Going on a pdog shoot next summer and will be taking along a 22 mag for short shots. I've read about a lot of people using 17 HMR, but not 22 mag. Anybody got any suggestions on what type of bullet/ammo to try to get the maximum effect out of the 22 wmr?

I see that Federal loads some 30 TNT and Rem has some 33 gr V-max.

Jb177: I quit using the 22 WMR on Prairie Dogs very shortly after the 17 HMR was introduced.
The 17 HMR is a far superior cartridge for Colony Varmints.
Having said that my last 22 Magnum preferred the Winchester Gray Box hollow-points. These were the most accurate cartridges in my Rifle and pretty lethal on Prairie Dogs as well.
I don't even know if they are still made as I have been using my 17 HMR's exclusively these last several years now.
If you are not leaving til next summer maybe you have time and should consider trading your 22 WMR for a 17 HMR?
Best of luck next year what ever Rifle you take along.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The 22 mag will kill dogs.....but after a while killing them just isn't the goal. Red mist becomes the goal and range becomes the goal and number of summersaults become the goal.....and number of pieces.

The rimfires just don't do it. The .223 does however, do it just fine. The 22-250 a little bit better.....

Hey...it's your fun time...have a ball.

The 22 mag will be used for the short shots while other barrels cool. Don't plan on shooting that much with it, but have access to one so I thought I would take it. I had a 17 HMR and I couldn't justify owning one when it was cheaper to shoot my 223 with better results. I was planning on taking a cousin's ruger (bolt, heavy barrel) 22 mag for any close shots. I don't expect great performance, got 223, 22-250, 6mmbr, etc for that. Just thought it would be beneficial to take a rimfire along.

jb177
here's hoping you have a ball on the dog towns.

By all means take the 22 Mag and whatever ammo shoots best in it for you.

I've used just about everything from the 22 long rifle and handgun rounds to the 300 win mag. It's all fun.

That said the 223 has been the rifle I use the most...be your own judge and again as I said....have a ball. It's a very great time.

I bet that 300 really makes them fly. That being said, I may load up some 120gr v-maxes for my 7mm stw and maybe some 150 SST-s for the 300 wsm.

Maybe somebody can give me some insight on what loads they've used in the 22 mag. Just looking for something that will anchor them without a lot of crawl-offs.

I'm a definate fan of the .22 Magnum Rimfire and would strongly recomend the ammunition which shoots the most accurately in your rifle. I get excellent performance with the Federal 30 gr HP (which is a Sierra) and the Winchester 34 gr HP, or the Gray Box HP's.

A good friend bought a used Marlin boltgun .22WMR some years ago. I've got a heavy barrel for my T/C contender carbine and a Ruger 10-22 in .22WRM, but with a custom heavy barrel.

Ammo has been severely tested and the most accurate in our three rifles has been the Federal with the 30gr Sierra HP. This is not made anymore. Federal is now using the Speer 30gr HP. The Speer bulleted ammo is almost as accurate as the older Sierra stuff. Winchester in the Black Box is also quite accurate. Remington with the lightweight bullet also is accurate in one of our rifles. Try a box of each and shoot three, five-shot, groups with each. Your rifle will tell you which it likes.
Accuracy was good enough for hits out to 150 yds, but no further for regular kills.

Try a bunch, but definately try the Remington Premier 33 gr VMax loads. These can blow large chunks off a groundhog to 150 yds.... should work on P-dogs...maybe even a cartwheel or a hint of crimson spray???

Inside of 30 yards, the Federal 30 gr. hollowpoint really takes the bunnies apart! Nothing like a centerfire 22, I suppose, and P dogs might be a little meatier...still, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

friar

Try Winchester Supreme (in the black box). These shoot well in my Marlin 25MC.
I have not tried the Remington loads, but the CCI Maxi-Mag +V also shoot well.

I used Winchester 40 Gr and Federal 30 Gr ammo in my Kimber 22 WMR w/ 8 X Leo scope but you should try a few different brands to find what shoots best in your rifle. Any 22 WMR round has the energy to kill prairie dogs out to 150 yds but the bullet drop of the 30 Gr bullet is about six inches low when the rifle is sited in at 100 Yds and 2 inches low at 125 Yds. For some years I used the 22 LR ,22WMR ,and 223 Rem but now I use the 17 HM2 ,17 HMR, and 204 Ruger rifles. I live in Pdog country ,in some prairie dog towns that have not ben shot over the old 22 LR is good for 60 Yds while the 22 WMR is good for 125 Yd + shots if you know the bullet drop.So take your 22 WMR out for the Pdogs shoot and have fun.

You will find a feeling of great satisfaction in shooting a 250-300 yard pd with the 22mag, real similar to 500 yards with a larger 22 cf and if you are lucky enough to find some inexperienced dogs you can have a blast with a 22 Lr as well. We always include even a 22Lr handgun in the pd arsenal and have been fortunate to have had the fun of using them on some shoots. Many times we will take every rifle in the cabinet, you don't shoot too many with the 300 mag or with the 35 whelen AI, but the ones you do are great memories.