22 WMR appropriate small game

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thepolinator

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Hey all,
This is kinda a question and kinda just for the sake of conversation. Through a series of fortuitous circumstances I became the proud owner of a Savage 93 22WRM in near mint condition for under 100$. This is a nice enough set up that I wanted to keep it, but... I can't figure out what to hunt with it. I figure its too small for coyote and my 22lr is powerful enough for all of the other small game that I currently hunt (rabbit, squire, and other small varmits). Any ideas of other game that I can put this particular rifle into use for? Or should I relegate it to range only use?
 
If the .17 HMR is enough for coyote then the .22wrm is good enough too.
if the $100.00 doesnt break your spending allowance and you are interested in it why not buy it?
I should note if the caliber is legal for coyote in your province then go for it...
Just my .05 opinion tonight.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
thepolinator said:
Hey all,
This is kinda a question and kinda just for the sake of conversation. Through a series of fortuitous circumstances I became the proud owner of a Savage 93 22WRM in near mint condition for under 100$. This is a nice enough set up that I wanted to keep it, but... I can't figure out what to hunt with it. I figure its too small for coyote and my 22lr is powerful enough for all of the other small game that I currently hunt (rabbit, squire, and other small varmits). Any ideas of other game that I can put this particular rifle into use for? Or should I relegate it to range only use?
Click to expand...

22 Mag is plenty enough cartridge for Coyotes inside 100 yards. Your 22lr may be powerful enough for the game you currently hunt, but that 22 magnum is powerful enough to hunt that same game at twice the distance the 22lr is capable of.
 
Also a huge fan of the 17hmr. Wouldn't hesitate with a coyote as distances under 120 yards, as those things are deadly accurate, and pack quite a wallop. Nothing wrong with a .22 mag either, but if I had to choose between either, I'd go 17. Ammo cost is similar, performance is better, accuracy is better, and shoots flatter, farther, etc.

To answer your question thought, ground hogs, prairie dogs, rabbits, skunks, porky's, partridge, coyote IF your a good shot. Also bottles, tin cans, and metal flip targets :)
 
I'm sure that you head shoot your grouse and rabbits with .22 LR... you can do the same with WMR, plus you can take incidental coons, foxes and coyotes, if you choose to. Or mix some small game and predator hunting with the same gun.
 
In my experience, the Mag. is too much for edible small game - unless only head shots can be guaranteed.
.22WRF is a less destructive option, and works in the WMR.
 
You can use rn instead of hp and it does very little meat damage.

I used to use my .22mag to hit raccoons and skunks out to 100-130 yds. At that range a .22 just wounds them and needs a follow up shot unless you get lucky with a headshot. I use the .17 wsm now as I find it more versatile. I shot one yote with it, at 65 yds it wounded it badly but the dog ran 200 yds away before it laid down. It was still alive when I got out there to finish it, clean boiler room hit just some drops of blood here and there and internal damages. I would never use it again, coyotes are too tough to use it effectively.
 
tiriaq said:
In my experience, the Mag. is too much for edible small game - unless only head shots can be guaranteed.
.22WRF is a less destructive option, and works in the WMR.
Click to expand...

Who doesn't shoot for the head with rimfire? We hunted for 30+ years with .20 cal pellet guns and head shot thousands of grouse and hares... same goes for .22 LR and also WMR... granted, the pictures aren't as pretty with WMR, because the heads are usually pretty messed up, but there was no meat damage.
 
Perfect beaver cartridge. It's kind if tough to get one that really shoots, but if you have one, it's a wonderful thing.

Oddly enough, the best shooting .22WMRs I've had have been Mossberg 640s and Winchester 9422Ms. I tried a CZ, a Remington something-or-other and a Savage, but none of them did very well at all.

One thing I can say for sure, if you EVER find any RWS ammo, buy all you can get your hands on. That stuff is .22WMR gold!

If I were ever up against it and could only have one gun between me and survival, it would be an accurate .22WMR. That's how much faith I have in them.
 
I have a Ruger 77/22WMR. Laminate stock, stainless metal. It is a great shooting WMR, but has ammo preferences too.

The best ammo that I have found so far is the Remington 33 grain "Accutip", a plastic tipped, pointed round.

It is not unusual for this ammo to shoot sub-moa in this rifle.

Second best is the Plain, silver box Winchester 40 grain HP, which flirts with moa.

I consider the WMRs a definite step up from the 22 LR, and have taken coyotes several times with them.

Regards, Dave.
 
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