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ithacaartist · 02-14-2012, 04:31 PM

Rick,
As you may have noticed, I've been dabbling around with a conversion kit. And during this time, I'm also reading Fred Datig's amazing book, in which the single shot conversions are covered somewhat. It would seem that a ramrod was part of those kits, with which the expended round is pushed from the barrel. I think whether the offset is up or down might not make a difference in having the original firing pin strike the rim. Without a different breech block and spring arrangement, the Luger simply will not cycle from the recoil of a .22lr. For the .22 rim to be chambered in front of an original breech block,it would seem to me that a concentrically cut relief step would be necessary at the rear of the chamber of the barrel insert, to accommodate the rim of the .22 round. I'd also think that the offset would also be limited by the fact that the diameter of the base of the .22 round would need to fall within the relief on the face of the original breech block, let in for the heels of the 9 mm or 7.65 mm Luger rounds. Somehow, proper headspace must also be maintained, as you mentioned, and there is definitely a rectangular chunk on the breech ends of the Erma kits, because they have different breech blocks. The other kits apparently also have an extra bit of dimension in that area, if only to keep the barrel in when the nut on the muzzle end is tightened; but I think this structure would also accommodate what's needed to fully support the round, as you said, and allow for placing everything in battery with proper headspace.
Erma was the only source of repeating .22 conversion kits.
For a single shot setup. one would engage the holdopen by inserting an empty mag after the shot is fired. The action is opened by hand, and the mag is then removed after the holdopen has been engaged. Next, use ramrod to push out shell casing, then insert new round and cycle the action, and you're good to go for one more shot. Too bad the extractor or ejector won't work, but such are the limitations unless you go to a different, blowback top end like the Ermas, whether pistol or Luger conversion kit. The original parts can't be influenced enough to fully cycle--eject, co*c, feed--even if the offset system allowed any of the related parts anywhere near the areas of .22 rim they need to show up near, to do what they need to do.

02-14-2012, 04:31 PM	#2
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,284 Thanks: 7,013 Thanked 2,478 Times in 1,320 Posts	Rick, As you may have noticed, I've been dabbling around with a conversion kit. And during this time, I'm also reading Fred Datig's amazing book, in which the single shot conversions are covered somewhat. It would seem that a ramrod was part of those kits, with which the expended round is pushed from the barrel. I think whether the offset is up or down might not make a difference in having the original firing pin strike the rim. Without a different breech block and spring arrangement, the Luger simply will not cycle from the recoil of a .22lr. For the .22 rim to be chambered in front of an original breech block,it would seem to me that a concentrically cut relief step would be necessary at the rear of the chamber of the barrel insert, to accommodate the rim of the .22 round. I'd also think that the offset would also be limited by the fact that the diameter of the base of the .22 round would need to fall within the relief on the face of the original breech block, let in for the heels of the 9 mm or 7.65 mm Luger rounds. Somehow, proper headspace must also be maintained, as you mentioned, and there is definitely a rectangular chunk on the breech ends of the Erma kits, because they have different breech blocks. The other kits apparently also have an extra bit of dimension in that area, if only to keep the barrel in when the nut on the muzzle end is tightened; but I think this structure would also accommodate what's needed to fully support the round, as you said, and allow for placing everything in battery with proper headspace. Erma was the only source of repeating .22 conversion kits. For a single shot setup. one would engage the holdopen by inserting an empty mag after the shot is fired. The action is opened by hand, and the mag is then removed after the holdopen has been engaged. Next, use ramrod to push out shell casing, then insert new round and cycle the action, and you're good to go for one more shot. Too bad the extractor or ejector won't work, but such are the limitations unless you go to a different, blowback top end like the Ermas, whether pistol or Luger conversion kit. The original parts can't be influenced enough to fully cycle--eject, co*c, feed--even if the offset system allowed any of the related parts anywhere near the areas of .22 rim they need to show up near, to do what they need to do.