Rifle Cartridges!

[game_keeper]

Hi,

although to the experienced rifle hunter this may seem like a stupid question, but still being young and not knowing Much about rifles, i thought i would put this to you lot. Can anyone explain to me what the LR after a cartridge size is? (ie .22LR). Also what difference does a rifle being rimfire or a rifle being a centre fire make? Any advice greatful. Many thanks,

Rob

[milo_05]

Most things after a cartridge are descriptive of it or the maker like,

WMR=winchester magnum round

HMR=Hornady magnum round

WSM=Winchester Short Magnum

Now I am a rifle newby but looking to get one soon so I think I got those right. LR though means Long Rifle, and Im not sure where that comes from.

 

Basically in a rimfire the firing pin hits the rim of the cartridge to detonate it, in a centrefire it hit's the centre. However, rimfires are the weakest rifles producing more moderate velocities and pushing lighter bullets, and you can't reload for them.

 

With centrefire you can go from relatively small , .22 hornet, to something huge like .50BMG.

 

I asked the same question myself about 8 months ago.

Edited March 25, 2006 by milo_05

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

Yep, LR means long rifle.

 

As against shorts, which have a shorter case, and so hold less powder.

 

Lots of the early rifles were shorts, and development to LR came as a natural progression for increased power and velocity.

 

I think I am right in saying that most of the gallery 0.22's at fairgrounds are chambered in short, as power is not needed, plus the rounds are cheaper.

 

You can use short rounds in a LR chambered rifle, although it has always been said that persistent use of shorts will erode the chamber and lead to inaccuracy and wear of the rifling at the end of the chamber.

 

I have used shorts, and they can be useful for short range use, when less power is required. However, accuracy beyond 25 yards is poor.

 

Eley brought out the Eley 'Z' round which was a very low powered LR round. Again, in the past I have used these for short range use. However, they are not accurate at all at ranges beyond 25 yards or so.

 

 

Finally, there is also a round called a BB cap, which is even shorter than a short round. I have never tried these, but I would have thought that they would be absolutely useless unless you are shooting wasps at 5 yards range. No doubt i will stand to be corrected.

 

Don