.22LR or .22 Magnum for small game?

K Williams

K Williams

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Nov 17, 1998
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Which caliber do you all prefer for small game(rabbit, squirrel, crow, etc.) and survival? .22LR or .22 Magnum?
 
I have always liked the 22 LR one it is a bunch cheaper, 2 it is very common, 3 it shoots very accurately in most rifles and pistols. I have had a magnum but still like the LR. Doug
 
I have both but prefer the .22 lr. Mainly because of the price of ammo. I haven't checked lately but .22 mag has got to be expensive.
.22lr is more than enough for most small game at reasonable distances.
 
DPKnives said:
I have always liked the 22 LR one it is a bunch cheaper, 2 it is very common, 3 it shoots very accurately in most rifles and pistols. I have had a magnum but still like the LR. Doug
Click to expand...

+1 on all this. :thumbup:
 
.22 LR has been doing it well for decades.
I've looked for an excuse to buy a .22 Magnum, but I just don't see enough coyote around here yet.
 
Easy - .22LR. For all the reasons stated above, and it destroys less meat. No contest.

Of course, if you're just shooting things for the fun of watching them go "splat," there's nothing quite like a .22-250 (I use mine for prairie dogs).
 
I prefer .22 lr. Along with all the above mentioned reasons a magnum will also go farther and thats something you don't need when your shooting in the air. I have a Henry lever action 22 that will shoot long rifle, longs, and shorts. I also have a Marlin bolt action that is a magnum. My Henry is a very accurate rifle. I have killed squirrles and snakes with it.
 
My Ruger Single Six came with a cylinder for both...
IMG_9815.jpg
 
.22lr for sure.

Years ago, a buddy decided to use .22 magnum from a Winchester lever action for squirrel...it was not pretty!

Way to destructive on small critters.
 
I prefer the 22lr, also. In fact, if I'm going to shoot rimfire magnum, I prefer the .17HMR over the .22WMR, YMMV. :thumbup:
 
There has to be at least one dissenter. I prefer the 22 Winchester Mag over the 22 LR (or .17 HMR Mag). I have shot many squirrels with a 22 LR so it does do the job. I prefer the flatter trajectory of the 22 mag for longer range shots. I have hit squirrels out to 100 yards before. There are no wounded squirrels with a 22 mag. Since I rarely shoot more than 5 or so shots in a hunt, the cost of ammunition is not a factor. In the event a little larger prey comes along, the extra power is a plus. I have shot a few squirrels with a .17 HMR Mag but it is affected by the wind and is very loud.
 
I have always been a 22 rifle fan since I got my first one and the NRA taught me to shoot when I was a young boy. I have always said that with a 22 rifle I can get anything I need. My grandfather would shoot everything with a 22 rifle and that always impressed me. One shot one kill. I also have a 22 mag in semi auto and winchester 9422 mag lever rifle with a scope. Should you want to up your range, shoot larger game and continue to be able to carry a considerable amount of ammo I think it is the way to go. As the price of ammo continues to go up for all calibers it is still a good way to go. I have heard it called a poachers caliber although I do not condone it's use in that manner. Small game shots can be made and head shots are in order. Aim small miss small. Pick your shot. Make sure of your backstop. If I could only have one gun, I use to say, it would be a 22 long rifle. Now that I am older, make it a magnum.
 
To be honest, the .22 LR is a lot cheaper, however, my .22 Magnum is a LOT more accurate at distance. I would say the .22 LR SLIGHTLY higher, because of ammo costs.
 
.22 Mag all the way.
- Much better ballistics
- Uses actual jacketed bullets, not a copper wash
- Cheap enough ammo. I can afford $10/100 rounds.
- My Ruger Single Six is much more accurate with Magnums than LRs, so I have ammo commonality.
 
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