Looking for a 22WMR

Bad Bob

Bad Bob

CGN Regular
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Location
manitoba
I have the need of a quality bolt action 22WMR. Ideally a heavy (varmint) barrel 20 inches or so, must have a good trigger, don`t really care if synthetic or wood or blued or stainless. The trigger and action is what matters. This is one cartridge that has eluded me forever and I just feel I should try it. Please no 17HMRs or no one
telling me that a 17HMR is better, I had a 17HMR and got rid of it and have zero interest in ever shooting another one. I welcome anyone`s input and/or advice.
Thank you.
 
I really like 22WMR, but as many as I've tried (about 5-6 now)...I've yet to shoot what I'd call an "accurate" one. (meaning 1" capable @ 100 yards) Talking to buddies and in conversations here on CGN..everybody I know has pretty much had the same experience. Average groups @ 100 yards range from about 1-1/4"-2"+ That being the case, I won't be buying an expensive one when I get back into 22WMR again. For me, probably one of the new Savage B series guns or maybe an older Mossberg. (see below)

There have been 2 rifles I've come across that claim to be accurate 22WMR shooters (rather, owners claim they are :) ).. One is a Zastava bolt action...the other an older Mossberg 640 KA "Chuckster". Maybe worth looking into? Id like to think the new Savage B series has potential as I'd like a reason to try one of those. However, for me...if I can get close to 1" @ 100 yards, that's plenty accurate for groundhogs.
 
I have heard this before regarding the accuracy ( or lack of) and that is what concerns me. We do a lot of gopher shooting, use 22s out to 100 - 125 then switch to .222 / .223 / .204.
Found 17HMR is only good if it is dead calm, just can`t handle any wind at all so I am thinking that the 22WMR would be good for that 75 -150 range. Quieter than the centerfires and save on reloading time. I am looking at the CZ 455/457 now. 1 inch x 100 would be the bare minimum for acceptable accuracy.Have you tried any CZs?
 
Hey I have had a Savage 93 FV in 22 WMR it shot consistently 1'' to 1.25'' at 100 yds. only reason I got rid of it was the plastic stock did not feel comfortable to me. I now have a Savage 93 BRJ with wood laminate stock, it also shoots consistently 1'' to 1.25'' at 100 yds. You have to remember with the 22 WMR is there is no match grade ammo for it , to give you better accuracy. Both Savages shot best with the 40 grn. CCI Maxi Mag. I tried 30 grn. but found accuracy was not as good as the 40grn.
 
My Ruger American compact in 22wmr shoots well. I have never shot it for groups at 100 yards but i've also never had any problems hitting gophers at 100-150 with it. Surprisingly enough, it likes the 30gr vmax bullets. Both the Winchester and CCI 22wmr rounds with the 30gr vmax bullets have worked fine. Unless your wanting to shoot groups, I think most quality rifles would work for you. Just my thoughts.
 
65gks said:
Hey I have had a Savage 93 FV in 22 WMR it shot consistently 1'' to 1.25'' at 100 yds. only reason I got rid of it was the plastic stock did not feel comfortable to me. I now have a Savage 93 BRJ with wood laminate stock, it also shoots consistently 1'' to 1.25'' at 100 yds. You have to remember with the 22 WMR is there is no match grade ammo for it , to give you better accuracy. Both Savages shot best with the 40 grn. CCI Maxi Mag. I tried 30 grn. but found accuracy was not as good as the 40grn.
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I could live with 1 to 1.25" x 100 yds
 
eg23 said:
My Ruger American compact in 22wmr shoots well. I have never shot it for groups at 100 yards but i've also never had any problems hitting gophers at 100-150 with it. Surprisingly enough, it likes the 30gr vmax bullets. Both the Winchester and CCI 22wmr rounds with the 30gr vmax bullets have worked fine. Unless your wanting to shoot groups, I think most quality rifles would work for you. Just my thoughts.
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I appreciate your input and am happy that you like your Ruger. I have had too many unfavourable experiences with Ruger long guns in the past and tend to now stay away from them.
 
I have two CZ 455's in 22wmr, one Canadian and one American, both pure original. The American is walnut, with a NIKON P-22 scope. All my other 455's have Leupolds, but we got this one grouping so nice that I left the P-22 scope on. I think the Canadian grouped not too bad, but I don't recall.

I use .22lr mostly for gophers, but will drag out my Canadian and American .17hmrs on occasion. Those guns are very accurate, to the point that they make even me look good!

CZ all the way for me. I have nine of them - so far. I won't likely buy any more 22wmrs, but would spring for 17hmrs if they make them or become available up here in Bushman Special, St. Patrick's, and American Red.

Torque on the action screws is very important on these rifles. I was trying to sight one in, I believe it was the 22wmr with the P-22 scope, and we fiddled with the torque. Boy, what a difference!
 
kjohn said:
I have two CZ 455's in 22wmr, one Canadian and one American, both pure original. The American is walnut, with a NIKON P-22 scope. All my other 455's have Leupolds, but we got this one grouping so nice that I left the P-22 scope on. I think the Canadian grouped not too bad, but I don't recall.

I use .22lr mostly for gophers, but will drag out my Canadian and American .17hmrs on occasion. Those guns are very accurate, to the point that they make even me look good!

CZ all the way for me. I have nine of them - so far. I won't likely buy any more 22wmrs, but would spring for 17hmrs if they make them or become available up here in Bushman Special, St. Patrick's, and American Red.

Torque on the action screws is very important on these rifles. I was trying to sight one in, I believe it was the 22wmr with the P-22 scope, and we fiddled with the torque. Boy, what a difference!
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How do you find the triggers on those 455s? So does the 455 break an inch x 100 yds?
 
a j cave said:
There is a cz in EE now. Seems fair, not connected to sale :)
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Thank you for the info. Quick story, every year for the last 10 years we drive to Seattle to visit my daughter and son in law. One afternoon about 4 years ago while they were at work I submitted my application to join the EE and promptly got a reply stating that as I was an American my application was denied. I replied explaining that I live in Manitoba ( for the last 66 years) and I was just visiting and that is why the e-mail came from Seattle. No one ever responded and I have no idea how to rectify this.
 
I have a Savage 93 FVSS and a Henry lever in .22 magnum. I love them both. I have 3-9 scopes on both and ground hogs at 100 yards are no problem. The 22 magnum is very versatile and packs a wallop. It will take a variety of game. Definitely worth owning.
 
Bad Bob said:
How do you find the triggers on those 455s? So does the 455 break an inch x 100 yds?
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Triggers are okay as far as I'm concerned. I am not into doctoring perfectly good rifles. I have big strong hands, so my opinion doesn't count for much. As best I can remember the American with the P-22 scope probably did the inch, but the Canadian, I don't remember.

I smoked probably 1200 gophers using 2 455 .22lr, one a Canadian with a Leupold of some sort and a Bushman Special with a Leupold Ultimate Slam muzzle loader scope, neither rifle diddled with except for maybe the Canadian one with action screw torque. The Bushman was out of the box and sighted in at 50' at our indoor range.

By now, you have likely gathered that I collect 455's and don't fancy myself a top notch target shooter! :p I just love guns and shooting them. :)
 
kjohn said:
Triggers are okay as far as I'm concerned. I am not into doctoring perfectly good rifles. I have big strong hands, so my opinion doesn't count for much. As best I can remember the American with the P-22 scope probably did the inch, but the Canadian, I don't remember.

I smoked probably 1200 gophers using 2 455 .22lr, one a Canadian with a Leupold of some sort and a Bushman Special with a Leupold Ultimate Slam muzzle loader scope, neither rifle diddled with except for maybe the Canadian one with action screw torque. The Bushman was out of the box and sighted in at 50' at our indoor range.

By now, you have likely gathered that I collect 455's and don't fancy myself a top notch target shooter! :p I just love guns and shooting them. :)
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Me too. Just got back from an extended "gopher safari" with one of my son in laws. Bulk of the shooting was done with a Remington 541S and a slightly tuned up Ruger SR-22. Used varmint models .222 Rem. / .223 Rem. / .204 Ruger for the "extended range" ones. Did all the big game stuff for years finally got bored with it, now I would rather shoot than hunt. I know what you mean - it is almost insane how much ammo we burn up on some of those trips. Thus the need for a mid-range gopher gun.
 
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