Never sure where to ask this stuff, but since this is the "Rifle Column"... Somebody direct me if there's a better venue.
My question is: Does anyone know if the old .22WRF was originally loaded with black powder? My Cartridges of the World has it as introduced in 1890 with the Win 1890 pump. Isn't that a tad too early for a smokeless civilian ctg? Was "semi-smokeless" available then?
Just as a side note, I never have heard this ctg. referred to as .22WRF in conversation. Back when it was available and there were still guns in use, it was always ".22 Special," although I also never saw any of the round-nosed "Remington" type 45 gr. shells either. The only loading I ever saw until the ctg. was re-introduced as a copper-coated hollow point is the original Winchester 45 gr flatpoint. Old timers attributed magical powers to the ".22 Special," which did appear to kill small stuff deader faster than .22 LR. I use it as a quieter subload in my S&W 651 when I can find it, and still have a Stevens Ideal Mod 44 (plain-Jane) and a Win M68 single shot in this cal. Have seen and handled a late round-barrelled Lo-wall in .22 WRF as well, also a plain-Jane Plain Sporting Rifle.
Hi Mike,
I see you haven't gotten much response on one of my old favorites! I'll give you some comments about the ol' "WRF"
My first .22 many years ago was a Winchester Model 90 pump. It was chambered for .22 Short. I always wanted a Model 90 in .22 W.R.F. The oldtimers 60 years past told me WRF's weren't accurate... Today, I have one.... Today I know about WRF accuracy!
The .22 W.R.F. was introduced by Winchester in 1890 along with the Model 90 rifle. Ammunition had a 45 grain flat point inside lubricated bullet with 7 grs of black powder for a powder charge. Velocity was around 1100 fps. Semi-smokeless loads were around in the early 1900's and finally smokeless in the 20's. The smokeless rounds were the same 45gr flat point bullet at 1050fps. Around 1932 Winchester and Western brought out the Super Speed and Super-X rounds with the 45gr bullet at 1450fps. A 40gr hollow point was added at 1475fps.
45 years ago, I had a friend in Montana that had a Remington Model 12 pump in .22 Remington Special. George called it a .22 Special. Seems us Winchester boys called it the "WRF". What ever you called this ol' Model 12 of George's it
wasn't NOT VERY ACCURATE! George had a conglomeration of shells; a little of everything... Some were WRF, some were marked Rem. Spl. some Hollow Points, some copper plated, some casings nickel plated... But one thing about them all is they would shoot! That Remington Model 12 "Special" was accurate with anything you feed it. George killed a black bear with it once!
Today's ammo has been slowed down some to around 1300 fps. My Model 90 shoots the Winchester ammo the best. It will outshoot my Model 90 .22 Short as well.
The flat point Winchester bullet mushrooms some even as a solid. It is a great small game round!
The Remington ammunition had a much smaller flat point even when still marked Rem. Spl...... I've never seen a round nose version around. Maybe the round nose was there when the Model 12 came around in 1912 and Remington started loading the shells??. I don't know...
Enjoy the fine old round! I bet that Stevens 44 is an accurate one in WRF!
d/n
