The idea of a 22 WRM miilitary sidearm

Another dumb question here related to firearms.... Searching on gunbroker.com, I do not see any kind of a 22 caliber sa/da semiauto pistoll that uses any kind of a double stack magazine, and none such seem to hold more than ten shots. Do you know of any reason for that?
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT

It's not a dumb question at all! The scarcity of .22 caliber semi-automatic pistols with a double-stack magazine and SA/DA (Single-Action/Double-Action) functionality is due to a few factors:

Design Considerations: The .22 LR cartridge is relatively small and operates at lower pressures compared to centerfire cartridges. This makes designing a reliable double-stack magazine more challenging. Feeding .22 LR rounds from a double-stack magazine can cause issues like misfeeds and jams because the rimmed cartridges don't stack as neatly as centerfire rounds, leading to potential reliability problems.

Market Demand: Most .22 caliber pistols are used for training, target shooting, or plinking, where high-capacity magazines aren't as critical. The market demand for high-capacity .22 LR pistols is lower, so manufacturers focus more on reliability and ease of use, often sticking to single-stack designs with capacities around 10 rounds.

Legal Restrictions: In some regions, there are legal restrictions on magazine capacity, particularly for .22 caliber firearms. Manufacturers often limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds to comply with these laws, especially in states with strict gun control measures.

Size and Weight Considerations: A double-stack magazine increases the grip width and overall size of the firearm. Since .22 LR pistols are often designed to be lightweight and compact, the wider grip required for a double-stack magazine might not align with the intended design goals.

For these reasons, you'll primarily find .22 LR pistols with single-stack magazines and capacities around 10 rounds. There are a few exceptions, but they are less common, and manufacturers prioritize reliability and ergonomics over higher capacity in this caliber.

You said: That makes sense historically. Nonetheless Federal and one or two other manufacturers are now making new kinds of 22 pistol ammo loaded with very fast burning powders that generate very good velocities even from a three or four inch barrel. If I were in charge of that kind of thing for the US military, I'd have to consider the possibility of something like that Mauser sa/da pistol in 22 WRM with the new type ammo and a 45gr bullet with a double stack magazine for military use.

ChatGPT said: ChatGPT

That's an interesting perspective! The advancements in .22 caliber ammunition, especially with the newer fast-burning powders, could indeed make the .22 WRM a more viable option for military applications. The increased velocity and energy from these new loads could provide enough stopping power to make the caliber more suitable for defensive or even offensive purposes, particularly in specific scenarios where the lightweight and low recoil of a .22 WRM would be advantageous.

A semi-auto SA/DA pistol in .22 WRM with a double-stack magazine would offer high capacity, lower recoil, and potentially sufficient stopping power with the right ammunition. This could be appealing for military use, especially in roles where compact size, lightweight, and high-capacity are important, such as for pilots, special forces, or as a backup weapon.

The Mauser pistol concept you mentioned could be a good starting point, as Mauser has a history of producing reliable and innovative firearms. With modern materials and manufacturing techniques, such a pistol could be made durable and reliable enough for military standards, and the use of a double-stack magazine could address capacity concerns that are typically associated with .22 caliber pistols.

It would be fascinating to see if any manufacturers take this concept seriously and develop a prototype to test its viability in real-world military applications.