.22 Magnum - All-rounder??

acerspader

Hi all again,

I'm thinking of getting a rifle for target shooting, rabbits, and the occasional fox. Would a .22 magnum be suitable?? Or is there a better calibre for these uses??

Thanks in advance.

Jonty

In terms of value for money, a good second hand wmr is easy come by as the .22WMR has a lesser following due to the .17HMR. Have you thought about a .17HMR?

If you are limiting your shooting to 100 to 120yds the .22 wmr packs a harder punch in terms of muzzle energy than the 17HMR. After 100 -120yds the 17 comes into its own. Many people reckon the 17HMR is a 200yd round, but I personally think its maximum effective range is about 160-170. Its fine for foxes out to 100 yds.

The .17hmr is a hell of a lot flatter trajectory than the .22magnum.


In terms of ammo price there is a couple of € in the difference of a 50 round box.

In terms of new rifles, a new CZ with 20" barrel is in or around €450 and is hard to beat for value for money.

If I was you I'd be looking at the .17HMR sooner than a .22mag. I have shot both so I am able to comment from first hand experience.


The biggest downside I find with the HMR is wind, and the availability of good quality cleaning gear. .17 patches and rods can be hard to come by in the shticks.

cavan shooter

For the past number of years I have shot a remington 597 semi auto like this one in 22 WMR.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/rimfire_rifles/model_597/model_597_magnum_LS_HB_specs.asp

On average it accounted for 30-35 foxes called into 100 yrds and dispatched them with ease. I also shot numerous rabbits and vermin out to 150. The heavier bullett gives it a powerful whack! which was fairly audible It is loosing ground to the 17 HMR but still will do good work.

I have traded in my one, and now see it threaded and available PM if you want to know where it is, call me old fashioned but I stepped up to a good old Hornet, I aint looking for 250 yards plus kills 150-180 yrds is more than enough at night over the ground I shoot and it will still take vermin and bunnies al beit with careful aim

G3-Nut

acerspader wrote: »

Hi all again,

I'm thinking of getting a rifle for target shooting, rabbits, and the occasional fox. Would a .22 magnum be suitable?? Or is there a better calibre for these uses??

Thanks in advance.

Yeah i have a .17 HMr the past 2 years, with the right ammo and scope 200 yards is achievable, remington balistic tip rounds are the best i have used to date, i have a 4-12 x 50 scope...does the job, hitting low lying rabbits at 150 yards on a calm day

Rawhead

I have a .17HMR since july this year. I have hit rabbits out to 180yds and last wednesday night i folded a vixen at 130yds. It's a Remington 597 semi and I agree that the remington ammo is the best i have used so far. best of luck with the shooting which ever choice you make.

Mellor

Jonty wrote: »

If you are limiting your shooting to 100 to 120yds the .22 wmr packs a harder punch in terms of muzzle energy than the 17HMR. After 100 -120yds the 17 comes into its own. Many people reckon the 17HMR is a 200yd round, but I personally think its maximum effective range is about 160-170. Its fine for foxes out to 100 yds.

Hmm, not sure about that one Jonty. It depends on exact round imo.
Consider these 4 rounds at 100 yards,

• .17 HMR, 17 grain V-Max = 136 ft. lbs. at 100 yards,
• .17 HMR, 20 grain XTP = 137 ft. lbs. at 100 yards,
• .22 WMR, 30 grain TNT = 120 ft. lbs. at 100 yards
• .22 WMR, 40 grain JHP = 162 ft. lbs. at 100 yards.

While the 40grain has more energy, 30 grain WMR rounds have less energy at 100 yards and by 150 they drop to 80ft. lbs (both HMR rounds are 99ft.lbs @ 150 yards). The source of this info suggests that the 40 grain wmr approx equals the HMR at 120yards

This info is from;
http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm
An excellant read for anyone interested in either the HMR or the WMR. Compares all aspects of both rounds, velocity, energy, trajectory, weight uses etc

G3-Nut

Mellor wrote: »

Hmm, not sure about that one Jonty. It depends on exact round imo.
Consider these 4 rounds at 100 yards,

• .17 HMR, 17 grain V-Max = 136 ft. lbs. at 100 yards,
• .17 HMR, 20 grain XTP = 137 ft. lbs. at 100 yards,
• .22 WMR, 30 grain TNT = 120 ft. lbs. at 100 yards
• .22 WMR, 40 grain JHP = 162 ft. lbs. at 100 yards.

While the 40grain has more energy, 30 grain WMR rounds have less energy at 100 yards and by 150 they drop to 80ft. lbs (both HMR rounds are 99ft.lbs @ 150 yards). The source of this info suggests that the 40 grain wmr approx equals the HMR at 120yards

This info is from;
http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm
An excellant read for anyone interested in either the HMR or the WMR. Compares all aspects of both rounds, velocity, energy, trajectory, weight uses etc

No mate, .17HMR hits harder than the .22WMR all the way out to 300 yards

Mellor

G3-Nut wrote: »

No mate, .17HMR hits harder than the .22WMR all the way out to 300 yards

Think thats wrong, are you confusing velocity with energy

Jonty

Yeah, I seen that one on Chuck's site. Its a good one versus the other description.

Grizzly 45

For what I have it in my Savage Combo,I find it overpowerd for small game like bunnies and underpowerd for dealing with effectively with foxes,etc.
Kind of a round I find for around here that doesnt fit in well.

Mellor

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

For what I have it in my Savage Combo,I find it overpowerd for small game like bunnies and underpowerd for dealing with effectively with foxes,etc.
Kind of a round I find for around here that doesnt fit in well.

Grizzley, are you refering to the WMR or the HMR? Probably both actually

Grizzly 45

WMR,sorry,should made that clear.

G3-Nut

Mellor wrote: »

Think thats wrong, are you confusing velocity with energy

lol i confusded the 2 calibers...i ment to put .22HMR 1st and 17 HMR second in that sentence haha

Mellor

Even still, the WMR has less energy than the 17 HMR long before 300 yards, (some before 100 yards). Even though the WMR is far heavier, its speed that has greater effect on energy.
The figures I posted above are manufacturers data.

G3-Nut

Mellor wrote: »

Even still, the WMR has less energy than the 17 HMR long before 300 yards, (some before 100 yards). Even though the WMR is far heavier, its speed that has greater effect on energy.
The figures I posted above are manufacturers data.

Yeah i know the 17.HMR has far higher velocity= and much flatter trajectory...however paper is nothing compared to field testing..and even though the 17HMR should have so much more power(according) to paper, given the shape of the .22WMR, it does quite alot more damage, but the 17HMR is far more accurate

Mellor

G3-Nut wrote: »

Yeah i know the 17.HMR has far higher velocity= and much flatter trajectory

Trajectory has nothing to do with it.
If speed and bullet are kept inversely proportional, the higher speed will have more energy, this is because energy is Mass x Velocity^2
Issues such as wound tract, fragmenting and penetration all vary its stopping power, but nots its energy. And will different depending on FMJ, HPJ ete, within each caliber.

I'd love to see the WMR doing greater damage than the HMR at 300 yards. I would of though those kind of ranges were well out of the range of both rounds

G3-Nut

Mellor wrote: »

Trajectory has nothing to do with it.
If speed and bullet are kept inversely proportional, the higher speed will have more energy, this is because energy is Mass x Velocity^2
Issues such as wound tract, fragmenting and penetration all vary its stopping power, but nots its energy. And will different depending on FMJ, HPJ ete, within each caliber.

I'd love to see the WMR doing greater damage than the HMR at 300 yards. I would of though those kind of ranges were well out of the range of both rounds

Agreed...but 300 yards is not impossible with the 17...even though i cant acheive this i do know a guy that on a calm, very calm day he can hit up to 300...but i dont think i will ever be that good with the 17 lol

emcor

Acerspader - not to get bogged in the detail; the .17 is sound out; but you could also consider going up the line to a .223. Still very flat and a great gun for foxes with a 45 grain hollowpoint for longer >200M shots. Also the .220 Swift may be worth a look. Perhaps gives your more options?

Vegeta

Mellor wrote: »

Trajectory has nothing to do with it.
If speed and bullet are kept inversely proportional, the higher speed will have more energy, this is because energy is Mass x Velocity^2
Issues such as wound tract, fragmenting and penetration all vary its stopping power, but nots its energy. And will different depending on FMJ, HPJ ete, within each caliber.

I am not for one second disagreeing with you but I just want to point out our friend momentum too and his importance in down range energy

G3-Nut

emcor wrote: »

Acerspader - not to get bogged in the detail; the .17 is sound out; but you could also consider going up the line to a .223. Still very flat and a great gun for foxes with a 45 grain hollowpoint for longer >200M shots. Also the .220 Swift may be worth a look. Perhaps gives your more options?

Yes these can be taken into consideration, my .223 is good for foxes, .220 swift, i dont have one but my friend does, also good for foxes, but you have to take in a shooters experience, because he is looking for a rimfire he is probably going for his 1st rifle, also hes looking for an all rounder, a .220 or .223 would disentegrate a rabbit lol

emcor

Yeah - kinda depends on the type of bullett you shoot. For a guy that looks like getting his first rifle thought a .220 swift or .223 would be good choice. The rabbits give mighty practice for shooting at all ranges and if he is going into foxes i'd say the .223 is the one.Otherwise he could spend his money on sometinge else and find that he wants to change next year. Also the comments on ballistic preformance are prob a little beyond a guy at his stage; it was a kinda simple question at the outset.

G3-Nut

emcor wrote: »

Yeah - kinda depends on the type of bullett you shoot. For a guy that looks like getting his first rifle thought a .220 swift or .223 would be good choice. The rabbits give mighty practice for shooting at all ranges and if he is going into foxes i'd say the .223 is the one.Otherwise he could spend his money on sometinge else and find that he wants to change next year. Also the comments on ballistic preformance are prob a little beyond a guy at his stage; it was a kinda simple question at the outset.

Ha yeah you said it man...he might be hunting on land that only allows .17 or .22 calibers, everybody kinda got side tracked there...i reckon the 17 is a perfect al rounder for a beginner, even though it is the most recent addition to my set:rolleyes: had to get one, heard glorious reviews of it and theyre all true

Mellor

Vegeta wrote: »

I am not for one second disagreeing with you but I just want to point out our friend momentum too and his importance in down range energy

Of course, i wasn't saying the energy is the only consideration, theres much more, sectional density, balistic shape and tip etc
I was just passing on some info from a comparsion between the two. Somebody said I was wrong, so I was just backing myself up
besides, all the best info comes out around here when people disagree