The .22 LR: what can I hunt with it?

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Precision

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San Mateo, California
As some of you know I'm saving up to purchase my first firearm (when I'm old enough), the CZ Model 455 American. However, I have no experience with hunting, particularly small game hunting.

What animals can the .22 LR take down? There are a fair amount of pests near where I live and it would be really nice to finally thin out their ever-increasing population.

Thanks!
 
Snakes
Rabbits
Ground Hogs
Raccoon
Crow
Skunks
Feral housecats
Squirrel
mice and rats at the dump. (Now, that is FUN!!)
Prairie Dogs
Yep, even coyotes ~ although must be a head shot. (.22 Mag excellent
~ shot placement still important)
Rabid tin cans
Evil rocks
Aspirin Tablets (Try it ~ it's hard! You will become a better shooter.)
Viscous Paper plates
The list is endless!!
 
Precision said:
As some of you know I'm saving up to purchase my first firearm (when I'm old enough), the CZ Model 455 American. However, I have no experience with hunting, particularly small game hunting.

What animals can the .22 LR take down? There are a fair amount of pests near where I live and it would be really nice to finally thin out their ever-increasing population.

Thanks!
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Precision, are you familiar with this link:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/

If not, you should be. They are the ones that enforce the hunting regulations in your state. They also provide information on various game species (small game included). Compared to other states, yours looks a bit like a managerie (typical of things California, I've lived there). But you should familiarize yourself with this sight. They also provide a book in print that you can always carry with you. It seems like a lot of information (especially in your state) but once you get to know it, it's a breeze to keep up with any changes from one year to the next.

Your choice of firearm is an excelloent one. Should be a shooter, and with a little stalking skill you should be able to kerplunk various sorts of small game. As far as what sort of game and when the hunting season opens, learn it from the sight/book. If someone tells you something, verify it. Trust me on that one. Good hunting!
 
You can take anything smaller than a Coyote in a practical sense. A coyote is probably stretching things a bit. But, with a good shot and hollow points, you could easily down a coyote humanely at fairly close range (my opinion > under 75 yds).
 
Why did you settle on the CZ? If you can I recommend you contact the people running your local Appleseed marksmanship events - juniors shoot for a minimal fee, and you can borrow all the equipment (including rifle) you need. Good luck!
 
That caliber rifle is a must have for EVERYONE, people claim to have killed everything on gods green earth with one. Of course shot placement is everything!!!! Luckily ammo's relativly cheap for practice. I'd stick with coon sized game and smaller and work on head shots.
Since the .22 has no recoil you can be amazingly accurate with practice!
Don't underestimate it!!!
 
Depending on your abilities, I know for a fact it will take anything from hog size on down although my grandfather used to take deer with a 22 also.
 
"How could anyone shoot a chipmunk"?

Aim for the head!

All seriousness aside, anything that doesn't come up past your knee cap is fodder for the .22LR.
 
to me a .22 is good only up-to raccoon -sized critters,,, shot a yote at 20-yards and he still HOWLLED until i could run thru knee-deep snow to administer a head-shot, when skinning him i looked at wound and saw that my CCI-stinger's just turned to shrapnel when it hit his rib-bone,, barely punched a hole in his lung-sac,, if i hadnt got another round in him he would have probaly crawled off and died slowly ,, stick to the crow's and other small critters
 
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