Topic: .22 comparisons

[Kevin Rippman]

I have a case where some 40 grain Cu JHP .22 bullets were recovered from autopsy. No cartridge cases. The bullets are 6R and can be readily identified together.


A few .22 LR firearms were submitted for comparison. The firearms are also 6R and have the same LIMP/GIMP measurements as my Cu bullets. .22 Magnum cartridges will not fit in any of the firearms.


Would you fire .22 LR cartridges and compare the lead bullets to the Cu bullet? Or would you eliminate outright because of the implied cartridge difference?


We have been having some internal discussion about the possibility of reloading .22 metal jacketed bullets into .22 LR cartridge cases. We would like to know what other labs would do or if anyone has seen anything like that.

[Steve Scott]

IMO, it would be extremely difficult (and somewhat foolish) to attempt reload 22 caliber cartridge cases with a jacketed bullet.  The soft brass of the 22LR cc would bear toolmarks reflective of the reloading.

You could err on the side of caution by stating that the firearms will not chamber 22Magnum ammo, which the bullets are characteristic of, remembering that some 22LR revolvers (if you have any) can be equipped with a 22Mag cylinder (which may not have been submitted).