22 Short Ammo For Sale

Introduced as the first American metallic cartridge ever produced in 1857, the .22 Short was an entirely self-contained cartridge that was moisture-resistant and more quickly reloaded than other firearms of the era. It was a rimfire cartridge, meaning that the priming compound was applied inside the rim of the cartridge, which ignited the powder charge held in the case. Smith & Wesson's first revolver was chambered for the .22 Short, which was designed to be used as a self-defense cartridge – a popular use for soldiers in the Civil War. The .22 Short remained popular after the war and was chambered in a growing variety of rifles and small pistols. Many youngsters of the late 19th century and early to mid 20th century received .22 Short rifles as their first gun. While it was eventually replaced by the more popular .22 LR, there are still dedicated fans who have kept the place of this cartridge secure in the world of shooting.

The original .22 Shorts carried black powder, and the old Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolvers that shot them often suffered from pitting. In the smokeless powder era, the 29 grain (gr) bullet provided some serious speed and power for this little round. Make it into a hollow point and you have a seriously deadly and accurate round for shooting small game at short range. It’s relatively quiet, making it an excellent choice for guys sitting around their backyard plinking on a Saturday night. This likewise means it’s an effective round for hunters who want to maintain a bit of stealth.

22 Short Ballistics: Chart of Average 22 Short Ballistics

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

Written by

Sam Jacobs