Dimitri, HEY DIMITRI!!

sniper · Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:27 am Post subject: Dimitri, HEY DIMITRI!!

Are you back yet?

This was in the early '60s, and so, before your time, but have you ever heard of a cartridge called the .22 JGR?

It was a wildcat, developed by a Canadian , John Gower, who had a shop in one of the eastern provinces, called John Gower Gunsports ,Ltd. There was an article about it one of the gun magazines. I carried that article around the world with me for years, until it became lost in a move.

Mr. Gower somhow modified .22 rimfire rifles, and the round would work through a standard magazine, IIRC. He used some sort of pistol brass, probably .25 ACP, and necked it down to .22, probably with a one diameter neck, and did some machining. He offered conversion services, brass and dies.

I thought that sounded like a really practical little caliber, but finishing my military obligation, 2 1/2 years in Europe, then College got in the way.

It never caught on, and of course, improvements in the .22 Long Rifle, Like MiniMags, Powerpoints, and Velocitors since then have more or less eliminated the need for the neat little caliber. Of course, the .22 Hornet, K-Hornet, and .221 Fireball would be more practical, I think.

Hmmmm..... Being a machinst and all, d'you suppose it would be possible to modify a spare Ruger 77-22 barrel to a .21 Fireball? They already do the .22 Hornet on the same chassis, so, the K should be a snap! But that Fireball? What do you think?

No, No, forget it! BAAADDD idea! Whip

Oh, well: just got handed my head on another forum for asking such a stupid question. The Fireball and Hornet are centerfires, with the barrel threaded and screwed into the action, and the bolt is different. Another one for the "It seemed like a good idea at the time..." list. Bonk

When you get to be owner of your own firearms company, maybe you will save a little space among the Lasers, Phasers,and directed energy beam weapons for the lowly .22 Long Rifle, and its stone age family. Very Happy

Good holidays!

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Sniper,

Never left just completly missed this topic even with the name you gave it. Shocked

Never heard of the .22 JGR, only Canadian cartrage I know of is the 303 Epps a "improved" 303 British round (made in Ontario the gunshop that Ellwood Epps created which is named after him and its just a couple of hours from me, I've passed it atleast a couple dozen times and still havnt stoped in) improved for ease of reloading the brass not for speed gains like other "improved" rounds, although there are slight speed boosts. Smile

No Lasers and Phasers in my plans for a firearms company. Just because I'm young doesnt mean I don't prefer the older tried and true items, wood and steel, with maybe some Aluminum to save weight. Very Happy

The Ruger 77-22 is a bolt action, depending on how much you wanted the .221 fireball in that rifle I'm sure you could get a bolt made up for it that would work in the original gun but in a centerfire form. But you'd also have to cut out the reciever since the 221 Fireball is alittle longer then the 22LR. Mind you after all of thouse modifications I dont know if I'd shoot it. Shocked

Would be easyer, safer and more economical to make the 221 Fireball using a 223 Remington Ruger M77 as a base. Smile

Dimitri

sniper · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Dimitri, HEY DIMITRI!!

Dimitri wrote:

Sniper,

Mind you after all of thouse modifications I dont know if I'd shoot it. Shocked

Would be easyer, safer and more economical to make the 221 Fireball using a 223 Remington Ruger M77 as a base. Smile

Dimitri

Dimitri:
I totally agree!
After further consideration, and comparing pressure figures, Shocked

Wellll...like I said, it did seem like a good idea at the time.
Probably could get a small action rebarrelled to .221 Fireball for le$$ than a conversion of some sort would cost. For that matter, a new .223 rifle would fill the bill in fine fashion, and cost less, too.

Ellwood Epps? Wasn't he a Country-Western singer, or something?

Have a GOOD New Year! Smile

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Sniper,

No idea if there was a Country Western Singer of the same name, although to be fair I only really lisen to newer country music. Smile

I'd stick with the 223 Remington if I was you and I'd try to get one of thouse 1:12 twist barrels if your doing shorter range work, the bullets will fragment quite on groundhogs and coyotes. Very Happy

Have a good new year as well Smile

Dimitri