Fast tinkering this weekend, .22 LR vs .22 WMR

This weekend I found a partial box of coveted 40 gr. JHP CCI .22 WMR. They are about unobtainable around here, but you can find 30 gr. for $17-18 per box, best deals I find. Simply glad to fins any actually. I was not sure if the .222 bore barrel would perform or not. The old Buffalo Scouts were notorious for spitting lead with regular .22 LR and .22 WMR was horrific on debris splattering to the sides. But my Gunsmith friend who built the gun some 30 yrs. ago well fit the custom barrel from the back end of a 550 Remington. (I love Mr. Taylor's father dis much the same many years ago to a Single-Six) On a good day with ammo it likes I usually get 2” groups at 50 yds. Great for me! The old 40+ yr. old 1.3X Phantom I installed has no magnification but the view is still very crisp to my old eyes, IF I look through my normal spectacles, not the bifocal part, or over them completely.

The Custom "Buffalo Scout" was a sort of mechanical "joke" to see what it could do, done many years ago. A good barrel, fitted well, on a crap chassis, but workable sighting.

The 1” square looked very small at 33 yds. to me. The first group was the odd mix of old copper plated 40 gr. HP .22 LR and strung a little vertically, not surprisingly, but went into 2.25”. First time I’ve shot it in a couple years. A Misfit bud sent me a chrome .22 WMR cylinder in a parts cashe, that by chance fit right in, maybe even a little tighter than the original. I hoped it would not spit. I wanted to compare the power increase by switching to the Magnum RF at the 4X price increase. Also I wanted to see if the impact was different from the .22 LR on scope adjustments.

This is not a real test nor even remotely scientifically objective but I optimistically will take advantage of the information to further proceed. The .22 WMR seems to hit a little higher POA but not enough to worry about. The old Phantom has odd movement indices, I thought ½ MOA but I guess they are much greater. No clicks but marks. In all, and it may be a fluke, the .22 WMR was encouraging, with two in one hole and the other only ½” away. The two marker final .22 LR were in the square so I called it good till next time. I feel good enough to try the 30 gr. ammo and compare to hyper velocity .22 LR also. The following results were from the 8” custom “Buffalo Scout” revolver.

.22 LR 40 gr. HP – 949fps avg.

.22 WMR 40 gr. CCI JHP – 1375 fps avg. (30% increase, plus superior constructed Jacketed bullet)