doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Single shot pistol, relined to 22 hornet?

Tangentially germane to this is the kiplauf I have that utilizes a very similar action. Its (original un-lined) barrel is chambered for 5.6x35R. Bore is a bit odd with a .225" groove diameter and a fast twist of 1-9". Out of respect for the old girl I load 52 gr. gaschecked bullets from a Lee Bator mould sized .226" with 6.0gr. 2400, Hornet brass neck sized with a custom expander. Quite a fun little rifle, and seeing this pistol has given me something to keep my eye peeled for as a companion piece.

Gary D.
Sounds like you have a fun pistol. If it will close on a Hornet case it likely had the rim recess deepened if it started as a 5.6x35R, the proof marks should tell you. A 22 Hornet should be marked with bore diameter in mm with 36 for case length. A 5.6x35R Vierling would be marked 35 for the case length. If it has the bore diameter marked in gauge measurement, it would be the Vierling cartridge since mm marking started before the Hornet was born. Shooting cast bullets is a good choice and 6 grains 2400 seems like it would be a good economical load. The gun and load are the type, my friends and I have a lot of fun with shooting at turtles. Notice I said shooting "at" not shooting, the little buggers have tiny heads. There is a high hill behind the pond to catch the bullets. It is fun, but also it is a pretty good exercise in range estimation.
Mike

Thanks, Mike. Marked "5.6x35". But, it's a kiplauf not a pistol. 25 7/8" barrel. I have no history of the rifle, but you're right that since Hornet brass chambers freely somebody must have deepened the rim recess.

Gary,
We find that change pretty often. The world is full of 22 Hornets, but 5.5X35R Vierlings are getting scarce. Other than the higher pressures, the main problem with the conversion to 22Hornet comes in combination guns where there is a second rifle barrel involved, mainly, but not exclusively, Vierlings. The two different caliber barrels were regulated to "shoot together", but modern Hornet ammo has a very different trajectory. For single shot rifles the "fix" is usually adjusting or replacing the sights, which is considerably easier than re-regulating Vierling barrels. The change to the sights may have already been done. Handloading to 5.6x35R specs also works, but if that was an option for the previous owner the conversion may not have been done. Have fun.
Mike

Would you happen to have any pictures? that sounds like a wonderful rifle.

Interesting find! It sounds like you have a unique single-shot pistol that might have been converted to .22 Hornet caliber.

The magled screws in the backstrap could definitely be evidence of a stock mount that was previously removed. Stocks on single-shot pistols can improve accuracy and stability.

Relining a pistol barrel to .22 Hornet is uncommon, but possible. It would be helpful to have a gunsmith confirm the caliber and assess the quality of the relining work.

Hello again. I was able to slug the barrel with a .224 35grn bullet which seems to show that the bore is ~.222". When I insert a live 22 hornet cartridge into the chamber it doesnt seat fully, but it doesnt seem to be the rim. Its feels like its catching on the cartridge shoulder or (if the bore slug is correct) that the bullet is slightly too large to sit in the throat of the bore.

Edit: yep, pulled the bullet out of the case and the case sits perfectly

journeyman,
Bullets of .222" are available but are a little hard to find. Unless my memory fails me, this diameter bullet is intended for the S&W Mod.53 revolvers, but should work fine in your pistol.
Mike

First cartridge on the left is a 40grn bullet pushed into a case so that the gun can lock up. Right cartridge is factory 35grn hornady


For the sake of it i fired the primed case. It looks like the primer is pushing out?

The primer pushing out would be 'normal' for just a primed case. Light loads will show the same tendency. The pressure of the powder burning and forcing the bullet out the end pushes back on the case (one of Newton's laws) and reseats the primer.