.22 magnum WHAT AMMO DO YOU LIKE BEST?

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sgt.rock

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Just picked up a .22WMR as the local Cambodian Tire had a sale ($135 off), and combined with $200 in Christmas giftcards, I ended up getting a Savage 93 FVSS. (stainless with synthetic stock) for about $120. I mounted a 4-12x40 Bausch & Lomb 3000 I had sitting on the shelf on top. I boresighted it and now am wondering what kind of ammo to feed it come spring?
What is your favorite Target ammo (just punching paper at 50/100) and what is your favorite hunting ammo?
What is the biggest small game you've gotten using .22WMR? How was performance and at what range did you shoot the animal?
 
My Marlin XT22 likes the 40 grain jacketed soft point CCI Gamepoint ammunition.

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I had a Browning A-Bolt for a period of time.
It really like Remington ammo especially the Green tipped polymer stuff.
Can not seem to find it for sale now, but it really popped and had pretty good accuracy .
The CZ452 before that shot anything with minute of gopher out to 50 yrds and would create a pretty good pink mist if the bullet connected with the head.
One can likely shoot .223 cheaper today if one reloads.
Rob
 
I shoot an Anschutz rifle in this caliber. It is accurate with only some loads, and pathetic with others. I believe it is the ammo, not the rifle that is the main variable. I prefer the .22 magnum to the .17 HMR for small edible game and fur bearers, but he .17 is more consistently accurate regardless of load or rifle. I have had the best accuracy with the .22 WMR using 30 grain plastic tipped bullets, Hornady or Remington. They are a good choice for targets and small pests. But too destructive for edible game unless you limit yourself to head shots. Best general hunting bullet for me has been the Winchester 40 gr jacketed HP Super X. The Winchester Super X FMJ is good for edible small game and birds with body shots as long as you hit bone. I have taken game up to 50 lb beaver with the Winchester 40 gr. jacketed HP Super X load, using body ( chest) shots within 80 yds. or so. Very decisive. Clean kills. You may also want to try the Federal 50 gr HP for bigger stuff like beavers if your rifle shoots them well. I have limited experience with them, but liked the performance the few times I used them. Of course any load will work OK for brain shots on beaver or coyote if the accuracy of rifle, load and shooter are adequate. I have had generally poor success with any of the plated bullets, CCI, Winchester, or Remington. All were erratic, with poor accuracy and many "fliers" from my rifle. They might be Ok for cheap offhand practise at tin cans, or your rifle may like them.
 
What Longwalker said. IMO, .22 Mag rifles are very finicky about what ammo they like. As a rule, I have learned to avoid the 30 gr hyper velocity offerings, part tradition and knowledge that Winchester and CCI 45 gr is more accurate and better killing small critters.

Good Luck.
 
Thanks for the responses so far. I cant wait to try it out. I owned a .17hmr rifle and revolver yet felt unfulfilled with it. I guess I like bigger bullets. I have heard about inconsistent ammo in .22mag and that it can be very inaccurate if you arent shooting what your particular gun prefers.
 
Jay said:
My Marlin XT22 likes the 40 grain jacketed soft point CCI Gamepoint ammunition.

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If I recollect correctly, you and me got our Marlins during the same sale! Too good of a deal, the .22mag itch was scratched! ;)

I haven't tried the CCI 40gr JSP's yet, but I have tried a bunch of other stuff from 30gr V-Max to Fed. 50gr SP, Aguila, Hornady, Winchester... the best shooting so far was CCI's 40gr JHP. The Choot'ems!
 
Sgt. Rock, you're going to love that rifle! The 22 WMR is much more versatile than the 17 HMR. Winchester 40 grain full metal case is good for grouse. Right now I'm using CCI tnt's for snowshoe hare, but head shots only! There are so many choices, you will find some ammo your rifle likes.
 
Hi I have a Savage 93 BRJ in 22 mag , it likes the CCI 40 gr. JHP. Have tried the 30 gr. in both CCI and Hornady and found not as accurate as the 40 gr. Have chony both CCI and Hornady and found that the CCI shoots about 20+ feet faster than the Hornady. I am looking to try the CCI 40 gr. gamepoint.
 
I use 30gr vmax for most things. 40gr tmj works perfect for head shots on coyotes. I like to wait along frozen ditch banks dressed in white. When they come trotting along i shoot them in the head. Shots are generally 10 to 30 yards. I also use the maxi mags
 
My Savage 93 won't shoot anything over 36 grains well. Hornady vmax and cci max-mags are MOA or better, but anything above that groups open way up.

My buddies Marlin is similar. Prefers the lighter bullets by a large margin.
 
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My favorite was Winchester 34 grain hollow point. Violent expansion on gophers and one shot coyote medicine at reasonable ranges. When I couldn't find them I used the Remington polymer tipped with good success. My rifle doesn't shoot the Hornady version as well as the other 2.
 
sgt.rock said:
Thanks for the responses so far. I cant wait to try it out. I owned a .17hmr rifle and revolver yet felt unfulfilled with it. I guess I like bigger bullets. I have heard about inconsistent ammo in .22mag and that it can be very inaccurate if you arent shooting what your particular gun prefers.
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Unfullfilled????

I seriously doubt you're going to find the 22wmr all that much more fulfilling.

I shoot rabbits/coyotes/skunks an Marmots out to 200 meters with my Anschutz, topped with a Shepherd range indicating scope. I find that 200 meters is pretty much maximum on all of them other than Coyote, where the ranges should be at least 50 meters less.

My rifle isn't all that fussy. As mentioned it doesn't prefer bullet weights under 35 grains. It digests all of the high end premium offerings exceptionally well. Expecially the CCI Maxis with Speer TNT HP bullets. There's a good reason they're labeled TNT.

If that Savage you purchased shoots as well as most of the recent Savage offerings, it will likely not be overly fussy, depending on what your expectations are. If you're looking for Match accuracy, get a different rifle. I would try the Dynapoint offerings from Canadian Tire before going into the premium stuff. It's cheaper and some rifles really shoot it well. Dynapoint offers it in two different weights. Buy one of each and shoot them to see which one your rifle likes. There is a significant trajectory difference between the two weights.

I likely shoot more Dynapoints than any other type. The groups at 100 meters are slightly larger than the premium grades but for hunting purposes not much.

Trajectories will be your biggest hurdle if you're planning on shooting between 25-150 meters. There is significant drop at long ranges.

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