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22TCM | ||||||||||||
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![]() From left: .22 TCM, FN 5.7×28mm, .223 Remington | ||||||||||||
Type | Pistol/Rifle | |||||||||||
Production history | ||||||||||||
Designer | Fred Craig | |||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||
Parent case | 5.56×45mm NATO | |||||||||||
Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||
Bullet diameter | 0.224 in (5.70 mm) | |||||||||||
Neck diameter | 0.255 in (6.48 mm) | |||||||||||
Shoulder diameter | 0.362 in (9.19 mm) | |||||||||||
Base diameter | 0.376 in (9.55 mm) | |||||||||||
Rim diameter | 0.378 in (9.60 mm) | |||||||||||
Rim thickness | 0.045 in (1.1 mm) | |||||||||||
Case length | 1.022 in (26.0 mm) | |||||||||||
Overall length | 1.265 in (32.1 mm) | |||||||||||
Case capacity | 15.2 gr H2O | |||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||
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Test barrel length: 22.75" rifle (higher velocity) and 5.0" pistol (lower velocity) |
The .22 TCM or 22TCM (.22, Tuason, Craig, Micromagnum) is a proprietary bottle-necked rimless cartridge created from a 5.56mm NATO / 223 Rem parent case. It was developed by custom gunsmith Fred Craig and Martin Tuason, President of Rock Island Armory (RIA) Armscor, and is used in the RIA M1911 pistols and the M22 TCM bolt-action rifle. Before the cartridge was commercialized, it was called the 22 Micro-Mag. It is similar in concept to other bottle-necked pistol cartridges such as the 7.62×25mm Tokarev and the FN 5.7×28mm. The 22TCM trades bullet mass for increased velocity and lower recoil. [1] [2] [3]
Based on the 5.56×45mm NATO case and shortened so overall cartridge length matches .38 Super, the 22TCM is approximately 3 mm longer than a standard 9×19mm. It is designed to be fired from the RIA M1911 line of pistols, which also included 9mm barrel swaps. The factory M1911 recoil spring weights: 8 lbs for 22TCM; and 12 lbs for 9mm. Magazines are based on the Para P18 pattern in 9mm/.38 Super, and are double column, with a 17 round capacity. There was a limited production run on Glock 19 and 17 conversion barrel kits. By changing the barrel and recoil spring (11 lbs) a 9mm Glock pistol could be converted to 22TCM. This created another ammunition option 22TCM-9R or "9R" with a shorter bullet (projectile or slug) and shorter overall length. The 9R ammo can fit in Glock and other magazines limited to standard length 9mm cartridges. Standard factory loads: 40-grain jacketed hollow point (JHP), the long slug; and 39-grain JHP, the 9R short slug. Note both are still the same 22TCM case, but different projectile slugs. This caused confusion for some users and even ammunition sellers thinking they are different calibers. Both projectiles can be used in either pistol or rifle, as long as they fit in the relevant magazines. Also of note is that the bottle neck case can be 'sticky' as it fireforms to the chamber. A quick fix is to lubricate the chamber with oil for more reliable cycling and avoid stuck cases. This applies to any straight walled bottle neck case. For example .223 Remington steel case ammo is known for being 'sticky'. Simply lubing the chamber helps it extract and cycle reliably. The Armscor bulk factory ammo tends to 'spill', leaving unburned powder inside pistol internals. This can cause reliability issues, and big fireballs as muzzle flash. The original 40-grain factory long slug is less than ideal in overall length and ballistic performance. It is has a flat shooting trajectory, accuracy, and low recoil from a pistol. But accuracy can be inconsistent and result in flyers and target groups stringing. [4] [5]
Handloaders have perfected the 22TCM by using more suitable projectiles and powder. John Taffin, a well known gun author, published his handloading data in GUNS Magazine twice: in 2017 focused on powder loads; and in 2023, focused more on different projectiles. Velocity and accuracy results using RIA M1911 pistols with 5" barrels were four shots at 20 yards. Best powder results: Hodgdon Lil Gun at 10.5 grains; and Alliant 2400 gun powder at 9.3 grains. Faster burning pistol powders meant for magnum and high velocity loads. This improved reliability and accuracy. The Speer 22 caliber (.224") 40-grain Soft Point (SP) projectile is ideal for 22TCM. Also increased reliability and accuracy. [6] [7] [8]
Brand, Bullet, Weight, Type | Velocity FPS | Velocity FPS | Group Size Inches | Group Size Inches |
---|---|---|---|---|
Armscor 40gr HP, older ammo | 1,982 | 2,011 | 1.75" | 1.625" |
Armscor 40gr HP, newer ammo | 2,044 | 2,061 | 0.875" | 1.375" |
Brand, Bullet, Weight, Type | Powder Brand | Charge Grains Weight | Velocity FPS | Group Size Inches |
---|---|---|---|---|
Armscor 40gr HP | Hodgdon Lil Gun | 10.5 | 2,074 | 1.125" |
Armscor 40gr HP | Alliant 2400 | 9.3 | 1,942 | 0.75" |
22TCM Improved: 5.56×24mm. Randall Scott-Key is an expert on forming 223 Rem and 5.56mm NATO cases into 22TCM and reloading it. He published concise and detailed data on his YouTube channel by the same name, and on the Glock Talk and other forums. Pioneering an improved 22TCM as 5.56×24mm. By slightly modifying the case shoulder and neck lower it allows more .224" projectiles to be used. It helps reliability by acting as a reverse piston during the firing process. This also allows the cartridge to fit inside popular 9mm Glock magazines and feed more reliably. It is backwards compatible and can be fired from any 22TCM/9R chamber. He also noted the excellent all round performance of the Speer .224" 40-grain SP projectile. [9] [10] [11]
Purpose of use. Basically '223 short'. A more efficient pistol caliber. Velocities of 2,000 fps out of a pistol, and 2,800 fps out of a rifle. Very low recoil compared to 9mm. Easier to train new shooters and the recoil sensitive. Size and weight constraints: 22TCM is lighter weight and higher velocity than popular 9mm; and competing 7.62×25mm Tokarev and FN 5.7×28mm. Ideal for a light weight and compact AR-15-style pistol PDW, like the Colt MARS Program. 22TCM ammo prices tend to be half that of FN 5.7mm in the US and other regions. Making a competitive option. 22TCM may be an ideal 'civilian caliber' in countries with restrictions. In some regions civilians cannot legally own the same calibers as the military or certain bore size. 22TCM can be an attractive alternative to 9mm, 45ACP, 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO and other military calibers. Parent case is 223 Rem / 5.56mm NATO, open source so will never die. Good for handloaders. Reload 223 Rem and if you get a split case, cut it down to 22TCM. Hunters have used both the pistol and bolt-action rifle on varmints such as coyote and feral swine. Good for pest control. And of course fun and easy handling for experienced shooters. [12] [13] [14]
The 5.56×45mm NATO is a rimless bottlenecked centerfire intermediate cartridge family developed in the late 1970s in Belgium by FN Herstal. It consists of the SS109, L110, and SS111 cartridges. On 28 October 1980, under STANAG 4172, it was standardized as the second standard service rifle cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. Though they are not identical, the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge family was derived from and is dimensionally similar to the .223 Remington cartridge designed by Remington Arms in the early 1960s.
The .40 S&W (10.2×22mm) is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by American firearms manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Winchester in 1990. The .40 S&W was developed as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) reduced-velocity 10mm Auto cartridge which could be retrofitted into medium-frame semi-automatic handguns. It uses 0.40-inch-diameter (10 mm) bullets ranging in weight from 105 to 200 grains.
The .45 ACP, also known as .45 Auto, .45 Automatic, or 11.43×23mm is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol. After successful military trials, it was adopted as the standard chambering for Colt's M1911 pistol. The round was developed due to a lack of stopping power experienced in the Moro Rebellion in places like Sulu. The issued ammunition, .38 Long Colt, had proved inadequate, motivating the search for a better cartridge. This experience and the Thompson–LaGarde Tests of 1904 led the Army and the Cavalry to decide that a minimum of .45 caliber was required in a new handgun cartridge.
The .45 GAP or .45 Glock (11.43×19mmRB) is a pistol cartridge designed by Ernest Durham, an engineer with CCI/Speer, at the request of firearms manufacturer Glock to provide a cartridge that would equal the power of the .45 ACP, have a stronger case head to reduce the possibility of case neck blowouts, and be shorter to fit in a more compact handgun. The .45 GAP is the first commercially introduced cartridge that has been identified with Glock.
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The .22 Long Rifle, also known as the .22LR or 5.6×15mmR, is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of firearms including rifles, pistols, revolvers, and submachine guns.
Internal ballistics, a subfield of ballistics, is the study of the propulsion of a projectile.
The 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge is a Soviet rimless bottleneck pistol cartridge widely used in former Soviet states and in China, among other countries. The cartridge has since been replaced in most capacities by the 9×18mm Makarov in Russian service.
Armscor Global Defense, Inc. is a firearms manufacturing company based in the Philippines. It is known for its inexpensive 1911-pattern pistols, revolvers, shotguns, sporting rifles, firearms parts and ammunition. Armscor, whose manufacturing facility is located in Marikina, produces about 200,000 firearms and some 420 million rounds of ammunition a year, where 80 percent of this is exported and sold to over 60 countries. The company was known as the Arms Corporation of the Philippines (Armscor) until 2017.
The .243 Winchester (6×52mm) is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Developed as a versatile short action cartridge to hunt both medium game and small game alike, it "took whitetail hunting by storm" when introduced in 1955, and remains one of the most popular whitetail deer cartridges. It is also commonly used for harvesting blacktail deer, pronghorns and mule deer with heavier rounds, and is equally suited to varmint hunting with lighter rounds. The .243 is based on a necked down .308 Winchester, introduced only three years earlier. Expanding monolithic copper bullets of approximately 80 to 85 grains or traditional lead rounds of 90 to 105 grains with controlled expansion designs are best suited for hunting medium game, while lighter rounds are intended for varmints.
The 6.5mm Grendel is an intermediate cartridge jointly designed by British-American armorer Bill Alexander, competitive shooter Arne Brennan and Lapua ballistician Janne Pohjoispää, as a low-recoil, high-precision rifle cartridge specifically for the AR-15 platform at medium/long range. It is an improved variation of the 6.5mm PPC.
The .17 Remington Fireball was created in 2007 by Remington Arms Company as a response to the popular wildcat round, the .17 Mach IV. Factory loads drive a 20 grain (1.3 g) bullet around 4,000 ft/s (1,219 m/s). Velocity is close to the .17 Remington but with significantly less powder, and therefore less heat and fouling. Both are important issues to high-volume shooters such as varmint hunters.
.22 caliber, or 5.6 mm, refers to a common firearms bore diameter of 0.22 inch (5.6 mm) in both rimfire and centerfire cartridges.
The 9×25mm Dillon is a pistol wildcat cartridge developed for use in USPSA/IPSC Open guns. The cartridge is made by necking down a 10mm Auto case to 9 mm.
The Rock Island Armory 1911 series is a product line of single-action recoil operated semi-automatic pistols. They are designed and manufactured by Armscor in Marikina, Philippines, and distributed in the United States by Armscor USA, located in Pahrump, Nevada. Armscor is an ISO 9001 certified-compliant company.
The .45 Super / 11.5x22mm is a powerful smokeless powder center fire metallic firearm cartridge developed in 1988 by Dean Grennell, a well-known writer in the firearms field as well as managing editor of Gun World magazine. It is dimensionally similar to the .45 ACP round but has a thicker case wall and is loaded to higher pressures, which offers an average 300 feet per second (91 m/s) improvement in muzzle velocity over the .45 ACP. The cartridge was co-developed by Tom Fergerson and Ace Hindman.
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