low power 22 rim fire

Question
i'm looking for low power 22 lr to use in a 1919 colt
woodsman - modern 22 is too strong for the firing pin -
any suggetions as to source of cartridges

Answer
Bob,

Your 1919 Colt Woodsman was actually designed to fire 22LR "Standard Velocity" 22LR ammo. This is as opposed to all of the optional high velocity ammo that has taken over the market for the most part. You don't need to locate and/or shoot "low velocity" ammo.

The good news is that "Standard Velocity" ammo is nothing more than todays target 22LR ammo. If you check the various mfg. 22LR target ammo velocity listings, you'll see that they are listed much below the more popular high velocity 22LR.

As for your 1919's design etc., all of the Woodsman pistols made before 1933 were merely designed to shoot lower velocity ammo and therefor were made with a weaker recoil spring. The post-1933 versions were made with a case hardened mainspring housing also.

As a side note, they did manufacture a kit to convert the pre-1933 models to be able to shoot high velocity ammo but I seriously doubt that you'll find any available today since they too have become a collectors item.

Thank you for the question Bob.

Sid Lark