.22WMR handgun accuracy?

[A strange person]

The .22WMR seems to have the reputation of being inherently less accurate than the .22LR, maybe because it's velocities are sufficient to de-stabilize the anorexic little bullet down range (or something). Would it be more accurate out of handguns, perhaps? I've occasionally seen good groups from them, such as these:

http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus941.htm

I always take Jeff Quinn's reviews with a grain of salt though, as he seems to be able to make any piece of junk function like an expensive custom weapon, probably because firearm manufacturers don't send just any old random sample to well-known gun writers to be reviewed.

I always carry a .22 handgun of some kind as a sidearm while hunting, alongside my primary rifle or shotgun, and if I could step up to a .22MAG, I would, but it has to be accurate. I know handgun accuracy is extremely subjective; Midway is full of five-star ammo reviews that say things like "fist-size groups at 7 yards out of my 4" something. Great!" For me personally, an "accurate" handgun with a 4"-5" barrel can consistently hit playing cards at 25 yards, at the very least.

 

[rajb123]

i shoot 22wmr in a long gun often..... It is surely accurate enough for a handgun, however, I would not want to trust it in a self defense situation as it is more of a big varmint round and not a man-stopper round.

in addition, the cost is more than x2s a 22lr.

 

[A strange person]

My .22 hunting sidearm is mostly for putting down wounded game, and taking easy shots at small game at close range without having to waste my expensive/heavy ammo for my primary hunting weapon at the time, not to mention that whatever I'm hunting deer with will likely blow small game to smithereens, and wouldn't be safe to shoot into trees after those trophy squirrels I like to brag about, or coons either. It's not for self-defense so much. When I head out into the woods in autumn, I don't come home empty handed.

 

[One_Jackal]

If you want to use a 22wmr as a side arm I would highly recommend a revolver. The revolvers made by North American Arms shoot very well. Especially the models with a 4 inch or longer barrel. The downside is they aren't cheap. You are well into a Ruger Blackhawk or a similar magnum revolver. I carry a 357 mag or 44 mag when hunting. With a 6 inch or longer barrel both are capable of taking most large game in North America.

I have never tried a Heritage pistol. The Heritage is a low priced cowboy action shooter. They can be had for under $200 new. The few I examined in the gun shop did lock up well and looked sturdy. They are chambered for both 22LR and 22 wmr. Maybe other forum users have more experience with the Heritage.

 

[T Bran]

I find it to be extremely accurate from my single six but the barrel legnth is 9.5'' .
I'm sure the long site radius is a big help not to mention being closer to rifle legnth than most pistols.
I havent had the pleasure of shooting a .22 mag in a mid legnth pistol yet but if mine is any indicator they should be pretty accurate.

 

[Skyshot]

I've had a couple of 22 mags in revolvers one was a Ruger blackhawk with a six barrel that shot decent and the other was a beautiful little Smith&Wesson kit revolver that shot less than decent. Thing I noticed was that they, both guns, could not get a full burn of the ball powder which was used in most .22 WMR ammo at the time. It was most notable in the 4 inch Smith. After several rounds fired it would have lots of unburned powder around the cylinder and at times you really had to work to get the cylinder open. I have since seen that one of the ammo makers is now offering a load for 22WMR handguns. I don't know how the stuff shoots, Ive traded both those guns off. I wished they'd came out with that back when I had those guns.

 

[mes228]

.22 mag

I've taken several type small game at 100 yards +++ with a Ruger Single Six 4 5/8 barrel in .22 mag. Mostly Crows in my youth. I once shot an old lantern hanging in a barn/shed that I'd guess 125 yards minimum. It was a bet and I was shooting from the farmers porch. He was pretty surprised that I shot the lantern to pieces ie several hits out of six rounds. He not only was out the lantern but the money he bet me. Most distance shooting position was prone or across knees with my back against a fence post or similar.

Pistols are VERY accurate - however much harder to shoot accurate than something with a longer sight plane. I've had many pistols that shot pretty much 1-2 inches at 25 yards off of simple improvised rest. I've had Ruger Blackhawks in 44 mag. shooting 44 Specials that were AMAZINGLY accurate. So accurate I won't post it as most would not believe it anyway. Barrel length has almost nothing to do with accuracy. Barrel length makes precision sighting easier and velocity higher. But accuracy no. Just my opinion.

 

[weblance]

I have 2 Ruger Single Sixes, a stainless 5 1/2" and a blued 4 5/8". Over a rest, and with 22 WMR ammo that each one likes, they will both easily do 2" groups(usually smaller)at 25 yards. Thats the honest, no bullsh*t answer. Im not going to tell you they will put 50 shots into one ragged hole, because they wont(in my hands anyway), but I have gotten groups that were 1 3/8" but not consistently. With my eyes, and open sights, I think thats good enough. Im sure Annie Oakley could make one of these shine, but she was a better shot than I am.

 

[MCgunner]

My Black Widow, 2" barrel, shoots 3.5-4" groups at 25 yards. It doesn't QUITE have the sight radius of my snubby .38, but it does have Novak sights, something my other two NAAs don't have. It's pretty easy to hit with it aimed fire, but it don't point very natural for me.

I don't know why it might be thought a .22 mag rifle isn't accurate. My remington 597 magnum shoots 1.5 MOA at 100 yards with CCI maxi mag.

 

[One_Jackal]

The Marlin 983 is very accurate. I don't know how anyone could say a 22wmr rifle isn't accurate. Wind does affect the 22wmr at ranges over 75 yards. But the 22wmr is much better at bucking the wind than a 17hmr.

I read a thread in the Ruger Forum comparing the single six to the heritage rough rider. You would think the rough rider would get trashed in the ruger forum. Several members of the ruger forum recommended the rough rider. It must be pretty darned good to get good remarks in a biased crowd.

 

[iblong]

My 6" single would do 2" @ 25yds.My Marlin 982vs will do 1-1/4" with rem 33
And 1-1/2 with Win gray box. @100yds from a good rest. no its not a 1/2" gun like some of the 223's,but its not bad.

 

[bhk]

My scoped SW 648 .22 mag will shoot 1.5 inch 5-shot groups at 50 yards when shot over sandbags.

 

[chicharrones]

Of the different premium types of .22 WMR ammo I've tried in my Ruger Single Six, it seems that the ammo is made very consistently and shoots very accurately. Which is good since it all seems to cost $10 to $14 per box of 50.

From a sandbag rest, my Single Six has gotten 6-shot groups in the 1" to 2" range at 25 yards with open sights using good .22 WMR ammo. Or course, it has a long sight radius with its 9.5" barrel.

 

[A strange person]

That's all great to hear. I'm actually thinking of getting the 9.5" single six. Sure it looks ridiculous, but it's not really that heavy apparently.

 

[chicharrones]

The SS with a 9.5" barrel will in no way feel as balanced as a SS with a 6.5" barrel, but it is not that bad if a hand rifle is what you are looking for.

Even though my SS is only 6 oz. lighter than my GP100, the SS feels much lighter and due to that lighter feel the SS seems more balanced. That GP100 barrel with full rib and lug is muzzle heavy.

 

[gbran]

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I use both of these for small game and plinking. Scary accurate and commonly take squirrels out to 50-60 yds. 22wmr ammo and guns have come a long way.