Monday afternoon I tried standard velocity CCI .22 lr rn, the result being that they simply refused to cycle the action fully, leaving the next round sitting in the mag. Often, the pistol did not cycle thoroughly enough to c*ck. The Mini-Mags continue to work well, at least 90%.
rhuff, I am also concerned that higher velocity rounds might do my pistol harm with too much energy. However, ammo available today may actually be key in alleviating the Erma's woes, since problems of this kind go way back to when the gun was first made. It may be that the little extra oomph was part of something the design needed all along to make it more dependable. However, the duration of the recoil pulse is something that should be considered as well as its amplitude. Slower-moving bullet=longer-lasting pulse? Somehow, this is working both ends against the middle. To make the experiment complete, I should some sub-sonic match/target rounds. These would be gentler on the mechanism, I think.
Bullet weight is another factor. The Mini-Mags are 40 grains, like the standard lr., and have performed better in feeding and cycling than all others so far. A higher weight bullet would increase chamber and barrel pressures more than a lighter one, due to its greater momentum. It would also increase the duration of the recoil pulse, since the slug would stay in the gun a little longer. A lighter bullet with a proportionally lighter bullet would do the same, the difference being in the total amount of energy available on firing. I'm not sure if the available .22 loads as yet untried would offer a slower-burning powder, which would also increase the length of recoil pulse. Anyone have suggestions as to any other stuff I might try in it? I think it should be a copper plated solid, less than 40 grains.
|