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I would like to update the old tired .22 I have. As a kid I was always intrigued by the .22 mag caliber. Henry makes a nice looking lever with good wood. A bit expensive. Are the ballistics substancially better with the mag cartridge? Is there a .22 mag ammo availability issue? Canadian Tire sells the Henry's but I didn't see the ammo.
The last 22 mag I owned was a volquartsen semi. It was really stupid accurate and shot well to 200 yards. A lot of that was the gun.
They definitely have more jam than a 22lr and since bullet is same size range is obviously better with increased speed and better pills.
Ammo was ok as we went through a bit of a drought and then availability was back.
I think you should buy one!
Big Jack - that's what I was looking for . Thanks
One of the big questions is: What are you going to use it for.
The .22 lr is cheap, quiet accurate. Are you going to hunt something where the .22 lr is too small?
For small varmints, consider the .17 rimfire - take a look.
For things too big for the .22 lr, consider the 22 centerfires. It's just my personal opinion, but I've never seen a real use the the .22 magnum. I own 4 .22 lr and 1 22-250.
I've owned a couple over the years, both were Marlin. 1st was a sweetheart little lever action, the other was a bolt gun.
Lots more velocity, and power pushing the pills ( a fair bit louder as well).
Truth be told, I sold them both, mainly due to the fact that while I liked the .22WMR cartridge, I tended to shoot the .22LR far more.
If you wind up buying one I have an almost full box of hollow points here you can have.
I always thought about it but it all depends on what you want to do. If you are plinking then stick with 22LR, $6/50 for decent CCI stuff, 22 Mag you are looking at $16/50.
If you are looking for more punch for varmints and long range plinking then I would look at the 223, $9/20 but reloadable and very cheap when reloading.
The rifles themselves will cost about the same, the 22 Mag does not seem to come out at a price anywhere near the 22LR.
I like the idea of the 22 Mag but ammo cost keeps going up, 22 Hornet is one that I personally would love as I have a varmint cartridge but if I had no varmint rifle and were looking at one it would not be a 22 Mag but rather a 223.
I am a huge 22wm fan. No problem finding ammo. And thy double the range of 22 rim fire. Love the extra punch
Buy one Roper you won't regret it. I'm pretty sure you know the limitations of the wee mag so I won't get into that. Ammo is easy to find at most CAN Tire locations and big box stores. They are a lot of fun to shoot and more than capable to cleanly take coyotes out to 75- 100 yards. I have had a few and only have one wee 22 mag left and I shall never part with it.
I do really regret selling mine. I have a 17hmr and it's not the same and I've downloaded 222,17rem,17FB,204,223 to 2200 fps +/- all to match what the 22 mag does right out of the box....Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchhunter
Times 2 on the above quote, I have one in a Ruger model 77 , my go to Jack rifle, and it does a job on coyotes if they are seen when we hunt jack rabbits.Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchhunter
Ammo availability is not a question, plenty of it out there , I especially like CCI. brand.
The performances are a lot better, louder, more expensive to shot and the ammo is easy to find (all the big store carry it) so overall it has been a great addition to the family last year (CZ 455).Quote:
Originally Posted by Roper
If I only had one gun I would go with a 22LR though.
I am a big fan of the .22LR.......cheap ammo and it is readily available. For plinking that is my go to round especially when I have my two girls burning through them like they are BB's. For a little more punch I have a 17HMR. The HMR is an amazing round (flat trajectory and deadly accurate) but easily effected my wind and rounds are getting a tad on the expensive side. I would probably just use my .223 if I needed any kind of knock down power.
Never owned a .22MAG - they seem like an antiquated round with todays new options that are out there.
Great comments guys. I really appreciate your opinions from both sides of the fence.
I'm going ahead to buy one. Being a lefty I have some limitations on choice of firearm as I would like my son or daughter to use it also and they are right handed. The Henry lever is a good option. I'm not sure if there are any pump or semi's out there.
Thanks.
X2 both 17 rim fire( HMR or WSM) and or a 17 centerfield.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark_t1012001
You probably have an easier time finding HMR then 22Mag. As for range and power your starting at 22lr then the HMR big leap to the WSM and then you move into a 17 Centerfire.
I believe Magnum research make a semi .22mag but it will be pricey but they are very accurate rifles. The Henry is also a great rifle and a buddy of mine has one but it wont keep up accuracy wise with my bolt action. My son is a lefty and has learned to shoot right handed guns quite well so with a little practice it could be something to think about.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roper
https://www.facebook.com/530480823/v...4190660225824/
Don't know if the link will work , this is my son shooting his Tbolt
And a hog he drilled behind the ear with my .22mag
https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...96&oe=5A01965F
Remington makes a 597(semi) in mag but I think all they offer now is a heavy barrelled model, I could be wrong. I bought my 597 22mag several years ago, it is a light barrelled model in a grey wood laminate. Absolutely love the rifle and it is a shooter as well. It likes several offering but it absolutely loves the Remington 33gr accutip-v's, clover leaf at 100 yds!Quote:
Originally Posted by Roper
*************Just checked Remington's site, don't think they offer the 597 in a mag anymore, guess used might be only way to go in a 597***********
Always been a big fan of the 22mag, Dad always had one so I grew up using one regularly and I've all ways had one in my cabinet as well. Several buddies have had the 17hmr, I'm not a fan, very light hitter and like has been stated on other groundhog threads recently the 17 is only good for a head shots. The mag has no issues going to the boiler room of a groundhog and the 33 gr accutips are even better than the 40gr hp's, explosive and very hard hitting!!! I like to run 40gr's for jacks as not so much meat damage if you hit a bone. As I see it the mag out performs the 17 in every aspect other than the 17 might be a little flatter shooting but we are not talking about much. I would way rather have the foot pounds compared to the slightly flatter shooting but under powered 17. Now that is my opinion and some guys just love their 17's, whatever makes you happy!!
I shot a mangy fox a few years ago (33gr), boiler room and bang flop........couldn't believe how quick he hit the dirt. I've yote hunted with a couple guys using their 17's and we always end up tracking wounded ones every time they would connect. My son shot his first 2 yotes with a 22mag (40gr hp) and both were on the ground in less than 50yds from impact, one was less than 10yds.
Actually had one of my farmer buds call me a few days ago to rid him of some earthpigs, think I'll go for a walk this aft!!
In my .22 mag, Ruger model 77, I have been using CCI brand 30 gr. V-MAX. ammo. at 2200 fps, flat shooting, accurate , this is my go to rifle when we hunt jacks, and as I have mentioned, it does a killing job on coyotes if I see them within range [200yds.] when we are out for jacks. I have never been impressed by any of the .17's in rimfire version, as I have seen what they have done when others hunt with us and use them.
I will take my .22 mag over them any time as I know it's a reliable killer, however others have their own opinion they can stick to it even tho many have not used the .17's but are just going by hear say.
Love hearing this pro-22 mag. stuff. One reason is that I am a old school guy - and really like to hear positive opinions about products from days past. I'm certainly not going to put down the .17 cartridges because they have proven themselves. However there are older guns, calibers etc that continously outperform newer offerings.
This is a topic in itself - and I think I may propose a thread to discuss that topic.
I remember someone saying 22WMR has the same energy @ 100 yards that 22LR has at the muzzle. I won't Google that for confirmation, but having owned one for a couple of years...I really liked it. As others have said, more punch, more noise etc. Should be said~even some of the finest 22WMR bolt guns can only shoot in/around 1"-1-1/2" @ 100 yards. That may/may not be a deciding factor for you, but in all honesty I'd have a little trouble imagining a Henry lever could keep pace with a CZ bolt gun pulling off maybe 1" on a good day.
I think of 22WMR like this~if you're hunting with it and whatever you're shooting has more heft/size than a squirrel~you'll be well-served by 22WMR. UNLIKE a couple of summers hunting groundhogs with 17HMR (which everyone raves about) the 22WMR knocked those things down with authority out to about 125 yards. I'm talking body shots, as past that I never had the confidence in 22WMR's accuracy to take a noodle shot and I sure didn't want to hit one on the snout and have it make it back to it's hole and suffer.
All my groundhog shooting now is done with a .223 and honestly~it's a better tool for the job. However, I do miss the 22WMR days where a pocket full of ammo, and a bit of a sneak was involved to get into 22WMR range. More hunting than the .223 and the 6.5-20X scope sitting on it. No sneak required when I'm on my game. Just a range finder, rear bag=gone. :)
I'd say GO for it. Ammo supply isn't hard to find. If I was wanting a lever, I'd hold-out for a used Winchester 94. They pop-up on CGN with some frequency. My rifle was a Savage 93 FV. (heavy barrel)
Yes back in my late teens and most of my 20's I lived for popping groundhogs every spring. Started with my 22 and dad's 22mag, then I picked up at 22-250 and loved the long range shooting. I had to sell the 22-250 to purchase a .270 to moose hunt with, shot many a hog with it for a few years but I eventually I added another 22-250 as the .270 was just too loud and big. Later on when they came out with the lighter gr polymer tipped ammo for the 22 mag (rem 33gr) I tried them in my 597 22mag and it absolutely loved them so gave them a try on some hogs and was really happy with them. Bang flop every time and very deadly out to 150yds. I had always used the 40gr HP's but these polymer tipped 33gr'ers had explosive results on hogs and a flatter trajectory to boot. The last few years of chasing them hot and heavy I always had the 22mag in hand, the 22-250 never left the truck as it's usually not an issue getting to within 150yds of a hog and I just loved the performance of the mag and without the louder report of the 250 other hogs tended to stick around rather heading for their holes when the 250 went off. Don't shoot many hogs anymore and the few times I have actually went for a drive to find some in the last several years I only pack the 22mag. Kinda past the long range shooting and just enjoy getting a little closer to them and shooting them with the mag.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrouseWhisperer
Great post above, just tell it like it is from experience, to those whose only experience is from books/articles.
I really like my .22 mag . ruger model 77 rifle, great for jacks and the odd groundhog I see plus the odd coyote when jack hunting, even thou I do have, .204, .222, and .243 rifles , these are mainly used to hunt coyotes with.
^sounds like we've been down the same road! :) I've shot groundhogs with almost every caliber/gauge I've ever owned, including .204R and .243 Win. (both rifles now gone) I really liked the .204 Ruger too, but my fussy 1:12" twist took forever to find a good load for and that loaded ended-up including 39gr. Sierra BlitzKings. Issue was~will all that pep that much powder capacity provided, that bullet would pass right through a groundhog. I once hit a good sized adult quartering towards me and it exited the opposite, rear/right hip close to the tail. Through a groundhog almost end-to-end. Lots to love about .20cal bullets, so for about the third year in a row...I'm looking at the oddball (smaller) .20cal offerings like 20 Vartarg, 20 Practical, etc. If I can find a barrel/twist that I'm 99% sure will shoot 32gr. V-Max...I may get a rifle built.Quote:
Originally Posted by duckslayer
However..I digress. :) Making groundhog shooting more involved has always been a bit of a "flight of fancy"...but has never made it more fun than the .22WMR groundhogging was.
Yes the 22mag is also great on jacks's although I like to switch back to a 40gr as I hit a few jacks in the spine and front shoulder with the 33gr'ers and they had considerable more meat damage than the 40's due to bullet design. I mostly chase yotes in the winter and turkeys in the spring now but it used to be cotty's and jacks all winter and hogs in the spring. Really like my semi-auto 22mag for the jack drives, used to be all shotty work but later on I switched to the 22mag for some added distance as well as challenge.Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycee
Quote:
Originally Posted by GrouseWhisperer
Yup I went through plenty of calibers on hogs, .22, .22mag, .17hmr, .204, .222, .223, .22-250, .243, .270win.
Still own .22's, .22mag, .204, 2-.223's, .22-250, .270win. It's all .22's and the .22mag for hogs now (but that's few and far between) and all the bigger stuff is for yotes. Really thinking of purging a few as I mostly carry ether a .223 or a .204 now while chasing yotes, the rest are collecting dust.........
Another experience based post about the .22mag.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrouseWhisperer
It seems that those with no or minimal experience with it, have the most to say against it.
Well dammit I missed mine so much with all this talk of 22mag I just bought a Ruger American in 22mag with hawke 22 mag scope.
If it's half as accurate as the volquartsen was I'll be pleased.
^this is true. If you have one you love it, if you HAD one and sold it~you miss it. If you NEVER owned one, you probably think it's a useless, antiquated caliber. lolQuote:
Originally Posted by jaycee