WHy is this not a more popular Caliber. It is a very flexible round. YOu can find loards that range from the level of a .22LR all the way up to loads that Equal a .22 Hornet. You can get everything from FMJ to Vmax loads for it. It seems to me that it would fill a nice nitch between the .22LR and the 5.56mm. I have Remington 597 in .22 Mag and I swear I am in love with the round and more so the round. The only downside I see to it is that is is not reloadable due to the fact it is a rimfire case. Why is this round not more popular. I would think that higher demand would solve the ammo cost. but even now it is about 6 bucks for 50 rounds. A lot loss than .223 but still more than .22LR I admit. NOw I am even thinging of getting a pistol in this caliber. Come on guys. tell me. Why doesn't anyone else like it.
Why not the .22Mag
- Thread starter Kevinw
- Start date
Kevin, ai agree - te 22WMR is s great round. My father-in-law ley me shoot his HK300 in 22WMR and Oooooweeeeee is that a sweet rifle. It has a factory trigger with about a 4 pound, very short and crisp pull. I bagged a buzzard a few months ago at about 150 yards! Dropped it like a stone. I couldn't believe it.
I think the 22WMR is a "cart before the horse" scenario - the ammo is still fairly expensive so not many prople use the caliber. Not many manufacturers make rifles in 22WMR because not too many people use it because the ammo is fairly expensive...you get the point.
A few months ago after I bagged that buzzard, I was so smitten with that HK300 that I tried to find one. Finally did, for $800 with no scope - which was a good price! For some reason, even though the boss gave me the go ahead, I just couldn't do it. $800 for a rimfire rifle, still needing a scope, from a manufacturer that is nearly impossible to get parts and service from...?
My revalation was to purchase a custom Kreiger upper for my AR15. I love this new upper. I now have a rifle with unlimited parts availability and centerfire caliber power.
(pssst! I still want one of those HK300's...
)
CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
I think the 22WMR is a "cart before the horse" scenario - the ammo is still fairly expensive so not many prople use the caliber. Not many manufacturers make rifles in 22WMR because not too many people use it because the ammo is fairly expensive...you get the point.
A few months ago after I bagged that buzzard, I was so smitten with that HK300 that I tried to find one. Finally did, for $800 with no scope - which was a good price! For some reason, even though the boss gave me the go ahead, I just couldn't do it. $800 for a rimfire rifle, still needing a scope, from a manufacturer that is nearly impossible to get parts and service from...?
My revalation was to purchase a custom Kreiger upper for my AR15. I love this new upper. I now have a rifle with unlimited parts availability and centerfire caliber power.
(pssst! I still want one of those HK300's...
)CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
I have the Marlin 25MN. I too am smitten with this caliber. I stepped up when I shot a squirrel with the traditional LR at about 80 yards, and the Federal hollow point literally bounced off! I found the bullet in complete form on the ground nearby.
Yes the ammo is more expensive, but when you look at the increase in performance, you kinda get what you pay for.
In the past, the ammo was produced in such small quantities that quality control was poor, and they were highly inaccurate. Alot of old-timers will say that the WMR is poor on the accuracy scale. With ammo it likes, my Marlin is totally capable of outshooting me! Ammo quality is greatly improved over just 3 years ago.
Velocity and knockdown are well above and beyond the 22LR, and do equal some of the slower loadings for the 22 Hornet.
Here is how I came to my decision about a 22MAG vs. a Hornet.
Marlin 25MN--------------------------$189
Simmons 8X32 scope with rings---------$55
Finding the ammo it likes------------$105
Spare mag X2--------------------------$21
_________________________________________
Total $370
Remington bolt action in 22Hornet----$599
Simmons 8X32 scope with rings---------$55
Rings that would fit action-----------$69
Finding the ammo it likes------------$229
Spare Mag-----------------------------n/a
Lee anniversary kit-------------------$75
Dies----------------------------------$25
Misc reloading accessories-----------$200
Brass---------------------------------$59
Remington bullets---------------------$63
Powder--------------------------------$16
Primers-------------------------------$50
_________________________________________
Total $1440
Now of course if you were already reloading, many of these expenses would be thrown out, but I was not.
Difference $1070!!!!!!!
I can shoot ALOT of factory 22MAG before the cost savings of reloading would come into effect! Years worth maybe even a rebarreling!
Also, the 22Mag has made some friends and enemies for me. People are facinated by the round. More people ask to shoot a few from my MAG than have ever eyeballed any gun I have owned. Benchrest and shillouette shooters either love or hate me. The shillouette people know its only a matter of time before the MAG is allowed into competition. The Benchrest guys border on violent disdain for anything that may intrude into their sanctum. I'll explain...
Went to the range last week, out popping squirrel targets at the 100 yard mark. A guy was practicing BR a few rows down. (Naturally he had his $2000 rifle and another $2000 in accessories all laid out in front of him). He had the gaul to ask me to move (even though I was there first) because the report of my rifle was diturbing his rhythm?????
WHATEVER!
The MAG is lots of fun, and I feel safe dropping up to coyote size game with it, something I never would have tried with a LR unless I was right on top of them.
FWIW, IMHO......The 22WMR rocks, and is here to stay!
------------------
I thought I'd seen it all, until a 22WMR spun a bunny 2 1/4 times in the air!
Yes the ammo is more expensive, but when you look at the increase in performance, you kinda get what you pay for.
In the past, the ammo was produced in such small quantities that quality control was poor, and they were highly inaccurate. Alot of old-timers will say that the WMR is poor on the accuracy scale. With ammo it likes, my Marlin is totally capable of outshooting me! Ammo quality is greatly improved over just 3 years ago.
Velocity and knockdown are well above and beyond the 22LR, and do equal some of the slower loadings for the 22 Hornet.
Here is how I came to my decision about a 22MAG vs. a Hornet.
Marlin 25MN--------------------------$189
Simmons 8X32 scope with rings---------$55
Finding the ammo it likes------------$105
Spare mag X2--------------------------$21
_________________________________________
Total $370
Remington bolt action in 22Hornet----$599
Simmons 8X32 scope with rings---------$55
Rings that would fit action-----------$69
Finding the ammo it likes------------$229
Spare Mag-----------------------------n/a
Lee anniversary kit-------------------$75
Dies----------------------------------$25
Misc reloading accessories-----------$200
Brass---------------------------------$59
Remington bullets---------------------$63
Powder--------------------------------$16
Primers-------------------------------$50
_________________________________________
Total $1440
Now of course if you were already reloading, many of these expenses would be thrown out, but I was not.
Difference $1070!!!!!!!
I can shoot ALOT of factory 22MAG before the cost savings of reloading would come into effect! Years worth maybe even a rebarreling!
Also, the 22Mag has made some friends and enemies for me. People are facinated by the round. More people ask to shoot a few from my MAG than have ever eyeballed any gun I have owned. Benchrest and shillouette shooters either love or hate me. The shillouette people know its only a matter of time before the MAG is allowed into competition. The Benchrest guys border on violent disdain for anything that may intrude into their sanctum. I'll explain...
Went to the range last week, out popping squirrel targets at the 100 yard mark. A guy was practicing BR a few rows down. (Naturally he had his $2000 rifle and another $2000 in accessories all laid out in front of him). He had the gaul to ask me to move (even though I was there first) because the report of my rifle was diturbing his rhythm?????
WHATEVER!
The MAG is lots of fun, and I feel safe dropping up to coyote size game with it, something I never would have tried with a LR unless I was right on top of them.
FWIW, IMHO......The 22WMR rocks, and is here to stay!
------------------
I thought I'd seen it all, until a 22WMR spun a bunny 2 1/4 times in the air!
.22 Mag inaccurate? 
CindyH's first gun (which she still has) is an RG .22WMR 8-shot revolver. She was having some flerking problems with it on Sunday. I verified that the sights were on by putting a shot directly in the bullseye. Damned impressed, wuz me.
I'd love to get a Rem 700 in .22WMR, if I could but find one...
CindyH's first gun (which she still has) is an RG .22WMR 8-shot revolver. She was having some flerking problems with it on Sunday. I verified that the sights were on by putting a shot directly in the bullseye. Damned impressed, wuz me.
I'd love to get a Rem 700 in .22WMR, if I could but find one...
Calif Hunter
New member
I have a Marlin 882 in .22 mag, and I love it! It seems to prefer the Winchester HP ammo and does not like the V-Max. With the Winchester ammo, I get 1 inch groups at 100 yards and it does a real number on ground squirrels and jackrabbits out to 125 -150 yards. I also have a heavybarreled .223 which cuts clover leaf groups, but the .22 mag is a joy to carry. I also have a Taurus revolver in .22 mag, but I have yet to find the ammo it likes...so far, the best is the Remington soft points. A lot of ammo (particularly the CCI V-Max) in the revolver seems to leave a lot of unburned powder, which gums it up after only a few rounds. I love the round in the rifle, though. I have a Remington 597 in .22 LR, and if I didn't already have the Marlin, I would get one of those in the magnum.
You know, I looked hard at a couple of the Marlin 22WMR rifles (I really like the marlins) before I bought the new AR15 upper. I skipped the Marlin becasue they had such a crummy trigger.
Fix the triger and you'd have a hell of a rifle.
ANyone else dislike the Marlin triggers on the bolt guns?
CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
Fix the triger and you'd have a hell of a rifle.
ANyone else dislike the Marlin triggers on the bolt guns?
CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
Calif Hunter
New member
You are all definitely right about the lousy trigger. I've heard that judicious use of a stone can help, but after my older brother ruined the trigger on his Marlin 25, I'm kind of leery about messing with it. Anyone out here have any tips on Marlin triggers? I'm sure I would get even better groups with a halfway decent trigger...mine has a very slight two-stage feel to it, which I only notice on targets when I'm trying for the best group possible. I don't notice it quite so much shooting at ground squirrels.
Interesting... I'll don my asbestos suit and present an opposing opinion.
I've always looked at the .22Mag as the answer to a question nobody asked. It's not nearly up to any centerfire caliber, but it costs nearly as much. Since I can't reload it, it actually costs more for me to shoot .22Mag than .223, no guessing which I'd rather shoot.
I've always looked at the .22Mag as the answer to a question nobody asked. It's not nearly up to any centerfire caliber, but it costs nearly as much. Since I can't reload it, it actually costs more for me to shoot .22Mag than .223, no guessing which I'd rather shoot.
Calif Hunter
New member
I've found that small landowners are less nervous about the sound of a .22 mag than they are about a .223, especially when you are shooting ground squirrels in a pasture right behind their house. For longer ranges, of course the .223 is better. Then again, for the really long ranges a .50 BMG is great. It's just another fun gun to shoot within admittedly somewhat limited parameters. I've always thought a .223 Ruger Ultralight or Remington Model 7 would be a great carrying gun, but the cost of the gun versus a Marlin .22 mag lets me buy a lot of ammo!
I think it's 'cuz most folk who would benefit most from .22 Mag don't realize the power difference.
Of those who do know, a much higher percentage reload, and feel they can have a light centerfire for about the same outlay.
I recently got a Ruger Single-Six in .22/.22M, but haven't wrung it out, yet.
Of those who do know, a much higher percentage reload, and feel they can have a light centerfire for about the same outlay.
I recently got a Ruger Single-Six in .22/.22M, but haven't wrung it out, yet.
Calif Hunter
New member
Coinneach - That's also why this is so much fun and the reason I can always justify buying another gun!
[This message has been edited by Calif Hunter (edited June 21, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Calif Hunter (edited June 21, 2000).]
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Calif Hunter: I never did find a brand of ammo my Marlin really liked, but that comes under the heading of "Just one of those things."
On the trigger, one important thing is to maintain the angle where the sear and trigger engage. The other is patience. Using a very fine stone, I spent around two hours on it. I'd stone it a bit; reassemble and try it; disassemble, stone, reassemble...Very boring, but it worked just fine. Patience, patience, patience!
FWIW, Art
On the trigger, one important thing is to maintain the angle where the sear and trigger engage. The other is patience. Using a very fine stone, I spent around two hours on it. I'd stone it a bit; reassemble and try it; disassemble, stone, reassemble...Very boring, but it worked just fine. Patience, patience, patience!
FWIW, Art
