.22 Extra Long

The .22 Extra Long is a .22 in (5.6 mm) American rimfire rifle and handgun cartridge.

.22 Extra Long
.22 Long Rifle (left) and .22 Extra Long (right).
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Produced	1880–1935
Specifications
Case type	Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter	.223 in (5.7 mm)
Neck diameter	.225 in (5.7 mm)
Base diameter	.225 in (5.7 mm)
Rim diameter	.275 in (7.0 mm)
Rim thickness	.043 in (1.1 mm)
Case length	.750 in (19.1 mm)
Overall length	1.16 in (29 mm)
Primer type	Rimfire
Maximum pressure (CIP)	26,000 psi (180 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 40 gr (3 g) (late smokeless) 1,050 ft/s (320 m/s) 98 ft⋅lbf (133 J)
Source(s): Barnes & Amber 1972

Background

Introduced in 1880,^[1] the .22 Extra Long was used in Remington, Ballard, Wesson, Stevens, and later (1916) models of Winchester's M1902 and M1904 single-shot bolt-action rifles,^[2] as well as in Smith & Wesson revolvers.^[2]

Using the same 40 gr (2.6 g) outside-lubricated bullet later adapted for the much more common .22 Long Rifle,^[2] the Extra Long was loaded with 6 gr (389 mg) of black powder.^[2] Originally, it slightly outperformed the .22 LR, but was "not noted for great accuracy",^[2] while later smokeless loads achieved about the same muzzle velocity as the .22 LR.^{[citation needed]}

As with the .22 Winchester Automatic^[3] and .22 Remington Automatic,^[4] the .22 Extra Long will not chamber correctly in .22 Long Rifle weapons.^[2] Because it is very dimensionally-similar, however, the shorter .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 LR will chamber in weapons designed for it^[2] (in the same way a .38 Special cartridge can be loaded into a .357 Magnum revolver, or a .44 Special cartridge can be loaded into a .44 Magnum) revolver.^{[citation needed]}

The power of the .22 Extra Long is comparable to the standard velocity .22 Long Rifle,^[2] which is much more commonly chambered and sold.^{[citation needed]}

The .22 Extra Long ceased to be offered commercially in 1935.^[2]

See also

• .22 BB
• .22 CB
• .22 Short
• .22 Long
• .22 Long Rifle
• .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
• .22 Hornet
• List of rimfire cartridges
• 5mm caliber
• List of cartridges by caliber
• List of rifle cartridges
• List of rimfire cartridges

References

1. Lermayer, R. M. (n.d.). Gunhunter. Buckmasters. https://buckmasters.com/Magazines/GunHunter/Articles/ID/2454/Evolution-of-the-22
2. Barnes, p.274, ".22 Extra Long".
3. Barnes, p.275, ".22 Winchester Automatic".
4. Barnes, p.275, ".22 Remington Automatic".

Notes

• Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. ".22 Extra Long", in Cartridges of the World, pp. 274, 282, & 283. Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972. ISBN 0-695-80326-3.