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.22LR or .22 Magnum for small game?
- Thread starter K Williams
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I prefer the .22LR
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If you want the edge, .22 magnum easily beat out the .22LR. I prefer the .22LR for most of the same reasons...a little cheaper, works well-enough for my needs and you have a little more versitility for round selection (LR, shorts, CB's, etc.). I try to use just the CCI 40gr. solids for small game, I've had Stingers mess up squirrel meat real bad with a poorly placed shot (my fault, but those HP's are pretty destructive if you don't put them where you want them!)...the solids are a little more forgiving and don't make a mess of the meat.
I think the Ruger Single Six gives you a great option; cheap practice with .22LR (both plinking and hunting) and .22LR for better self-defense (not the most prefered but nothing to laugh at) and a much better performing round for larger game (coyote sized).
ROCK6
I think the Ruger Single Six gives you a great option; cheap practice with .22LR (both plinking and hunting) and .22LR for better self-defense (not the most prefered but nothing to laugh at) and a much better performing round for larger game (coyote sized).
ROCK6
K Williams
Gold Member
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- 3,286
Hmm... I think I'll eventually get both a .22LR and .22 Rim Mag, but for now I'll get this Remington:
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/rimfire_rifles/model_597/model_597_flx.asp
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/rimfire_rifles/model_597/model_597_flx.asp
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- Jun 5, 2006
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Really, that's interesting, maybe it has to do with the type of hunting you do there or the favored kind of firearm, like a Ruger 10/22? Up here in the cool blue north, I find the local big box store has a rack full of 22lr in about 20 different flavors, cheap enough that I pick up a box or two "just because" whenever I go in.
Never shot a 22 mag, but I have a CZ452 in 22lr that I love and I think it will serve my small game needs.
There are currently ammo shortages everywhere but New York it appears! 
Maybe because there are so few gun owners in that state!?!
Anyhow, I have both .22LR and .22WMR and it depends upon what I'm doing to pick one over the other for the job!
A .22LR will do for most small game work the normal person would ever need. However, a .22WMR can push that envelope as far as distance and size of game. That is why a Ruger Single Six Convertible is nice as you can have both along for the desired job.
As far as rifles, I'd shoot up to coyote size game with a .22WMR at close range, but wouldn't even consider shooting one with a .22LR no matter how close it was. For really small game, go for head shots! Sure a .22WMR will tear up a squirrel, but if you take its head off it doesn't matter!
As to cost, I'm paying $10.99 per box of 50 for Winchester Supreme .22WMR that my rifle likes. The cheapest in town is Win. Dynapoints for $7.77 and the most expensive is about $15 unless you go to Gander Mt. as they are about $5 a box higher for everything! LOL! If you can find any to begin with!
I sure hope the ammo manufacturers are catching up! Or maybe it's because most of the current "hoarders" are running out of cash/room on the credit cards! LOL!
Maybe because there are so few gun owners in that state!?! Anyhow, I have both .22LR and .22WMR and it depends upon what I'm doing to pick one over the other for the job!
A .22LR will do for most small game work the normal person would ever need. However, a .22WMR can push that envelope as far as distance and size of game. That is why a Ruger Single Six Convertible is nice as you can have both along for the desired job.
As far as rifles, I'd shoot up to coyote size game with a .22WMR at close range, but wouldn't even consider shooting one with a .22LR no matter how close it was. For really small game, go for head shots! Sure a .22WMR will tear up a squirrel, but if you take its head off it doesn't matter!
As to cost, I'm paying $10.99 per box of 50 for Winchester Supreme .22WMR that my rifle likes. The cheapest in town is Win. Dynapoints for $7.77 and the most expensive is about $15 unless you go to Gander Mt. as they are about $5 a box higher for everything! LOL! If you can find any to begin with!
I sure hope the ammo manufacturers are catching up! Or maybe it's because most of the current "hoarders" are running out of cash/room on the credit cards! LOL!
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I will admit, I use solids for small game hunting, especially squirrel sized game. I was surprised at how much damage a 22LR HP did to a squirrel I shot, never bought HPs for a Magnum.
One reason I like the magnum is the ballistics. With a 100 yard zero, the mid trajectory is only about an inch high. It's very easy to take head shots on small game with the WMR, not so much with the LR.
One reason I like the magnum is the ballistics. With a 100 yard zero, the mid trajectory is only about an inch high. It's very easy to take head shots on small game with the WMR, not so much with the LR.
The 22Magnum has about twice the power the 22LR has and you can get much better designed bullets. To me that means nothing when hunting squirrel or rabbit sized game but means a lot when hunting wood chucks or anything bigger. Because of that I think the 22mag is more versatile. I sold my 22LR several years ago and have been hunting squirrels with a 22mag. The 22mag is devastatingly lethal. Last year I missed the head and hit the front paw and tree the squirrel was on. The bullet took the paw off clean and then fragmented and filled the squirrels neck with shrapnel. The squirrel was dead before I made it to it. If you hit anything other than the head it makes too much of a mess to bother salvaging. I have finally got another 22lr. If I could only have one it would be a 22lr because it is cheap to practice with but the 22mag is still a better tool for hunting.
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Finally, here is a man who knows a quality rimfire caliber.
There are some people who get it and some who don't
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There are some people who get it and some who don't
If my HMR shot that good, I'd still have it. All the rimfires are fun to shoot. Mach 2's included.
Just for general hunting and low volume shooting, I like the .22 Mag. For high volume shooting, I like the .22 LR. Mainly because of cost. Pretty sad that ammo is so hard to come by now.
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There are some people who get it and some who don't
That is some mighty fine shooting. I would be very proud of that group. I have a 17 hmr as well. It will trash the head of a rabbit or squirrel. Better hit them in the head. It seems that they are affected more by the wind and twigs compared to the 22 mag. They do shoot flatter but farther the distance I think the heavier 22 mag wins out due to the weight of the bullet for smack down power. They are cute. I have noticed here in Kansas the 22 long rifle and 22 mag ammo is always sold out. The 17Hmr is always on the shelf. I would not shoot a coyote with a 17 Hmr. It will work, my son did, but it is not pretty. I will agree that shot placement is king. I still think that the magnum is more versatile. If I shot like that I would be in gunblast as well. The best of the best.
They are just two different instruments for doing a job.
If your job needs quiet sub-60 yard performance on Jack Rabbit or smaller sized animals, and you can judge range accurately, .22LR can be the answer.
The magnum stretches the useable range out (to somewhere past 100 yds), as well as bumping up the size of animal you can humanely take.
I like them both. This kind of question is kind of like "which golf club do you like the best?!" I guess I like the one that seems most suitable for the job presently at hand.
To further gain perspective, you should also attempt to hunt with a .22 air rifle. When you finally wander back to the rimfires, you'll be a much better hunter with your .22LR "cannon". I know I was.
CHEERS
If your job needs quiet sub-60 yard performance on Jack Rabbit or smaller sized animals, and you can judge range accurately, .22LR can be the answer.
The magnum stretches the useable range out (to somewhere past 100 yds), as well as bumping up the size of animal you can humanely take.
I like them both. This kind of question is kind of like "which golf club do you like the best?!" I guess I like the one that seems most suitable for the job presently at hand.
To further gain perspective, you should also attempt to hunt with a .22 air rifle. When you finally wander back to the rimfires, you'll be a much better hunter with your .22LR "cannon". I know I was.
CHEERS
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- Oct 24, 2005
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- 1,836
Reminds me of an article I read in a black-powder magazine a number of years ago about "barking" squirrels. The technique was to allow the hunter to use .36cal or larger muzzle loading rifles for squirrel hunting, by shooting the tree directly under the squirrel. That way the shock/schapnel (i.e. tree bark) from the shot killed the squirrel, without totally destroying it like a direct hit with a .36cal+ round ball would have done.
