Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .22 Mag

I have Savage in 17 HMR. I bought them for killing critters that mess up around the house and harass my cat, racoons, possum, etc. The 17 HMR left me with too many runners. I got very frustrated. Eventually, I got mad and bought a Ruger 77/22 in 22 Mag. The gun is plenty accurate and I have not lost a single animal since I began using the 22 Mag. I save the 17 now for plinking and messing around. For serious critter control that 22 Mag cannot be beat.

Had the Ruger American rifle been on the market at the time I probably would have bought the less expensive RAR instead. But, I am really glad I got what i have. The rifle is built like a tank.

I really like Magnum Research's semi-auto 22mag. I've also got an early Ruger SS boat paddle w/green inserts. Both shoot the 30gn Hornady well. I see the newer MR semi-autos come with a sticker that says no 30gn bullets, however, mine shoots and cycles them just fine. I replaced the complete trigger group with a Timney that incorporates the mag release under the trigger guard.

I love my Marlin XT-22 mag. I may get the .17 HMR too. I've been thinking about it.

Were you just using the 17 gr VMax bullets?

I've found the 20 grain Game Point and the 20 grain FMJ are a dramatic step up when the animal gets bigger... but these are shots of 100 yds or less...

but its also ALL about shot placement...I'm doing head shots...

Some of the other bullets I mention, I think it has much more to do with bullet design, than just the extra 3 grains being any difference....

Know a few locals who've taken down deer with a 17 HMR... but these were those raiding their apple trees, and were head shots into the ear, from a solid rest and an unsuspecting deer...

instead of " don't try this at home"... home is the only place to really try it...

For me, still the best bullets for the 22 Mag, are the old CCI 40 grain Solids or FMJ....for putting down a deer hit by a car, even out past a 100 yds, in 30 something years, my Marlin 25MN has put down over a dozen deer, that have been hit by cars...

head shots...immediately dropped like a sack of bricks...

walk up to them, and the first thing I always noticed was the ear drums bulged out of the ears... shake their head and it was like hearing water in a rubber boot...

I;m hoping under Trump, we'll start to see those 22 Mag bullets showing up... I am sure the older types have been hoarded by those in the know of their effectiveness...

Oh, I really hope you are wearing your nomex underwear. 17HMR panties really get wound up when you say the 22 magnum kills critters better. I've also seen it first hand when 17HMR is being used side by side with the 22 magnum on yotes. It's pretty decisive who the clear winner is there... Just sayin..

Popped a half dozen 250 pound hogs in the head with one this morning when we were butchering. Dropped 'em like a stone. Thought about letting them out of the trailer...wasn't feeling that sporting. Liked the rifle real well, maybe I outta put a 640D Chuckster on my Christmas list.

FMJ's aren't needed for deer out of the .22 mag... The 40 gr, Winchester JHP'S shoot right through their heads and churn their brains to custard out to 75 yards. They kill deer pretty quick with lung shots too and will penetrate completely through the lung cavity of 100- 140 lb. deer with broadside shots. Sometimes they exit and sometimes you find a nicely mushroomed bullet against the hide on the far side. I don't see how 50 grain bullets would be needed on coyotes either as I've shot those same 40 gr Winchesters completely through coyotes numerous times.

Just picked up an WW 94-22 mag. Only shot a few jacks with it, but the little I tried testing different ammo, all shot very well.. Some of it shot super.. My CZ is a constant companion in the spring and summer.. the 94 may give it a run for its money, but it is in pretty good condition, so I am sure I will baby it some..

Seafire,

I've seen hogs drop in their tracks, shot with the .17 HMR. I agree with you, the best ammo for hogs is FMJ. Walmart had it in the past.

I got FMJ ammo for my .22 WMR T-Bolt, had to order it on line. Haven't had this gun long enough to try it out on hogs. But, it should do well. The "T" is a bit faster than a convential bolt.

To me, hogs seem tougher targets than deer, so I'd probably stick with FMJ's. I've never killed a deer with a rimfire, no need. I have too many good centerfire deer rifles to even consider otherwise.

Our local Cajun "after hours harvesters of fine venison" prefer the .22 WMR. They shoot between the two bright eyes illuminated by mega candle power torches...

They power up big on lumens, stick with the basics for "hunting"...

DF

Speaking of hog butchering time, my dad was the frugal sort. .22 shorts between the eyes is all you need to kill a hog. As I recall, hog killing occurred first really cold spell, usually with ice on the ground. I used to wrap the butcher knives to avoid slipping and hurting myself with one on the way to the barn.

I've been a fan of the HMR since it came out in 2002, BUT I'm not exactly blind to the fact that the WMR's heavier bullets kill better, IF you can hit what you're shooting at. The HMR is a heckuva lot better at HITTING stuff, though.

My old Marlin, with favored lots of ammo, is a consistent, everyday, 5/8" shooting rifle. Not an exaggeration, everyday. I've not seen a WMR that can do that at 50 yards, let alone 100 like my HMR. Maybe they exist, but I'm not privy to them.

22 mag a big step up from 22LR

+1

It is.

DF

.22 LR when you want to plink and .22 WMR when you want to hunt.