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Author Topic: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.  (Read 3649 times)

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Offline Maritime Storm

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Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« on: May 17, 2009, 12:08:11 PM »
I'm trying learn from past mistakes, short of switching to CCI Stingers or another hyper-velocity round, is their a high velocity .22LR round that expand better on grouse than the Federal 38gr HP I'm currently using? I don't want to blow the birds up, but I want something that will drop them better than what I'm currently using in my Sportster. The Federals seem to zip through them without dropping them, now on a Hare, that whole different ball game. Is their something better out there, or should I resolve myself to carrying my 12ga during bird season?
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Offline spruce

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2009, 01:50:44 PM »
I know what you mean about shooting grouse or pheasants with a .22 - it just doesn't seem to "shock" them like it does a rabbit or squirrel.  I shot a pheasant in the back and out the front and he flew about 75 yds like nothing happened - until his wings quit and he folded up dead!

One thing you might consider if you'd rather not use a shotgun is a .357 mag rifle.  Not with magnum loads, but with .38 special 148 grain wadcutters!  I've done a lot of squirrel hunting with these loads in a handgun and they usually react like they've been hit with a sledgehammer.  That wide frontal area really transmits a shock.  Aren't too bad in tearing up meat, just a .38 cal hole thru and thru.
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Offline chipmunk

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2009, 02:26:55 PM »
I know a few people that like CCI's other stinger like bullet.  I think it's called quick shock or something like that.  It's supposed to break into 3 solid pieces. Might be worth a try.
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Offline Plainsman

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Segmented...
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2009, 03:16:57 PM »
The CCI round is their Quik-Shok Segmented HP.  I just picked up a couple of boxes last week to try out!  It also looks like I got a good price at $3.99.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=107320 
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2009, 09:02:03 PM »
We use ELY brand target loads.  Very accurate for head shots.
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Offline Maritime Storm

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2009, 12:20:26 AM »
Her in New Brunswick the game laws allow use of rifles smaller than .23cal or shotgun loaded with shot smaller than BB for small game. The segmented HP sounds interesting, I'll look at that option.
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Offline jlwilliams

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2009, 01:24:44 AM »
  I've had the best results shooting animals with........40 grain solid lead standard velocity ammo.  No kidding.  High velocity and hyper velocity ammo does seem to zip right through while the standards hit hard and kill the critters.  I don't know the science of it, that's just my experience.  Try it for yourself.
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Offline spruce

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2009, 05:24:53 AM »
Didn't know about your game laws when I suggested .38 wadcutters - that sure didn't help you out any!

If I read your post correctly it's okay to hunt them with, for example, a .220 Swift or .22/250, but using a rifle chambered for a .25ACP or .32 S&W wouldn't be "sporting"???!!  You're not alone, we have some "quirky" game laws here in the States as well.

Anyway, have you ever tried any of the Aguila .22LR 60gr SSS rounds?  I don't have any experience with them, but just wondering if that heavy bullet would anchor them any quicker.
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Offline MSP Ret

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2009, 02:28:18 PM »
I also suggest standard velocity instead of the high velocity if you have to stay with .22 LR. If you can, (it's more expensive) try some .22 shorts, standard velocity are the best, or high speed hollow point shorts. Deadly on head shots and they seem to impart more energy to the bird instead of just zipping right through at high velocity....<><....:)
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Offline Maritime Storm

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2009, 12:14:05 PM »
Something else to think about. Thanks guys.
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2009, 10:57:23 AM »
I have much better luck with standard or sub sonic loads and solid bullets than I do with the high velocity stuff and they are genrally more accurate. At least in my rifles they are.
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Offline snakeman

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2009, 05:13:31 PM »
You might also consider the CCI Small Game Bullet (SGB). They have worked well for me on small game.


snakeman
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2009, 02:47:16 AM »
Quote from: snakeman link=topic=173705.msg 1098824129#msg 1098824129 date=1243480411
You might also consider the CCI Small Game Bullet (SGB). They have worked well for me on small game.


snakeman

I agree!! I have been using these for the past couple years with excellent results!!  Just flattening the tips of regular standard velocity bullets makes a huge difference in "shock" on game. Years back there was a "die" you couple buy that allowed you to file off the tip of a 22LR bullet. this was nice as everyone bullet was identical.
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2009, 03:39:25 AM »
  The best 22 round i've found for small game are Rem. Vipers.  I've shot hundreds of grouse with them, and they work well, even in the cold.  I've found Rem. Yellowjackets work best in my handguns.

  DM
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Offline jlwilliams

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2009, 01:20:12 AM »
Maritime Storm, have you had a chance to try anything out?  Any feedback?

  Not sure what you are hunting or when the law allows you to hunt it where you are, but I wnated to follow up and see if you have found better results than you had before.
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Offline Dinny

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2009, 12:18:10 PM »
Quote from: cwlongshot on July 19, 2009, 02:47:16 AM
Years back there was a "die" you could buy that allowed you to file off the tip of a 22LR bullet. this was nice as everyone bullet was identical.

 Paco Kelly makes those dies now.  Here's a link to their review where it states, "Getting match-grade accuracy from cheap bulk ammo is a great thing, but even better is that the Paco Tool also reshapes the nose profile of the ammo into a more effective shape, greatly increasing the killing power of the little cartridge"

http://www.gunblast.com/Paco2.htm

Looks interesting but I've never used it. Hope it helps.

Thanks, Dinny
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Offline myarmor

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #16 on: July 22, 2009, 04:43:03 PM »
Just to add my 2 cents to anyone looking for a hyper speed 22LR check out the Aquila super maximum hyper velocity (long name right :P) 30gr HP load at a listed 1750FPS! These have a CRACK! no doubt about it. They are He!! on game! But I have never tried them on grouse or phesent  :-\ It's like a poor mans 22Mag, even hotter than the CCI Stingers!
Just thought i would put that out there.




-Aaron
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Offline snapcrackpop

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #17 on: July 23, 2009, 02:52:09 AM »
I'm interested in that Paco Kelly tool.  Here is a "review" (ad) I found:
http://www.gunblast.com/Paco.htm

More reading material:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=134161
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #18 on: July 23, 2009, 03:17:24 AM »
Quote from: myarmor on July 22, 2009, 04:43:03 PM
Just to add my 2 cents to anyone looking for a hyper speed 22LR check out the Aquila super maximum hyper velocity (long name right :P) 30gr HP load at a listed 1750FPS! These have a CRACK! no doubt about it. They are He!! on game! But I have never tried them on grouse or phesent  :-\ It's like a poor mans 22Mag, even hotter than the CCI Stingers!
Just thought i would put that out there.

-Aaron

  When it comes to a good 22lr load for small game, it's not just about speed, it's more about bullet design.  And, the Rem. Vipers have that, and a bit of speed too.  They work very good on small game.

  DM
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Offline Maritime Storm

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2009, 02:04:28 AM »
Here in New Brunswick, game laws allow me to hunt Varmint, Varying Hare, and Grouse with any rifle in a caliber smaller than .23 or a shotgun with shot smaller than BB in lead or F in Steel. My father, who'se from Cape Breton, feels that NB should adopt Nova Scotia's law limiting rimfire hunting on small game and varmint only and only after the close of Deer season. Needless to say, he's not fond of seeing me shoot Grouse with the Sportster in the first place. That having been said it put 5 Grouse in the freezer last year. I haven't switched brands of ammo yet, was waiting to see what everyone's thoughts were. I hate to use something as devastating as hyper velocity for 2 reasons, 1. I've seen birds and squirrels explode from them 2. They're not particularly accurate rounds. One things that I can't seem to find locally is a sub-sonic HP LR round, it was mentioned to me they tend to be more effective on small game.
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Offline myarmor

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Re: Better Bullets in .22LR for hunting birds.
« Reply #20 on: July 24, 2009, 09:09:53 AM »
I do know Aguila makes a couple lower velocity offerings. I have never tried them though, I am more of a Varmint hunter than bird shooter :-\ Too much of a mess to deal with for me. Have fun :)
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