Author Topic: 22mag for varmints? (Read 2479 times)

.270 · « **on:** August 11, 2005, 12:15:50 AM »

What ammo do you think would be the best for hunting varmints in the 10-15 lbs range? I now use the 34gr hp from winchster at 50 yards or so they are great but I need something for longer range.

mparks · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2005, 02:00:09 AM »

I use the 40 gr HP MaxiMag from CCI. Its easiest to get around here and shoots great out of my Marlin 25M. I took a small woodchuck cleanly at 110 yards this spring with a body shot that dropped him right in his hole. The other day I dropped a crow at 85. Also used it on a squirrel head shot last fall. Its pretty much my do everything gun around the farm for squirrell, racoon, and woodchuck. Hope to put it to use on fox and coyote in the future.

I've been pleasantly suprised by this rifle and the 22 WMR. I bought it to replace a Ruger 77/22 Hornet that I tinkered with forever with different loads and could never really get to shoot.

I bought the Marlin for $175 used, slapped a 4X Tasco and bought a box of CCI MaxiMag that was the cheapest ammo on the shelf. Right away it shoots 1 hole 5-shot groups from a sitting position at 25 yards and not much worse at 50. Something to be said for simplicity.

aulrich · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2005, 05:01:20 AM »

I had a 22 mag that liked the 50 gr federal loads it carries alot more energy down range than most other loads. o to the federal site they have a program that you can download basically a catalog but you can compare loads and check balisstic performance.

mag-check · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2005, 12:35:18 PM »

Try the Winchester Super X 40gr. HP its a true jacketed bullet just like the big boys use! :-D I like them real well, mushroom out great and hold there weight there the Nosler Partition of rimfires!

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2005, 06:40:46 PM »

I think CCI TNT Hps are tough to beat for the larger stuff like coons, foxes, and such. That 30g bullet with that huge gaping HP, at hyper velocity just thumps game very hard for a 22 magnum in a rifle or a revolver. I usually shoot several cases of them in my Single Six every year. They've also been very accurate in my guns.

.270 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2005, 09:05:01 PM »

Thanks guy but my marlin doesn't like the cci amo to well but it shoots the best with the federal classic 40gr hp. My problem with the federal ammo was I had alot of groundhogs run off after good body hits. I like them to fall where they are so I don't have to walk so far. Thos ecritters have a bad habit of tring to run off can't image why they don't like me :?

mag-check · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2005, 11:51:20 AM »

How do the Winchester Supremes work on ground hogs? I shoot that bullet in my Ruger VMBZ it likes them real well! Shot a coyote at 70yds with the Supremes one time did a good job I thought. The Supremes will penetrate alot better then you might think, a buddy of mine shot a big beaver last year and was using the Supremes and it went right threw on a behind the shoulder shot at around 50 yds!

.270 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2005, 02:31:16 AM »

I use those now but I never seem to get an exit wound. I have cut a few out just to see what happend all I ever found was the flatened bullet jacket the core was gone. The groundhog was dead at the shot he fell on top of the hole never moved. Maybe that was because they were so close bullet my have been moving to fast to hold together. :-)

mag-check · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2005, 09:40:06 AM »

What was your longest kill on a Ground Hog with a 22 magnum, and what ammo were you using? I like hearing about Ground hog hunting we have them here in Arkansas but can't shoot them!!!

Mag-Check

Graybeard · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2005, 11:34:01 AM »

I've been using the .22 Mag pretty much continuously since about 1960. I've never found a need to use anything but the WW or CCI 40 grain bullets. Tried both JHPs and FMJ early on. Since then I use only the JHPs and which brand CCI or WW depends on what the particular gun likes best. It will vary.

mag-check · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2005, 11:56:12 AM »

I like the Winchester Super X 40gr. HP also shoot it in one of my many Rugers! Gray Beard what was your first 22 Magnum rifle back in the 1960s? Mag-check

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2005, 12:26:23 PM »

Quote

Gray Beard what was your first 22 Magnum rifle back in the 1960s? Mag-check

Was an old Marlin bolt action rifle. Don't really recall the model number. Might have been a Model 980 as that looks about like I recall it looking but the book I have says that one wasn't made until '62 and I'm pretty sure I had it before that. Might not have been until then but my memory of it seems to predate '62.

My cousin had the Mossberg. That's what I wanted but my parents gave me the Marlin instead. Actually I think it was a better rifle than the Mossberg so I didn't really get hurt by their decision.

mag-check · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2005, 12:58:53 PM »

Thats pretty cool I was born in 1962. I love the 22 magnum its my favorite round! What was it like when the 22 magnum first hit the market? I mean what did the hunters and shooters think of it? Mag-Check

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2005, 05:44:33 PM »

Early on there weren't a lot of guns to shoot it. I think the Ruger was one of the first of them. Winchester had the Model 61 I think and Marlin made one. Mossberg was one of the early entries.

Can't speak for anywhere other than around here where I lived but here we really liked them. They got quite popular real fast. We used them in those days on things we likely shouldn't have but they seemed to work pretty well. When NRA silhouette competition hit our area they were very popular for the Hunter Pistol Class.

Ammo was very limited. At first nothing but the Winchester 40 grain HPs and FMJs. CCI was next up with their version of the same two 40s. Most of us used the FMJ on game we wanted to eat as the HPs were kinda messy.

varmit_master · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2005, 11:47:28 PM »

Hi my 22 mag likes the Win 40gr JHP bullets the best i seen alot of game taken with that bullet my gun likes that rd better than the CCI bullets VM

mag-check · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2005, 11:41:15 AM »

Thanks Gray Beard. Varmint Master where you at in Arkansas? Mag-Check

.270 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 16, 2005, 10:56:32 AM »

Quote from: mag-check

What was your longest kill on a Ground Hog with a 22 magnum, and what ammo were you using? I like hearing about Ground hog hunting we have them here in Arkansas but can't shoot them!!! Mag-Check

I have shot one at close to 200 yards it ran a litle ways them just rolled over on its back dead all four in the air :-)

Why can't you shoot them in Arkansas?

mag-check · « **Reply #17 on:** August 16, 2005, 12:09:06 PM »

In Arkansas if theres no Hunting season on a given animal there protected! So no Ground hog season there protected, which is kinda stupid because its ilegal to kill rattelsnakes here too!! The Arkansas Game And fish isn't the smartest bunch in the world! Mag-Check

handirifle · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2005, 09:33:40 AM »

I am thinking of getting a 22 mag for bobcats. Any experiences there? Would this or the 17 HMR be better. I'm kinda partial to the mag for a heavier bullet but never even shot one. Range will most likely be 50yds, maybe 100 on the long shots. I plan on calling them in in the local mountains.

I'm assuming either one of these would be suffecient. I have a 223 but it seems a bit overkill. Don't want to ruin the pelts if I don't have to. Also I do want the ability to take a shoulder shot if need be, since meat is not a factor, I am more interested in getting to the vitals.

mag-check · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2005, 01:15:43 PM »

I like the 17HMR for small stuff for that its great, but for the bigger game like coyotes bobcats go with the 22 magnum. Ive always loved the Winchester 40gr. Hps and still do, but have been shooting the CCI +Vs alot lately and they go like HELL chronographed them at over 2,300fps out of my Ruger! There a tuff little 30gr. bullet they penetrate very good and hit just as hard!! I would give them a try if they shoot good in your rifle. Go for the shoulder on them bobcats and I think youll have no problems. Let me know how they work out.

handirifle · « **Reply #20 on:** September 07, 2005, 05:56:40 PM »

magchek
Thanks. I'll talk to the dealer tomorrow.

newdad · « **Reply #21 on:** September 11, 2005, 08:18:26 AM »

i have to agree with mag check arkansas has some strange game laws. my savage 22 mag likes the winchester ammo,groups way tighter than the cci

mag shooter · « **Reply #22 on:** September 11, 2005, 05:24:40 PM »

Win. 40 gr. jhps. nuff said!!!

TnEncore · « **Reply #23 on:** October 12, 2005, 08:04:53 AM »

Having to use a rimfire for coyote's during the Tennesse archery season (centerfire ain't allowed) I have been well pleased the way the 22mag Winchester Super-X 40gr JHP has down two coyotes this year. One was 69 yards and the other was 42 yards. Both was shots to the front chest and they dropped where they stood.

mag-check · « **Reply #24 on:** October 12, 2005, 05:26:26 PM »

The first 22 magnum round to come out back in 1960 and its still the best all around magnum cartridge! The Winchester Super X 40gr. HP!!!! Mag-Check

varmit_master · « **Reply #25 on:** October 12, 2005, 07:48:14 PM »

Hi mag-check i just seen your post lol sorry. I used to live south of Batesville. But move up around the Lake by Pineville or Calico Rock VM

mag-check · « **Reply #26 on:** October 13, 2005, 01:19:18 PM »

We go up that way every year and go trout fishing at Jacks Landing. Were going next year around March sometime. I love it up there! last year we tool home 150 rainbows! Good talking to you! Mag-Check

varmit_master · « **Reply #27 on:** October 13, 2005, 10:37:34 PM »

Hi where are you from. If you want to catch some brown trout come over around Calico Rock. VM

mag-check · « **Reply #28 on:** October 14, 2005, 12:18:11 PM »

varmit_master I live in Mena. Mag-check

varmit_master · « **Reply #29 on:** October 15, 2005, 07:30:12 PM »

Hi i used to deer hunt down that way. Around Umpire Cove area Howard Co. Is that still all paper co. land can anybody still hunt the paper co land. VM