Another 22mag. Thread

K22

New member
After reading through other 22 mag. posts I thought it might be better to not hijack those threads and start one of my own.

I favor the replies by 6mm06 and Marco in their choice of 22mag. bullet for Coyote and Fox. I've used the Win. Super X 40gr.hp. since the mid to late 60's with very good results. At the beginning of my Predator hunting, Fox was all that were around back then and the 22 mag. was just perfect for them. Win. was the only game in town in my area, so my introduction to the 22 mag. world was very narrow. Heck, there were very few rifles made in that caliber back then too. By accident, or you might say blind luck, my first rifle in 22mag. was a Savage Anschutz 164M which served me splendidly until about 5yrs. ago when it started having some misfires. That's when my search began for another 22mag. Boy, there are a lot of really good ones out there, but I wanted one that would shoot the Win. Super X 40gr. as well as my Anschutz did and let me tell you, finding one that would shoot Win. 40's into 1.0" to 1.25" at 100yds was hard. I went thru many rifles, from CZ's to Browning A Bolts and many in between. Let me add before I get flamed that they all shot really well with ammo they liked.......just not what me and my Anschutz liked.
About 2yrs. ago I finally found the rifle that met my specifications.
SakoQuad-11.jpg

This is a Sako Quad in the synthetic stock they make. The Quad as most know is a switch barrel rifle and has one of the nicest adjustable triggers I've encountered on a rimfire. Understanding the pro's of synthetic stocks for brush beating, I still desired something in wood. Lo and behold, along comes another Sako Quad in 22mag., but this time in wood.
SakoHunter-11.jpg


Both of these Quads will shoot the Win. 40's under an inch and will do consistently. Man, I couldn't be happier.......will not quite true. They are switch barrels after all, so naturely I purchased 22lr. barrels for both of them.

Last Fall I went out to my bench with a box full of different types of 22mag. ammo and spent the afternoon seeing which one the Quad might shoot as well as it does the Win. 40's. I went through a lot of targets, but kept this one to show folks. Recently I tried the new Hornady 30gr. and an inch was about as good as it would shoot them. Interesting enough, the Hornady was the only ammo it has ever given any trouble cycling.

SakoQuadTarget.jpg


Here's a target where I was comparing my Browning ABolt to the Sako using Win. 40's.

SakoQuad.jpg


As Marco stated, recovered Win. 40gr.hp's look like Nosler Partitions. Another great 22mag. load I've used in the past before they got way to expensive is the RWS 22mag. hp. and it will for sure out perform any other 22mag. load in the accuracy department.

I'm done rambling now.
grin.gif


K22
 
Lucky you to have a gun that will shoot the Super-X HP so well! I had hoped my .22 mag would shoot them best but the V-MAX and Accutips did about 1/2" better at 100 yards. I will try again soon in case my barrel has broken in and is shooting different. Right now I'm shooting the Rem. 34 gr. Accutips and would like to step up the heavier 40 gr. Super-X.

I really like the look of that Sako.
 
Last edited:
K22,

Those are nice looking rifles. I'm like you, I'm a sucker for pretty wood. But, it just makes good sense to use a synthetic when the subject is down and dirty hunting. That's a good reason to have one of each.

Glad you found what you were looking for.

By the way, is a .17 HMR barrel available? How difficult is it to change out a barrel?

David
 
I just love the looks of that Sako 22 mag! I wish we had one around here so I could get my hands on one. They are a Remington 547 made by Remingtons custom shop first one I seen, and its on Gunbroker thats another rifle Id like to own it would be a good investment. K22, shooters like you are the reason Im shooting the Winchesters 40gr. I was only a little kid back in the mid 60s but reading your stuff and guys like you that really know what they are talking about! And after shooting the 22 mag for over 20years I know you speak the truth. So Im saying thank you!
 
Thank you wahoowad. Like I stated in my post, I went through several of them before I found one that would shoot the Win. 40's.
I do like the Rem. 34gr. and they don't shoot to bad in mine either. The older green tip ones seem to shoot a little better than the newer ones in mine.

6mm06,
At the time I bought mine they had lowered the price and I got both of them for $425 out the door. The wood stock one I only use shooting off the bench (don't want to mess up that pretty stock
rolleyes.gif
). All 4 rimfire calibers barrels are available for them. 22mag, 17HMR, 22lr, and 17m2. So far I only have the 22mag and 22lr. barrels for them. In 22lr, both of them will shoot right at .25" at 50yrds. rather boringly. Switching barrels takes all of 20 seconds and no need to remove the action from the stock. They also make target barrels for them and there is an insert that unscrews in the synthetic stock so that the heavy barrels will fit right in without removing any fiberglass in the barrel channel.

Couple of targets of the Sako in the 22lr. setup. The first target is comparing it to a tricked out Remington I have.
RemSakoTarget.jpg


And another typical Sako target.
Sako22lr-1.jpg


Makes you wonder how a Sako can shoot that well and still be a switch barrel.
 
Well Marco you're making me blush with that compliment.
ohmy.gif


I think it is very hard to beat the Win. 40gr. even though it isn't as racy as the new stuff. Sort of like the Nosler Partition. Just does what it's suppose to on game every time.

I have a Rem. 504 and while it is a nice shooter it doesn't compare to the 547. Like you, I drool over the 547's.

I've often wondered if I was to pillar bed my Sako's would they shoot any better. But I'm not going to find out.

Marco, you keep on preaching the Win. 40gr. to folks and you won't be steering them wrong. You know what you are talking about.
 
VERY NICE! I'm dieing for a sako quad! Its my next rifle if I can find one by that time. I really want all the barrels except maybe the 17hmr. I would prefer 4 rifles each with their own scope just for the application but for now a switch barrel setup is more affordable.

If your gun shoots the winchester 40 gr good you gotta atleast try one box of remington 40 gr. hp. Myself and a number of other have found it to shoot better then other 22mag ammo for some reason. Think it has slightly more velocity too.

You really got some nice wood on the hunter!

See the big dog in my avatar? 22mag and it was BANG flop deal.
 
TripleDeuce660,
Nice looking Coyote and a darn good sized one too. I know you won't regret getting a Sako Quad. It's to bad they're starting to raise the price on them and now only offering them in a 2 or 4 barrel setup. I still would like to get a 17M2 barrel, but like you, the 17HMR doesn't interest me.
If you look at my first target I posted and go to the bottom groups, the middle group was shot using the Rem. 40gr.. To the left of the Rem. group is the Win. 40gr. group. Mine will shoot the Rem. pretty good, along with the PMC Predators and the HMC 40gr. It does not like the CCI's 40gr nor the Federal 50gr.
 
You can add me to the 22WMR fan club.
I bought my first one in the late 60's. A New Haven by Mossberg.
The 40gr Winnies have been my go to ammo all along although I did buy a box of 50gr Federals to try once.

I recently picked up an octagon barreled Henry for shooting treed critters for my Cur Dogs.
Well on a recent camping trip I pulled into a trail head for a hike with the dogs and out popped this Ground Squirrl at about seventy yrds. The only thing handy was the Henry and although I wasn't very confident in my ability with irons at that range I took a poke.
RedRiver025.jpg

HA,,, perfect head shot! I doubt that I could do it again, but I'm pretty sure the rifle could. This little gun's possibly the most acurate 22WMR I've ever shot.
Heres a pic looking back at the truck to give ya an idea of the distance.
RedRiver026.jpg

It's got a set of Skinners aperture sights on it right now, but I'm tempted to throw a scope on her just to see what she's truely capable of.
Picture248.jpg

Here's another Gopher I Injuned up on with her, but I assure ya it was alot closer shot. LOL
Picture288.jpg


So far I'm pretty impressed with these little Henry's, and if ya buy the octagon barreled versions you get away from the few plastic parts that are a real turn off for me.

LONG LIVE THE WMR
Charlie
 
oooo la la ! love those aperature sights. I got the ghost ring on my lux and its just like point, click, dead rabbit. I bet its nice on that henry! that thing is dieing to bust some jack rabbits!
 
Yea,, Skinners sights are nice for sure.
You can get different sized apatures or just take them out and use it as a "Ghost Ring".
Well sorta. A true Ghost Ring sets alot closer to the eye than eiter of ours do. Still better than the Buckhorn that came on mine though.
I'll eventually put a scope on her just to see what she's capable of but (IMO) lever guns should have irons. Period!
smile.gif

It's doubtfull that my Curs would even get out of the truck if they saw a scope on her anyway. LOL
 
Charlie, a small bore with no scope?? I'm truly shocked.
ohmy.gif


Kidding aside, that is a very nice rifle. Heck of a shot on those predators.
 
Originally Posted By: K22Charlie, a small bore with no scope?? I'm truly shocked.
ohmy.gif



I'm sure that you know me well enough by now to realize that a 22Mag is a big bore in my arsenal.
cool.gif


Thanks for the compliment on my shooting, but like I said earlier, "it's doubtfull that my sixty year old eyes could do it again".
It was most likely that blind Pig thing.
blush.gif


BTW,,, Love that wood stocked Sako.
I'd like to have the same rifle with 22LR and/or 22WMR barrels, and I'd definatly have a scope on it.

Great thread, thanks for starting it.
Charlie
 
I have used 22mags since 1991 for yotes and I am a big fan of the Win 40 gr HP but I prefer the Fed 50gr HP for yotes . These give a little more penatration and are accurate in all my guns . I am currently using the following:

Marlin 25MN
Brno ZKM611 auto
CZ452 w/ heavy barrel
Savage Anshultz 54M

I could use a new barrel for the 54 if anyboy has any suggestions?
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: K22Charlie, a small bore with no scope?? I'm truly shocked.
ohmy.gif



I'm sure that you know me well enough by now to realize that a 22Mag is a big bore in my arsenal.
cool.gif


Thanks for the compliment on my shooting, but like I said earlier, "it's doubtfull that my sixty year old eyes could do it again".
It was most likely that blind Pig thing.
blush.gif


BTW,,, Love that wood stocked Sako.
I'd like to have the same rifle with 22LR and/or 22WMR barrels, and I'd definatly have a scope on it.

Great thread, thanks for starting it.
Charlie


Your right Charlie, that is a big bore for you. Are you handling the heavier recoil alright?
laugh.gif

I see you're running ahead of me by 2+ years.

Those Quads are every bit as good as every one says. I could adjust my trigger down to 14oz, and then I sent both triggers off and a fella in Ky. got them safely down to 8oz. About 3/4's of a turn and their back up to almost 2lbs. I keep the 22lr. at 8oz. and the 22mag. at 1.75lbs. I was like you in that I was only interested in the 22lr. and the 22mag.
Ol' Gerald over on RFC put me on to the Quad in 22mag. and then found the Walnut Hunter model for me. He's a real stand up guy.
My 22mag. using Win. 40gr. is shooting with most folks 17HMR's at 100yds. Other Quad owners say theirs are also.

Ramjet, Now that is a super nice collection of 22mags. You may already know this, but you may want to try the Anschutz thread on Rimfire Central. Those fella's probably would have a barrel for your Savage/Anschuz. If not, Pac-Nor or Lilja could make one for it. If it's not shooting as well as it used to, I would have it recrowned and maybe a new chamber cut.
 
Originally Posted By: K22

Ramjet, Now that is a super nice collection of 22mags. You may already know this, but you may want to try the Anschutz thread on Rimfire Central. Those fella's probably would have a barrel for your Savage/Anschuz. If not, Pac-Nor or Lilja could make one for it. If it's not shooting as well as it used to, I would have it recrowned and maybe a new chamber cut.

Good Call!
I'll bet Randy at CPC could handle that for ya unless he's spooked by metric threads, but I doubt it.
No more than he charges for a set back and match chamber that would sure be wher I started.
If Randy's not up for the task, ya might also try RVB Precision. I know for a fact that he can handle the job. He loves those European rimfires.

BTW RamJet,,,, Randy re-crowned and match chambered that Hornet you were helping me with loads for about five years ago,
His service and turn around were excellent.

Luck
Charlie
 
I just picked up a CZ 452 in .22 mag for $180 at the local pawn shop. Couln't pass it up for that price. Great trigger on the rifle, probly 2.5# and breaks like glass. Slapped an Elite 3000 3-9x on it and bought 2 types of ammo to see what it would like and not like. Remington 40g PSP's and CCI 40g JHP's. It'll put 5 of the Rems in a dime at 50 yards, but the CCI's are like shotgun patterns for some reason. I am going to try the standard winchester 40g next and see how they do.

Makes for a nice little truck rifle out to 100-125 yards on anything up to coyotes.
 
Originally Posted By: BonyfangersAny ideas of what kind of trigger is best for replacing factor 10 pound trigger on my magnum research 22 mag. Thanks
I'd probably start your own thread as to not hijack someone elses, but assuming that it takes the 10/22 trigger group, look into the Ruger BX drop in unit or the Tactical Solutions single stage.
 
One of my varmint guns is a Heckler & Koch 300 22 Mag. The only ammo I have ever really shot in it is the Winchester 40 gr HP. I have been shooting it since the early 80's and it shoots that Winchester so well and hits coyotes, fox etc. so hard that I have never really looked for anything else.
 
Back
Top