.22lr vs .22 mag

mattri · #1 08-18-2009, 08:11 PM

Tried a search, sorry if this has been covered.

The .22 lr is accurate at 100 yards, with enough energy to take small game and varmints. How much farther out is the .22lr still effective?
At what point is a .22 lr no longer adequate and a .22 mag is needed?
How far do you extend your effective range with a .22 mag, does this justify the added expense of mag ammo?
At what point are you better off just going to a .204 or .223?

For example, looking at a Savage MKIIFV or a 93FV. Where does the .22 mag take over after the MKII vs just buying a .223? Any ideas welcome, Matt.

RBrowning · #2 08-26-2009, 07:58 PM

I used to do a lot of wood chuck shooting in a suburban area. I found that after 75 yards I was getting about 1/3 that would make it down their holes with a 22 LR HP. I started using a 22WRM HP and I rarely had one get away. Sure, I didn't lose any sleep about a wood chuck, but it just didn't sit well knowing I could do better. I took a lot out to 125 yards and seldom had to hit them twice. Because of the proximity of housing, bikers and pedestrians I stayed away from the centerfire rifle for the noise and the attention that they would draw.

For squirles and rabbits out to 100 yards the LR is plenty. For woodchucks from 50 to 125 it was the WRM for me. I know others that stretch that a bit but I switch to my 22-250 beyond those ranges.

And right now WRM are a lot easier to find than LR. The last time I was at Cabela's they only had one brick of subsonic LR but lots of WRM.

But you yardage may vary.

Good luck.

dogdinger · #3 08-27-2009, 09:51 AM

in my opinion the .22 WMR is a whole different breed of cat than the venerable .22 LR. i have a lot of experience with this round and i have gained more and more repect for it over the years. just as a rule of thumb , i would say that it doubles your effective range on any game you would use the .22 LR for, but it does so much more than that. i have killed or been in on killing 4 mountain lions with this caliber. 3 were one shot kills, the fourth was hit badly on the first shot (elbo)and needed more shots. I have killed coyotes with this round out to 150yds.....i know of several elk and deer and a few bears. I use it as my main concealed carry gun (.22 automag) AJ

Greywolf18 · #4 08-27-2009, 10:54 AM

Dogdinger-

Not to start an argument on here, but why would you take a 22 WMR after mountain lion? For something like that I, personally, would like a whole lot more gun in my shoulder.

dogdinger · #5 08-28-2009, 06:19 AM

greywolf.....lion hunting is more like marathon running than any other type hunting you will do. the weight is the issue. it really isnt all that hard to hit a treed lion and they do not as a general rule take a lot of killing. 22 rimfires do just fine, but the WMR is just the ticket i think. AJ

dogdinger · #6 08-28-2009, 06:21 AM

it is a moot point anyway since the DOW has changed the law to anything centerfire now.......

MachV · #7 08-28-2009, 07:29 PM

From a prairie doggers perspective the 22lr works great to around 100 yards and is quiet enough to keep every dog in the area from heading down their holes. The 17 HMR (sorry aint never used a 22Mag) works great to 150 yards with very little increase in noise.
The biggest problem/bennefit to the rimfires is they are not reloadable and with todays prices and last years reloading supplies the 204 and 223 can be reloaded just about as cheap as the 17HMR and 22Mag??
I like my 17HMR and a 22mag would cirtainly work too but prefer to shoot the close ones with the 22lr and then go to the centerfires.
IMHO I would skip over the 17HMR/22Mags and go right from 22lr to the small centerfires if you reload. Buying ammo off the shelf might make the 17HMR/22Mags a viavle option?