Do I need a .22 mag rifle?

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Shoot a turkey with a .223 and one with a 22mag, see which one gives you the larger meal.
Love the 22wmr, but thats me. Smokes just about anything coyote sized and under out to 100-125yds for me.
Finding ammo and ammo prices have been difficult the last few years. If you don't care what you shoot, not that big of a problem. If you want a particular brand/particular bullet size, that your gun shoots really well, it may be an issue.
Big fan of the 22wmr, just fits what I do..
 
The ammo availability is a big deal. My 10/22 mag likes the heavier type bullets CCI, Winchester etc they all shoot around 1/2" at 100 yards, but it does not do so well with the 33 grain type bullets, it will still hold around 1" at 100 yards, but I just never seen the lighter bullets being better for my use. Where I have problems is buying a box of 50 22 wmr if it's not the same brand as you were shooting you will need to sight back in. Even if it's the same brand I still have to confirm sight in, this is a custom rifle/barrel the added accuracy can be a bit of a pain in a way because the need to do the above, but it sure is nice when I need to pop a crow, groundhog, coyote or bobcat most of the time the varmints are not concerned with my presence the combo of 10/22 magnum 1/2" accuracy and a Weaver 3-9 rimfire scope has been outstanding !!
 
I love my Ruger American in 22mag . It shoots better than my 3 .223's out to 100 yards. I put a Leupold VX-II 3X9 on it. One of my hunting buddies said "my rig was like $200 saddle on a $20 horse" but like it after shooting it. He picked up one with nice Nikon.
I prefer 22mag for around the my place. Much less noise,less weight and death on everything under 20#. The gun out punches its weight. Ammo is getting easier to come by lately.
 
Like others, can't say you "need" one, but I like mine. Ruger 77/22 in .22 WMR. Also have a Single Six that mostly wears the .22 WMR cylinder. More smack than a .22, but still light and handy like a .22 LR.
 
MacTech - if you have the funds and space for another rifle, go for it!

I have a Marlin bolt action in .22 LR, a 10/22, and a Marlin in .22 Mag. I also have the Ruger Single Six with the dual cylinders for S/L/LR and Mag, and I bought a new Keltec PMR-30 in .22 Mag in February.

Five guns - two ammos - sure cuts down on the storage! :D
 
I dont need one... for that matter I even have a hard time convincing myself why I need one... and yet, the Henry .22wmr lever gun calls to me. I cant argue its cost savings, as I can find .22lr for much cheaper, reload .38 for cheaper, and can buy steel case .223 for about the same cost. My Single Six rarely wears its wmr cylinder. But still.... I find myself wanting a .22wmr rifle. I havent caved yet, but suspect its only a matter of time...
 
Went through the same question a couple years back and ended up buying a Marlin 22mag. it's been accurate, light to carry and fun to shoot. The new choices of bullet weights and styles in 22 mag are nice as well.
 
When I can find ammo without paying an insane price for it (ammo availability has been a persistent problem for the past few years) I love shooting the 22 Magnum. It's in a sweet spot between the 22 LR and .223 - more punch and range than the LR but without the "high-powered-rifle" feel of the .223. Not that the high powered-rifle-part is a bad thing, just that I often prefer something a little more calm if I'm only punching paper from 100 yards or plinking at cans or golf balls or the like.

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So with all these comparisons between .22 mag and .223.....any of you guys tried a "Shell Shrinker" or "Chamber Adaptor" for .22 Magnum in a .223 rifle?

What with the length of the .22 magnum cartridge and the need for a base plug firing pin adaptor on the shell shrinker there should be no where near as much free bore as on the .22LR adaptors. Do wish the folks that make and sell those things would offer spare breech plug firing pin adaptors for when you drop one while ejecting and spend an hour crawling among fallen leaves and detritus looking of the one that fell out.

I have a .22LR one that gives me "Nylon 66 accuracy" at 25 yards from several different .223/5.56 rifles and have been thinking about getting a .22mag adaptor to add to the TEOTWAWKI box.

Oh and OP.....yes you need a Marlin 57M badly.

There I've done my part, Levermatic guys.

-kBob
 
For me, I like the gap that it fills.

I may represent a minority which actually notes a gap relative to my (our) particular shooting scenarios though.

Often times something simply needs killing and a .222/.223 is simply too much... Sound, expense, overtravel.... whatever.

Still, sometimes a .22LR might leave a little too much on the table... penetration, effective range, projectile selection, etc... I also like the bit of freedom of not even kidding myself that I'll reload existing brass or scour the internet for new loadings... Just a tool for me - never a plinker or fun gun.

.22 WMR slips right in there to fit the bill.

Relatively quiet
No recoil
Decent projectiles
Small overall packages
Outstanding lethality

I certainly get folks not appreciating the WMR or at least not needing it but for some folks like me it's the kitten's whiskers.

My new favorite is a recently acquired Marlin Lever-matic... What a hunter!

Todd.
 
Heck, I rarely ever hunt, but I have been thinking of getting a .22 mag just for grins and giggles.
 
I have both the Savage MkII-G in .22LR and the 93-G in .22WMR. The MkII has been my squirrel/rabbit gun for about 25 years. Since moving out of the 'burbs about 12 years ago and living in a rural area now, there was definitely a gap between the LR and my .223. I bought the 93 to fill that. It absolutely takes varmints cleaner and farther. We have a lot here in my area of Southern IL; groundhogs, skunks, opossums, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and even the occasional aggressive domestic pet dumped by idiots. The WMR handles them all very well.

Do you "need" one? Only you can answer that.
Do you "want" one? I suspect that's easier to answer.
 
Of course you need one! Your curiosity will drive you nuts until you buy it. I'm still kicking myself for not buying an Anschutz/Savage when I had the chance. In my defense, I had a bad cold and felt like crap when the opportunity was presented, meaning that I was not in my right mind.
 
pick up a Savage 93 bolt action in .22 WMR for around $230 and you've got yourself a fun/light/accurate little rifle.

ammo is the tough part, so with anything, buy in bulk when they getting is good.
 
Do you "need" one...

No, no you don't. I do not want to be competing with even one more .22 WMR buyer for ammunition.

On the other hand.

Increased demand may ultimately lead to higher production and eventually lower priced ammo....


I'll have to get back to you.

In the mean time, I'll be enjoying my Levermatic for all my previously stated reasons.

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Todd.
 
Tentwing said:
Todd,

That's a nice 57M you got there :). I've had mine about 2 years now. I looked for one for about 20 years before I finally ran across mine. It is the most accurate rimfire I own.

Tentwing
Click to expand...
I never even knew about them till this one came my way.
Even knowing Marlin's "Micro-groove" accuracy...
Even knowing about the outstanding performance of previous .22WMRs...

I am quite shocked by the performance of this one.
The short-stroke lever makes one wonder why more manufacturers (including Marlin's own 39) don't use a like system.

Todd.
 
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