Posted: 2/13/2005 8:10:45 PM EDT
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If you've already heard of the ".22 Reed Express", then, as the cops in the movies say, move along folks, nothing here to see. If not, check the link .22 Reed Express Good rule of thumb for guys like me is, if you think you just came up with something neat, you can't possibly be the first one with the notion. Proven once again... I have dorked around with a hot-rod CF .22 for a LONG time, with many bucks spent and no success. Looks like this guy has done it with a necked down 7.65x25 round. Personally, I like the idea better than the Belgian as it's short enough to be adapted to a 1911 or Glock, which I don't think you can do with the FN round. Plus the ballistics look better as the cartridge is fatter. Downside is you have to go from 20 rounds in a double-stack mag to probably "only" 15-17 (!). Could be a dream w/ 50-55 gr Ballistic Tip or other similar pill. The fellow says he's having barrels made up for CZ52; would love to see some enterprising soul make right size extractors and mags to permit this round in one of our more familiar pieces (again, Colt or Glock). My personal most recent version was to use 9x23 Win case as a baseline becase it uses the 9mm rim. Nothing's perfect, and anyway perfection is the nemy of good enough. I think Mr. Reed has struck "good enough". edited to fix link |
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Re: velocity Definitely a fair question. I can only guess as I'm not at all familiar w/ powder choices, etc. However, you see 2700+ fps for a 35 gr bullet. This bullet is about the same weight of the SS190 rd (in fact I think the Belgian is closer to 31gr), and the Five Seven kicks it out at a respectable 2000-2100fps. Even with a 75-100fps/inch loss from 10" down to ~5", you're still ahead by 10% or more, and in a small round that depends on fragmentation as well as penetration for performance, 10% or more is meaningful. I need to be careful here as I'm sounding like the guy's lead salesman. I'm not -- the ballistic data he's published is all new to me (though it aligns pretty closely to calculated values for a 33-38,000 psi load in a cartridge this size). Will be interesting to hear from folks who know more. |