10-round only for .22s

[Adrenolin]

I own an assortment of handguns in various calibers however I've never bought one in .22. Wife would like to start shooting and I've decided to get her a Ruger SR22 to start her with before the 9s, 45s and she's got a ways to go before the 454. :wink: I've fired a few .22 handguns at ranges including the SR22 which I liked quite a bit. We're going to the range later this week for her to checkout the SR22 for herself.

My question in reading up on various .22s is why are 99% of them only 10 round mags? I see the newish S&W M&P.22 is 12 rounds but that's about it and would like to know if there is a reason for it or not. Seems odd that I can have 15-18 9mm rounds or 1 less in a .40 but yet the tiny .22 is limited to only 10 rounds. I'd think the first manufacture of a quality .22 pistol with an 18-20 round mag would clean house!

btw I'm also looking at that new Single-Ten/or/Nine for myself but can't decide on if I want it in LR or Mag. Wish they'd make a convertible with both as I don't wanna dish out for both.

Any thoughts or comments?

 

[sparkyvega]

My 2 cents: If it's single-stacked, the 18 to 20 round mag would be very long and impractical. It seems to me that maybe the rimfire cartridges don't "double-stack" well because the edge of the rim extends beyond the body diameter. The other alternative is the circular type mag like on the 10/22, but this design would be too wide for a pistol.

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[Mobuck]

Shape of the 22 cartridge demands certain design parameters for the magazine. I'd rather have 3 ten round mags that work than one 30 round mag(which would be about 12" long BTW) that doesn't.

 

[m657]

Shape of the 22 cartridge demands certain design parameters for the magazine. I'd rather have 3 ten round mags that work than one 30 round mag(which would be about 12" long BTW) that doesn't.

This is proving to be the sad truth for me. While you're talking hand guns, I had long awaited the factory BX-25 for the Ruger 10/22. Initially it seemed promising for resolving the old 'glitched out' longer mag problem.

I've had a series of fail in the new BX-25 mags that is beyond annoying.

Perhaps it's 'just me'....but I have trouble with the larger mags in any version I've tried. Even the much-vaunted GLOCK 33 round version that (almost) everybody heralds as "totally reliable", in the 1/2 dozen I've tried over the years, they have ALL failed in short order.

I'm sticking with the stock magazines because the cost vs the usefulness/reliability has not been worth it.

Additionally, a shooting buddy just this week end reported HIS trouble with extended mags for his various 22 rifles, not to mention the universal fail on the drum type regardless of their cost. Perhaps they do work somewhere.....but my personal experience is that NONE of them work for long.

In any case, I've come to realize that 10 shots of 22 is about the limit where a little break is beneficial to my own accuracy/concentration.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Adrenolin]

Good answer in regards to the wider rim and the issues it would cause. That's something I can understand. I dislike the super long extended handgun mags and wouldn't want them. I was thinking more along the lines of a double stack but with the wide rim see how that would be problematic. S&W is at 12+1 rounds and Ive heard good things about theirs. I'd still like to see an 18-20 round double-stack mag for a .22 pistol sometime.

I've used the BX-25 in my 10/22s and haven't had any issues with the 4 mags that I own. They do need to be fully cleaned every 500 rounds or so but that's simply the nature of them. At least they can be broken down and properly cleaned. I did have a ton of feeding issues with the Butler Creek 25-round mag. Next Midway order I'll have to include 1 or 2 Alangator TriMag couplers and see how they feel.

Anyways.. called the local range today and they had 1 SR22 left in stock and held it for me. Drove down and the wife liked it so I bought it. Unfortunately the feds put a hold on it so I have to wait a day or 2 before I can pick it up. No biggie. Returning home she asked a few questions about the Single-Ten then let it drop with a smile. My thinks I may have a surprise down the road.

 

[timnc]

Main problem is that the .22 rimfire has a rim. This is true for all rimmed cartridges making it difficult to "fit" them in a clip(magazine). Only ones I'm aware of other than the .22 are the .38spl target guns, the .357 & .44 Desert Eagles & the Coonan .357. Double stacking a rimmed cartridge doesn't work because the rim will overlap creating feeding problems. Years ago Ram Line made a polymer 12 shot clip for the MKI series that worked fairly well & did not extend below the grip. Probably the only reason they make so many .22 semi autos is the popularity of the cartridge. Not enough demand for other rimmed(revolver) calibers in semi autos.

 

[JumpmasterC]

 

[m657]

speaking of Keltec, I had a P32 which I really liked, except for the recurring issue with 1) "stacking lock" of ammo in the standard magazine, which I'd never seen before in any other 32 or 380; 2) variety of issues after 4 trips to their repair facility failed to cure;

Especially annoying the 'factory recommended' ammo in that KelTech would not feed. Lengthy pursuit of the answers showed a lot of issues I had never even seen before.

 

[Blackhawk30]

Well I have a Tec 22.This gun uses 10/22 mags.Mine has woked well.The old Eagle hi caps worked well.
I noticed the S&W MP15/22 mag is kinda double stacked.More like slightly staggered.
S&W did produce a pistol variant of the MP 15/22.These mags hold 25 rds.
Ram-Line produced 12 rd plastic,14 rd plastic and 12 rd stainless steel.
I have about 10 14 rd'er and they have worked well over the last 20 years.However they are starting to fail.They jammed a lot the last time out.I would NOT BUY these mags even if they were new in the box.
Mec Gar made 12 rd mags for the Mk 2.These are blue steel.I hear they work as good as Ruger 10 rd'ers.I was never able to find any to buy.
S&W had 12 rd mags for the 422 and 622,
I've seen reveiws of the Ciener kits for pistols and some of them have 15 rd mags.

 

[timnc]

Didn't realize the Kel Tec .22 mag was double stack. Hope they have found a viable solution to the "rimmed cartridge problem". If so, we may start seeing more hi-cap .22 semi autos. Personally, I don't care because 10 shots at a time works for me.

 

[toysoldier]

There was the American 180---a .22 caliber submachine gun with a 177-round flat pan magazine, like a Lewis gun.

 

[JumpmasterC]

There was the American 180---a .22 caliber submachine gun with a 177-round flat pan magazine, like a Lewis gun.

WoW...nice rifle, I never knew...
$11,500 price tag + all the NFA hoops...too steep for me....
but, I will keep it in mind for when I win the lotto! :lol:

 

[hutchman]

For the 10/22 you can always use a "Tri Mag."

 

[GasGuzzler]

Ten is enough.

 

[exavid]

Actually the SR22 has a partially staggered magazine. Unlike most .22 magazines I've had the SR is a straight stack in the front section and staggered in the rear to allow the magazine to be shorter. I was surprised to notice that when I got my SR22 but it feeds with no problem with that odd configuration. The staggering of the rear end of the cartridge also allows the magazine to be more vertical instead of highly raked as in most .22s. It's a pretty cool little pistol, I don't use it for target shooting because my Buckmark is more accurate by far but the SR is a great little plinker, nice and compact too. It's nice to have the exposed hammer DA/SA action in a .22 auto loader too.

 

[Richbaker]

speaking of Keltec, I had a P32 which I really liked, except for the recurring issue with 1) "stacking lock" of ammo in the standard magazine, which I'd never seen before in any other 32 or 380; 2) variety of issues after 4 trips to their repair facility failed to cure;

Especially annoying the 'factory recommended' ammo in that KelTech would not feed. Lengthy pursuit of the answers showed a lot of issues I had never even seen before.

.32ACP actually has a small rim, I occasionally shoot it in my .32H&R SP101....

 

[DDubya]

Bullseye competition usually requires 10 shots per set. Maybe that's part of it. I get bummed since my old Ruger Mark I only has a 9rd mag. My new 22/45 Lite holds 10.

 

[exavid]

Bullseye competition usually requires 10 shots per set. Maybe that's part of it. I get bummed since my old Ruger Mark I only has a 9rd mag. My new 22/45 Lite holds 10.

Well, if you're a real good shot it won't matter much you'd only be three shots short on the slow fire sets and for timed and rapid you can load five rounds at a time.
Interesting about light guns. I put a Tactical Solutions light weight 7" barrel and a Burris Fast Fire 1.5oz. red dot on my Buckmark Camper thinking the light weight would help by reducing the strain on my arm. It turned out I do better with my heavier barreled Buckmark with 5.5" barrel and a 4oz. Sightmark red dot.
How does the lightweight 22/45 do for you? Also what's the trigger pull. Most of the Ruger Mk guns seem to have a rather heavy trigger.

 

[bczrx]

I'm in california. I have no other option than 10 rounds.

That said, I do know that there are Ciener .22lr conversion kits for Browning Hi Powers [I have one: with 10 rounders] that hold 15 rounds in the magazine, and have a reputation for reliability [magazine itself].

I don't know about factory handguns, but I seem to recall at least the one 15 round mag option for aftermarket conversion kits.