Author Topic: 22 magnum varment rifle (Read 3213 times)

PartsMan · « **on:** October 09, 2006, 06:42:45 AM »

I am thinking about a varment weight 22 mag
somthing inexpencive under $250.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2006, 06:52:56 AM »

At that price range , look at the H&R sportster or one of the Marlin bolt guns . Both are very good rifles for the money .

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/22WinMagnum/982.aspx

http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/sportster.aspx

Nixter · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2006, 09:01:12 AM »

Hey Barr, I've got two 22 Mags. An H&R and a Savage. H&R is the Ultra Varmint, Savage is a package gun w/syn stock and Simmons scope.

I like them both. H&R for looks, Savage to shoot. Allow me to explain.

H&R looks great but I just have not taken the time to find the ammo it likes. Compared to a bolter, the break action of the H&R is a pain when shooting from bags on a bench. (there I said it)

That being said I prefer to shoot my Savage. I invested in a Rifle Basix trigger for it and can put a mag-full of Rem. V-Maxes into a cloverleaf at 50 yards. I hate the Simmons scope that came as part of the package, so I advise against that route. (the package guns at Gander and such) Also the synthetic stock rots. I hope to get a Richards replacement stock for my rifle over the winter.

I need to spend more time with the H&R and I'll spend more cash on the Savage. Many folks here at GBO have great luck with the H&R, I just haven't taken the time to fiddle with mine yet.

Marlin has a 22 Mag bolter as well that might be an option as well. My friend has one and even with a cheap K-Mart scope gets decent groups at 50 yards with it. 982L is a 22Mag with laminate stock that looks real nice.

Hope some of this info is a help to you in choosing a new Maggie.

Nixter

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2006, 09:32:59 AM »

a good 22mag auto or Marlin would be good. the 22mag i a very good gun for most varments. the reason i say auto is that when you have to yotes comeing in fast a auto you can get the first one comeing in and the other runnning away.

Gregory · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2006, 04:08:17 PM »

I've got a Savage 93GL 22 Mag with the accutrigger to use on varmints. It'll shoot sub 1" at 50 yds with many brands of ammo and about 1 1/4" at 100yds with it's favorite ammo, and that's with only a 5X scope. I paid about $200 for it.

308Win · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2006, 05:16:34 PM »

A 22Mag Varmint rifle?

PartsMan · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2006, 03:30:44 AM »

I won't accualy be using it as a varment rifle.
Just like heavy weight guns
Mostly plinking farther than my lr
and short range coyote

308Win · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2006, 05:39:54 AM »

22 Mag ain't a good Coyote pill but I'll bet you'll hear otherwise from the pros.

PartsMan · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2006, 09:20:32 AM »

"short range coyote"

I have a 25-06 nef
but it might be overkill inside 50 yards
not to mention $1 a shot

Keith L · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2006, 09:53:37 AM »

I agree with 308. Yotes are centerfire country as far as I am concerned. 25-06 is plenty, but .22Mag is a little light for my taste. If I want to use a rifle I use my 204. And I have a .222 Contender pistol that works well also.

308Win · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2006, 10:33:51 AM »

barr25-06,Do you think a Dog is going to prance right up to you and say shoot me?The 25-06 is good for killing with not much fur on the critter,the 224s from 222 Rem up are good Dog pills at least you'll have something to skin out,and give the Dog a quick death that's hunting!

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2006, 12:03:51 PM »

i have seen and hear of people makeing good kills with 22LR and 22mags. with the 22mag you can kill yotes at about 65 yards maxs and small things like pdogs at 150 yards. I have not used a 22mag, but i know people who do and readed book about how good 22's are.

Gregory · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2006, 01:14:14 PM »

I coyote hunt a state conservation area 5 min from my house and centerfire rifles are not allowed. I bought my Savage 22 mag just for this area. I'll use my 22 Hornet or 223 in areas without restrictions.

RLB · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2006, 01:29:57 PM »

First off buy a CZ .22 mag you'll save money in the long run because you don't have to replace ANYTHING to make it shoot straight..I have both a 452 .17HRM varmint rifle and a 452 .22 mag standard barrel..the .17 HRM is for sale but the .22mag will never be......that .22mag has plenty power for yotes, rabbits and p-dogs...I've had to many run off after a shoulder shot from my .17HRM......they jump and limp off after the .17 hits them..the .22mag rolls them up.......

RLB........

BTW...I paid just over $300.00 for each of my CZ...after the first one I quickly bought a second one....
I'd trade the .17hrm for a .22lr 452...

PartsMan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:18:47 AM »

Sorry rimfire guys.
I ordered a 223 heavy barrel handi rifle last night.

By the way my brother and I have shot several yotes
with my dads 22 mag.
They are pretty small around here and aren't all that afraid of people.
Its nothing to pull into a pasture and get a 50yd shot from feed truck.

Keith L · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2006, 05:55:57 AM »

I don't think you will regret it. A .223 will pin one pretty well. And it can give you range for other things without you having to haul out that 06. My son keeps a stainless .223 handi on the tractor for varment control.

jh45gun · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2006, 05:47:52 PM »

I agree that a 22 mag may be considered light but if they will drop a large deer I doubt they will have any problems with yote at 75 yards or under.

Keith L · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2006, 05:42:01 AM »

Come on JH, I know you aren't dropping deer with your .22 Mag. That would be poaching in Wisconsin.

I know lots of deer have been killed with .22s. The .22 mag is the poacher's favorite. But lots of them get away and die in the woods too. Those guys mostly don't care. If it runs off they shoot the next one.

When I was a kid I was waiting in a ground stand with an elder family member when a nice little buck came thru the maple woods, jumped over a brush pile and landed dead on the ground. We went over and looked it over good. No bullet holes at all. Apparently it just died! It tasted great. So I guess you could say it doesn't even take a gun to get a deer.

PartsMan · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2006, 07:00:52 AM »

The weak little 22 mag has more energy past 100yd than most
22lr do at the muzzle.
Don't underestimate it.

BTW I would not have eaten that buck.
Nothing just dies in the wild. (disease!!!!!)

Keith L · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2006, 09:50:23 AM »

It was fine. It had been pushed and was running hard and healthy, then keeled over. If we hadn't seen it running and had it looked bad it would not have been eaten.

Power or not I will never buy any rimfire as adequate for hunting deer. It may kill some of them, but more will get away and die in the woods.

turkey45 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2006, 05:20:48 PM »

..22 Hornet,,would be a great choice,,

jh45gun · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2006, 07:02:03 PM »

Quote from: Keith L on October 12, 2006, 05:42:01 AM

Come on JH, I know you aren't dropping deer with your .22 Mag. That would be poaching in Wisconsin.

I know lots of deer have been killed with .22s. The .22 mag is the poacher's favorite. But lots of them get away and die in the woods too. Those guys mostly don't care. If it runs off they shoot the next one.

When I was a kid I was waiting in a ground stand with an elder family member when a nice little buck came thru the maple woods, jumped over a brush pile and landed dead on the ground. We went over and looked it over good. No bullet holes at all. Apparently it just died! It tasted great. So I guess you could say it doesn't even take a gun to get a deer.

No one needs to poach in WI not with the tags they give away

when you buy a license. I do not know if the 22 mag is the poachers favorite as they have a better bark then the 22 lr does. I have seen a few deer shot with a 22 mag and they dropped right there. It all boils down to where that bullet is going I have seen guys shoot a deer with a 3006 and have them run off to die too. For the record those deer I seen shot with the 22 mag was over 30 years ago. Back then poaching was more prevalent then than now. I think the DNR was really smart to make the fines over 1800 dollars if you get caught I think that really cut down on the poaching for most folks. Though some do not learn. I bought my 22 mag Henry Lever for a carry gun in the truck in case I seen a yote at close range and I would not be afraid to shoot one as I think if you know the limits of its effective range it should not be a problem. I looked up the Hornet in my loading book and there are a lot of loadings that pretty much mimic a 22 mag in the faster 22 mag loadings.

Snowshoe · « **Reply #22 on:** November 04, 2006, 02:46:04 PM »

I just got a new Savage 93F yesterday, and got it out today. With Federal 50g HP it puts them where the sight says. I picked it up for Ruff Grouse hunting, because there are so many coyotes around that I wanted something to deal with them too. Our law says that you can use a shotgun, or rimfire for bird hunting, and I thought the .22 mag was my best bet. I like this little rifle a lot.

jh45gun · « **Reply #23 on:** November 10, 2006, 06:09:02 PM »

Interesting in WI you have to use a shotgun for gamebirds. Though I would suspect more than one WI grouse in the past has succumbed to a 22 bullet. I shot one years ago with a 22 mag pistol. Only thing I can say is you better take head shots or use a FMJ bullet. The one I shot had a hole it it about the size of a quarter so considering the size of the breast that is pretty wastefull. Never shot an other one again with any 22.

TLARbb · « **Reply #24 on:** November 28, 2006, 03:53:36 PM »

I was squirrel hunting one fall and a covey of bobwhite quail came through the woods near where I was and the first bird hopped up on a downed tree (small tree about 4" dia). I shot him in the head, the next one hopped up on the tree. I shot him in the head, the next one hopped up on the tree. I shot him in the head. The rest of the covey flushed. They were about 20 yds away. Just unique experience I thought I'd relate. Doesn't really have anything to do with .22 mags or varmint rifles. Sorry to digress.

EJ

od green · « **Reply #25 on:** December 02, 2006, 04:02:14 AM »

my truck/tractor go to is my henry 22 levermag, with our lease property surrounded by chicken houses, foxes and other critters are plenty and the mag is perfect for the use !!!