Cost of 22 magnum ammo???

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Prof Young

New member
Shooters:

So I was considering getting a rifle chambered for 22 mags. Seem like it would be a good caliber for some distance squirrel shooting. But I already own a 22 revolver that has a cylinder for 22mag and having shot a few knew that the ammo could be costly. Looked around and 22 mag per shot cost is almost as costly as 223, and the 22 mag you can't reload. Yipes. I don't understand why the 22 mag is so expensive.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
Way more expensive than it needs to be. As for squirrels, I've never yet seen a squirrel that needed anything more than a .22LR to kill - no matter what the distance.
 
I discovered the same thing. All I can figure is its supply and demand. There are relatively few manufacturers making the stuff, and there seems to be more and more of us demanding it.

Having said that, deals can still be had. For example Able Ammo has some paper killing stuff at around $8 per box of 50. It really depends on where you look.
 
One of my favorites. It is "expensive" compared to some centerfire ammunition at $.15 plus per round. Some people "get it" and some don't. There is nothing right or wrong either way, but with 350 plus ft lbs and 100 plus yard range it is useful. Recently, there have been advancements in .22 mag technology like the short barrel offerings from Hornady, Speer, and Winchester. My favorite, continues to be the 40 grain Winchester Super-X 40 grain JHP but the new ammo take the .22 mag to a new level for self-defense with a handgun.
 
Twice As Nice...

...at least twice the price. Twice as powerful as .22 LR and basically has the same features and benefits except not being the weakest and cheapest round available. Yeah, I'll pay for that when I want, and especially when I need, it.
 
.22 WMR ammunition is a gigantic step up in quality and reliability, versus .22 LR. Most people don't understand that. They figure a rimfire is a rimfire, and everything should be priced the same.

In addition, .22 WMR loads generally use jacketed bullets (instead of plain, soft lead). So, that increases the cost, as well.

I do agree that most loads are priced stupidly high, and it is well beyond any reasonable profit margin.

But... I have found Fiocchi and Armscor 40 gr SPs and HPs to be reasonably accurate in my Marlin 882 (HP is same bullet as the SP, but with a tiny dimple in the nose - both brands come out of the same factory). Since it isn't too difficult to find that ammo for $8-9 per box, it offers some savings. When I buy it, is when I see bricks of it offered for $65-75 per brick.


Any of the jacketed Winchester loads are great. (The Dynapoint loads suck.)
Most of the CCI loads are great (this includes many loads branded with the Remington and Hornady brand names - they're produced by CCI). I just won't pay the price most shops want for those loads.

Like you have considered, my .22 WMR sees a lot of "long range" (50-150 yard) squirrel and rabbit shooting. Sometimes, the .22 LR just doesn't have the reach or a jacketed bullet is prefered, and a centerfire is too much (or illegal).
 
Not worth the extra cost, IMHO. I rarely use it in my Ruger Single Six. The shot loads are handy for chipmunks, however.
And, I'll admit to putting them in when taking hikes in the forest. They give a little more insurance against unexpected critters, two and four legged, and I can claim it is legal during a non-deer season.
,
 
Years ago, when I bought a Henry H001 lever action carbine, I agonized over the choice between .22LR and .22WMR. I finally settled on the .22LR because of the cost of ammo -- and the amount of shooting I expected to do with it.

Since then, most of my shooting has been with handguns and the little Henry carbine rarely gets brought out. If I had known how little I would actually shoot it, I would have chosen the .22WMR for sure.
 
I too have a convertible single six and never use 22 mag. THe last couple of times this has come up I have been reminded I am not sure where the conversion cylinder is. I at first feel like I need to jump up and look for it, then realize I don't even care. I am pretty sure it is in a box somewhere with other things I never use, like an NC star red dot, and if it isn't I won't be crying over the loss.

The only gun I am considering in 22mag is the PMR, and if it was available in 22lr and it worked I wouldn't be considering that.
 
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