Hoping for enlightenment in regards to the old model single six convertible cylinders.. The old model convertibles I have seen have the firing pin groove on the face of the .22 Long rifle cylinder, but on the matching 22 magnum cylinder there is no firing pin groove. I assume the groove on the .22 long rifle is to prevent the firing pin from wearing on the face of the cylinder, when if indexing the cylinder the hammer was not taken back to full cock before lowering. If this is the case I wonder why this groove was not performed on the magnum cylinders also. In looking at my old model single six, it appears the firing pin retaracts back into the frame when the hammer is pulled back, even only to the safety notch, and does not protrude again until the hammer is released and contacts the firing pin. Thanks for any technical information.
? About Old Model Single Six 22 Mag Cylinder
- Thread starter Juniper
- Start date
Hondo44
Hawkeye
The 22 LR cylinders are about .006" longer than the Mag because the LR rim is about that much thinner than the Mag rim. So the LR cylinder sits closer to the firing pin for reliable ignition and is more likely to hit the cylinder or rest touching the cylinder than on the Mag cyl.
So if manipulated incorrectly as you describe and the cylinder is turned with hammer down, the firing could wear enough eventually be too short.
So if manipulated incorrectly as you describe and the cylinder is turned with hammer down, the firing could wear enough eventually be too short.
chet15
Hawkeye
Ruger originally put a firing pin groove in the rear of the cylinder to keep the firing pin from breaking.
When the .22 Mag came out, experiments with the same type cylinders with the groove at the rear found that the cartridge would do a lot of spitting and case rupture, so they had to enclose the case head on the .22 Mag. cylinders.
Turned out, their fear of firing pin breakage was not warranted, because I've never heard of one breaking. And since 1976 none of Ruger's .22 cylinders have the groove at the rear.
Chet15
When the .22 Mag came out, experiments with the same type cylinders with the groove at the rear found that the cartridge would do a lot of spitting and case rupture, so they had to enclose the case head on the .22 Mag. cylinders.
Turned out, their fear of firing pin breakage was not warranted, because I've never heard of one breaking. And since 1976 none of Ruger's .22 cylinders have the groove at the rear.
Chet15
