, 06:16 PM

Just recalled that one time when I was in the New Jersey National Guard the troops fired M1911s with 22 conveter units. I remember I supplied the ammunition out of my personal stock as none was officially available due to budget cutbacks.

YARDDOG(1) · July 31, 2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:From aarondhgarham
I hoard,,, eerrr,,, stock up on rimfire ammunition,,,
I never want another summer like the last election year

I stumbled upon a real deal last year,,,
5,000 round foil sealed cases,,,
$50.00 per case.

The stuff is great for any of my bolt rifles or revolvers,,,

I dole it out sparingly to a couple of 4-H kids I know,,,
Good kids whose parents have no extra money.

I got it cheap enough,,,
And it keeps them out of the bars.]"

Great Mentor & all around man aarondhgarham ; )
Y/D

ltc444 · July 31, 2012, 07:50 PM

Been a while. Many "remote" reserve units qualify using 22 lr conversions. ROTC units generally have active rifle and Pistol teams using 22lr.

Suppressed 22 are to&e for infantry units. I do not know if they are still issued. We trained to use them on sentry take downs and prisoner snatches.

Master Blaster 2 · July 31, 2012, 08:08 PM

Army reserve Unit I belonged to had an indoor range to qualify with 22LR conversion units for the M-16s.

30-30remchester · July 31, 2012, 09:02 PM

When Francis Gary Powers was shot down and captured by the Russians he was carryind a silenced High Standard 22 handgun. Over the years the US government has issued quite a few 22 handguns and rifles in training roles, especially during WWII. The government ordered from Remington, two batches of 22 long rifle ammunition loaded with full metal jacket bullets, to meet the requirements of the Hauge Convention.

Last Escape Pod · August 1, 2012, 06:25 AM

Special forces probably use silenced 22lr for taking out guard dogs or lone patrols. Marksmen probably use it just to practice their shooting skills.

I know Israeli Defense Force uses it.

Skadoosh · August 1, 2012, 06:39 AM

I qualified pistol in Navy bootcamp with a 1911 that was converted to shoot 22lr.

CommonSense · August 1, 2012, 06:55 AM

I'm enlisted in The National Guard as an E-4 11Bravo (infantry)MOS. So far to the best of my knowledge the .22LR is not in use at all. I am only speaking of my own experiences in the National Guard, NOT for all branches. We see a lot of range time being that we are line infantryman, however, it is always with our primary weapons systems and crew serves in their respective calibers. We do other supplemental training however never with .22s.

kraigwy · August 1, 2012, 07:48 AM

I don't know about now, I retired in 1992 from the Alaska National Guard.

I ran the AKNG marksmanship unit. We used tons of 22s, As mentioned we used the sub cal device for M16s using 22s.

Besides our state teams, I issued 10 H&R 22 target rifles and 4 Ruger 22 pistols to each BN and Separate company for unit marksmanship training. We also had a biathlon program.

In the 80s when the military was thinking about switching from 45s to 9mm they totally ran out of 45 ammo and were using 22s in just about all of their pistol training. One years (forgot the exact date) the guard fired 22s in all the pistol competition at the Wilson Matches (National Guard Championship)

I cheated, I used state funds to buy primers and powder, we cast thousands of bullets and reloaded to keep our pistol teams in 45 ammo.

Finely the Military got smart and bought 45 ammo from Israel.

I don't know what they use now, I know the idiot who took over the AK Marksmanship unit turned in most of the State's 22s (and most of the other equipment) when I left, he didn't want to be responsible for all the crap I spent years gathering.

22s are a valuable training tool, and I would like to hope the military still uses them.

BPowderkeg · August 1, 2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

I have about 18,000 rounds of Military Surplus Remington .22 LR ammo.

aarondhgraham, how reliable is that ammo ? accuracy @ 50 yds. ?

kraigwy · August 1, 2012, 09:44 AM

I'm not aarondhgraham but on the whole the Remington (green box match) was pretty good in standard guns. In our target guns, such as our Anschutz Rifles (including the guns use for ISU and Biathlon) there was much better ammo.

They worked fairly well in our H&R 5200s, and the Ruger pistols, not so well in our High Standard and Model 41 Smiths.

Unless you went to the Ely 10X or so, the most accurate was the Winchester White Box for pistol and rifle. Winchesters Rifle ammo was a bit greasy (not as bad as the Remington) but the Winchester White Box Pistol ammo was best for reliability in our Model 41s and High Standard Target Pistols.

Unless you're shooting ISU International Matches, the Remington Green box will work quite well. It would be good for plinking and your NRA Light Rifle or CMP Rimfire Sporter Matches.

The thing about Anschutz Rifles, they were picky about ammo, I've had several variances even with the same brand of ammo but different lot numbers. Ely was bad about the difference between lot numbers. If we found a lot that works we'd buy as much as we could find. When that ran out, we'd have to start all over.

aarondhgraham · August 1, 2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

aarondhgraham, how reliable is that ammo ? accuracy @ 50 yds. ?

Reliability is 100% so far,,,
That's over 14 bricks of 500 rounds fired,,,
I originally purchased 5 of the 5,000 round cases,,,
I honestly can't remember having even one dud round so far.

Accuracy is acceptable for my plinking uses,,,
One of the 4-H kids is shooting 1.5" groups at 50 yards using it,,,
That's with him shooting my old Mossberg 340KC and precision peep sights,,,
That's about the same relative accuracy as he gets from Wally-World Federal Bulk Pack.

In general it's great plinking ammo for revolvers and bolt/single-shot rifles,,,
It's a bit waxy/greasy for use in my semi-auto pistols,,,
It is lead round nose and not copper washed.

As far as value goes,,,
At 1 penny per round it's fantastic ammo.

Aarond

.

MLeake · August 1, 2012, 11:24 AM

I shot some Captain's Cup local competitions at NAS Pensacola using Navy provided S&W Model 41 pistols. I don't think I saw .22LR used anywhere else during my active duty days, but I suspect the thread ScottRiqui linked was probably on the money about JROTC and ROTC making use of it.

berettaprofessor · August 1, 2012, 03:54 PM

I'd like to point out that aarond's post was only yesterday and the link today shows that the 22LR is already sold out; thanks to all you ammo hoarders out there.

(edited; sorry, I see that it was sold out in February...so the only blame goes to aarond, who just teased the heck out of all of us with his 5000/$50 ammo notice. Worst tease I've seen since my first girlfriend

)

aarondhgraham · August 1, 2012, 04:32 PM

I didn't mean to tease,,,

I just showed the CMP website to show what it was.

I bought this from a private individual,,,
It was from his grandfathers estate.

Aarond

.

July 31, 2012, 03:57 PM	#1
SC4006 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2012 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 525	Does the military use .22LR at all? I was just curious if the US military uses the .22LR cartridge for anything, like possibly target practice? Its just such a popular cartridge I just wondered if it had any use by the military. If they do use it, what do they call it? What I mean by that is you know how they call say the 7.62x51 something like "7.62MM NATO M80", well what is the .22LR called in military terms?

July 31, 2012, 04:01 PM	#2
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	I don't know if they still use it,,, But at one time they did,,, I have about 18,000 rounds of Military Surplus Remington .22 LR ammo. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

July 31, 2012, 04:02 PM	#3
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	I have heard that the military used .22 suppressed Ruger Mark II handguns in the past, but not sure if they still do. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

July 31, 2012, 07:15 PM	#12
YARDDOG(1) Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: GATOR COUNTRY HA HA HA! Posts: 721	Quote:From aarondhgarham I hoard,,, eerrr,,, stock up on rimfire ammunition,,, I never want another summer like the last election year I stumbled upon a real deal last year,,, 5,000 round foil sealed cases,,, $50.00 per case. The stuff is great for any of my bolt rifles or revolvers,,, I dole it out sparingly to a couple of 4-H kids I know,,, Good kids whose parents have no extra money. I got it cheap enough,,, And it keeps them out of the bars.]" Great Mentor & all around man aarondhgarham ; ) Y/D __________________ There's a GATOR in the bushes & She's Callin my name >Molly Hatchett< Last edited by YARDDOG(1); July 31, 2012 at 07:26 PM.

August 1, 2012, 06:39 AM	#17
Skadoosh Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2010 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,016	I qualified pistol in Navy bootcamp with a 1911 that was converted to shoot 22lr. __________________ NRA Life Member USN Retired

July 31, 2012, 04:03 PM	#4
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	This thread over on AR15.com talks about the military .22lr ammo, along with designations, stock numbers, and which ones are still available.

July 31, 2012, 04:04 PM	#5
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	When I was in the new York National Guard we had 22LR conversion units for the M-16s. Used them only 1x IIRC to allow the troops to qualify when for whatever reason we couldn't get to the range.

July 31, 2012, 04:08 PM	#6
SC4006 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2012 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 525	18,000 I wish I had that many .22 rounds lol. Interesting... a suppressed .22 would make sense I guess, for undercover operations.

July 31, 2012, 04:21 PM	#7
SC4006 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2012 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 525	Everybody just about answered my question, thanks. And ScottRiqui, that thread was exactly what I was looking for as far as what the military calls .22LR, pretty interesting.

July 31, 2012, 05:18 PM	#9
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	The only firearm I fired in boot camp (USN, Great Lakes, 1978) was a 1911 style .22lr pistol. It wasn't until my first duty station (Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico) that I fired any centerfire arms. (M-14, M-1911)

July 31, 2012, 05:56 PM	#10
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	At one time many of the ROTC units trained with .22's......

July 31, 2012, 06:16 PM	#11
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Just recalled that one time when I was in the New Jersey National Guard the troops fired M1911s with 22 conveter units. I remember I supplied the ammunition out of my personal stock as none was officially available due to budget cutbacks.

July 31, 2012, 07:50 PM	#13
ltc444 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2011 Location: Vernon AZ Posts: 1,195	Been a while. Many "remote" reserve units qualify using 22 lr conversions. ROTC units generally have active rifle and Pistol teams using 22lr. Suppressed 22 are to&e for infantry units. I do not know if they are still issued. We trained to use them on sentry take downs and prisoner snatches.

July 31, 2012, 08:08 PM	#14
Master Blaster 2 Junior member Join Date: May 29, 2011 Posts: 895	Army reserve Unit I belonged to had an indoor range to qualify with 22LR conversion units for the M-16s.

July 31, 2012, 09:02 PM	#15
30-30remchester Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2009 Location: mountains of colorado Posts: 977	When Francis Gary Powers was shot down and captured by the Russians he was carryind a silenced High Standard 22 handgun. Over the years the US government has issued quite a few 22 handguns and rifles in training roles, especially during WWII. The government ordered from Remington, two batches of 22 long rifle ammunition loaded with full metal jacket bullets, to meet the requirements of the Hauge Convention.

August 1, 2012, 06:25 AM	#16
Last Escape Pod Member Join Date: December 1, 2011 Posts: 25	Special forces probably use silenced 22lr for taking out guard dogs or lone patrols. Marksmen probably use it just to practice their shooting skills. I know Israeli Defense Force uses it.

August 1, 2012, 06:55 AM	#18
CommonSense Member Join Date: August 1, 2012 Posts: 33	I'm enlisted in The National Guard as an E-4 11Bravo (infantry)MOS. So far to the best of my knowledge the .22LR is not in use at all. I am only speaking of my own experiences in the National Guard, NOT for all branches. We see a lot of range time being that we are line infantryman, however, it is always with our primary weapons systems and crew serves in their respective calibers. We do other supplemental training however never with .22s.

August 1, 2012, 07:48 AM	#19
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I don't know about now, I retired in 1992 from the Alaska National Guard. I ran the AKNG marksmanship unit. We used tons of 22s, As mentioned we used the sub cal device for M16s using 22s. Besides our state teams, I issued 10 H&R 22 target rifles and 4 Ruger 22 pistols to each BN and Separate company for unit marksmanship training. We also had a biathlon program. In the 80s when the military was thinking about switching from 45s to 9mm they totally ran out of 45 ammo and were using 22s in just about all of their pistol training. One years (forgot the exact date) the guard fired 22s in all the pistol competition at the Wilson Matches (National Guard Championship) I cheated, I used state funds to buy primers and powder, we cast thousands of bullets and reloaded to keep our pistol teams in 45 ammo. Finely the Military got smart and bought 45 ammo from Israel. I don't know what they use now, I know the idiot who took over the AK Marksmanship unit turned in most of the State's 22s (and most of the other equipment) when I left, he didn't want to be responsible for all the crap I spent years gathering. 22s are a valuable training tool, and I would like to hope the military still uses them. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

August 1, 2012, 09:44 AM	#21
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I'm not aarondhgraham but on the whole the Remington (green box match) was pretty good in standard guns. In our target guns, such as our Anschutz Rifles (including the guns use for ISU and Biathlon) there was much better ammo. They worked fairly well in our H&R 5200s, and the Ruger pistols, not so well in our High Standard and Model 41 Smiths. Unless you went to the Ely 10X or so, the most accurate was the Winchester White Box for pistol and rifle. Winchesters Rifle ammo was a bit greasy (not as bad as the Remington) but the Winchester White Box Pistol ammo was best for reliability in our Model 41s and High Standard Target Pistols. Unless you're shooting ISU International Matches, the Remington Green box will work quite well. It would be good for plinking and your NRA Light Rifle or CMP Rimfire Sporter Matches. The thing about Anschutz Rifles, they were picky about ammo, I've had several variances even with the same brand of ammo but different lot numbers. Ely was bad about the difference between lot numbers. If we found a lot that works we'd buy as much as we could find. When that ran out, we'd have to start all over. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

August 1, 2012, 11:24 AM	#23
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	I shot some Captain's Cup local competitions at NAS Pensacola using Navy provided S&W Model 41 pistols. I don't think I saw .22LR used anywhere else during my active duty days, but I suspect the thread ScottRiqui linked was probably on the money about JROTC and ROTC making use of it.

August 1, 2012, 03:54 PM	#24
berettaprofessor Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2008 Posts: 1,091	I'd like to point out that aarond's post was only yesterday and the link today shows that the 22LR is already sold out; thanks to all you ammo hoarders out there. (edited; sorry, I see that it was sold out in February...so the only blame goes to aarond, who just teased the heck out of all of us with his 5000/$50 ammo notice. Worst tease I've seen since my first girlfriend)

August 1, 2012, 04:32 PM	#25
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Sorry berettaprofessor,,, I didn't mean to tease,,, I just showed the CMP website to show what it was. I bought this from a private individual,,, It was from his grandfathers estate. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)