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5.7 MM Spitfire
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Member Posts: 85 ✭✭
Just wondering if any of you have any personal experience with the 5.7 mm Spitfire. I have been "playing around" with it for about 18 months now and have been impressed (and surprised) by its performance considering the case capacity. Would like to hear of anyone's experience with it.
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This has been covered here a couple of times. Use the search function in the above right corner and check the archives. You can also use a search engine and any of these three names for the cartridge to retrieve a bunch of information. I used to shoot it a while back. Interesting cartridge and efficient. It's just a bit of a nuisance to neck the cases down. It is very easy to load for, though.
MMJ 5.7mm
(5.7mm Johnson)
(22 Spitfire)
Historical Notes:
This cartridge, also known as the 5.7mm Johnson or 22 Spitfire, was introduced in 1963 for the Johnson Guns, Inc. alteration of the U.S. M1 Carbine. This was a clip fed semi-auto with a folding stock advertised as a survival gun. Production was later undertaken in limited numbers by Plainfield in New Jersey. This package was designed by Melvin M. Johnson, author, Marine colonel, and the man responsible for the Johnson semi-auto rifle and light machinegun of WWII fame.
General Comments:
The MMJ 5.7mm is based on the 30 Carbine cartridge necked down to 22 caliber. It is a very efficient cartridge and, like others of this class, gives performance out of all proportion to its size. As a sporting round, its use would be limited to small or medium game and varmint shooting. In a survival situation, it would certainly kill a deer, but 22 caliber rifles are not classed for big game in most states. Down in Mexico or South America where animals are not nearly as tough or tenacious as in Africa, the 5.7mm Spitfire would make a dandy explorers weapon. One could handle anything found in the jungle with it, two or four legged. A similar wildcat is know as the 22 Carbine.
Source: Cartridges of the World