22 WMR rifles obsolete..?

[Shanghai McCoy]

I have been sorta looking for a 22 WMR rifle to "complement" the 22 mag cylinder for my Ruger revolver and it seems that there just ain't much at the shops these days. When I asked at the cabela's down in Wichita all they had was one of those plastic stocked Savage versions.
(Too short LOP for me..)

Then the counter guy tells I should be getting a 17 cause they are better anyway.

So, you guys think that the 22 WMR is going the way of other calibers that have been phased out..?

(Asks the guy who just bought a 32 Winchester Special rifle.. )

 

[Pacsd]

.17 is better? That's quite a statement. Calibers are choices of the buyer not the opinion of a clerk. I talked to our local Cabela's guy in thier gun library a few days ago and asked about any used 22 mags, Marlin 783 in particular. There WAS one in Hartford, Conn. The price wasn't THAT bad either. But no, I don't think the venerable .22 mag will fall from grace. The new .17 super mag may give it a run for it's money for a period of time but not to the extent that it will cause it to go the way of the 5mm.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I doubt it, although they may lose some ground to hot new .17 rimfires.

I think the .22mag's niche is in cheap(ish) rifles, which can be had for only a few hundred dollars, and shoot with power levels approaching the lower end of a .223. It is also a substantial step up in energy from the .22lr, without a huge increase in noise.

 

[tomykay12]

Take a good look at the CZ 455 fs, and you would never even ask this question, tk

 

[BSA1]

If your question is in regards to availability of rifles I would say look at the used market as their have been many guns chambered in it over the years.

In regards to ammunition for rifles I would give a qualified no. Maybe offerings for rifles will not expand but I think it is far from dying out.

I think use of the 22 Magnum in handguns is growing. Ruger is offering the LCR in 22 Mag. and Winchester has introduced the PDX1 designed for use in handguns. I think the 22 Mag. is a great choice for shooters, especially ladies, who can not handle or do not want the recoil of larger centerfire rounds.

The Kel-Tech PMR-30 looks like a very relible high capacity handgun for use for small game hunting, on the farm and self-defense.

 

[CA Raider]

obsolete .. sure hope not.
i recently did a lot of checking into small caliber rifles because I was thinking about a survival rifle for my family in CA. after looking at all the pro's and cons' - I came away with the conclusion that the 22WMR is an excellent choice for survival ammo. There is a definite improvement in the power of 22WMR compared to 22LR. Although the prices are higher ... they are certainly affordable. There are quite a few folks who will swear to the fact that if you put a 22WMR bullet into the head of a small whitetail - you will drop the thing deader than a doornail. That's a good option for survival - although illegal under hunting restrictions.

It seems as though the massive growth in popularity of the 17 ammo seems to be the emergence of the "600-yard prairie dog snipers" I've got nothing against folks who want to get pesky varmints off their ranch ... and have some fun doing it. HAHAHA! But the 22WMR is a fine choice for survival ammunition.

CA R

 

[riverdog]

The .22 WMR CZ 452 Lux in in my safe is a great rifle. The CZ 455 Lux is the next generation.

 

[TX Plinker]

Obsolete? Nope, but they aren't as popular as .22LR. What type of action were you looking at? Bolt? Semi-auto(not that common, but there are some out there)? Lever(My personal favorite)?

 

[Dr T]

I like the 22 WMR a lot as a handgun cartridge. I have about 7 revolvers that use it, including 3 NAA mini's. The Hornady and Speer self defense loads (about the same terminal ballistics as a 380 without the bulk) have made it highly viable. On the rare instances I carry, it is usually an NAA pug.

I have observed that it is a lot easier to find a used 17 mag than a used 22 WMR rifle. I think it is because that the people who have them are happy with them. I have 2--one down on the ranch in Texas and one up in Denver. They are both shooters for game up to coyote size (however I know of poachers that have used them on deer). The reason I do not own a 22 Hornet is because the 22 WMRs fill that role in my collection: the gap between 22 lr and 223.

 

[snakeman]

obsolete?! So that's why ammo for the mag is sold out everywhere.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I think the 17's have peaked in popularity and shooters are realizing what a great round the .22 mag is.
My CZ 452 Lux .22 mag is my favorite long gun.

 

[iblong]

My heavy barreled 22mag is probably my favorite rifle.

 

[joeschmoe]

it seems that there just ain't much at the shops these days.

That's true for just about everything right now. With that logic one could say the same thing about AR's, AK's and most calibers being "obsolete". The whole industry and market are in "transition".

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

When I asked at the cabela's down in Wichita all they had was one of those plastic stocked Savage versions

they're good rifles. i bought one and swapped it into a boyd's laminate. very fun to shoot and very accurate.

 

[jmr40]

Not obsolete, but fading fast. I sold my 22 mag when I found I could buy 223 cheaper and get much better perfromance. I haven't priced 22 mag ammo, and that may not be a true statement in todays craziness.

 

[Deer_Freak]

After shooting a 17 HMR on a windy day people that think the 22 WMR is obsolete will be changing their tune. Not to mention finding a sturdy cleaning rod for anything 17 cal. Funny thing is the 22 WMR is the weapon of choice for Alaskan Indians that live off the land. They have a 75% one shot one kill record on Alaskan game. They favor the 22 WMR because it fits into their nomadic lifestyle and it gets the job done.

 

[snakeman]

^didn't know that one.

 

[HARV6]

It's not in vogue that's all. It's an oldie but goodie that just plain works, and as such there will always be ammo available for it. I'll admit, the older I get (30 now), the more I find myself getting away from the "latest greatest" and picking up classics...which are classics for a reason. I picked up my first 22mag in the form of a Mossberg Chuckster about 6 months ago and love it. Capable of ridding problems out to 200 yards on my windy farm, without the noise of a 223.

 

[chicharrones]

Not obsolete, but fading fast. I sold my 22 mag when I found I could buy 223 cheaper and get much better perfromance. I haven't priced 22 mag ammo, and that may not be a true statement in todays craziness.

.22 WMR has gone up like everything else. Last summer, I could find it for 20 to 30 cents per round depending on the type. Now, all I see is 30 to 44 cents per round.

Last summer factory loaded .223 was about twice as much as .22 WMR, which seems to still be the case now.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Good comments Guys...
I have looked at the CZ's online and they are a nice looking rifle. I know Henry makes a lever action but I am thinking a bolt action would be the more accurate platform.
I have heard the tha Savage rifle is accurate but that stock was just too short ans slippery for my taste. Did not know that Boyds made a replacement... food for thought.

 

[chicharrones]

I have been sorta looking for a 22 WMR rifle to "complement" the 22 mag cylinder for my Ruger revolver and it seems that there just ain't much at the shops these days. When I asked at the cabela's down in Wichita all they had was one of those plastic stocked Savage versions.
(Too short LOP for me..)

Then the counter guy tells I should be getting a 17 cause they are better anyway.

So, you guys think that the 22 WMR is going the way of other calibers that have been phased out..?

I don't believe .22 WMR rifles are going away. Ammo compatibility between handguns and rifles will probably assure that rifles in .22 WMR will be made for a long time.

I don't see many handguns at all in .17 HMR, I think repeating handguns in .17 HMR have almost ceased to be produced. That pretty much reduces .17 HMR to a rifle only round, which helps out .22 WMR in my opinion.

Another indicator of the sustainability of the .22 WMR is the ammo choices that have come out in the last couple of years. There are some very consistently made and accurate .22 WMR out there that can allow a good .22 WMR rifle to shoot comparable to a .17 HMR.

I voted with my wallet in 2012 and bought a Ruger Single Six (9.5") for the purpose of shooting .22 WMR and a Zastava MP22 in .22 WMR. That Zastava loves Hornady 30 grain V-Max, but shoots other ammo pretty dang well, too.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4375264&postcount=4

If you do get a rifle in .22 WMR, note that some ammo that works in your revolver may not chamber easily in a rifle. Revolvers with their bored through chambers can handle ungainly bullets, where a rifle chamber with rifling right up to the bullet may not handle some ammo like fat headed Winchester Dynapoints.

 

[chicharrones]

Good comments Guys...
I have looked at the CZ's online and they are a nice looking rifle. I know Henry makes a lever action but I am thinking a bolt action would be the more accurate platform.
I have heard the tha Savage rifle is accurate but that stock was just too short ans slippery for my taste. Did not know that Boyds made a replacement... food for thought.

I have a good shootin' buddy with the Henry in .22 WMR. It is a good shooter and works well. It doesn't quite shoot as tight as my Zastava, but it can chamber Winchester Dynapoints and other fat bullets where my Zastava will not.

They both weigh the same without a scope, but the Henry is shorter by a few inches and the Henry holds more than twice the ammo in the magazine than the Zastava. The stock on the Zastava works better with a scope than the Henry since the comb is low on that Henry. Other bolts guns will be available with stocks more suited to scopes than than the Henry as well.

So, if you intend on scoping the gun or shoot mostly from a bench, a bolt gun would be easier to shoot in my opinion. The lever gun will of course be much more fun when walking, standing, and popping off rounds quickly. That's my experience anyway.

 

[CA Raider]

what's a reasonable expectation for the accuracy of the Henry in 22WMR? I don't want to beat the subject of "accuracy" to death. It's only one factor. Just wondering what the Henry can reasonably do.

I admit to being tempted by the CZ 452 Lux. That's rifle has got a lot of good comments about its build and accuracy. But we're at that point in time in America where - because of jobs and the economy - I feel that if I can buy a good American gun .... it would be the right thing to do.

Ca R

 

[dusty14u]

I don't think obsolete would be accurate. I have a heavy barreled Savage bolt and it just flat out shoots well. For a while CTD sold a 500rd brick of Bitter Root Valley 22wmr for ~70. Came out to about 7 cents per round. I stocked up on bricks of it for practice and I am set to go for quite a long time should I need to.

I think the round is great for many small and medium sized game. I bought mine for coyote hunting and it is good out to 200 yds.

 

[chicharrones]

what's a reasonable expectation for the accuracy of the Henry in 22WMR? I don't want to beat the subject of "accuracy" to death. It's only one factor. Just wondering what the Henry can reasonably do.

I admit to being tempted by the CZ 452 Lux. That's rifle has got a lot of good comments about its build and accuracy. But we're at that point in time in America where - because of jobs and the economy - I feel that if I can buy a good American gun .... it would be the right thing to do.

Ca R

Since I don't own that Henry that I've fired, I can't really say. I've gotten groups around 1.5" at 50 yards, but there were a lot of things going against that gun that day. It's scope is too high compared to the stock's comb and has scope parallax errors at 50 yards.

I would imagine with a good scope set up it should do better.