.22 win mag limits

My family hunts everything from squirrels, to coyotes, to prairie dogs, with .223 Rem. ...with two exceptions. One of my brothers uses a .22 Hornet. I use a .22 WMR.

Animals killed with the .223s are no more dead than animals killed with the "lesser" cartridges. The Hornet and the WMR have no recoil, can be used with minimal hearing protection, and are not expensive to shoot. ...And my Marlin .22 WMR was FAR cheaper than a centerfire rifle (though that's not really applicable to the CZ).

There are several small game season in my state, that prohibit the use of centerfire cartridges. Guess who gets the glory of the long shots, and spectacular kills when everyone else is limited to .22 LR? That's right - the guy using the .22 WMR. ;)

I use the .22 WMR in situations where I don't want, or don't need a centerfire cartridge; and .22 LR is unwanted, or doesn't have the desired performance.

The .22 WMR is an unpopular cartridge, but it is not dying. The .17 HMR put a big dent in .22 WMR sales for a few years, but the hype and marketing have subsided. At this point in time, you could safely say the .17 HMR revived interest in the "obsolete" .22 WMR. ;)

People that argue solely on the cost of .22 WMR ammunition are generally the people that have never owned one (shooting some one else's rifle is a far cry from owning and feeding one). The .22 WMR is a very fun, effective cartridge for nearly anything smaller than a coyote. It's a poor choice as a plinking round, but does great for pest and predator control. Ammunition is about as expensive as low grade .22 Hornet and .223 Remington, but the performance is great out of a rifle barrel. And when a centerfire is unwanted or illegal... what more could you ask for?


If you do buy one, keep this in mind:
CCI traditionally considered the .22 WMR to be a pistol cartridge.
Performance of "classic" loads can be a bit disappointing, out of a rifle.
Winchester traditionally considered the .22 WMR to be a rifle cartridge.
Performance of "classic" loads (such as the dynapoints) can be a bit disappointing, out of a pistol.

Newer loads (last 10 years) from both companies are optimized for a barrel length of about 10-14", and do better in both platforms, than "classic" loads.

Fiocchi and ArmsCor loads are exactly the same, loaded in the same factory (40 gr SP/HP - the "Hollow Point" is a soft point with a tiny dimple in the nose). It's dirt cheap and consistent, but doesn't quite have the velocity of other loads. Rifle barrel velocities are generally 2,000 fps or lower. It's still a big step up from dynapoints, at the same cost, or less. (They used to sell 45 gr HPs/SPs, as well; but that appears to have been discontinued.)
 
Horsefeathers.

Even hand loading 100 rounds of hunting 223 will cost about $30-$40.
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Horsefeathers.

A quick check of Midway gave $28 for 100 pieces of brass (which could easily be scrounged for free!), which assuming 10 firings comes out to less than 3 cents/shot. Assuming 25 grains of powder per round, that's 8 cents more. 4 cents for a primer and 14 cents for a bullet. ..... and those prices are for Remington components without buying anything in bulk. Bought in bulk you can save a lot more.

You can get 3 to 4 boxes of 22 mag for that and not spend a minute reloading
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You can get a box of 50 (Five Zero, half a hundred) for between 9 and 18 bucks ..... we'll say $13 on average at Midway.... SOOOO for 3 boxes you spent your $40 ..... for 150 rounds. Less than $30 gives you 100 rounds of .223 ...... 150 would cost you less than $45.

If you buy in bulk, handloading .223 is cheaper than buying brand name .22 Mag ...... The cheap Fiocci stuff is cheaper, but at 18 cents a pop, not by much.

I bet you think leasing a car is a swell deal, too......
 
My last purchase was Armscor Precision at $0.14/round delivered. Great deal and almost half the "average" $13/box of 50 mentioned above. Before that? 550 rounds of a premium brand for $100 at a show. That's still about 40% less!

So, the real question is, do you want basically the size, weight, accuracy and quietness of a .22 LR but with twice the power for twice the price and 2/3rds the price of cheap .223!?

My answer is...

You're damned right I do, and my life might depend on it.

Gehr

PS: I am fuzzy on this now but believe the .22 Mag is 1/3 louder than a .22 LR which is relatively meaningless but a .223 is something like 23 decibels, or 70-times, louder than a .22 LR...
 
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FrakenMauser ... Nice write up! (I really appreciate the info) I agree with your comment on the cost, it's not all about price. The .22mag is a very fun cartridge, IMO it's easily worth it. I also shoot a Marlin bolt action and for the price, this rifle really rocks (mines the 882ss). I love shooting it.

As for the loudness, it's noticeably louder than the .22lr but not a huge amount. Just enough that when you fire it people take notice and go whoa, what's that. To which I just grin and say .22 magnum.
 
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You guys can argue foot-pounds until the cows come home...I nailed a groundhog this morning with my 17HMR and am always amazed at the devastating performance of that little round - there were chuck chunks everywhere. And, living in a valley with neighbors not too far away, it has the highest performance-to-noise ratio I've ever seen. My 223 mostly collects dust; my 17HMR is my go-to hog-getter (as would have been, I'm sure, a 22WMR if I'd gone that route).
 
What can you do with a .22WMR that a .22LR can't? Take down varmints at 250 yards.

Personally, I love my .22WMR. I did have some problems with my gun when I first got it (Marlin 983T) but after I sent it back twice for repair they finally got it working as intended.

I've been using Hornady's .22WMR rounds that are zipping at 2200fps. Very accurate (shoots bottle caps at 100 yards), and all the squirrels/geese/groundhogs and even a couple Coyotes can attest to it's deadliness.

Want the longer range capability of a .22 round but don't want the noise of a .223? Go with the .22WMR
 
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Is the .17hmr much louder then the .22wmr? You guys convinced me that the .22wmr is a fine cartridge but does it have any advances to the .17hmr? Or is the .17hmr just a better, more modern version of it? Im gonna get a new rifle, question is will it be in 17hmr or 22wmr.
 
Can't speak too much on the .17HMR as i don't own one. It's not a new improved version of the 22WMR though, it's just different. When I bought my 22 Magnum the guy suggested I look at the .17's, that was when the .17 was just coming on strong. I did look but still went with the .22 (and am glad I did). For me it's not the caliber so much but the mass of the .17 is just so low, too low for my liking. I like the CCI 40gr FMJ for long range target shooting (nice bullets, travel long and true) and the Super-X 40gr for the most fun and best pop can splat.

I think overall the 22WMR is the more all around versatile round.
I've toyed with the idea of picking up a .17 but then I think, well when would I ever shoot it over the .22 Magnum and the answer is never. Other great thing about the .22Mag ... you can get Henry's lever action rifle chambered in it (on my wish list).
 
I went back-n-forth before deciding on the 17HMR. Flatter shooting and much higher downrange velocity & energy is what tipped me, which is probably why the bullets perform the way they do. Someone will probably chime in about wind drift, but honestly its never been an issue for me.

If you shoot in a wind tunnel, go with the 22WMR; if not, have fun driving yourself bonkers, changing your mind again and again, then just pick one. I don't think you can go wrong either way.
 
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Ilike the 22mag Ive took all kinds of critters with it,fox,yotes,feral dogs,groundhogs,bobcat,coons.just try it & see,if you cant afford ammo you cant afford the gun IMO.;)
 
Welp, the benefit of the .22WMR is that it throws a heavier piece of lead downrange.

The newer .22WMR offerings zip right along, if you want speed, the Hornady 30-grain V-Max is pretty speedy...
2200FPS ain't slow...add to that the 322 Ft-Pounds of energy, and coyote die quickly :)

Then the 25-grain NTX bumps it up to 2550 FPS, which is the SAME as a 17-grain V-Max .17HMR!!!
8 more grains of WHAP when you shoot something is NEVER a bad thing.

I'm a little more sedate, I like the 50-grain Federal Game-Shoks for 'yote & raccoon...
not quite as flat-shooting as the speedster rounds, but DRT with a little curve works for me :D

Now, for those speedsters...get a Keltec PMR-30 :D
Nothing like semi-auto .22WMR!! I've got one on order myself...
Meanwhile I get to play with my old Grendel P-30 as a test bed...party on with 30-rounds per Mag!!
 
I love how all these experts are saying the 22mag is dying and on the way out. If you speak to any Gun/Ammo Shop they will tell you the exact opposite (at least in Australia but I will bet the USA is the same), "the 22mag is alive and well and we will be all be long gone before it even looks like becoming extinct". Most rifle makers (that manufacturer rimfire rifles) have at least a couple or more 22mag models in there lineup and thats definitely not something you see on a round thats on it way out.

If you just want a something for plinking then buy a 22lr or if you are going to only shoot game the size of Rabbits or P Dogs out to 200 yards (where wind isnt a problem) then buy a 17hmr. IMHO the 22mag excells at taking game up to the size of a fox (or in windy conditions) out to 200yards. the 22mag is an excelent small game round and on average it is twice as flat shooting as the 22lr and has more knock down power at 150 meters (approx 165 yards) then the 22lr has at the muzzle.

I have used it alot for small game as it's a great little round and if its used for hunting it is not really that expensive to shoot and has a great advantage over the 22lr (and even the 17hmr). Sure some have said that you get more performance from a 223 for around the same price for ammo, but you also have more upfront cost for the rifle, they are heavier to carry around all day, a hell of alot noisier and you have to reload. With those advantages alone the 22mag will be around for along time to come.
 
on average it is twice as flat shooting as the 22lr and has more knock down power at 150 meters (approx 165 yards) then the 22lr has at the muzzle.
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Where the heck do you get these carzy a$$ numbers at? My Lord, what a bunch of bunk. What are you comparing, a .22CB vs. a .22M? Geez.

LK
 
I had the chance to shoot for some hours with a friends Anschütz 1516 in 22 wmr today. was very impressed, pretty accurate at 100 yards, not too loud and a spectacular effect on target (compared to the .22lr). Im surely going to get the cz455 now and Im very excited about it. Ammo costs about 25$ for a 50 rd package of high quality rws ammo, thats not so bad. I still dont know if the .17hmr is a better choice, if it is it realy has to be the sh** because the 22wmr is one fine little cartridge.
 
I have a CZ 452 varmint and it's a really good gun. My only complaint is the operation of the safety and the sharp magazine edges sticking out of the bottom of the rifle. I don't think it's as natural to operate as my ruger and the scope mounting is not as good as a ruger mount, but the gun shoots and functions well and I have no plans to sell it any time soon.

I have experience with various 22s, 22L,22LR, 22 mag, and 17 mach 2. The 17 grain vmax bullets from the mach 2 will not penetrage a gatorade bottle filled with water at 50 yards. The HMR firing Vmax bullets would be just as limited in terms of penetration. I would not shoot a large varmint anywhere other than in the head with one of these rounds. If you consider the 20 grain XTP and FMJ loadings for the 17 HMR, they are going to produce less trauma than a 22 mag with not much more velocity. They were invented to reduce the destructiveness of the round on small game, not in my opinion to increase the suitability of the round to shoot larger game.

The 22 magnum with hollow points will splatter small game under 50 yards. Many people choose to shoot small game with FMJ ammo because of this. 22 magnum has 50 grain loadings for high penetration. The heaviest 17s are 20 grains. Overall, the 40 grain hollow or soft points fired from a 22 magnum have a wider useful range than any 17 rimfire. The 17s virtue is in safety when shooting game the size of a gatorade bottle across flat land, flatter trajectory and a bit better mechanical accuracy. These characteristics make the 17HMR an effective round on small game. The vmax rounds tend to dump their energy rapidly and don't bounce. The mag may not have the flat shooting characteristics and may ricochette a bit more often. However, I find the 22 mag is relatively easy to hit squirrel sized game with at 100 yards and if used responsibly is a much safer choice than a centerfire 22 near populated areas. 22 mag 30 grain hollow points do a pretty good job of fragmenting without ricochett and accuracy of them is plety adequate for small game out to 100 yards. Overall, in my opinion, the 22 magnum is the most versatile rimfire round out there. Don't believe the hype that you have to have a 17 HMR. Buy one if you want one for a particular application like shooting squirrels at 150 yards. Don't buy a 17 HMR over the 22 mag for a jack of all trades do it all rimfire. For that application, the 22 mag is draumatically more useful. rc
 
Where the heck do you get these carzy a$$ numbers at? My Lord, what a bunch of bunk. What are you comparing, a .22CB vs. a .22M? Geez.

LK
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The trajectory/performance charts, most likely...CCI has a good site to compare at:
http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/compare.aspx

Fullboar's numbers look about right.

Anyone who dismisses 17 HMR for varmints is missing the boat...The terminal performance of a V-max bullet is just plain wicked. The last two groundhogs I hit (both were around 40 yards) were literally disemboweled; practically killed and and dressed in one easy step!

If the V-max for the 22WMR performs anywhere close to the 17 HMR, I'd probably opt for it - it wasn't available when I bought my hummer. But, as I said before, you can't go wrong either. Because of the 100-yard cloverleaf accuracy, I wouldn't give up my Savage 17 for anything.
 
I have quite a few 22LR's and am quite fond of them, but after retiring to the country I found them a bit lacking on the 100 yard critter shots that I was having to take. So then came the question the OP has, in what to buy next. I was going to get a 22 mag, but since I reload, why not a 22 Hornet or a 218 Bee or a 221 Fireball. So I chewed on all of this for about a month and finally just decided on a 223. It was a good decision for me, in that it's extremely accurate and you can tailor the load to the size of your critters. Yes, it's loud, but not that terribly loud. So go ahead and get the 22 Mag and see if that fits your need. It won't cost that much money. Then, if you need more than what the 22 Mag offers, step up to the 223 or the 204. I didn't see that anyone on this thread suggested the 204, but that really might be just what you need.
 
Since SOME states, like mine for instance, prohibit CF rifles from Sept - Apr, and allow only up to .22 CF from Apr-Sept, the .22 Mag comes into it's own.
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The state of OK allows the use of rimfire rifles and shotguns with small shot in the WMAs outside of deer season. i often hunt on a very large piece of federal property: That property has the same restrictions as the OK WMAs.

i often hunt wild hogs on that property with a .22 magnum, Yep, i know, the .22 magnum is not a proper hog rifle: But it kills hogs DRT when they are hit right. My hog shots are limited to 50 yards with the .22 magnum. My favorite hog round for the .22 magnum is the CCI 40 grain FMJ. The bullet either goes in the ear or in the heart. i've killed hogs to 250 pounds using the .22 magnum and no wounded hog has ever escaped.
 
Bear

Had the same questions a few years back and after checking the stats, I went with the 22 Win Mag. The 17 will fly a little flatter but the 22 Win mag has more connetic energy at range, 200 yards. As to cost $9.00 to $12.00 per 50, only ones I use is Remington Premier Magnum Rimfire 33 grain V-Max.

Went with a Marlin because of the micro-rifling Extreemly accurate. My scope is set to 100 yards for a 1/2 MOA no problem.

MFCXT-22MTSL-70855-sm.jpg


You should not use the 22 Win mag as a plinking round, it really is for hunting small pests or food.

Jim
 
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