.22 BR Remington - Handgun (Using Nosler Bullets)

.22 BR Remington – Handgun (Using Nosler Bullets)

The concept of firing a .22 BR Remington from a handgun is uncommon but intriguing, especially under controlled test conditions or in custom single-shot pistols. When using Nosler bullets in this setup, special attention to barrel length, twist rate, and pressure management is essential for safe and effective performance.

Nosler bullets, particularly lighter varmint or match types (e.g., 52–55 grain), are a preferred choice for accuracy-focused experimentation in such setups. Their consistent construction helps reduce dispersion and makes tuning more predictable. Because handgun barrels are typically shorter and less efficient than rifles, handloaders often reduce powder charges significantly to maintain safe pressure levels and moderate velocities.

Common powders for this purpose include fast-to-medium burn rate propellants like Benchmark, H322, or IMR 8208 XBR, which help the small barrel achieve reasonable velocity without extreme pressure. Load development must proceed very cautiously—starting well below any published rifle loads and working up incrementally while monitoring for pressure signs, primer flattening, or extraction issues.

Accuracy in handgun applications tends to favor shorter bullet jump to the lands, careful bullet alignment, and very tight brass prep. The limited barrel length makes every variable more critical. Handloaders have reported that match-grade Nosler bullets can still yield useful accuracy and acceptable velocities in handgun-length barrels, although group sizes tend to open as barrel length shrinks and extreme spreads grow under heat or fouling.

In short, while the .22 BR Remington is far more common in rifles, adapting it to handgun use with Nosler bullets is possible under controlled conditions and with strict adherence to safe load development protocols. This variant remains very much in the “experimenter’s domain,” and is best left to advanced reloaders with careful chronographing and pressure checking.

Source: Wolfe Publishing & Nosler Bullets Data