.22 WMR Bolt Actions--This is a 3 parter

[Glen]

1. What is the best .22 WMR bolt action rifle?

2. I plan to do some shooting in the high desert of Eastern Oregon. I will be after rabbits, coyotes and ground squirrels. What power scope do you think is best?

3. What do you think the effective range is with the .22 WMR for the above critters from a static position?

 

[Ifishsum]

I really like the Savage 93 series but they're hard to find these days in .22WMR - the popularity of the .17HMR has pretty much eclipsed them. Marlin also makes a good one IMO.

I personally think a 3X9 or 4X12 is plenty for the .22WMR given the effective distance, which I consider to be about 150 yards for bunnies, sage rats, crows and rock chucks. I wouldn't use that cartridge specifically for coyotes myself, but for the occasional opportunistic shot inside 100 yards it should work okay.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I don't know if it's the best, but the CZ 452 is pretty darned good in .22 mag.

For hunting in that open country, I'd run with a 3-9 or 4-12. Maybe even a 2-7 power.

Effective range of .22 mag? Hmm, if you can make the hit, it's gonna be between 100 and 130 yards, something like that. Probably closer to 100. After that, you get a lot of drop and wind drift. Depends on how skilled you are with the holdover and wind doping, however. I'd limit shots to around 90 or 100 myself with .22 mag. Course, with little rascals, it doesn't hurt to miss, since any hit will kill (pretty much), so just try the long shots, and see how you do - you'll only get better by practicing.

P.S. I have both the 452 and a Marlin 25N in .22mag - like them both. Accuracy seems to be about the same, but the CZ is nicer looking and better finished.

 

[Tarvis]

Make sure you are shooting hollow points for anything bigger than a squirrel. You must be very confident or budget limited if 22 wmr is your choice for coyotes. I would say either a low power (1.5-6) or a medium power (3-9) would be sufficient for your quarry.

I would check some ballistic tables for 22 wmr drop and energy values at 150 and 200, which is my guess as the farthest it's even worth shooting at rabbits and yotes. If your target isn't moving after you shoot it, you have time to gauge the wind and range. Even still, you only have one shot and the drop is considerable.

That being said, it is great for squirrels and slow moving rabbits. Fast rabbits need something faster than a bolt (lever, semi) unless you are an excellent shot at moving targets, or you're hunting lazy rabbits.

 

[RancidSumo]

CZ 452 either Lux or FS. You don't need a scope to max out the effective range of the 22WMR. Keep coyotes under 100yds and the PDs and rabbits aren't too hard to kill so it should be fine out to 200yds if you can hit them.

 

[GunTech]

If you want the best shooting CZ, get the American and make sure the barre is freefloated. I love the look of the mannlicher stock, but it costs you in precision.

 

[snowpro440]

22 mag

here is a thought, my 22 mag has taken deer to ground hogs,coyotes, birds, fish, turkey, javelina, all with using 40gr jhp winchester ammo, i shoot a marlin model 25nm with a simmons 3-9x50 mm scope and it shoots a 2 inch group at 100 yds. I free floated the barrel and put lighter spings in the trigger but thats it . it has a harris bipod an a cheap sling an ammo pouch on the stock and wouldnt trade it for a new $600 high power

 

[Shawnee]

The Savage and CZ rifles already mentioned plus Marlin makes one that should be good and you might luck into a used Mossberg 640K "Chuckster" somewhere (maybe on www.Gunbroker.com).

For Coyotes a 6x or 2x7 would be fine but for the others you would probably be better with a 3x9 or 4x12. No need for an objective lens larger than 40mm and 38mm would be fine.

Unless you are an experienced Coyoye hunter/shooter it's best to keep shots at them tp about 75-80 yds. Rabbits and such can be shot at longer distances but by about 130yds. you had better be real steady and real good at doping wind.

Have a great time. The .22 mag. is a honey.

 

[HB]

my 22 mag has taken deer to ground hogs,coyotes, birds, fish, turkey, javelina, all with using 40gr jhp winchester ammo

Where is it legal to hunt deer with a rimfire? Or fish?

Other than that it sounds like a good gun
HB

 

[RancidSumo]

My CZ with a FS is fully floated so I don't see how it effects accuracy.