Wildcatting: Wee Workshop

Next to testing weird wildcats or long range varmint rifles, my favourite form of shooting, and one that is cheaper and more accessible to all, is rimfire. Mine are nearly all geared around 22 Long Rifle (LR) sub-sonic use for pest control, but match grade solids for 200 yard long range ammo also has its appeal.

Shorter than long

However, one form of 22 rimfire ammunition is top of the list and those are the reduced, or mini offerings; those being the BB and CB Caps and CB Long-type rounds. These offer a very unusual and specialised type of munition for close-range vermin, where collateral damage to barns and farm machinery may result. Also, there are a few shot shells, that utilise a brass rimfire case and crimped or capsule type end with a small payload of shot.

Their overall use for rats, feral pigeon etc. is useful, as a standard 22LR in buildings can cause property damage! Their accuracy and limited range, as well as awkwardness to feed can be problematic but persevere and you will have another string to your bow.

Diddy ammo

First up, are the pipsqueak loads with all ammunition compatible with 22LR chambers. Issues here are the shorter BB and CB caps don’t magazine-feed that well, due to their reduced COL, so manual loadings are required. They also tend to fall off the extractor claw on the bolt and drop into the action; so, pull the bolt back and tilt to the right to allow them to drop clear.

The BB and CB caps resemble a 22LR case cut down to approximately 1/3rd length but still retaining its rimmed base, with the projectile lightly crimped at the top as normal. The BB cap made by RWS are marked 6 mm Ball Breech Caps on the tin (although designated as 6 mm they are .22 calibre.) The round ball projectile weighs in at 15.5-grains for an average of five bullets. At first glance, it looks like it could not knock over a tin can, let alone a rat; however, velocities of 873 fps, which generates 26.2 ft/lbs of energy (a bit like an FAC-rated air rifle) are more than capable for any barnyard pest foray.

Tight groups?

Accuracy was tested at 5, 10 and 15 yards with my Sako Finnfire. At five, I had 4-shots in 0.5” and one flier, this happened each time for an 0.75” group. At 10, they grouped just over an inch and at 15 they printed 1.25”; in reality, 10 yards around the farm buildings is a more practical distance. The other alternative is the similar CB cap, which has identical case dimensions but possesses a conical projectile instead. The RWS CB (Conical Ball) cap has a sharp pointed conical bullet weighting 16.1-grains.

Muzzle velocity was 944 fps for 31.9 ft/ lbs. The Sellier and Belliot (S&B) CB caps had a slightly different design, with a 17.8-grain copper-washed bullet. Velocity from the 14.5” barrel was 837fps and 27.7 ft/lbs; making a CB cap a good alternative to 22 subs, due to the lighter bullet and less momentum and therefore overkill and travel. In the test rifles, the CB’s conical bullet was more accurate than the BB’s ball.

The S&B CB cap shot 0.75” at 5 yards with neatly cut holes. At 10, it was a bit wayward at 1.5” and the same at 15. To me, that says that the conical design is good for 10 yards then it deviates too much, my HW66 shot these slightly better at 10 yards.

Longer

Next comes the more conventionally shaped .22 CB longs. These give you enough knock down power to dispatch a rabbit and the low velocity makes for a quiet muzzle report without a sound moderator and inaudible with one fitted. Accuracy of these rounds is better, because they are more like conventionally designed bullets and there is also less bullet jump from cartridge to the start of the rifling in the barrel, as compared to the BB and CB caps. They also feed better with their longer length; so, a good all-rounder.

The CCI CB Longs are a 29-grain, lead, solid nosed bullet and I wish they made a softer lead hollow point design, to maximise lethality. The velocity is low at 717 fps for 33.1 ft/lbs, but on head shots you still must be a bit careful of misses and pass throughs hitting something behind, due to the heavier bullet’s momentum. They shoot well out to 20 yards with maximum 0.75” groups, and 0.5” clusters at 15. Their longer case means that they can usually magazine feed reliably too.

Z lang

Another round that I have been experimenting with, is the RWS Z Lang, which is a very consistent performer. It’s part of their Field Line range and shows good quality control for dependable accuracy. The name means ‘Room Round’ (Z for Zimmer) and is intended for use short, indoor ranges, though may be good at double duty vermin control.

They use a round-nosed lead bullet, so you still must be very careful with your shot, as previously mentioned. They are similar looking to the CCI CB long rounds and as such feed much better from a magazine. Bullet weight is 28.8-grains and gave a very consistent 851 fps/46.7 ft/lbs. Accuracy too was great; at 10 yards you have one big hole! Whilst at 20, the groups were still small at 0.45”, great little round and quiet too.

For comparison, the new Eley Subsonic weighs 38.3-grains, as opposed to the traditional 40, it shows a lighter lubricant and good hollow point design. These are expensive, but they are consistent, and where the smaller ammo tested here struggles at 20 yards, the Eley’s are all one hole and at 50 printing 0.5” easily. They are too much for close range work, as the 1042 fps generates 91.6 ft/lbs; nearly three times the power, which in a barn is a no no, hence reduced 22 ammo comes to the fore.

Shotshells

22 shot shells are a bit of a weird one, as they seem to offer potential but the small size of the pellets and low shot count surely can’t work? Well, let’s try a few out. I had the old but same CCI Mini Mag shot shells I have used from time to time and some newer Federal Game Shok; all sourced from FA Andersons.

These shot shells are an acquired taste. I know pest controllers who use them for very tight spaces where any solid type projectile is a no no. They work well at very close range as the patterns show, no more than 10 feet as the spread is too great and I found some pellets still imbedded in the paper as they failed to penetrate the cardboard backer.

However, the patterns were quite good for such a small payload, originally designed for use on snakes they are still useful. The Federals had a few feed issues, being tight to chamber in the Sako but had a greater payload for an impressive 106 pellet strikes at 5ft and a spread of 12”. At 10ft, the spread had doubled, and I was down to 79 strikes but still centring to the target with an even pattern.

By contrast, the CCI fed superbly with that plastic capsule acting like a conventional bullet. It has a smaller payload, so at 5 ft the spread was 15” and a total 74 strikes. It was quieter too, at 10ft the spread was 24” + and only 35 pellets hit home; but still nice centred shot and even pattern; so, if feeding or a fast second shot is essential, pick the CCIs.

Conclusion

The reduced load 22 rimfires are very useful, but they must like your rifle and can be sound moderator sensitive and sometimes best without one, which kind of defeats the object of a quiet, low-velocity round. However, my Sako and test HW66 both shoot very well with that odd rogue shot, now contributed to any moderator use. Feeding can be an issue with the BB and CB caps and the Federal shotshells were tight in the Sako but OK in the HW66; but, as a close-range, small vermin tool, I like them, and their very limited range makes them ideal for use in the barns at ferals or rats.

My advice, is to try a few in your rifle and enjoy the quieter things in life!

Contacts

Eley 0121 313 4567 22 rimfire ammo
RUAG 01579 362319 RWS caps
Westlander 0845 345 4808 Sellier and Bellot caps
GMK 01489 579999 Federal & CCI shotshell and CB Longs
Deben 01394 387762 Hawke scopes
Alan Rhone 01978 660001 S&L Sound Mods
Optics warehouse 01803 611895 BKL mounts
F A Andersons 01342 325604 Reduced loads