I have a Winchester Model 61 pump action in .22WMR that I've used on everything from squirrels to yotes! This rifle happens to love the Winchester Super-X 40gr. JHP loads (product# X22MH), grouping a hair under an inch at 100yds, so that's the only load I ever use. Shoot your edible game in the head and there's no lost meat. Gophers, woodchucks, foxes and yotes (out to 75yds) all seems to expire in a timely fashion when being hit with this bullet as well. I say go for it, buy that 77/22...you won't have any regrets!
22 mag on small game - tell me about your experiences
- Thread starter deerfarmer
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22 mag...twice a long rifle...half a hornet. Still only shooting things that a long rifle would...just at a longer range and 4 times the ammo cost. That being said i like 22 mag.
owned a Winchester 9422 M since 1973 , used it with great success on groundhogs , coyotes , wouldn't sell it or trade it for anything , accurate , reliable , fun to use , 40 grain bullet hits twice as hard as 22 LR ( so it seems ) and achors varmints , also have a 222 rem ., for longer distances ....Joe
.22 WMR is an excellent cartridge for an all-around carry gun... It doesn't matter what rimfire you carry for small game, you will be head shooting regardless... The heads will be marginally messier than say an LR with SV's or Sub's, but you aren't eating the heads... The Mag CAN take coons, fox AND coyotes to 100 yards... A good coyote hunter friend has only used WMR on yotes for 30+ years and he is a very good coyote hunter. I shoot a CZ bolt, Henry GB and Winchester 94/22M... All very fine guns... Your 77/22 will be nice, I have a 77/22 in LR and another in Hornet (now K).
I found a nice 94/22mag and she's on the way (thx Chris). I actually picked up 2 types of ammo at CT today to try out when she arrives. It feels kind of nice being able to buy a pack of 50 rounds and not have to roll them yourself. Thanks for all the feedback folks - I think it will be a nice addition.
I've shot many coyotes less than 100 yards with a 17 hmr and had no problems with killing them. I've never used a 22 mag on anything other than gophers with a buddy's rifle but I'm sure it would kill equally as good, if not better than the hmr for coyote size game. For grouse I prefer the hmr as it is very accurate and no matter what I'm shooting I'm aiming at the head. It is gone completely if hit. Gophers are fun with hmr or mag but I prefer my 22lr. It can get up to over 500 rounds easy on a good afternoon. CCI mini-mag hollow points are quite accurate and kill just fine.
I have a Marlin 782 made in 1978. Bolt action, repeater, 7 round mag, .22WMR.
Most accurate rifle I own. Even better than my Mini14 Target rifle, and that was a sub-minute shooter out of the box.
With CCI MaxiMags or Winchesters, this rifle will light a kitchen match at 75 yards (obviously, wind is a factor here). Never dinged any game with it, but my father used to nail rabbits on the run at 150 yards with it.
Great round. Marvellous rifle.
Most accurate rifle I own. Even better than my Mini14 Target rifle, and that was a sub-minute shooter out of the box.
With CCI MaxiMags or Winchesters, this rifle will light a kitchen match at 75 yards (obviously, wind is a factor here). Never dinged any game with it, but my father used to nail rabbits on the run at 150 yards with it.
Great round. Marvellous rifle.
