varmints with a 22 rimfire?
- Thread starter jdemora
- Start date
Last time I was at the range, somebody told me about a "buddy" of theirs who tried to get a Coyote in front of him with a .22lr, and how by the time they caught up to the critter, it was curled up in the fetal position crying, and had been shot so many times it looked like hamburger.
Don't use rimfire for Coyotes.
Don't use rimfire for Coyotes.
Cannot recommend the 22 LR rimfire for coyotes, but for smaller stuff they are ideal. FWIW, within 50 yards, I have killed two 'yotes stone dead with one shot each. But it's an iffy thing at best, and there are many better cartridges for coyotes. Regards, Eagleye.
EE - what ammo where you using? I was on CCI's home page and they had some pretty neat stuff for the .22LR, certainly much different than the stuff at Walmart.
Examples:
QUIK-SHOK®† 22 LONG RIFLE
The same performance numbers as Stinger® but loaded with a special segmented bullet. Excellent for medium varmints like rock chucks and woodchucks.
and
VELOCITOR™ 22 LONG RIFLE
A speedy predator is loose and looking for varmints! Velocitor is the fastest 40 gr 22 Long Rifle on the market. It carries energy farther for plenty of long-range wallop.
The velocitor is recommeded for varmints up to the size of coyotes.
Examples:
QUIK-SHOK®† 22 LONG RIFLE
The same performance numbers as Stinger® but loaded with a special segmented bullet. Excellent for medium varmints like rock chucks and woodchucks.
and
VELOCITOR™ 22 LONG RIFLE
A speedy predator is loose and looking for varmints! Velocitor is the fastest 40 gr 22 Long Rifle on the market. It carries energy farther for plenty of long-range wallop.
The velocitor is recommeded for varmints up to the size of coyotes.
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I have quite a lot of experience hunting woodchucks and smaller with 22 lr. My favorite round is the velocitor, it has indeed more energy than anything else and you can ''feel'' that the hit is stronger. Stingers are fast but less energy.
Even on vital shots on woodchucks inside 50 yards using this ammo, they would often run and get in their hole. I am restraining myself to head shots now on those critters.
On coyotes, if you can't make a neck or headshot inside 50-60 yards, don't take the shot IMHO
pilot
Even on vital shots on woodchucks inside 50 yards using this ammo, they would often run and get in their hole. I am restraining myself to head shots now on those critters.
On coyotes, if you can't make a neck or headshot inside 50-60 yards, don't take the shot IMHO
pilot
A 22 Lr isnt a coyote gun, (but it looks like we've covered that allready)
That being said, on vermin/Small game, a 22 will kill as far as you can accurtely shoot.
My 10-22 will accurately shoot Piggies out to 200 yards, and cant think of anything more fun than blasting piggies with the LR. .
At my buddies place a few weeks ago, we were busting crows @ 100 and beyond.
Keep in mind though, there is about 4-5 feet of drop between 100 and 200 yards with the LR.
And the best ammo out of my gun? (Match and other rediculously expensive ammo aside) Winchester Dynapoints. Cheap, Standard velocity, and accurate.
That being said, on vermin/Small game, a 22 will kill as far as you can accurtely shoot.
My 10-22 will accurately shoot Piggies out to 200 yards, and cant think of anything more fun than blasting piggies with the LR. .
At my buddies place a few weeks ago, we were busting crows @ 100 and beyond.
Keep in mind though, there is about 4-5 feet of drop between 100 and 200 yards with the LR.
And the best ammo out of my gun? (Match and other rediculously expensive ammo aside) Winchester Dynapoints. Cheap, Standard velocity, and accurate.
Donny Fenn1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootenays
"velocitor is recommeded for varmints up to the size of coyotes." up to not including i hope....
Coyotes are the equivalent of a dingo here in Oz and I'd NEVER go after a dingo with a .22lr.
A pro-shooter mate uses a .22 Hornet for dingos but he's super experienced, an amazing shot and does it for a living so it's not a suitable recommendation for most weekend hunters.
Foxes are smaller and I'd hesitate to shoot one with a .22lr unless it was under 50yds and a head shot.
In reality, .17HMR or .22WMR would be more preferable for reynards.
So unless you're staring it down at 10 paces and can guarantee putting the pill between the eyes I'd leave any coyote to be shot another day with something bigger rather than trying your luck and making him into a walking hamburger patty.
BTW, My experience with some factory ammo is that it presents the outside limits of the cartridge so take things with a grain of salt.
It's better to be over-gunned than under-gunned.
A pro-shooter mate uses a .22 Hornet for dingos but he's super experienced, an amazing shot and does it for a living so it's not a suitable recommendation for most weekend hunters.
Foxes are smaller and I'd hesitate to shoot one with a .22lr unless it was under 50yds and a head shot.
In reality, .17HMR or .22WMR would be more preferable for reynards.
So unless you're staring it down at 10 paces and can guarantee putting the pill between the eyes I'd leave any coyote to be shot another day with something bigger rather than trying your luck and making him into a walking hamburger patty.
BTW, My experience with some factory ammo is that it presents the outside limits of the cartridge so take things with a grain of salt.
It's better to be over-gunned than under-gunned.
a .22 LR is okay if they are in a snare or a trap but i wouldn't use it for hunting them. With that said, i wouldnt hesitate to shoot one with the .22 mag. i have shot beavers with them and they do a pretty good job (better than a .22Lr although they work alright for bernies).
I've shot feral cats with 22lr. They work good at close range but I've had issues with anything over 50 yards. I definately wouldn't use a .22lr on a coyote. Not with rifles so cheap right now. Get the right tool for the job and you'll do it right the first time.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
As for 1899's question about quick shocks/prefragmented, it really isn't all that great. It has Stinger like ballistics (light bullet, quick for .22LR) and as stated fragments into 3 portions on impact, unfortunately this makes it an incredible maimer rather than killer in my experience. Gophers almost always made it down the hold without a hit to the neck and above, and with lots of blood trace. Flashy, but not recommended.
Now Velocitors I recommend 110%, they are THE best .22LR ound there is. They are the only round I shoot gophers with anymore. I did a test at our place in Alberta where I shot large thick plastic jugs full of water lined up and recovered the bullets. Most .22LR "hollow points" didn't even expand at all and overpenetrated greatly. However, the Velocitor showed textbook mushrooming from its "Gold Dot Hollow Point" (I laugh at calling it a gold dot, but it is a nicely swagged and plated piece of lead) and stopped in the first jug, just damaging the backside of it (would be about a 8-9" wound cavity, but this is water we're talking).
Anyhow, to make a long story short, Velocitors are very effective on small varmints. Wouldn't use one on a coyote, for that I consider .221 fireball minimum. But for gophers, it really thumps them and you can see them take the hit hard, it drops a lot of energy in them unlike the cheap HP's or solids.
As well, Velocitors are very consistent and accurate, I shot a 2.27" 5 shot 200 yard group (that's almost MOA with a .22 at 200 yards!) with them last year in my Kimber. Eagleye beat the group, but not sure what ammo he was using.
Now Velocitors I recommend 110%, they are THE best .22LR ound there is. They are the only round I shoot gophers with anymore. I did a test at our place in Alberta where I shot large thick plastic jugs full of water lined up and recovered the bullets. Most .22LR "hollow points" didn't even expand at all and overpenetrated greatly. However, the Velocitor showed textbook mushrooming from its "Gold Dot Hollow Point" (I laugh at calling it a gold dot, but it is a nicely swagged and plated piece of lead
) and stopped in the first jug, just damaging the backside of it (would be about a 8-9" wound cavity, but this is water we're talking).Anyhow, to make a long story short, Velocitors are very effective on small varmints. Wouldn't use one on a coyote, for that I consider .221 fireball minimum. But for gophers, it really thumps them and you can see them take the hit hard, it drops a lot of energy in them unlike the cheap HP's or solids.
As well, Velocitors are very consistent and accurate, I shot a 2.27" 5 shot 200 yard group (that's almost MOA with a .22 at 200 yards!) with them last year in my Kimber. Eagleye beat the group, but not sure what ammo he was using.
Hyper velocity .22's don't shoot well in every rifle. You must try a box of each to find out which one shoots best in your rifle. You have to do this with any .22 ammo, but even moreso with the hyper velocity ammo.
Wiley averages about 30 lbs. He's smarter than most people too. If you can get a head shot, a .22 will do, but getting one is unlikely. Keep the .22 for ground hogs(a big one runs 8 lbs).
Wiley averages about 30 lbs. He's smarter than most people too. If you can get a head shot, a .22 will do, but getting one is unlikely. Keep the .22 for ground hogs(a big one runs 8 lbs).
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Oh and for those curious, Velocitors chrono'd at 1380fps from an 18" barrel (mean) with high around 1425, low 1320, SD was quite low but can't recall. They did 1400fps even (again, mean) from a 21" with similar spread, and 1100fps from a 5" pistol barrel (in the pistol they gain nearly nothing on other .22LR as they burn a slower powder and this advantage isn't in effect in just 5" it would seem). This is all from memory mind you, but it's close to the actual figures. Oddly, I hit 1400 even a lot out of my CZ, literally many times a shooting session... The barrel length must be just right for an even 1400 consistently. All the chrono work was at or around 5 degrees for the 18", and 10-15 degrees for the 21", so there may not be any real difference for velocitors between 18" and 21" velocity wise in the same temperature.
