.22 vs .22 magnum

[Ribwizzard]

In my quest to find a quality .22 rifle I can scope and hone my rifle skills, I recently started wondering about the. 22 magnum being a better choice?
I dont think the .17 would work for me ( to hard to see holes in paper target.
You thoughts? Should I stick to .22lr and scope my ar15, or just get a .22 magnum?

 

[murphydog]

It depends on what your intended use will be. For shorter ranges and paper targets the .22 LR will work fine and be much less expensive to shoot, especially now that the Great Ammo Shortage of 2009 - '17 is now over.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I like the .22 mag for niche small varmints/pest control, but it's kind of pricey for punching holes in paper; like, 3-5x more than .22 LR. Sounds like you have an AR type .22 LR already, but if I were looking for a good .22 LR to scope and punch paper with, I'd look at a CZ 455 bolt gun. Been thinking I "need" one of those anyway, though I'm not real sure why. Like that ever had anything to do with getting a new gun anyway. Ha.

 

[roscoepc]

If it were me I'd take into consideration the distance I was gonna be "Honing" my skills for: Anything 100yds or greater I'd go with a .22 Mag for the flatter trajectory. Also, I'd get a rifle that would be close to the weight and "Feel" of the main hunting rifle you'll actually be using when hunting, not to mention I'd be using the same scope on both weapons!!

The cost is a bit more for the .22 Mag than the .22LR but you're still saving quite a bit of change compared to rounds for your "Full Size" hunting rifle.

Unless you reload of course....

Have fun with it!!!

 

[KalamazooKid]

I like the .22 mag for niche small varmints/pest control, but it's kind of pricey for punching holes in paper; like, 3-5x more than .22 LR. Sounds like you have an AR type .22 LR already, but if I were looking for a good .22 LR to scope and punch paper with, I'd look at a CZ 455 bolt gun. Been thinking I "need" one of those anyway, though I'm not real sure why. Like that ever had anything to do with getting a new gun anyway. Ha.

This mirrors my thoughts. Definitely a 22 for punching holes. Then, like I did years ago, add a CZ 455 in the heavy barrel varmint configuration. You can get them in 22, 22 MAG, and 17 HMR. I now own a bunch of the CZ's in several calibers. Incredibly accurate at the price point (under $500).

 

[growr]

I have many good bolt action .22lr's as well as .17 and .22 mag's......for what you seem to be describing I would strongly encourage acquiring a high quality .22lr like the CZ or if you can find a good used Remington 581 and buy good quality ammo.

Even high quality .22lr ( Eley, RWS, Lapua), etc, will be less money than either .17hmr or .22Mag.....even when it is on sale here in Montana they are around $9-10/ box of 50

Scope it up with a good quality scope like a Nikon/Vortex etc and you are good to go.

Randy

 

[Ribwizzard]

I looked at the CZ today, ended up spending my budget on a handgun, but definitely will be looking closer at the CZ line

 

[chief38]

I own a CZ 453 American in .22 LR. It is an absolute tack driver and the most accurate rifle I have ever shot! Unfortunately they have discontinued that model but the good news is they have replaced it with the 455. While the 455 does not have the single set trigger the 453 has and it has been "cheapened" a little, it is still an accurate, well built, excellent quality, affordable rifle and definitely worthy of a descent scope.

My 453 wears a Leupold ultra lightweight 3-9x33 Leupold with parallax adjustments and the target below shows what it can do. IMHO the CZ 455 (current production model) is about the best around for under a few thousand bucks!!

While it is available in a few calibers, I'd personally recommend the 22 LR as it is available anywhere at cheap prices. Velocities run from very slow sub sonic up to screamin' Velocitors and Stingers. 22 Mag's and .17's are way too expensive to shoot tons of and .22 LR's are very accurate - even more so than Magnums IMO.

 

[Ribwizzard]

I would like to shoot up to 100 yards....?

 

[SAFireman]

I started out with a SS Marlin bolt action detachable box magazine in 22 Mag. It has an inexpensive Simmons 4x in Satin SS finish.

When there was no 22 LR to be found, I could always find 22 Mag. That little Marlin has accounted for many yotes, squirrels, pigeons, ect than any of my 22's.

Later on, I found the same gun in 22 LR. I can't say that I have shot it after the first time (making sure POA = POI).

Good luck.

 

[mauser9]

Sounds like you might want to consider a 22 mag for more distance and if you want to dispatch varmints. Have no CZ but added a Ruger American 22 mag compact along with an older Marlin which is easy to carry. Depending on bullet weight velocity between 1875-2200 F.P.S. Been using 40 grain CCi ammo for hunting.

 

[gregintenn]

556 ammunition roughly the same price as 22 magnum. I'd probably stick with 22lr. I do have a very accurate Savage in 22 mag, but it rarely gets shot.

 

[The_Truth]

The Savage 93G chambered in 22WMR is an awesome buy. They can be had for $175ish. Very sweet budget rifle, very accurate, and you can walk around in the woods with it and not be pissed when you scratch it walking through some brush.

That being said, I plan on adding a CZ 527 in 22 Hornet to my list at some point this year too.

 

[srsmyth]

I have both the 22LR and the 22 mag but the mag doesn't get much use punching paper.
I bought a CZ 22 LR 2 years ago with a synthetic stock so I don't have to drag my nice wood stocked Kimber Cascade through the range and the woods.
The CZ bolt rifles are incredibly accurate, my hunting partner and I both have one and the picture of the target posted by chief38 is what we get also. Well worth the money.

 

[Cal44]

I recently acquired a Marlin 39A of 1956 vintage. Great rile, and accurate.

Now I'd like to get a 22 Mag rifle to go with it. Probably go for a bolt action this time.

 

[chief38]

I would like to shoot up to 100 yards....?

We shoot 1" x 2" steel plates at 100 years all day long at my buddies Hunting Cabin. We rarely miss.

 

[Ribwizzard]

Hit $500 on a scratch off tonight, so shopping on line for cz now.
It's either 555 or 557 in varmint, and still deciding on caliber

 

[BAM-BAM]

I've got two .22 magnums......

My walking in Penn's Woods gun a CZ 452 FS/mannlicher w/ a 1-4x20 Leupold .... will shoot under the cross hairs out to 100-125yds with the tightest groups in the .85-.9 range off the bench at 100.

A Ruger American Ranch. 16" with a 1-4 Leupold...... great little utility rifle.... 9round magazine .... the .22mag out of a 16" barrel has the muzzle energy of a 9mm...... so a great short range varmint gun be it 2 or 4 legs.


Punching paper ...... stick to a good .22lr and CZ makes a few different models.

 

[M29since14]

I think .22 LR should stand up nicely out to 100 yards, depending on what ammo you choose, and the wind, of course. I would certainly give a good quality bolt-action .22 LR a try first, before committing to a caliber that is MUCH more expensive to use. As was mentioned previously, you can shoot semi-decent quality .223 for the same $/round as the high-dollar rimfires. Get a .22 and use it for awhile, then decide if you need something else.

BTW, this suggestion comes from an admitted admirer/user of .22 WRFM, both in revolvers and rifles, but I don't use it for plinking or target shooting.

 

[Ribwizzard]

So, thanks to everyone's input, I researched CZ and found that they discontinued the 455 for a new model 457. Slightly higher in price .
Most places dont have much of either model in stock but did read that the new model, even though it will have some improvements, will be black oxide instead of blue. So I kept searching for a 455 varmint becouse I didn't want the 24" barrel of the American.
But eventually found this one at shoot straight for $355. Snagged it up

 

[rkittine]

I like all of my Rim Fire Rifles, 17HMR, .22LR, .22 Magnum. Get one of each and maybe in different configurations. Bolt, Single Shot, Semi-Auto, Pump, Lever .........

 

[BAM-BAM]

So, thanks to everyone's input, I researched CZ and found that they discontinued the 455 for a new model 457. Slightly higher in price .
Most places dont have much of either model in stock but did read that the new model, even though it will have some improvements, will be black oxide instead of blue. So I kept searching for a 455 varmint becouse I didn't want the 24" barrel of the American.
But eventually found this one at shoot straight for $355. Snagged it up

Nice; looks like an "American".


Many of us feel the 452s are the best of the CZ models.... while "discontinued" as far back as 2012.... there have been many imported over the last 7 years alongside the 455s. Good luck.

There is a good CZ sub-forum over on a forum dedicated to rimfire guns.

 

[Ribwizzard]

Yes, American 455 with 20.5 inch barrel. Now , time to find a scope worthy of its reputation.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The .22 WMR will do at 150 yards what good .22LR ammo will do at 100 yards, with the ammo price being 4 or 5 times higher.

What do you really need to do and how much are you willing to pay to make it happen?

Punching holes in paper is very satisfying and a good way to spend a morning on the range. Personally, I'm happy doing that at a nickel per shot instead of a quarter.

 

[Drm50]

22 mag has more thump on the varmits and is flatter shooting. I never was a 22mg fan because of ammo cost. Small center fires can be loaded for same or less than 22mg if cast bullits are used. On small game like squirrels the extra power is not needed. You will end up shooting a 22 more just because the ammo is cheaper.

 

[sandburr1]

One of my first was a Winchester 9422M. Scoped it right off the bat. It is quite good on pigs and you can hear it hit. I'll take a .22Mag over a .22LR anyday.

 

[muddocktor]

I see I'm late to the party, since you already bought a gun. I was going to suggest going with a 22 Hornet if you reload. You can reload the 22 Hornet for 20 cents a round, maybe a little less and have a cartridge with more energy and hitting power than a 22 WMR. The 34 grain Varmint Nightmare Extreme bullets sold by Midsouth should move around 3000 ft/sec with them being hot loaded.

Anyways, enjoy the new gun.

 

[The_Truth]

Hit $500 on a scratch off tonight, so shopping on line for cz now.
It's either 555 or 557 in varmint, and still deciding on caliber

Depending on the size of the varmint, might I suggest a 527 in 6.5 Grendel

 

[Squarebutt]

The CZ 455 will accept interchangeable barrels in .22 mag and .17 HMR. They cost around $160 each. Those two require different magazine.

 

[Drm50]

Unless you are just shooting target 100yds is a long haul for a 22 rifle in
hunting mode. Just as 150yds is for a 22mg. Both are capable of being 0rd at these ranges but unless you are using clicks on scope or sight makes them fairly usless for random shots encountered in the field.