22 WMR handgun for critters

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Revilo

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On rifle hunts for deer I will take along a predator call and hit it a few times to see if anything is in the neighborhood. I routinely get grey foxes and an occasional Bobcat. Assuming I use my rifle on coyotes, would a 22WMR out of a 6 1/2 inch barrel revolver be sufficient to humanely kill the bobcats and foxes at 25 to 50 yards?
 
You'd like to think so, but those gel tests are somewhat less than completely accurate, in what 22 WMR will do to downed or trapped animals, IME.
If you are going to use 22WMR, get something with superior terminal performance, because FMJs just don't cut it.
 
You can presume that I would have a solid rest and would hit reasonably in the vitals area of the body. However, you can never discount the possibility of a gut shot.
 
Poachers use 22 mag to harvest deer around here. It's quiet compared to a high powered rifle. So shot placement. And no I don't poach just what I've heard from a friend in law enforcement.
 
I have taken coyotes with my S&W Model 18 with a .22WMR cylinder. I limit shots to 40 yards and only shoot when I have a good Heart/lung shot presentation. Most have dropped within 25 yards of being hit. I really like the 50 grain solid bullets. They hit hard.
 
I think .22mag deserves more credit than it receives.

Agreed! Whether fired from a rifle or handgun, the 22 WMR seems to always get the job done. I have never personally killed a bobcat or 'yote with a pistol chambered in the caliber, but I have killed lots of 'yotes with my Henry 22 WMR. A 40 grain WW HP to the boiler-room does the job, and doesn't tear the hide up too bad. Even better results can be had if the critter is shot in the head, but the bullet will occasionally pass through and damage the pelt. You'll be fine if you keep your shots close and put the bullet where it needs to go, which can be easier said than done.

Mac
 
Absolutely, the .22Mag is a great field cartridge. It gets a bad rap because it's either not cheap like .22LR or as potent as the .223. Which makes no sense whatsoever as it sits right between the two. Years ago I had a S&W 648 that I'd had drilled & tapped and topped it with a 2x scope. I did a good bit of hunting with it but stupidly traded it away. It's my biggest gun-related regret.
 
On rifle hunts for deer I will take along a predator call and hit it a few times to see if anything is in the neighborhood. I routinely get grey foxes and an occasional Bobcat. Assuming I use my rifle on coyotes, would a 22WMR out of a 6 1/2 inch barrel revolver be sufficient to humanely kill the bobcats and foxes at 25 to 50 yards?

With the right ammo, sure! I have a NAA 2" Black Widow I often carry as a back up. I wouldn't shoot at game or an animal beyond 15 yards, but it's pretty accurate on paper to that range. I've killed rabbits with my .22LR version at that range. I've got a 3" Heritage .22 LR/Mag cylinders which shoots 2" at 25 yards and is only off about 2" left at 25 yards. Only thing I've shot with it is hogs in the trap and those were head shots, but the results were rather impressive. I load with Hornady 45 grain Critical Defense in both guns. With a revolver, you loose a lot of punch vs a rifle, but it's still a step up from a .22LR handgun in comparable guns.

But, it has to be accurate. I do better with one of my .38s or a .357 shooting .38s.
 
If you run the numbers, a 22 WMR 40 gr. lead slug moving along at around 1800 fps has as much energy as a 38 special +P at 960 fps. The special delivers about 320 ft/lbs of energy while the 22 WMR delivers about 312 ft/lbs of energy. These numbers are at the muzzle. Would you hesitate to shoot a fox or a bobcat with a 38 Special +P? Neither would I. A lot of folks recommend the +P load for self defense, 'nuff said.
 
I have one 22 mag pistol, it seems to put a 5.5” barrel in the same energy ballpark as a 16” .22 LR. Both push a 40 grain CCI in the 1200 fps range. The same revolver with the long rifle cylinder looses ~ 100 fps. I haven’t used it since I learned that.

My step up has been the .22 hornet, better bullets and reloadable. That said, if I am deer hunting and take a smaller caliber it’s almost always a suppressed .22 LR.
 
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Another fan of 22WRM here. Good results out to about 20 yrs with a 6 inch revolvers and out 50 yrs with a rifle. They are capable of more but I'm not.
We also have a crow problem to the point the state has declared them a nuisance and they are open season all year around.
Set some bird seed on a stump a plink away.
 
I may be stretching it, but I have had good results taking coyotes at 35-40 yards with my 4" S&W model 18. I limit my shots to head or broadside chest cavity. so far (4 coyotes to date) none has gone more than 30 yards after the hit, and 2 dropped in their tracks,
 
If you run the numbers, a 22 WMR 40 gr. lead slug moving along at around 1800 fps has as much energy as a 38 special +P at 960 fps. The special delivers about 320 ft/lbs of energy while the 22 WMR delivers about 312 ft/lbs of energy. These numbers are at the muzzle. Would you hesitate to shoot a fox or a bobcat with a 38 Special +P? Neither would I. A lot of folks recommend the +P load for self defense, 'nuff said.

Sorry, but that .22 mag number you mention is from a rifle barrel.
 
Thanks to all posters! I’m now sold on 22 Mag with minimum 6” barrel. Think I’m gonna do a little shopping. Probably a Contender, Taurus Tracker or Ruger Blackhawk depending on best sights for me.
 
Not in my testing. I was getting nearly 1400fps out of the Winchester 40gr load and struggling to break 1100fps with 36gr .22LR. All out of 5½" revolvers.
 
Pops killed a lot of chucks w a Smith 48 w 8 3/8" bbl.
WW HP was wicked.
The old fart was a pretty good shot back in his day.
Most of his shots under 50 yards.
 
As of this coming May I will have had a 5.5" Ruger Single Six Convertible, 22lr/22 Mag. for 4 years and still haven't shot anything with it! It's basically a range toy that's been squirrel hunting a few times with no luck. Lot's of fun, though. Have chronographed CCI WMR 30 gr. hollow points at an average 1503 fps versus CCI Blazer 22lr 40 gr. stuff at 1164 fps; so the 30 gr. 22 Mag. outruns the 40 gr. 22lr by 339 fps.. So just because I own a chronograph it doesn't make me a ballistics expert but I'd like to get some more experience with this thing come summer. Some of you ballistics gurus here on THR are welcome to crunch the numbers based on velocity & bullet weight but I'd love to get within 25 yds. of a 'chuck and try a head shot with the magnum cylinder in it. Back in the day I did chuck control on my buddies land with 22lr long guns doing head shots out to 50 yards or so. Itching to try one with a 22 Mag handgun at 25 or less.
 
Not in my testing. I was getting nearly 1400fps out of the Winchester 40gr load and struggling to break 1100fps with 36gr .22LR. All out of 5½" revolvers.

Why I said “ ...a .22 mag pistol is in the same neighborhood as .22 LR in a rifle.” They are obviously not the same out of the same length barrels.
 
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