22 mag on small game - tell me about your experiences

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deerfarmer

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I'm thinking of adding a new rimfire to my collection (have my eye on a Ruger 77/22). What do you think of the 22 mag when it comes to say rabbit hunting or head-shots on grouse? I've owned a 22lr and a 17hmr but never a 22mag. I'll be using it for varmint control (closer range), plinking and occasional rabbit/grouse hunt. Thanks,
 
I chose a 22wmr over 17 for beavers/rats longish range. works well to <200yrds with 32gr. lots of drop between 150-200 but with swimmers head shots are all you get.
I've got the savage bolt 22wmr and it shoots reasonably well with lighter bullets (maximag) but you get the odd flyer.
the 17 is the cats meow up to 150 yrds or so. I'd go with the 17 for closer range (<100yrds) as it has better bullet choices and way more "smack" for the same ammo price.
Lots of guys using them (17) on fur in the north due to one less hole to sew - tends to not exit. more accurate than the 22wmr for sure...
cheers
 
Well, all I've shot with .22WMR is groundhogs, and it does a fine job of them out to 125 yards or so. Probably even further, but at that range..head shot/body shot~it's going down. Hits with a thud you can literally hear from 100+ yards away. :) Now, I've owned 3 x 17HMRs and none of them killed groundhogs as well as my .22WMR, so they were gone while the .22WMR stayed. When I got heavily into centerfire for varmint hunting, I got rid of this heavy-hitting rimfire (=mistake) but my New Year's resolution is to get a CZ chambered in it. As for your hunting applications~I don't hunt rabbits, so I can't comment. I do hunt grouse and at the distances I get shot opportunities at~a .22lr will work just as well. My only criticism of the .22WMRs I've shot (all Savages) is that @ 100 yards, it's been nearly impossible to get 5 shots in a 1" ring. Maybe 1/5 groups I'd luck into a 1" group, most were 1-1/4" with one flyer opening things up. I'm not sure if it's a Savage issue, or an ammo issue, but I ran 9 varieties of ammo through it one day off a bench with a steady rest/rear bag and that's the best I could do. I'm optimistic a CZ would shoot a little better.

You didn't ask...but here are 2 groundhogs shot a few miles from each other on the same day. Top one was a body shot to the vitals, second one was a head shot. "Bang/Flop" on both of these, vs. what sometimes happened with the 17 HMR.

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I'm starting to think the .22WMR is neither fish nor fowl. It's too destructive on grouse and hare, too small for big game ( not legal either,) and there just aren't enough mid-size targets to justify it's existance, at least in my neck of the woods. It would be ok for coyote and fox, but a .223 or 22/250 would have a lot more reach.
 
Thanks for all the info folks. It's kind of a toss up for me. I have centerfire rifles for any dedicated coyote hunts but just would like something a little less noisy and something to carry around while out sauntering in the woods. I did like the laserbeam accuracy of the 17hmr - but the groups you were getting 22lr guy don't sound too terrible either. I might get a blasting for saying it, but I find the plain ol' 22lr is kind of boring to shoot!
 
Ya Kevin can be boring...Go to reactive Targets, Plastic Water bottles, Gongs, Flippers, Pendulums, L.R. Is much cheaper, better on grouse and rabbits, 22 Mag has one niche...Beaver Control....Go 22L.R. Or Centre fire... How about Hornet, and reload for it? Jim. 9.3 Mauser kinda said it all...
 
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I use my 22 mag for squirrel in the later part of the season when I need a bit more reach then the 22lr. I also use it coyote hunting over frozen ditches. A 32 gr vmax behind the shoulder flattens coyotes up to 50 yards. I shot a 120 lb Shepard mutt in the neck and dropped instantly. I've taken a lot of jack rabbits at up to 225 yards. The vmax at 225 just dented no expansion but it broke through the shoulder and rib cage of a big jack. It tears crows up. A body hit on a grouse won't b good for eating. I hear the 40 gr solids are great for poaching. Deer and polar bear.
I have shot the hmr side by side with my mag and although not as fast or loud or flashy ill keep my mag
 
If you really wanna have fun with your 22 LR. Contact Quentin Wipf on CGN he makes a gopher rolling target, that is strong, reliable, and rolls perfectly...I got 3 and they are family favorites. They are not BORING... Jim
 
I've got a marlin xt-22m in .22 mag and haven't put through her paces hunting yet. It is deadly accurate with cci 30 gr vmax.Judging by how how hard the vmax can be to find in stock sometimes, i would guess this is the go to ammo for a lot of owners.I bought it for short range coyote calling but i have yet to try it on game.Anyone know who sells either hornady or cci 30 gr vmax in 500 rd case?
 
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Buy the 22wmr and if shooting rabbits go for head shots as offten as possible. You will never be under gunned for rabbits or pests beyond stander LR ranges. I love my T-bolt in 22mag and cant beleive how much easier it is to hit targets out past 100 yards compared to the LR you dont need to give it any " english " until 130 yards or so
 
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Ive accidently hit a rabbit in the midsection with my marlin 22xt .22mag, made a nice small hole going in, and about 3" going out, kinda my bad, i was using cci maximag TNT with the huge hollow point, hornady Vmax .22 mag works tons better on small game, just need to keep it twards the front within 100 yards cause it packs a punch. Better on coon/groundhog size or larger at close ranges, my favourite ammo is anything in CCI anything or Vmax, or winchester white box 40 gr. hollow point has also worked well.
 
my 452 WMR was great. gophers inside 50 yds would blow in 2 chunks with 30g v-max. never lost one down the hole with the 22wmr out to 150yds. if your shooting grouse/rabbit i would choose a solid bullet. the 30g v-max cause a lot of damage
 
Deerdr said:
If you really wanna have fun with your 22 LR. Contact Quentin Wipf on CGN he makes a gopher rolling target, that is strong, reliable, and rolls perfectly...I got 3 and they are family favorites. They are not BORING... Jim
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Does sound less than boring :) I'll have to come out and give them a try Jim when I find me a new rimfire toy
 
You get no crawl aways with a .22 mag on gophers, no matter where you hit them. I have a rimfire in all calibers and I must say the .22mag is my favorite. Shot gophers with a .22lr, and a .17HMR and the .22mag does the best. People say they use it on Coyotes, I think it's a bit small. If it was within reach and a coyote was chasing my dog I would t hesitate to use it on one though. Killing a coyote with a .22mag I think you gotta have pretty damn good shot placement though ie: head or lung. Awesome gun for gophers, magpies, ground hogs, muskrats etc though, quiet a bit pricier ammo than an Lr but I think it's worth it.
 
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