Best Critter Calliber
- Thread starter RayT
- Start date
Well we don't have Gophers in Ontario but we have lots of the bigger Groundhog. Pound for pound the Groundhog is the tughest little critter around and can absorb a lot of 22 rimfire unless you hit him in the head.
There isn't enough hitting power in a 22 LR to shoot Groundhogs consistently beyond 75 yards and even then it is marginal.
As for Crows, hunting a crow with a 22LR is an exercise in stalking and knowing your rifles capability in excess of 100 yds. Crows know the shape of a rifle and stay out of range. You can hold and aim a broomstick at a crow and he'll sit there and laugh at you ut as soon as you produce a rifle he's off like the wind.
Reports from big time groudhog shooters say that the .17 based on the 22LR doesn't have enough killing power on a Groundhog at 100 yds and the animal often gets away down his hole and dies in agony down there.In that case go for a 22 mag or the 17 equivalent size.
For Rabbits and Grouse you need a 12 ga shotgun. Grouse can erupt into full speed flight and using a 22 to shoot at them can be dangerous at longer distance to someone else.
J
There isn't enough hitting power in a 22 LR to shoot Groundhogs consistently beyond 75 yards and even then it is marginal.
As for Crows, hunting a crow with a 22LR is an exercise in stalking and knowing your rifles capability in excess of 100 yds. Crows know the shape of a rifle and stay out of range. You can hold and aim a broomstick at a crow and he'll sit there and laugh at you ut as soon as you produce a rifle he's off like the wind.
Reports from big time groudhog shooters say that the .17 based on the 22LR doesn't have enough killing power on a Groundhog at 100 yds and the animal often gets away down his hole and dies in agony down there.In that case go for a 22 mag or the 17 equivalent size.
For Rabbits and Grouse you need a 12 ga shotgun. Grouse can erupt into full speed flight and using a 22 to shoot at them can be dangerous at longer distance to someone else.
J
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
22 mag , in a bolt gun 
Frank
Frank
cz452shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Sparwood, BC
Take a loot at the .17HMR. The .22lr is only good out to about 80 yards i would say... with high or hyper velocity ammo
trouter-chris
Member
- Location
- Boundary Creek, New Brunswick
RayT said:
Well, I'm certainly not out to insult anyone but I'm kind of thinking 100-150yrds is a bit of a stretch to be even thinking of hunting such game....The 22 mag will work just fine for these critters up to 30-40 yrds(that is if the rabbits are white and the ground is brown. I have always used my magnum(more punch through the alders) for rabbits and have even shot a few grouse with it. As far as long range shooting you might want to consider a centerfire 22 like a 222, 223 etc.. If you're hunting grouse and rabbits at 100-150yrds...you sure have a better eye than I.
That's so true. I never take body shot's on grouse because it usually ruins the meat. Ever try shooting a chicken in the head at 100+ yards? Not very easy and in fact nearly impossible unless you have a target quality gun with a rock solid rest. Once I shot a Sharptail in the head at about 140 yards with a Marlin .22 magnum but I have to admit quite honestly that it took me 3 shots to do it. 
