If i buy a gun and the description says ".22 long rifle", can it only take long and short ammo?

Question

I am searching into buying a .22 bolt action rifle and it says .22 Long rifle..

can it also take short ammo or only long?

Answer 1

If it says ".22 LR" then that's what it's made for.

It MAY fit .22 Long and .22 Short, but that's not always the case. It's a matter of feeding from the magazine, as some rifles were made to only feed LR. Since it's a bolt action, you will be able to feed .22L and s by hand.

Answer 2

Yes if it is a bolt action you can fire 22 shorts and CBs through it. There are actually a couple of lengths for 22 rim fires the 22Mag/22WMR totally different but a rim fire still. Then comes the 22 long rifle, 22 long (no major companies load it any more) 22 short and 22 CB. All but the 22 mag will operate in a rifle chambered for 22 long rifle. The Bolt actions and single shots are the only ones that operate properly and reliably with any thing smaller than chambered for. Semi-autos will fire the long,short and CB but most likely will not cycle the action because they are not powerful enough cartridges. Yes the same goes for pistols and revolvers. You will have no issues with revolvers but the magazines will not function in the automatic pistols. Buy the way 22 long rifles are the cheapest at 98 cents for 50 rounds normally. There are higher grade target loads from the big three going 10 bucks for 50. Still very economical.

Answer 3

Yes you can fire 22 Short and Long in a Rifle chambered for 22 Long Rifle, but in most weapons you will have to single load them. Most, but not all, 22s with tubluar magasizes will feed all three but a clip magazine will not handle the shorter rounds. Mossberg once made some 22 bolt actions with an adjusable clip to handle longs and shorts, I am not sure if anyone does today. 22 longs have pretty much disappeared from the seen today and are expensive and only used in older guns specifically chambered for them. 22 shorts are still used in some target rifles, but tend to be special match ammo much more expensive than regular 22 long rifles.

Answer 4

If it says long rifle you should use only long rifle, though you could use short. The automatics should only use long rifle shells as it takes more power to operate the mechanism. When the shell is fired the acids in the powder,over a period of time will eat away a very slight indention in the chamber, therefore if you use shorts for a n extended time it will cause the long rifle shells to expand in that indention and jam the mechanism. same with a bolt action. Always use the same length ammo in any case,preferably long rifle.

Answer 5

Take note there are three similar, but different calibers here.

22 Short
22 Long Rifle
22 Long

Your bolt action is chambered for 22 Long Rifle - which means, yes, you can shoot 22 Shorts out of it. You can always shoot a lighter load of the same caliber, but never a heavier load or one with a longer case.

Mostly this rule applies to revolvers chambered for magnum cartridges, ie. a 454 Casull can shoot .45 Colt (NOT vice versa), a .44 Magnum can shoot .44 Special (NOT vice versa), and a .357 can shoot .38 Specials (NOT vice versa).

However, when speaking of .22's rifles or pistols, it is safe to fire a short in a long rifle chamber - the bullet and case diameters are the same.

Answer 6

If it says .22 long rifle only, then shoot long rifle ONLY. Out of the 8 .22 Marlin bolt action rifles made now, only 3 of them are chambered for .22 short, long, and long rifle.
If you want to to shorts, or CB caps, buy a gun that is chambered for short, long, and long rifle.
Marlin website link below.
If you prefer an economically priced, tubed loading repeater with classic looks and features, the Model 981T is the perfect choice. It has a 22" Micro-Groove® barrel, and a black fiberglass-filled synthetic stock with swivel studs and molded-in checkering. And its full length magazine holds 25 Short, 19 Long or 17 Long Rifle catridges. It sells for around $170 new.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/BoltAction22/981T.aspx

Answer 7

You know what? Every gun is different. It's odd the way some guns will say long only or short only or both long and short but no mag, or mag and long but not short. The truth is there is only one real way to tell. Check with the gunmaker.

Find your manufacturer's website. Look up your gun model and find a spec sheet or info page. It should tell you which cartridges your gun will SAFELY shoot. I know it's just .22, but that's the same charge used in Ramset bolts (used to set alloy bolts into concrete!). If you can't find it on the website, give them a call, or call your local gunshop and ask them.

Answer 8

Normally it will designate that it is compatible with long, short, and long-rifle rounds. But it shouldn't really be a factor in choosing a .22 since the most readily available and effective rounds are .22 long-rifle. The lower velocity longs and shorts are only really good for targets and really close shots on really small game.

Answer 9

If it has a removable or tubular magazine then you can only shoot long rifle ammo without the possibility of constant jamming. It it is single shot bolt action it will take shorts, longs, and long rifle.

Answer 10

Simple answer...if it's a semi-automatic it fill probably only function with long rifle cartridges. If it's a bolt gun a pump or a lever gun it will work with long rifle, long, shorts and cb's.