What are the capabilities of .22mag. ?

asphalt599

asphalt599

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I just got a .22mag. (Ruger M77). I really don't know much about this caliber but understand many people really like it. I am curious about the capabilities of this caliber. What distance can you expect to accurately shoot? Is there a lot of bullet drop at short distance like .22lr?
Would this be a good caliber for coyote hunting? Yes I know it will kill a coyote and yes .22lr will do that aswell. Is this a good choice to take out coyote hunting? If you ahve something else to add in thats great too.
I am interested to see whay you guys have to say. I am excited to get out and start shooting it.
 
Hi. It's a 125 yard cartridge. Be ok for head shots on coyotes out that far using 40 grain HP's. It's not a great cartridge for 'em though. Not enough to kill 'em quickly with a body shot.
You will find it's kind of pricey to shoot too. Winchester ammo runs $15 to $20 per 50.
 
sunray said:
Hi. It's a 125 yard cartridge. Be ok for head shots on coyotes out that far using 40 grain HP's. It's not a great cartridge for 'em though. Not enough to kill 'em quickly with a body shot.
You will find it's kind of pricey to shoot too. Winchester ammo runs $15 to $20 per 50.
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Definately more expensive then .22lr by a long shot but substancially cheaper than any of my centre fire rifles.
 
The .22Mag has the same energy at 100 yards as a .22LR at the muzzle. I once had the unfortunate job of putting down two dogs that were "biters" and a .22LR from 2 feet behind the ear dropped them with no twitching.

Considering the above information, a .22Mag is definitely enough to hunt coyotes with, so long as it and you are capable of making head shots every time, and you limit your shots to 100 yards or less.
 
I see the 22 mag as a specialty cartridge-whereas the regular .22 is an allpurpose,fun,cheap to shoot cartridge-they don't make 2.5 billion of them every year for nothing.But for hunting anything bigger than rabbits -clearly the 22 mag is a better choice and since hunting doesn't use a lot of shells, the higher cost isn't a factor.
My old hunting partner used 22 mags for hunting feral goats on one of the gulf islands-he confined his shots to head and neck shots-and shot a lot of goats.
 
sunray said:
Hi. It's a 125 yard cartridge. Be ok for head shots on coyotes out that far using 40 grain HP's. It's not a great cartridge for 'em though. Not enough to kill 'em quickly with a body shot.
You will find it's kind of pricey to shoot too. Winchester ammo runs $15 to $20 per 50.
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$15-20?? I thought .22mag was cheaper than .17hmr, I guess not.
 
Just FYI

At our indoors 20 yards club range (CFO-ON-approved), .22Magnum is not allowed even though large handgun calibers are allowed
 
Hi Asphalt , We think alike on somethings..lol....I bought a Savage 93FV in 22mag a few weeks ago , and really like it , I have orderd a tacticool stock from Boyds and the bottom metal from Savage .

As stated by others ..I feel if the coyotes are out past 100m you would do better with a larger calibre ...I got mine for groundhogs and a cheaper gun to shoot at the range . Took my Polytech out with the 22mag and really enjoyed shooting them both :)
 
I didn't buy it specifically for coyote hunting. Just liked the rifle. Should be a great plinking gun. Just thinking it would be nice to get it out hunting aswell.
 
chalkriver said:
Hi Asphalt , We think alike on somethings..lol....I bought a Savage 93FV in 22mag a few weeks ago , and really like it , I have orderd a tacticool stock from Boyds and the bottom metal from Savage .

As stated by others ..I feel if the coyotes are out past 100m you would do better with a larger calibre ...I got mine for groundhogs and a cheaper gun to shoot at the range . Took my Polytech out with the 22mag and really enjoyed shooting them both :)
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We do seem to end up with similar things. I would bet looking in your safe would look quite similar to looking in mine.
Would love yo get together to do some shooting......to bad your 4 hours away.
 
chalkriver said:
Hi Asphalt , We think alike on somethings..lol....I bought a Savage 93FV in 22mag a few weeks ago , and really like it , I have orderd a tacticool stock from Boyds and the bottom metal from Savage .

As stated by others ..I feel if the coyotes are out past 100m you would do better with a larger calibre ...I got mine for groundhogs and a cheaper gun to shoot at the range . Took my Polytech out with the 22mag and really enjoyed shooting them both :)
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What do you mean by the bottom metal on the savage? The trigger guard?
 
I ask because my savage 93 has the plastic trigger guard and I hate it, I've gone through 2 already, and when I asked savage if I could get a metal one for it, they said no.
 
asphalt599 said:
That really surprises me. I wonder if it is logic based or just something someone decided.
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CFO-decision based on the strength of the brick and mortar and cement walls and backstops.

Only air (.17 and .22) and rimfire 22cal rifles. No Centrefire rifles allowed.
 
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