View source for .22 long

{{Short description|Variety of rimfire 22 caliber ammunition}}
{{distinguish|text=the [[.22 long rifle]], or with other [[.22 caliber]] variants}}
{{Infobox firearm cartridge
|name=.22 long 
|image=22 Long, 22 LR, 22 Winchester Magnum.JPG | image_size = 250px
|caption=.22 long (left), [[.22 long rifle]] (middle), [[.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire]] (right)
|origin=United States
|type=Rifle
<!-- Production history --> 
|design_date=
|manufacturer=
|production_date=1871–present
|number= 
|variants= 
<!-- Specifications -->
|is_SI_specs=
|parent=[[.22 short]]
|case_type=Rimmed, straight
|bullet=.222
|neck=.226
|shoulder=
|base=.226
|rim_dia=.278
|rim_thick=.043
|case_length=.613
|length=.888
|rifling=1-16"
|primer=Rimfire
|max_pressure=24000
<!-- Ballistic performance -->
|is_SI_ballistics=
|bw1=29
|btype1=RN
|vel1=1038
|en1=67
|bw2=
|btype2=
|vel2=
|en2=
|bw3=
|btype3=
|vel3=
|en3=
|bw4=
|btype4=
|vel4=
|en4=
|bw5=
|btype5=
|vel5=
|en5=
|test_barrel_length=
|balsrc= ''Cartridges of the World''<ref name="cotw">''Cartridges of the World 11th Edition'', by Frank C. Barnes, Edited by Stan Skinner, Gun Digest Books, 2006, {{ISBN|0-89689-297-2}}, pp. 490, 492</ref>
}}

The '''.22 long''' is a variety of .22 [[caliber]] (5.6&nbsp;mm) [[rimfire ammunition]]. The .22 long is the second-oldest of the surviving rimfire cartridges, dating back to 1871, when it was loaded with a {{convert|29|gr|abbr=on}} bullet and {{convert|5|gr|abbr=on}} of [[black powder]], 25% more than the [[.22 short]] on which it was based. It was designed for use in [[revolver]]s, but was soon chambered in [[rifle]]s as well, in which it gained a reputation as a small game cartridge.<ref name="cotw" />

In 1887, the .22 long case was combined with the heavier {{convert|40|gr|abbr=on}} bullet of the [[.22 extra long]] of 1880 to produce the [[.22 long rifle]], giving a longer overall length and a higher [[muzzle energy]]. Many firearms designed for the .22 long rifle will chamber and fire the shorter round, though the .22 long generally does not generate sufficient energy to operate [[Semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic]] guns. The one prominent survivor of the .22 long is the .22 CB long, a long-cased version of the [[.22 CB]].<ref name=rimfire>{{cite web|last=Hawks|first=Chuck|title=A Brief History of .22 Rimfire Ammunition|url=http://www.chuckhawks.com/history_rimfire_ammo.htm |publisher=chuckhawks.com|accessdate=31 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=specs>{{cite web|title=22 Long Rifle Ammunition Specifications and Experience|url=http://www.flat5.net/22LR_velocities.html|publisher=flat5.net|accessdate=31 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102122605/http://www.flat5.net/22LR_velocities.html|archive-date=2013-11-02|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=sw>{{cite web|title=Some interesting .22 Ammo information|url=http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/234829-some-interesting-22-ammo-information.html|publisher=smith-wessonforum.com|accessdate=31 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=gundata>{{cite web|title=.22 Long Rifle High Velocity And Hyper Velocity Ballistics|url=http://gundata.org/cartridge/172/.22-long-rifle-high-velocity-and-hyper-velocity/|publisher=gundata.org|accessdate=31 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rocketto|first=Hap|title=[PDF]A Short History of the .22 Rimfire Cartridge|url=http://www.csrra.com/results/2011-05-11%20A%20Short%20History%20%200f%20%2022%20Rimfire%20Ammo.pdf|publisher=csrra.com|accessdate=31 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102073235/http://www.csrra.com/results/2011-05-11%20A%20Short%20History%20%200f%20%2022%20Rimfire%20Ammo.pdf|archive-date=2013-11-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The original .22 long loading used the same powder charge as the .22 long rifle, .22 long bullet was significantly lighter, but it did not result in higher velocities for the .22 long when fired from a rifle. The large barrel volume to chamber volume ratio of a .22 rimfire rifle means that the powder gasses have expanded as far as they can before the bullet reaches the muzzle of a normal-length rifle barrel, and the light .22 long bullet has less [[inertia]] than the .22 long rifle. The quieter report and lower penetration of the .22 long cartridge were often seen as desirable qualities.

The .22 long rifle performs as well in a short [[handgun]] barrel as the .22 long, and outperforms it in a long rifle barrel.

Modern [[Hypervelocity]] loadings of the .22 long rifle use bullets as light as {{convert|30|gr|abbr=on}}, and modern blends of powder to generate velocities higher than normal loads, and chamber pressures high enough to cycle semi-automatic firearms reliably. The most well known of these is the [[CCI (ammunition)|CCI Stinger]], which goes so far as to stretch the case length slightly. The overall length is still within the max overall length for the .22 long rifle.

The .22 long is still produced even after the change over to [[Smokeless powder|smokeless powders]]. CCI currently loads a high-velocity .22 long with a muzzle velocity of {{convert|1215|ft/s|abbr=on}} and a muzzle energy of {{convert|95|ftlbf|abbr=on}}<ref name=rimfire />

==Specifications==
* Length:
** Case: 0.613 in (15.6 mm)
** Overall: 0.888 in (22.6 mm)
* Bullet weight: 29 gr (1.88 g)
** Twist: 1 in 20 for dedicated firearms

==See also==
* [[.22 BB]]
* [[.22 CB]]
* [[.22 short]]
* [[.22 extra long]]
* [[.22 long rifle]]
* [[.22 magnum]]
* [[.22 Hornet]]
* [[5 mm caliber]]
* [[List of rifle cartridges]]
* [[List of rimfire cartridges]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:22 Long}}
[[Category:1871 introductions]]
[[Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges]]
[[Category:Rimfire cartridges]]