Most Appropriate 22 Magnum For Hunting Running Small Game

[Outdoorlvr]

Nice Forum, folks.  My first time here and a pleasure.

I recently bopped a running jack at about 100-110 yards with my little Browning take-down semi-auto, equipped with a 1" Bushnell.  The ammo in use was Winchester SuperX HP 22LR.  The jack was running dead-away.  I was on a road slightly elevated above the sage and thus had a comparatively easy shot.

When the round hit, there was a clear "whop" in feedback, audible to both my hunting companions and me.  I also saw the jack fall and slide on his side very briefly, but then had quickly moved to another target.

Five minutes later with my friends helping, I couldn'f find the jack, though we had the right spot.  Doubtless, the jack dragged himself off to a thick clump of sage into which we couldn't peer into and died a slower death than I wanted to be a part of.

I know the hit was solid, but a jack weighs several pounds and I have no other explanation for injuing rather than killing the jack other than there just wasn't enough poop left to cleanly do the job.  I note all this here because it sets up the question I want to ask:

I feel I need to switch to a 22 mag for this type of shooting.  I much prefer a semi, or something that as a left-hander I can cycle quickly.  Almost all this shooting is done off-hand on moving game, thus a bit more rifle weight particularly in the barrel is preferred.  Last, a decent trigger is a clear asset in such shooting and I therefore want  as good a one as possible.  I'd really appreciate forum member input on what 22 magnum rifle I should buy with this kind of hunting in mind.

Thanks for your consideration.

Outdoorlvr

[victorcharlie]

22LR or 22mag, same bullet just a little more velocity.  I'd guess that the Jack while hit solid wasn't hit in a vital organ.  While a 22 mag may expand a little more, I wouldn't expect much more from it if hit the same way.

[jh45gun]

My Henry 22 mag lever is great for left handers I know I am a lefty also.  You can mount a scope easy on them also as they have built in scope rails. (standard model not the golden boys) I know some do not like a scope on a lever but my Henry is so accurate I have a Leupold M8 4 X compact on it to take advantage of its great accuracy. Good accurate gun holds 11 22 mag shells and I bet is a better price than any of the semi auto's. Jim

[MI VHNTR]

The 22 Mag is much more powerful than the 22 LR. I use a Remington 597 Mag for smaller varmints/predators. It's functioned flawlessly since day one. One more thing, you can switch it between 22 Mag and 17 HMR with just a barrel change. I've seen it as low as $250 on Auction Arms/Gunbroker. Very nice rifles. MI VHNTR

[KN]

How about a Ruger 10/22 mag.  KN

[jh45gun]

How about a Ruger 10/22 mag.  KN

Pricey for what you get and I have read reports on different sites they are no better than a standard 22lr as far as accuracy goes. So in other words iffy. Also I feel Ruger has a iffy rep as far as accurate guns go they make some great guns but send out some clinkers also. Jim

[jrcanoe]

I like my Taurus 72 pump. I tend to shoot moving targets better with a pump than an auto. It would well for a south paw. Wouldn't ever put a scope on it Thats the tangs job.