22WMR or no?

trekker73 · Oct 5, 2022

Fellas if you had a 22LR and 223 rem, does a 22 WMR make any sense for small game as well?

Im wondering whether to add to the collection to cover the gap between 22LR ranges and beyond, yet before the point you are making a lot of racket and blowing small creatures apart with a 223.

I know the 22mag was meant to sit in this gap, but wondered what people think of its practicaility these days.

LoonWulf · Oct 5, 2022

For small game Id probably be considering a .17HMR, tho that's mostly because I've never seen an overly accurate .22mag in person. For heavier game id seriously consider a .22mag, in fact I AM considering adding one specifically for shooting pigs at 50-100yds when we hunt papaya fields.

Turkeytider · Oct 5, 2022

I`d say 17HMR as well for what the OP describes.

Armored farmer · Oct 5, 2022

As a long time 22mag fan, I agree with Loon.
My role for the mag is more close range varmint than small game.

I hear great things about 17hmr.

JDeere · Oct 5, 2022

I have had a 22mag rifle and pistol for years. The rifle is accurate with open sights for hunting purposes of smaller game. I use to use the pistol for night hunting coons in the pecan bottoms. I never ventured into the .17 world as I never saw the need...

mcb · Oct 5, 2022

I killed allot of groundhogs with my 22WMR. It's a fun gun but 17HMR could have done it just as well in most cases. 22WMR was t0o damaging for squirrel, if you plan on eating it.

PapaG · Oct 5, 2022

I had virtually identical Savages set up, one in 22WMR and the other in 17HMR. The 22 didn't stick around long as the best I could do with it was 2-3" while sub 1" seems the norm with the 17. I'm stubborn, however, and grabbed a River 77 All Weather in 22WMR and learned that the 22 has the potential for almost MOA. A buddy talked me out of it.
I now use a Contender Carbine in 223 for most of my critter control after saving John Barsness' article on various reduced loads. I have 22lr, 22WMR, 22Hornet, and 223 equivalent loads available. (It does take a card with poi data on it, however, so as not to have to sight in for each load).
To answer the OP's question, I love the 17 for accuracy but after a couple failures on winter coyotes, I'll take a jacketed 22 at 2000 or better.
Was a great way to spend Covid winter rather than watching dumb stuff on tv.

Remington1911 · Oct 5, 2022

Having shot some birds at distance with a 22mag and 17 side by side I can say that the 17 will fly "flatter" and seems to hit "harder" then the 22. A poof of feathers vs. flop dead. I could see the 17 being a choice for things past 100 but inside of that if it is a thicker animal like a larger mammal I would want the added weight of the 22.

I see what @LoonWulf is saying and I would agree at least in my very limited experience. The 17 I shot (Savage) was more accurate over my 22mag (1516) and it shoots fairly well.

I think it would depend on what you want to do.

To answer the OP's question, I think there is a lot of room between 22lr and 223, no matter the use. Even if just for the fun of it, but the ammo for 22mag is not cheap, but I do enjoy the cartridge. It is nice if you want just a little more over a 22lr.

I think I would be ok with mammals up to roughly coyote with 22mag, something I think LR might be not enough.

Bcwitt · Oct 5, 2022

I think i would just use a light load in the 223. Much less expensive then 22 WMR if you handload.

Varminterror · Oct 5, 2022

trekker73 said:
if you had a 22LR and 223 rem, does a 22 WMR make any sense for small game as well?

What small game hunting are you doing which exceeds the range capabilities of the 22LR, but which is diminished in quality by the power of 223? Are you EXPERIENCING a gap based on both 22LR and 223 failing to meet your needs, or are you IMAGINING a gap based on a gap in paper ballistics between the two? Most folks simply don’t have a realizable gap in the field where the 22WMR or 17HMR really fills a need. But if you DO have this real-word gap, I’d also recommend 17HMR over 22WMR.

12Bravo20 · Oct 5, 2022

mcb said:
22WMR was to damaging for squirrel, if you plan on eating it.

So is the 17m2 and 17HMR. I have to take head shots only on squirrels when using the 17m2 if I plan on eating them.

Varminterror said:
Are you EXPERIENCING a gap based on both 22LR and 223 failing to meet your needs, or are you IMAGINING a gap based on a gap in paper ballistics between the two? Most folks simply don’t have a realizable gap in the field where the 22WMR or 17HMR really fills a need. But if you DO have this real-word gap, I’d also recommend 17HMR over 22WMR.

I couldn't agree more. I got rid of my AR57 upper in 5.7x28 for the same reasons. It was in between and really did not fill a role for me. I have also gotten rid of the 22 WMR bolt actions I had since they will never be as accurate as 22lr, 17m2, or 17HMR. I did keep my Kel-Tec PRM30 and CMR30 but both are more range/fun guns.

I never bought a 17HMR but still have 1 Savage MKII in 17m2. The problem with both calibers is that the wind will push these light bullets quite a bit. That is where the 22WMR is better. But again the 22WMR will not be as accurate.

I personally would not use 22WMR, 17HMR, or 17m2 for small game if you want to fill your freezer (unless you take head shots only).

I sure won't try to talk anyone out of buying a 22WMR or 17HMR. They are fun to shoot and do serve a purpose. But not so much if you already have a good 22lr and a good 223.

jmorris · Oct 5, 2022

I have a 22lr, and a .223. I’d probably pick one of my 22 hornets over any .22 WMR or 17 HMR I have, if I wanted in between.

N555 · Oct 5, 2022

My 25 year old marlin with $25 Walmart scope shoots 1 hole groups at 25 yards at the indoor range. There no point in even taking it to the indoor range. It's not a single .22 hole, it's one big hole made of 7 smaller holes. It's accurate enough.

Swampman · Oct 5, 2022

I think the best best choice would be a .22 Hornet or better yet a K Hornet.

bearcreek · Oct 5, 2022

N555 said:
My 25 year old marlin with $25 Walmart scope shoots 1 hole groups at 25 yards at the indoor range. There no point in even taking it to the indoor range. It's not a single .22 hole, it's one big hole made of 7 smaller holes. It's accurate enough.

It's all about perspective. One big 7 rd hole at 25 yards could easily be a 2-5 MOA group. Many shooters would find that unacceptable. Just depends what you want to do with the weapon.

Walkalong · Oct 5, 2022

jmorris said:
I have a 22lr, and a .223. I’d probably pick one of my 22 hornets over any .22 WMR or 17 HMR I have, if I wanted in between.

Yep, and I'm a big .22 Mag fan, and it has it's place, but I'm also a .22 Hornet fan and it is more in the middle, plus I can load it to .22 Mag level of I want to.

Remington1911 · Oct 5, 2022

Bcwitt said:
I think i would just use a light load in the 223. Much less expensive then 22 WMR if you handload.

Sorry for this, but when anyone says hay you can reload more inexpensive my little peanut brain just goes into over drive....lets do some math.

A quick look on bullets I grabbed a Berry's 55 grain, first result was $80 for 500, so .16 each. Went to hodgons sight and looked up 223 loads, the lightest load they list if for IMR 4198 at 18.8 grains, figure a nice round $50 per pound (what it is going around here when you can find it) with 7000 grains in a pound. That gives us .13 in the powder. Primer figure .10 per for our local price and every dog in the joint has brass so that is a given.

This will lead to this specific formula being .39 per bang. Ammo seek is showing prices ranging from .21 to .31 per bang, so close.

I have never shot something loaded that light and don't know how it would do, or if you have a chance of a squib. It is on the hodgon site so it is a valid load. You would need to do your own testing, and that is part of the fun of reloading.

Personally I like 22mag, it just has something that I like and I can't tell you what that is.

Dave DeLaurant · Oct 5, 2022

For me, sensibility doesn't enter the question of a new rifle purchase as often as it should.

I've actually been considering a .22 WMR rifle just because I have three boxes of ammo left over from the Ruger Single Six convertible I sold back in 2019. Somebody else please buy this and save me:

https://simpsonltd.com/marlin-xt-magnum-d16579/

In recent times, there were periods when .22 WMR ammo was more obtainable locally than .22 LR or the .17 rimfires. That's a reason, right?

I'd start with the rifle. I've got a safe full of .22 LR rifles, plus three .223s and two .22 K Hornets. Still, if I saw a good deal on a really appealing CZ or Anschutz in .22 WMR, I'd almost certainly do something I'd regret later.

codytrucker · Oct 5, 2022

There is definitely a gap there . whether or not a 22mag. is the best at filling it I don't know . I'd say it depends on what constitutes small game in your part of the world , and if you intend to eat it or not . A 22 mag. extends the range of a .22 , but getting one that has the accuracy to take advantage of it can be a problem . A 22 hornet fills the gap , and has the advantage of a little more power , and a lot of choice in projectiles , as long as you reload for it . not to mention being cheaper to shoot if you reload .

Bcwitt · Oct 5, 2022

Remington1911 said:
Sorry for this, but when anyone says hay you can reload more inexpensive my little peanut brain just goes into over drive....lets do some math.

A quick look on bullets I grabbed a Berry's 55 grain, first result was $80 for 500, so .16 each. Went to hodgons sight and looked up 223 loads, the lightest load they list if for IMR 4198 at 18.8 grains, figure a nice round $50 per pound (what it is going around here when you can find it) with 7000 grains in a pound. That gives us .13 in the powder. Primer figure .10 per for our local price and every dog in the joint has brass so that is a given.

This will lead to this specific formula being .39 per bang. Ammo seek is showing prices ranging from .21 to .31 per bang, so close.

I have never shot something loaded that light and don't know how it would do, or if you have a chance of a squib. It is on the hodgon site so it is a valid load. You would need to do your own testing, and that is part of the fun of reloading.

Personally I like 22mag, it just has something that I like and I can't tell you what that is.

No need to be sorry. The cheapest ammo is seldom good hunting ammo. 223 loads that equil performace of top quality 22mags are (depending how you sorce your components) cost about the same. Is definately cheaper to not add the expense of a third outfit when(if) one is going to reload & already have gear to do so. I was not telling anyone what they had to do. If you would like to get a 22mag rifle anyway, go ahead. It will work just the same.

dh1633pm · Oct 5, 2022

I have 17 HMR, 22 LR, and 22 mag. Not for any other reason than for availability of ammo and costs. Just think everyone should have one of each. So that when asked if I want to buy some rimfire ammo in 17, 22 or 22 mag I can answer "Yes".

Bcwitt · Oct 5, 2022

Ive always thought of a 22wmr as a 22 hornet for guys that dont reload. I cannot imagine a small game hunting situation (Eastern PA) would not be equally well done w a 22lr. I guess if i could see more then 50 to 75 yd, that would be different. I guess if i was taking shots over 100 yards regularly, a 22mag might make sense. I think i would perfer a 22 hornet & enjoy the benefits of handloading.

N555 · Oct 5, 2022

bearcreek said:
It's all about perspective. One big 7 rd hole at 25 yards could easily be a 2-5 MOA group. Many shooters would find that unacceptable. Just depends what you want to do with the weapon.

Less than 2moa for a rimfire is fine with me.
It's not a precision platform.

N555 · Oct 5, 2022

Bcwitt said:
Ive always thought of a 22wmr as a 22 hornet for guys that dont reload. I cannot imagine a small game hunting situation (Eastern PA) would not be equally well done w a 22lr. I guess if i could see more then 50 to 75 yd, that would be different. I guess if i was taking shots over 100 yards regularly, a 22mag might make sense. I think i would perfer a 22 hornet & enjoy the benefits of handloading.

A lot more guns available in 22wmr, bolt, lever, semiauto and all current production.
Last time I wanted a 22 hornet lever gun I pretty much had to rob a museum.

Bcwitt · Oct 5, 2022

N555 said:
A lot more guns available in 22wmr, bolt, lever, semiauto and all current production.
Last time I wanted a 22 hornet lever gun in pretty much had to rob a museum.

Sad, but true.

22WMR or no?

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