I knew of the Martz 22 Wm, but very little about the mechanics of it. I have assumed it was modified to operate as a blow back like the Erma and Stoeger look likes.
By the way, the 17 rimfire presents no special problems in any self loader originally designed for the 22 WM as they are blow backs and depend on the prssure curve to operate rather than impulse. There are a number of rifles around, but I keep hoping for a decent pistol. The AMT 22 mag pistol doesn't strike me as a very good example. For starters the eaxmples I've seen had a really bad trigger pull.
As for the 22 centerfire Luger concept, I forsee no modificatuions to the pistol other than replaceing the barrel and recoil spring. The magazine might require some modification to feed properly.
Second point, while running things on paper it dawned on me that one might use a 30 mauser or Tokarov case. By trimming it back you could end up with a bit more capacity than the 30 Luger case.
I'll have to get some cases and measure actual capacity but going by outside diminsions, I was surprised to find the 30 Luger case occupies more volume than a 22 Hornet case.
Using SAAMI pressures for the 30 Luger it should get a saboted 45 grain 22 up to around 2200 fps and have just enough impulse to cycle.
The same 45 gr 22 bullet going through a 22 barrel would need to do better than 2000 fps to cycle the action even with a soft recoil spring. The Hornet will do this with a 10 inch barrel.
I think the Luger using a shortened and necked down 30 Mauser case will break 2000 fps with a six or eight inch barrel. This would exceed SAAMI presuures for the 30 Luger but might stay within SAAMI limits for the 9 mm. The action design pressure is actually higher than this, but you have to keep in mind that the individual pistol wasn't proofed for use at the design pressure unless it was a carbine.
The BIG question: Is 2000 fps worth all the cost and rigamarole?
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