.22RF trainer details wanted

[Tony Smith]

Have recently acquired a Lithgow SMLE No2 .22 trainer. Lovely bit of workmanship, and cheap to run. .22 ammo is available these days in a bewildering array of choices, but what were the original specs of WD .22RF ammo? .22 trainers have been in Commonwealth use since before 1900 (with a Morris Tube), and are still in use today (in the Aust F88T .22 trainer). I would presume that the original .22 used was a .22 short, but currently a .22LR is used. What were the original specs (Short/Long Rifle, grain weight, and MV)? At what point did they change from a .22 short or .22 long (rifle will chamber both)?

[Richard Farrant]

Tony,

When I started rifle shooting in the early 60's our club had a No.8, which is a .22 version of a Lee Enfield No.4. It was as good as some of the newer types like Anshutz, and you could do a good group with it. Also fast to load when needed on some competitions. I can never remember using Short in a rifle. Some pistols used it, all of the old WD .22 ammo we got hold of, usually via the local Army Cadets, was Long and copper cases. The cases used to stick in the chamber and it was not popular stuff to use.
Your mention of the F88T, reminds me of using a .22 version of the SA80, felt like using a toy pop gun after a No.8 !

The first rifle I ever used was my father's SMLE at Bisley, I was around 13 at the time.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
What were the original specs (Short/Long Rifle, grain weight, and MV)?

Tony,

Just found a 1953 catalogue of Parker-Hale. In there it gives the spec. of ICI .22 rimfire ammo (WD ammo was usually made by ICI ).

.22 Long Standard
bullet weight 30 grains
muzzle velocity 1025 fps
energy per ft lb 70

.22 Short Standard
bullet weight 30 grains
muzzle velocity 925 fps
energy per ft lb 57

Richard

[horsa]

The wartime box of ICI .22 that I have is the long rifle type. Longs and Shorts will both work equally in an Enfield trainer since they are single fed manually and the magazine is merely used as a spent shell catcher.

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
Just found a 1953 catalogue of Parker-Hale. In there it gives the spec. of ICI .22 rimfire ammo (WD ammo was usually made by ICI ).

Found a packet of WD ICI "RIM FIRE .22 Inch Mark 1", box dated 1944.

Some B****** has open the box and used 3 rounds, only 97 left!

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
When I started rifle shooting in the early 60's ....... all of the old WD .22 ammo we got hold of, usually via the local Army Cadets, was Long and copper cases. The cases used to stick in the chamber and it was not popular stuff to use.

Yes, the cases are copper, and despite their appearance in the pic, are in excellent condition. Each case is coated with a waxy film, which is the dark patches on the case. If this wasn't cleaned off before somehow, I think they would be sticky in the chamber, particularly as the rifle got warmer with use, causing the wax to remain on the chamber wall.

Pic below is a comparison of the WD ICI case on the left compared with various modern stuff.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Some B****** has open the box and used 3 rounds, only 97 left!

Tony,

They would probably have used more, but the first three would have gone, "click" or "phhhtttt"

[maple_leaf_eh]

As for the fired three rounds, put 3 new ones in so the others will hold their "set" and not fall out of place. As long as the new ones are obviously new, don't worry.

For all matters Lee Enfield, I have haunted the dub dub dub dot jouster dot com Lee Enfield forum for many years. There are lots of collectors and shooters there who will be happy to answer your questions.