Safe/reliable 22mag ammo recommendations

comma · February-08-20 15:02

Hey guys.
I looked through the pages of the forum and couldn't find much on ammo.

Newly getting back into NAA and just want the safest most reliable ammo I can get for my 1 and 1/8 magnum (It's the MSC model so I also have the 22 cylinder coming with it so recommendations on your favorite 22LR ammo are welcome too)

Anyway, what are your recommendations for the most reliable and safe to shoot 22mag ammo? I usually lean towards FMJ but open to any opinions.
I know varmint ammo is off the list.

A few I was looking at were Hornady Critical Defense and Winchester Super X.

Thanks!

Canoeal · February-08-20 18:02

CCI Gold Dot short barrel 40 grain. Best there is.

bleak_window · February-08-20 19:02

I agree. Speer Gold Dot is the gold standard for these minis. I buy it by the case and never had a problem with it.

comma · February-08-20 19:02

Thanks! The hollowpoints or do they make an fmj? I could be wrong, but wouldn't an fmj pack more of a punch than a hollowpoint in such a small barrel?

grayelky · February-08-20 20:02

I prefer the Hornady Critical Defense over the Speer Gold dots, BUT, only by the tiniest bit. The Hornady seems to penetrate just a little bit more, and I emphasize a little bit. I have just this week gotten my hands on a case of Winchester PD1. These 3 22 mag cartridges are the only ones, to my knowledge, that are formulated specifically for 2" barreled handguns. They have a MUCH smaller size muzzle flash than other brands I have shot. Again, I have not shot any of the Winchester yet. As soon as I do, I will post my feelings on the forum.

Canoeal · February-08-20 21:02

Quote from: comma on February-08-20 19:02
Thanks! The hollowpoints or do they make an fmj? I could be wrong, but wouldn't an fmj pack more of a punch than a hollowpoint in such a small barrel?

The only FMJ made is for rifle rounds with slower burning powder meant for much longer barrels. That leaves more powder burning, as it exits your short barrel and could lead to tumbling bullets, and less accuracy. FMJ out of a Henry? Sure. Not here. JMHO

top dog · February-09-20 07:02

I seem to get the best results with the CCI "Troy Landry" signature ammo. That is in my opinion,I do believe that the above suggestions would be the better choice though.

Top Dog

pietro · February-09-20 07:02

.

Safe ? .

Any .22 mag ammo (and .22LR for that matter) is safe to shoot in a Mini of any barrel length.

.

comma · February-09-20 08:02

Quote from: Canoeal on February-08-20 21:02
Quote from: comma on February-08-20 19:02
Thanks! The hollowpoints or do they make an fmj? I could be wrong, but wouldn't an fmj pack more of a punch than a hollowpoint in such a small barrel?

The only FMJ made is for rifle rounds with slower burning powder meant for much longer barrels. That leaves more powder burning, as it exits your short barrel and could lead to tumbling bullets, and less accuracy. FMJ out of a Henry? Sure. Not here. JMHO

Oh! Good to know. I definitely did not know that. NAA lists ballistics with some of the regular FMJ (Winchester included) so I just assumed it was one of their recommended rounds and I had read in other threads on other sights that FMJ was best for NAA minis. Have a lot to learn I guess!

Canoeal · February-09-20 17:02

Yeah, NAA needs to update and be consistent with the Ammo data...Doesn't seem like a high priority since the MM info for a 4" barrel is inconsistent with all other 3-4" barreled 22 mags.

Wumbey Goomba · February-09-20 22:02

As for safe there is some they (NAA) say don't use, it's on they're web site
somewhere. They also give a safety warning sheet, in with every new purchase,
saying what ammo they recomend not using. As to reliable, for me any type
of CCI always goes Boom when I pull the trigger. Goes for 22LR too.

comma · February-10-20 06:02

Thanks for the help guys! Is there a "short barrel" 22LR out there? I hadn't heard of the short barrel WMR until now.

Also, what grain 22LR should I look to get for the short barrel mini? Thanks!

Wumbey Goomba · February-10-20 08:02

Are you having fun at our expense?
Look at some of your earlier posts(2015).
This is why I ask.

comma · February-10-20 09:02

Quote from: Wumbey Goomba on February-10-20 08:02
Are you having fun at our expense?
Look at some of your earlier posts(2015).
This is why I ask.

Nope, not having fun at anyone's expense. Just trying to learn. As stated in some of my recent posts, just getting back into NAA after a 5 years of selling my last one.
Looking back, I do remember asking about ammo in 2015. Re-reading that thread seems I still have the same questions as there weren't any solid answers there.

Five years is quite a bit of time, and it seems NAA has recommended to not use some ammo since then so I'm still curious about the questions I have here.

Unless I am missing another post that you're referring to back in 2015?

bearcatter · February-10-20 09:02

Back when I had a Single-Six, 5.5 inch, the 50 grain Federal Game Shok was my favorite WMR.

I also liked .22 WRF. It was the predecessor of the WRM. A couple of ammo companies still do a run or two every few months. It will shoot fine in a WRM gun, as the case is the same except slightly shorter. It has a bit less powder, and a flat nose bullet. Tends to shoot flatter.

Canoeal · February-10-20 09:02

Here is an old thread discussing the very same issue. https://naaminis.com/smf/index.php?topic=21864.msg185605#msg185605

Wumbey Goomba · February-10-20 09:02

I guess I'm confusing ammo and guns. Thought you meant you'd
never heard of short barrel 22 lr mini, when I thought I had read you previously
owned one. I'm not trying trying to give you a hard time. Hope you can see
where I'm coming from. Confusion on my part. I apologize .

comma · February-10-20 12:02

Quote from: Wumbey Goomba on February-10-20 09:02
I guess I'm confusing ammo and guns. Thought you meant you'd
never heard of short barrel 22 lr mini, when I thought I had read you previously
owned one. I'm not trying trying to give you a hard time. Hope you can see
where I'm coming from. Confusion on my part. I apologize .

No worries at all! I know I'm asking a lot of questions and that gets annoying.
But yeah, I was just asking if there was such a thing as a "short barrel" 22LR round, since there is a "short barrel" 22WMR (Which I didn't know about until now)

Thanks for all the info so far guys! It's really helpful. Just want to make sure I'm shooting the right ammo since I know very little about these mini revolvers right now.

grayelky · February-11-20 14:02

To my knowledge, no one is currently making LR ammo formulated for short barrels. I suspect NAA had a LOT to do with the 3 loads available for 2" barreled guns chambered in 22 magnum..

comma · February-11-20 15:02

Quote from: grayelky on February-11-20 14:02
To my knowledge, no one is currently making LR ammo formulated for short barrels. I suspect NAA had a LOT to do with the 3 loads available for 2" barreled guns chambered in 22 magnum..

Thanks. Is are the critical defense made for short barrels? And what is the name of the Winchester you mentioned earlier? I can't seem to find any Winchester short barrel anywhere. Thanks!

Canoeal · February-11-20 16:02

The three designed for short barrels are CCI Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense FTX and Winchester PDX.

grayelky · February-11-20 16:02

Quote from: comma on February-11-20 15:02
Quote from: grayelky on February-11-20 14:02
To my knowledge, no one is currently making LR ammo formulated for short barrels. I suspect NAA had a LOT to do with the 3 loads available for 2" barreled guns chambered in 22 magnum..

Thanks. Is are the critical defense made for short barrels? And what is the name of the Winchester you mentioned earlier? I can't seem to find any Winchester short barrel anywhere. Thanks!

Don't feel bad. I have been looking since it was announced, and just last Wednesday located some in stock. You can try galleryofguns.com and see if they still have it.

I just checked, and they show 48 boxes in stock!

Texron · March-05-20 12:03

On You Tube this guy who tests different ammunition did a test of 22lr from short barrel pistols using a NAA MINI. I don't remember the barrel length or the name of the website. Sorry. Anyway, he tested about 20 different brands of ammunition, and found the two best to be Aguila Interceptors and CCI Mini-Mag Troy Landry 36 grain copper plated hollow points.
He found the Speer Gold Dots to penetrate the best of 22WHR rounds.
I am sorry I couldn't find the website, but you might have better luck.

Mickey · March-05-20 20:03

22lr Velocitor and for 22mag Gold Dot 40g

And pick up some 22mag shot shell

stantheman86 · March-18-20 13:03

For carry I exclusively use .22 WMR Hornady Critical Defense. There's 5 in the cylinder of my Pug sitting in my car right now and I have a few hundred rounds stored away. Because.......Hornady uses the best primers in the expensive defensive ammo.

For shooting I use whatever , Fiocchi , etc.
Had a misfire with Fiocchi in my Pug yesterday, had to tap it again to fire it. This is why you gotta buy the dedicated Defensive stuff.

The only really premium .22 LR that comes to mind would be Eley, Federal Match or CCI stuff in the plastic boxes. They use good primer coil for that stuff.

Don't carry it with cheap stuff like Blazer or Thunderbolt. Save that for range shooting.

Canoeal · March-19-20 20:03

Quote from: Texron on March-05-20 12:03
On You Tube this guy who tests different ammunition did a test of 22lr from short barrel pistols using a NAA MINI. I don't remember the barrel length or the name of the website. Sorry. Anyway, he tested about 20 different brands of ammunition, and found the two best to be Aguila Interceptors and CCI Mini-Mag Troy Landry 36 grain copper plated hollow points.
He found the Speer Gold Dots to penetrate the best of 22WHR rounds.
I am sorry I couldn't find the website, but you might have better luck.

Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyR1K92pyq4

OV-1D · March-20-20 05:03

Quote from: comma on February-08-20 15:02
Hey guys.
I looked through the pages of the forum and couldn't find much on ammo.

Newly getting back into NAA and just want the safest most reliable ammo I can get for my 1 and 1/8 magnum (It's the MSC model so I also have the 22 cylinder coming with it so recommendations on your favorite 22LR ammo are welcome too)

Anyway, what are your recommendations for the most reliable and safe to shoot 22mag ammo? I usually lean towards FMJ but open to any opinions.
I know varmint ammo is off the list.

A few I was looking at were Hornady Critical Defense and Winchester Super X.

Thanks!

Much on ammo ,you ain't been lookin Comma , its everywhere . Heres a group shot for you of just about everything that's been talked about ,ha ..

Canoeal · April-15-20 22:04

I saved that photo a while ago...I got some more Hornady CD today. Fed_Ex left the package on the front porch, 15 ft. from the road...