22 mags, usefulness and is yours accurate?

R

Ruger Savage

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Within the last year I have read every review of 22 mag rifles I could find. I purchased a package rifle from dicks sporting goods, a savage with a medium weight 21" barrel and Bushnell scope. This isnt supposed to be an accurate cartridge but I've experienced exceptional accuracy with my combo, especially with Hornady v-max ammo. Just curious who else loves this cartidge and experiences with their rifles. So far I've gotten sub moa with 4 different factory loads. V-max's are 1/2 moa or better. Anyone shoot a 'yote with a v-max? I've been told the Winchester premium loads are great too. Just wanted to start a dialog on this great cartridge.
 
I can tell u a vmax out of the 22mag blows up at point blank range on pigs and leaves absolute no mark. I had to shoot them in the lungs
 
Originally Posted By: dwaI can tell u a vmax out of the 22mag blows up at point blank range on pigs and leaves absolute no mark. I had to shoot them in the lungs
What distance was "Point Blank Range" and where did you hit it that it didn't make a Mark ??? Just curious !!
 
And to the OP I have a Savage 93 .22mag the shoots best in this order (1)CCI 30gr Vmax (2)Hornady 30gr Xmax (3) Remington 33gr acu tip with CCI being .5 @ 100yds on a Great Day
It wont hold as well with other Types
Now my Ruger American is best with Hornady and Remington and very good with CCi MaxiMag +V
I have a NEF Sportster that will only shoot Winchester 40gr HP accurately. Every Gun is gonna like different ammo.
If you shoot it under 75-100yds and with good shot placement it is a very good round for Fox and if your close enough and make a good head shot for Coyotes
 
22 magnum uesfull? Yes! Accurate? Yes! For penetration go with the FMJs. For penetration and some expansion go with the CCI 40gr. Game Point. Next in penetration go with the Fed 50gr. Hp, then Try Win or CCI 40gr. Hp. Next would be the Rem 33gr. All the others give awesome expansion but don't give the penetration like the 40gr. or 50gr. do. But Ive killed yotes with the 34gr Win supreme and the CCI +Vs. The Win 34gr. Supreme is all I shoot in my VMBZ. The CCI +Vs chronoed at well over 2,300fps. out of my Rugers and hit very hrd!
 
I've got a Walmart marlin that shoots everything I've tried pretty well except the Winchester 45g power point. Tgey kinda pattern more than group. I've got a ruger single six that will shoot the 45 pretty well though. I normally carry it when I go out toolin around on the quad. The rifle is great I use for squirrel and rabbit.
 
I have a savage 93 fv that shoots lights out with the cci v-max rounds.... It is by far the best shooting 22 mag I've ever owned....
 
I have a Marlin 882SSV 22 mag that really shots good. It seams to like Federal FMJ and Hornady V-max's so far. I should use it more than I do, It works great for around the farm on nusance critters, or as my truck gun.
 
I doubt the v-max is a pig bullet, why would anyone even shoot one with it, Use a 40gr sp or the federal 50 gr. OP My H&K mod300 shoots into an inch with cci hp's and win hp. My henry shoot's just over an inch with many different kinds, even armscore, i love the round and the guns.Originally Posted By: dwaI can tell u a vmax out of the 22mag blows up at point blank range on pigs and leaves absolute no mark. I had to shoot them in the lungs
 
I have killed 2coyotes with v max first was right in the side of the head at 40 yards ,dead right there on the same stand maybe 1 minute later a second came in from behind me it was a head shot but I pulled it and hit him in the muzzle ,he started spinning and yapping it took 3 more shots in the chest to finish him.he was about 60 yards .
 
Just picked up a Ruger American .22WMR and so far I love it. I've only found CCI 40-grain TMJ which shoot around .6" groups at 65 yards, and some Speer Gold Dot 40-grain HP. The latter are designed for personal protection and are listed as a "short barrel round"...I don't know if that affects accuracy any, but the TMJ rounds out-shoot the Gold Dot's by far. Waiting on an order of CCI 40-grain JHP rounds and I'm curious about the V-max rounds.
 
I have a heritage 22 mag pistol I run my coon and pig traps with (Fmj and vmax) . I was checking my pig traps and left the house without checking the ammo loaded. I walked up to the trap pulled the piece and bang. Pig just looked at me. I could see powder burns and a whelp. I looked in the chamber and saw I had the vmaxs. I was to far to get the other ammo so I put the barrel against the arm pit he died within 3 seconds. That's why it was unintentional.
 
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I have five 22 magnums shoot three of them on a regular basis all are accurate they all really seem to like the Winchester 34 grain varmit hollow point the two cz semi autos shoot around 3/4 of a inch if I do my part the bolt cz is around one inch and the ruger 10/22 magnum is around a half inch at 50 yards. I shoot everything I can with them from sparrows to a coyote that was a little over a 100 yards away it ran into the timber found it about 50 yards from where it was shot at.
 
I have 4 22mags,and it is my favorite of all the rimfires. My marlin and savage both shoot the hornady loads sub MOA. But I will usually give up a bit of that accuracy for the extra killing power of Winchester's 34 grain supreme or 40gr JHP. Its a great round if you understand its limits and place your shots well.
 
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Haven't tried the power point bullets in my single six. In the house I keep the Hornady critical defense 45 gr. In it. They dont group well so in the field I stoke it with winchester 40 gr hollow points. Shoots like a taget pistol with those.
Thanks for the info on the vmax's for 'yotes! I'll stick to the 40 grainers for them. Will definitely try the Winchester 34 gr to see how they shoot outa my rifle. Going to do some "long range" hunting for grey squirrels this weekend with the vmax's head shots only of course lol. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Its nasty in NC right now
 
I have several and they are indeed accurate. From Marlin lever actions to Magnum Research and CZ, they ll shoot great. CCI 40 gr game point is my ammo of choice in all of them followed by 50 gr Federal. I couldn't count the foxes, cats, and coyotes I've taken with them.
 
I have had:

Browning A bolt

Marlin 25

Ruger 77 stainless all weather

Mauser 201 bolt

All of these rifles shot the Winchester 40g HP about an inch in calm weather at 40 yards.

I killed a lot of coyotes with the Ruger 77 All weather while hunting off of horse back in Az with the win 40g HP. None of my rifles would shoot the 50g Federal worth a darn, maybe they have changed the bullet. I would not want to shoot a poly tip bullet on coyotes, I want the penetration and the ability to break bones and joints. I did not consider the Winchester supreme adequate to kill feral cats dead in their tracks, they expand very quickly. CCI maxi Mags did not group very well in my rifles.

Rounds needed for squirrels and other small pests are very different for what is needed for coyotes.
I have dropped a lot of coyotes at 75 yards a few at 100 and one at 125 yards(facing shot). I have always wanted a high quality 22 mag auto.

The Winchester 40g HP is a bullet to be reckoned with when it comes to a 22 mag. When choosing your bullet, you can never count on having the bullet go between the ribs or not hitting a shoulder blade, or hip joint.

Do your own test on Milk jugs filled with water. If the bullet fragments, it is a small critter bullet.
 

I have owned four .22 mag rifles. Three were Marlins and the current one is a Ruger 77/22 mag. The Marlins shot OK, but I have never had what I consider, great accuracy for the cartridge. The Ruger shoots better than any of the Marlins did.

As to usefulness, in my mind it's a light-weight cartridge for smaller animals at relatively close range. I have used it quite a bit for groundhogs and it works OK. I have taken one coyote that was head shot at 75 yards. It dropped like a hammer. Also, I took one small bobcat at about the same distance. It dropped on the spot, but was still alive when I approached. The bullet had exited near the spine and it was paralyzed.

I used Winchester 40 gr. hollow points for the groundhogs, coyote and bobcat. Probably the most accurate round I have fired was the Remington 33 gr. accutip. I have only used that one for crows.

Here's some examples of what the Ruger has done.






















I really like the Ruger's rotary magazine.






Having said all this, I don't predator hunt per se with the .22 magnum. Both the bobcat and coyote were targets of opportunity
while I happened to have the .22 mag with me. I know it dropped these two with no problem, and I know a lot of guys use the
cartridge with good success. For me personally, I like a bit more cartridge if I am seriously predator hunting. I have a feeling
though that the .22 mag might be a good fox round considering fur-friendly, though I have yet to put that to the test. If a
rimfire was all I could use, then I would use the .22 mag and make it work, ie closer ranges and more precise shooting.
But, since I am not restricted and can use what I want, I reach for a cartridge that has a bit more to offer.
The cartridge is capable, taking range, bullet, and bullet placement into consideration.

Good luck.

 
I have an old Mossberg Chuckster 22 mag. Its Pretty accurate, it generally will put 2 5rd clips into 2" at 100yrds. CCI40gr and Winchester 40gr is all I have shot out of it. It has been years since I took it hunting. Tried to sell it a few times but no one around here was interested.
 
The 22 magnum is a great round! Now it would be nice to see it back in the stores. I havent seen any Winchester 40s at our Wal mart since Feb of last year!
 


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