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From: n9020351@unicorn.cc.wwu.edu (James D. Del Vecchio)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: automatic .....22 magnums   -forget 'em
Message-ID: <34654@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 19 May 91 16:53:06 GMT
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gordonh@milton.u.washington.edu (Gordon Hayes) writes:

#Okay, this is weird, in a way, but I'm a writer, I love reading spy
#novels, I nearly entered this world myself, I'm trained in many aspects
#of the field (true martial arts, not just karate-stuff), so I heard
#many years ago that a .22 was an assassins weapon (reference a fiction
#novel THE GODFATHER).  So, I am wondering, is there a .22 magnum
#that would be auto., and easily carried?  Many of the ones I've seen,
#have hard edges, therfore, catching on clothing if extracted
#quickly.  Any comments?
------
Forget about a .22 magnum pistol.  The advantage of a .22 mag over a .22LR
only becomes apparent with a barrel over 17 inches or so.  As they are
_rifle_ rounds, they both use slow burning powder which imparts much of
the energy into to bullet as it travels down a long barrel.  The powder just
doesn't have enough time to burn in a short barrel, it just spatters out
unburnt.  In a 3" snubbie, the .22 mag actualy has _less_ speed and energy than
high-velocity .22LR rounds! (don't ask me why, this is just from ballistics
charts)

You do get a lot more of something, though.  And that's noise and muzzle flash.
In fact, for an asassin, this is exactly what is _not_ needed.  I've read the
thing about .22s in crime books before too.  I think the reason .22LR would
be useful for that is because its much quiter than larger guns, something which
would be defeated by the use of the mag.  .22LR is easier to silence.
Jim Del Vecchio