I'm thinking of buying a 22 WMR rifle, so I'm interested in opinions. What's the "Best" one to buy?

Please say why you think it's the "Best". For example, do you mean best value, best accuracy, best quality or workmanship, best whatever?

Thanks,
KB

I have a Savage (did I really say that?) M-93 Classic in the deluxe rendition. It's a great shooter and looks pretty darn nice but most of all it's a full size gun.....not a kids gun!

I had a CZ 452 however it was a 17HMR. It was a tack driver. Excellent accuracy and quality for the $$.

I have a Sako Quad and they are very well made and very accurate. It really depends on how much you want to spend.

It really depends on what level of accuracy you want. I have found that thus far my Volquartsen .22 magnum V-1 model has been the most accurate at 100 yds. (sub 1 inch groups ) with several brands/types of .22 mag. ammo. It is not a light weight sporter. Also not inexpensive. My former Anschutz model 54 was very accurate with RWS ammo sub 1" groups also not inexpensive now must locate a used one. My Cooper 57M is being rebarreled by Gordy Gritters with a match chamber and Lilja barrel. I am hoping for a real tack driver???
Several years ago Layne Simpson tested the Volquartsen Fusion in .22 mag & 17 HMR. in Shooting Times. The results were excellent.
Most writers only test the .22 mag at 50 yds. This really does not show what the accuracy potential is at 100 yds.
Good Luck!

I have a Remington 597M with a volquartson trigger that has been very reliable and accurate.
Last fall I bought a LH Browning T-Bolt sporter which I love. It's trim, points well and is very accurate. I really like the new Browning Helix magazine. I have a Monarch 3-12x42 scope mounted on it and it prints nice groups at 100 yards.

On the cheap side of things,
my brother and I keep marlin 882 ssv in our trucks everyday. I bedded the actions and first couple inches of the barrel, tuned the triggers and D&T the back of the trigger guard to put in a set screw for a trigger stop. You have to be able to back it out easy to pull the trigger all the way to the rear to remove the bolt. But, they will shoot 1" with most all ammo, and with win supremes they really shine!
A pal of mine has a ruger 77/22 mag that shoots 7/8" all day with anything but the 50 grn Fed load. The blued steel and walnut is very attractive, but wouldnt look good for long with the life our marlins live.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim M.:
It really depends on what level of accuracy you want.

My Cooper 57M is being rebarreled by Gordy Gritters with a match chamber and Lilja barrel. I am hoping for a real tack driver???

show what the accuracy potential is at 100 yds.
Good Luck!

Accuracy level I want? One hole group at 100 yds, of course.

Like perhaps the accuracy you'll get with the Cooper 57M / Lilja, at 1/5th the cost.

If I could get the kind of accuracy they show on the targets supplied with the 57M, that would be acceptable too.



KB

I went through several Ruger 22 mags with poor accuracy results.
Bought a 1720 anschutz a couple years ago and found very good accuracy as well as a great looking gun that I beleive will hold pretty good value. I would have been money ahead if I had bought that gun in the first place.

Buy a CZ rifle chambered for 221 Fireball.
You won't regret the purchase.

I've heard good things about the CZ in 221 fireball. But, I find it difficult to imagine handloading for something for which I have to buy a set of tweezers, as a reloading tool.

Someday, I'm planning on spending the late fall and winter months down south. Just thinking ahead for now.

I'm looking to not have to deal with handloads, centerfire. I just want to buy the ammo by the case, and shoot a truck load of squirrels - not all on the same hunt, of course.

And while I'm there, if I find a hog or piglet or coyote running amuck, I'll have something to deal with it too.

KB

Realize that the Cooper 57M .22 Magnum factory test targets are much less than 100 yds. unless Cooper has changed their test range.

The 2010 Feb or March Shooting Times article by Rick Jamison used a Savage .22 Mag. the accuracy level was impressive at 100 yds with several types of ammo. 3-shot groups 0.6-0.8 inches. Not bad.

You can spend a lot more and get a gun with a lot more 'frills' built in... but for simplicity that just plain works... a Savage or a Marlin Bolt action will shoot with a lot of rifles that cost 2 to 5 times more than they do...

I have the Marlins and also a Ruger 77/22 in 22 MAG.. nice rifle... and it was worth what it cost new back when purchased, for around $300..

they are not worth the $600 they want for one now..

based on my luck with my CZ 452 in 22 LR... I'd say all things considered, the CZ would probably be the best dollar value of the field..

But a $300 or less Marlin or Savage will shoot just as well...

those little plastic tip bullets are well worth the extra few bucks, if accuracy is a big importance to you..

My Savage 93 22WMR left hand bolt rifle shoots great. I wish I would have waited for the Accutrigger version though...

For the money, the Savage can't be beat...

I've had great luck with both Savages and Marlins. My current favorite is the "varmint" model with heavier stainless arrel and synthetic stock. No irons. Practically a one holer at 100 yards when the wind doesn't blow with Win or Fed ammo. Doesn't care as much for VMax or CCI. Cost a bit over $300 a few years ago. I had a M25 (cheapie) that shot well although it came with a horrendous trigger.

I would go with a CZ 452.They're known for great accuracy and often come with some very nicely figured wood.

BRNO 611

HK 300

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
You can spend a lot more and get a gun with a lot more 'frills' built in... but for simplicity that just plain works... a Savage or a Marlin Bolt action will shoot with a lot of rifles that cost 2 to 5 times more than they do...

I have the Marlins and also a Ruger 77/22 in 22 MAG.. nice rifle... and it was worth what it cost new back when purchased, for around $300..

they are not worth the $600 they want for one now..

based on my luck with my CZ 452 in 22 LR... I'd say all things considered, the CZ would probably be the best dollar value of the field..

But a $300 or less Marlin or Savage will shoot just as well...

those little plastic tip bullets are well worth the extra few bucks, if accuracy is a big importance to you..

Probably as important as the rifle is the ammo for the 22 WMR. The 22 WMR is notorious for not being exceptionally accurate, but I believe much of the accuracy problems could be blamed on the ammo.

Best for what?

About 10 years ago, i bought a Rem. 597M, it's quite accurate, shooting thumbnail size groups at 60 yards or better. I use it for pest control around my place, and it has never failed to fire or function in any way, and i've never cleaned it either.

For my use, i'd call it a complete success.

DM

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
I had a CZ 452 however it was a 17HMR. It was a tack driver. Excellent accuracy and quality for the $$.

I have the exact same experience.

I like it so much I am converting a 452 scout to .22 Mag. Super backpacking gun.

All the 452's I own (6) have been tack drivers. The sights are properly graduated making them actually useful. The long barrels on the Lux and trainer models make offhand shooting easy due to good balance. And I like the easy loading/unloading the clip provides.

You might want to do a search on the rimfire forum. Having said that I bought a Izmash Biathlon rifle imported by EAA that I am very happy with, especially the action! I posted some target result on the rimfire forum on AR. That being said, for pure accuracy I would suspect that the 17HMR is more accurate out to 100 yards.
Peter.

I can see the .22 mag as a great round in something you wont be shooting much. Possibly a carry revolver. But at $25 or so for 100 rounds--even if you don't have to reload it, I don't see that as practical. Needing tweezers to reload a .22 centerfire is pure BS. I also heard the same story about the difficulty to cast .22 bullets--pure bs. You can shoot 58 grain cast bullets around 2,000 to 2200 fps for a whole lot less than $25 per hundred and that's a whole lot more bang for the bucks. You can also shoot jacketed and not worry with the casting for less than $25 per hundred. Regardless of what Kabluey might try to tell you with his vast non experience--the .22 centerfires are deadly on deer. So the .22 mag to buy is a dont buy--get a .22 centerfire. I like the CZ's except the backwards safety. I like .223 but mine doesn't shoot cast. My .222 does.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
I can see the .22 mag as a great round in something you wont be shooting much. Possibly a carry revolver. But at $25 or so for 100 rounds--even if you don't have to reload it, I don't see that as practical. Needing tweezers to reload a .22 centerfire is pure BS. I also heard the same story about the difficulty to cast .22 bullets--pure bs. You can shoot 58 grain cast bullets around 2,000 to 2200 fps for a whole lot less than $25 per hundred and that's a whole lot more bang for the bucks. You can also shoot jacketed and not worry with the casting for less than $25 per hundred. Regardless of what Kabluey might try to tell you with his vast non experience--the .22 centerfires are deadly on deer. So the .22 mag to buy is a dont buy--get a .22 centerfire. I like the CZ's except the backwards safety. I like .223 but mine doesn't shoot cast. My .222 does.

Those 22's don't make your gina sore either do they RAy.

Btw the real answer for squirrels is get a .22 LR--all you need.

Ray is right. You shoot squirrels with a 22 magnum and you're not going to be eating them. The 22 LR is a whole lot better for that purpose, accurate, cheaper to shoot, and lots more quiet.

Here are my four choices. Top Dollar would be an Anchutz (sp). In the middle would be the Cooper. A little lower would be the CZ and either the Savage or Marlin would take the bottom rung. My personal choice and my personal top price range would be the Cooper followed very closely by the CZ.

It would be tuff for me to own a Cooper, since I would have to be spending so much time just wiping my drool off it.

Ray right?? Of course he's right. If doubtful, just ask him.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Needing tweezers to reload a .22 centerfire is pure BS.

That could be considered BS, if taken seriously, but it was intended to be funny, or bait. I found it amuzing, at least to myself, envisioning you painstakingly placing each of those tiny bullets in place with tweezers. Since you didn't see the humor in that, then for you it was bait.

KB

I see the 22WMR as an expendable camp or truck gun. They can keep the varmints at bay for a nominal sum. For this purpose I am now on my third one and don't plan to spend more than the minimum on one.

I like the 22 LR and the WMR. Several years ago, I bought one of each of the Ruger 77-22. One in 22LR and the other in 22WMR. I just enjoyed shooting the WMR more often.

I took them both to Georgia and left them at my brother's house. My Newphew started useing them and the WMR is the one he uses the most. The 22LR just sits in the closet.

Anyway, I suspect after all this time, my nephew has laid claim to the WMR, and I want another one anyway. I hear from my brother-in-law that the lad has been steady using my 280 as well, instead of the two rifles I bought for him. I'll have to speak to him about that - again.

Sooner or later, I'm planning on spending the winter months down south, so I can spend more time in the woods. If it was just squirrel hunting, and if I was as cheap as Ray, the tweezer geezer, and had no qualms about shooting at critters much too big and tough for the cartridge, the 22LR would be just fine. A can of blue dot, and a set of tweezers, and breathing molten lead vapors, to save a few pennies, is not my style either. I expect to use the 22WMR for squirrels (head shots) plus hogs, racoons, possums, armadillos, and maybe a coyote or stray dogs if the need arises.

In Georgia, after deer season, many of the wildlife managment areas offer good small game hunting - in January and February. Many of them are filled with hogs, but the regulations don't allow centerfires after deer season. They do allow the 22 WMR.

I don't consider any rifle worth having in the first place as expendable. Even if it's a truck gun, I try to not let it get damaged. The Hogue stocks seem pretty tough. I've had good luck with them on some rifles, but sometimes they haven't been such a good fit. I recently bought a new stock for a short action Ruger, with the full aluminum block, and the fit in the action and barrel channel is very poor. They are not consistant as to fit.

Regarding reduced loads, I have a 6.5 Grendel in the works, made on a mini-Mauser action. Hopefully it will be finished by summer. I place it in the same class as a Cooper, except my Grendel is completely custom. I may take it hunting in a truck, but I don't consider it a truck gun. For hunting in places other than the wildlife managment areas, the 6.5 Grendel may be a good choice for some mild or reduced loads, even for squirrels for head shots. I'm looking forward to developing loads for it, both full power deer and hog loads, and maybe reduced loads, at about 2000 fps. I don't expect to have to break out the tweezers or the blue dot for that.

I have a hunch that the Grendel on the mini-mauser will work well with slightly reduced loads for small game. It has a 8" twist rate, and match type bullets are available. Logically to me anyway, the combo should produce very small groups at the ranges used for squirrel hunting - for head shots.

Another cartridge - rifle combo that I had a lot of fun with was the CZ 527 in 7.62x39. It's a fine small game cartridge IMO, if the reduced velocity is desired and acceptable, along with the trajectory. Obviously it's over kill for squirrels, but why not for head shots? And it would whack a deer or hog just fine, much better than a 22 WMR. It easily loads for reduced velocity, 1900 - 2000 fps. In fact, my most accurate loads for it were with the 180gr .311 bullets from Speer and Remington. I was getting about 1850 fps from them, which approximates the speed of the 22 WMR, but with a lot more bullet. With those bullets, in that rifle, I could get 3/4" to 1/2" groups at 100 yds. Try that with any 22. The barreled action had been bedded. And again, for the handloader, the bullets are big enough to get a grip on - no tweezers necessary.

KB

I'm fully in agreement that the .22 WMR is a high priced (compared to a .22 hornet or even a .223) cartridge to shoot.....But it's not intended to be used like a .22 LR which is so cheap (or at least used to be) that we have fun rolling small cans around at the quarry.

I use the .22 WMR as a serious hunting rifle and can testify that (if it's legal where you live) it's as good a turkey gun as you can find! It also works wonders on raccoon and other animals of that size when the range opens to 75 yards of so!

To me it has a practical use and that might include the tiny ten of Africa (assuming it's legal)

I've never owned a .22 Hornet but my experience with the 22 WMR has spiked that interest as the .22 Hornet is somewhat faster and might be a bit more useful.....until then I find the 22 WMR to be a hunting cartridge.....and well worth the two bits it takes to squeeze the trigger.

I agree, it's a hunting cartridge for me too. I like it so much, i have more than one around, including a couple Krieghoff inserts, so chambered.

I'm GLAD i don't have to reload them! I've been down the hornet road a few times, and it got old fast messing them them!

DM

Ive got a Marlin 882 that belonged to Dad before I was even born, and it still shoots good. I have a 22 Hornet that I load for too, and I think Im gonna try to tweezer trick, those little bullets on that little case can be tricky! LOL Its a pretty good step up from the 22 mag though, and pretty cheap to shoot as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Farrier Matt:
I think Im gonna try to tweezer trick.

Funny, but the moniker "Tweezer Gweezer" has been taken.

You can have "Tweezer Twixter".



KB

Molten lead vapors--Yes you get vapors from using wheel weights--but it's not lead vapors. You need a much higher temp for lead to vaporize than what you use casting---another myth. I've never used one grain of Blue Dot--another myth. Here we have two types of squirrels. One is black and burrows. Those seem tougher than the tree squirrels and I have killed them with air rifle--a .22lr would be plenty, especially head shooting them.

Thats it! Change my screen name! I am now offically the Twixture! LOL

In Alaska, we also have several kinds of squirrels, none worth the trouble. There is the spruce squirrel, the political tea squirrel, the end-of-the-roader squirrel, the macho bush babe squirrel, the snaggeled tooth squirrel, the traditional heritage squirrel, the opportunist squirrel, just to name a few.

I hear that in Texas you have a species called Aggies.

KB

quote:

I hear that in Texas you have a species called Aggies.

KB

Perhaps you confused squirrels with feral humans?

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
Perhaps you confused squirrels with feral humans?

You're right, could be the same, and confusing, but I like to think of it this way:

Metaphorically and philosophically, human squirrels differ from a feral person. The former is just nuts by default, and the latter perhaps making an informed choice.

Alice came to a fork in the road.
"Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

"You become responsible forever for what you've tamed." ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1943, translated from French by Richard Howard

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamed

Maybe it's off track re the 22 WMR, but you are the first to mention my new signature line, and I'm in a mood for thoughful quotes today.

KB

I have a Marlin model 882 Laminate that will keep the entire clip well under an inch at 100 yards. Every time, with winchester 40 grain solids. It wears a nikon 3-9X40 buckmaster, and I lightened the trigger on it.
No special bench required, just a picnic table.
Will puty it against any mag out there.
Mike73

I was searching for a .22WMR recently and decided to try a Browning A-Bolt(no longer made). Found one on Gun Broker, kinda spendy, but that thing is very accurate with the V-Max 30 grainers. Very happy with the outcome. My second choice was the CZ.