Will a .22lr/.22short function in .22mag?

[dmanflynn]

Im posting this in the handgun section because it is a handgun Im inquiring about. Ive never owned a .22mag before but am contemplating purchasing a little revolver that is .22mag. Is there any case circumference difference between the .22mag, .22lr? Obviously in a magazine fed rifle you'd have issues swapping ammo because of the size of the magazine but not in a revolver if the case sizes (not length of course) are the same right?

I just dont want to get something Im stuck shooting mags out of all the time.

[spdldr]

They are not interchangeable. Standard practice is to have a spare cylinder for the .22WMR round.

[tpd223]

The .22mag is larger than the other .22 rim fire rounds, firing the smaller rounds in the .22mag will result in blown cases.

[iCarbine]

You must never attempt to fire .22LR in a .22 Mag, or vice versa. The .22LR/Long/Short etc family of cartridges use a heel type bullet which leaves the casing and bullet the same diameter, and the casing is crimped in to the heel which is smaller in diameter. The .22 Mag, like all modern cartridges, uses a casing that is larger in diameter than the bullet, and the casing is crimped into the shank or ogive of the bullet depending on the particular load in question.

Being that the .22 Mag casing is larger in diameter, a .22LR round will chamber, however quite loosely, and if fired would result in a case failure. At the low power level of the .22LR, a catastrophic failure of the gun would be unlikely, however, it is still possible. On the other hand, the .22 Mag will not chamber in a .22LR.