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Post by snowman366 on Jul 17, 2010 18:18:59 GMT -5
Sorry about posting another thread so soon, but I recently retired and I'm trying to update some of my hunting gear for some (hopefully) soon-to-come outings.
I'm mainly interested in the .22 magnum for varmints like feral dogs and the like. While they're good "killers" when placed well, the .22 LR's don't always anchor smaller animals the way I'd like. But I wanted to ask, does the added killing power of the .22 magnum over the .22 rimfire LR destroy too much edible meat of small game?
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Post by HuntMeister on Jul 17, 2010 18:45:18 GMT -5
I used to squirrel hunt exclusively with a .22MAG. I will say you need to do head shots as anything else will most likely result in a wasted squirrel.
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Post by parson on Jul 17, 2010 18:51:25 GMT -5
Snowman366, I would agree with what HuntMeister posted above. And you don't have to apologize for posting! Crank 'em out! That's what keeps the boards interesting.
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Post by snowman366 on Jul 18, 2010 1:57:18 GMT -5
Thanks for your advice. I'd heard that the .22 maggie isn't as inherently accurate as the .22 rimfire LR's, but apparently that's not true.
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Post by dbd870 on Jul 18, 2010 5:46:41 GMT -5
If you have a 22lr and want something for dogs I might go up past the 22Mag.
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Post by HuntMeister on Jul 18, 2010 7:17:29 GMT -5
Not sure about other's experiences pertaining to accuracy but, my Marlin .22MAG is a tack driver. Thanks for your advice. I'd heard that the .22 maggie isn't as inherently accurate as the .22 rimfire LR's, but apparently that's not true.
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Post by Decatur on Jul 18, 2010 7:43:51 GMT -5
Not only will thw Mag destroy a lot of meat if head shots aren't taken, or missed, the cost of the ammo is higher too, as well as being a louder bang, which may or may not put the squirrels in freeze mode more or longer than the rimfire.
P.S.- The more posts the better! ;d
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Post by drs on Jul 18, 2010 7:55:58 GMT -5
I used a .22 Magnum (FMJ) a couple of years for Squirrels but returned to the .22 LR H.P. Several times when using a .22 WRM for Squirrels; I'd drop them out of the tree and they would get up run off. This was using the 40 gr. FMJ, and the Hollow Point would simply tear them up, except for head shots. TOO powerful. As for caliber choice for feral dogs and the like, I choose nothing smaller than a .22 Hornet, and keep ranges around and under 150 yards. I shot a feral dog last March with my .308 loaded with 125 grain SPT bullet @ 130 yards. The Dog weighed around 60 pounds and the 125 grain bullet didn't exit.
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Post by snowman366 on Jul 22, 2010 0:19:31 GMT -5
You bring up a really good point.
For a lot of years now, I've opted to use Federal Cartridge's 125-grain jhp load in .30-30 caliber on feral dogs. It has worked much, much better than any .22 rim-fire I've ever tried. Plus it's a really accurate load in that caliber.
I've read stories about folks using the .22 magnum out to 100 yards, or even a bit beyond. Not sure how much oomph a rim-fire would have at that range, or what it'd be good for as far as killing anything goes.
Because of that, can anyone give me a suggestion on what range to sight-in a .22 magnum rifle with a 3X9 Tasco scope?
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Post by savagehead on Aug 11, 2010 17:43:16 GMT -5
The .22 mag. is very lethal to a hundred yards.I would sight it in POI at 75 yards.
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Post by snowman366 on Aug 30, 2010 22:45:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the help.
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Post by oldhoyt on Aug 31, 2010 6:39:35 GMT -5
125 is about optimal for zero with the 40 gr FMJ. It will be about 2.5 high at 75 and 3.3 low at 150. If you have a 100 yd range, sight in for 2" high at 100. For shooting at close range, sight in for 0.5" high at 25 yds.
A 75 yd zero will put you over 8" low at 150.
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Post by Decatur on Aug 31, 2010 7:30:21 GMT -5
How in the world do you find squirrels you've shot from 75 yards away?! I hate to shoot them past 20 because it usually takes a while to find them after they hit the ground. Too much undergrowth.
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Post by oldhoyt on Aug 31, 2010 8:50:48 GMT -5
The OP wanted to want to know about use on things other than squirrels. If you go with a 125 yd zero, you can still shoot squirrels at 25 yds, just hold about a half inch low.
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Post by drs on Aug 31, 2010 9:47:30 GMT -5
I've used the .22 Magnum (WRM) several years back and never had much luck with it vs. the .22 LR Hollow Point. The 40 grain FMJ bullet seem to just pass through the Squirrels body and they would fall and run off, unless it was a head shot. The Hollow Point bullet, in the Magnum, was too distructive.
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Post by catahecassa on Aug 31, 2010 11:23:40 GMT -5
Hornady & CCI make a GREAT little .22 WMR 30gr. V-Max/Poly-Tip that I think you would be happy with over the FMJ or hollow-point IMHO.
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