When I was a kid, some 60 years ago – my brother and I hunted squirrels & rabbits with several different rifles. Dad would only let us use 22 Shorts because he would point to a box of 22 LR to where it was printed “Danger – Range 1 Mile”. The 22 shorts did everything we needed them to, and as I recall, we had boxes of 22 LRs in the in the gun cabinet as that was all Dad’s Winchester 63 could shoot – and we were using a Remington pump and a Winchester Model 69 with the shorts as they were chambered in 22 Short, Long or Long Rifle.
So, the parent cartridge of the 22 Long was the 22 Short, both of which started out as plack powder cartridges. I’m sure that there were rifles that were chambered in 22 Long and the cartridge was also used in revolvers of the day.
The other day, I was going through some things and I discovered an ammo can full of 22 ammo that I had forgotten about as I had slid it under the loading bench and it was out of view because of the containers of brass I had stacked in front of it. When I opened it up, I remembered that most of it was from my folk’s house when I had settled the estate and split the ammo with my brother – some boxes of Remington Shorts from the early 60s, some from the 50s, etc. I had also put sone 100 count boxes of CCI in there – all Shorts but one box = some I had purchased during the Bamarama Shortage. I was surprised to see a 100 count box of CCI 22 Longs. I’m sure I must have picked them up one of the times that I had gone up to Tucson to get and number and stand in line, hoping to be able to buy ammo. The box of 22 Long must have been the only thing left when my number was called and I picked them up figuring that I could shoot them in my Henry or in one of the revolvers I had at the time.
The finding of the box of 22 Longs got me to wondering about that particular cartridge. I may have shot some 22 Long at some point, but I sure can’t remember it – it’s heck getting old. A check on the internet confirmed that CCI still makes it – and others may too but I didn’t find any. Other than maybe some older rifles being chambered in 22 Long, it seems like today, semi-autos are pretty much 22 Long Rifle – some rifles are still made and marked 22 Short, Long or Long Rifle. BUT – how many actually shoot the 22 Long cartridge and for what purpose?
I’m just getting interested in shooting 22s again after a long vacation from them – seems like there is such a variety now (if available) – Standard Velocity, High Velocity, Extra High Velocity, SubSonic, CB Caps (we used to use these as a kid to nail gophers), Shorts, etc. Other than a Standard Velocity or Low Velocity 22 Long that could possibly be used in an old rifle chamgerec in the 22 Long – it seems to me that the 22 Long is pretty much obsolete? Or am I missing something? Is there a circumstance where some folks like to use the 22 Long? There must be a demand for the 22 Long if CCI and possibly others are still producing it. Would love to hear from those that use the 22 Long and why they use it. Advantages as compared to Short/Long Rifle?
Thanks!