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The humble .22 inch Rimfire is often overlooked as a military cartridge but its history in British military service is both long and complex.
The nomenclature changed a number of times and once away from the original box rounds are almost impossible to identify.
Aiming Tube Mark I
"Cartridge Aiming Tube Rimfire Mark I" was approved to design RL 13881 in November 1904 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph 13642 dated July 1905. The title was changed to "Cartridge .22 inch Rimfire No.1 (Mark I)" by Loc 15628 in October 1908 and again to "Cartridge .22 inch Rimfire No.1 Black Powder (Mark I)" by LoC 17550 in February 1915.
The case was of drawn copper-zinc alloy with the priming composition in the rim. This was the case of the .22 inch Extra Long. Since these all seem to have been made by contractors it is assumed that they had the contractors normal headstamp.
The bullet was lead and weighed 39.9 grains. There were three roughened external cannelures to hold lubrication
The propellant charge was 4.7 grains of RFG2 black powder.
Label from Kynoch packet of .22 inch Rimfire No.1 Mark I
No.2 Mark I
"Cartridge .22 inch Rimfire No.2 (Mark I)" was approved for Naval service in October 1908 and shown in Lists of Changes Paragraph 15628 dated November 1908.
The case was that of the .22 inch Short and made of a copper-zinc alloy.
The bullet was lead and weighed 30 grains.
The propellant charge is not given in the LoC Paragraph but was about 3 grains of black powder.
Smokeless Mark I
Cartridge .22 inch Rimfire No.1 Smokeless (Mark I)" was approved to design CIW 1981 in February 1915 and shown in Lists of changes Paragraph 17461 dated February 1915. It was introduced for Naval service by LoC 24639 dated September 1921.
T
he case was the long case similar to the No.1 Black powder (Mark I).The bullet was lead with three roughened cannelures and weighed 40 grains.
The propellant charge was not given in the LoC Paragraph but was about 2 grains of smokeless propellant.
Rimfire Mark I
"Cartridge S.A. .22 inch Rimfire Mark I". It is believed that this is the revised nomenclature of the above cartridge following the revision and simplification of titles that took place in 1927/28.
Representative headstamps of Rimfire Mark I, including Kynoch. Kirkee ("KF"), Kings Norton, Footscray ("MF", Royal Laboratory "I RL") and Kynoch.
Rimfire Mark II
"Cartridge S.A. .22 inch Rimfire Mark 2". was approved at some date shortly after WW2.
The case was of brass rather than copper and was that of the .22 inch Long Rifle. The headstamp was either "K" or "ICI" and in later production "E".The bullet was lead with three external cannelures with lubrication.
Propellant charge was about 2 grains of smokeless powder.
.22 Rimfire Mark 2 label marked for "Practice Only"
Following the adoption of the NATO style "L" number nomenclature, a series of .22 inch Rimfire cartridges were approved for service. All are .22 inch Long Rifle with 40 grain bullet.
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L1A1". This is the revised designation for Ball Mark II
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L2A1". Manufactured by ICI
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L4A1". Manufactured by Dynamit Nobel in Germany.
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L5A1". Manufactured by Eley.
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L6A1". Manufactured by Winchester.
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L7A1". Manufactured by CCI
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L9A1". ICI Tenex match cartridge
"Round .22 inch Rimfire Ball L9A2". ICI Tenex match cartridge. The difference from L9A1 is not known.
Label from plastic box of Eley manufactured L5A1 Ball
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