Author Topic: 22 long rifle for iron silhouettes (Read 1458 times)

glenwood1 · « **on:** October 02, 2005, 06:43:19 AM »

I notice by reading match results for field pistol shot at 100 yards that many shooters use 22 long rifle cartridges.Are these cartridges reliable for knocking over the steel rams at 100 yards? I realize that the rams are half size but out of a hand gun the bullet is 50 grains and traveling less than 800 or 900 fps and this does not seem adequate to do the job.

Glenwood

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2005, 07:26:41 AM »

While the .22 LR is legal for Field Pistol, I doubt you'll find many shooters who would call that round "reliable" for rams. Probably the most popular chambering for FP is the 22 Hornet. Of course, any centerfire, straight walled pistol cartridge with a case having an overall length of 1.29" or less works well and is legal also.

If you are new to FP, I'd suggest the "shoot what you brung" theory even if that means using a 22 LR & ringing a few rams. That, and talking to the shooters at the match should set you in good stead.

Hope this helps!

Steve Ware

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2005, 09:29:01 AM »

It will ring a lot of them with body shots. But IF you can hit them in the head it will take over most of them. High body shots in the top two inches of the body is some what reliable but not as much so as the head shot. Neither is that easy to do every time tho. Far better to get a round powerful enough to do the job every time.

Arbyrod · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:17:57 AM »

Even the .22 magnum is marginal on the Rams without good bullet placement. ( ie. in the head/horn area)

Rod

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2005, 05:16:40 PM »

Aren't you guys using the same targets we used to use back when I shot NRA Hunter Pistol? If so, back in my day and that was a lot of years ago the .22 Mag wasn't 100% but was sure darn close. You'd ring a few with low hits but most solid body hits and any above center line took them down. I moved to the .32 Mag and never lost another I hit tho.

Steve P · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2005, 08:07:05 PM »

A lot of the 22 mag shooters set up dies and started loading different bullets for the rams. Kind of scary loading a rimfire, but they did it.

steve

B_Koes · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2005, 03:59:51 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

Aren't you guys using the same targets we used to use back when I shot NRA Hunter Pistol? If so, back in my day and that was a lot of years ago the .22 Mag wasn't 100% but was sure darn close. You'd ring a few with low hits but most solid body hits and any above center line took them down. I moved to the .32 Mag and never lost another I hit tho.

I don't believe that the specs for the Hunter Pistol targets have changed. I also think they're the same ones used for IHMSA Field Pistol. We have a guy who often uses a .22 WMR and will generally ring one ram per match. One of the ranges in Nebraska he said he rang several targets in one round. Couldn't tell you the details behind it, but I know we will occasionally ring a ram with the .22 Hornet. Granted it's downloaded, but I lose them with a 55gr Sierra SBT traveling around 1650 fps which is hotter than any .22 WMR.