Ive had bolt action savages and marlins in 22 wmr and prefered the marlins. Both are pretty good bang for the buck.

Well I'm going to say the Winchester 9422Mag. I've had several and all have been very accurate. As good as most bolt guns and I love the feel of a lever gun. I carry one of these in my truck all the time. The only thing bad about the 22 Mag is ammo has gotten too expensive. Its cheaper to shoot a 223 but thats a lot louder.

Just saw a Ruger 77 SS in the classifies that would be a good gun also.

No doubt in my mind that if you want a solid 22 win mag that's fun, accurate, and gets the job done, look no further than the BRNO ZKM 611. I bought mine 15 years ago and it is one of my favorite guns to shoot. Very accurate, very dependable, semi auto, seriously you can't beat them. Anyone that has shot one will agree. BRNO stopped making them or importing, one or the other, but they are on gunbroker often so not difficult to still find. The H&K semi auto 22 mag was also a barn-burner, but I can't recall the model name right now.

I second the BRNO ZKM 611, as I have had mine at least 15 years. Also if you can find a Marlin 94M. Of course the Winchester is also good.

There was a time I went jackrabbit shooting with a guy that had access to about 55 sections of land--that's right 55 square miles. It was not uncommon to shoot 100 jacks in a night. Some of my loads with cast bullets I was using just under 7 grains of Unique. Call it 7 and that gives 1000 rounds to pound and 1000 primers--call it $65 per thousand. ( I use wheelweights and have been able to get them free). 1000 rounds in .22 mag would be around $260. For that amount of savings I'll use the tweezers--if they were actually needed. When we were doing this, we went out several nights a week. None of this is a put down to the 22 mag--it just doesn't fill a niche for me. If I want more than .22lr I step on up to a centerfire that I can reload. I really can't think of an animal in between 22 lr and 22 centerfire that the mag would work better on. For squirrels as mentioned here--22 lr is much better. Kabluey likes to shoot his deer from asshole to appetite with a .338 mag (all this with no meat damage and not spreading green poop all over the inside of a deer). I guess a .22 mag for squirrel would be right for him. I don't think he eats anything he shoots.

I think there's real skill and discipline in shooting deer with a 338WM to avoid meat damage. I mentioned the one time I took a body length shot, and you pick on it forever. I don't like to shoot deer from AH to appetite, generally.

I learned the discipline of shot placment to save the edible meat, as a teenager, back in South Georgia. Then there were lots of cottontails, and no deer, and easy access to practically any farm in the area. The places I hunted I didn't even have to ask permission, since it was on farms adjacent or near the farm where I lived. The main thing I need to keep up with was which pastures the mean bulls lived in, and also avoid getting near the large and mean farm bulldogs, which would generally raise havoc with my little beagles, and mess up the hunt. Hunting with beagles, I often had shots of 8 to 15 ft at bunnies. I learned to shoot at the nose, with my old 20 gauge or 410 single shot, to avoid messing up the meat. My favorite was the 2 & 1/2 " 410 shells, because they were cheap.

Later, I used a 357 Ruger pistol with a six inch barrel, and wadcutter bullets handloaded in 357 brass at about 800fps. Head shots - no problem - and in fact I got good enough that I made several running shots with that combo. Of course the use of the pistol was limited to times when I hunted alone or with my brother, since I had to be more careful and keep up with where everyone was before taking the shot. Birdshot is safer, since it doesn't ricochet when shot toward the ground. Same thing with a 22 as with the pistol - more careful since the bullet would sometimes bounce up and keep going. The beagles were easy to locate, since they were generally baying.

Of course I don't shoot deer with a shotgun, but I do generally try for a head or neck shot, if the shot presents itself right and the range isn't too much. The deer you keep harping about was about 150 yds away, and I didn't feel comfy trying it at that range, on that day.

One thing I have issues with is shooting critters, just to kill stuff. Last time I did that was when I was in college, and a bunch of us farm lads would go to the dump, drink beer and shoot rats with our 22s. Generally, these days, I'm hunting for the additional plesure of having game to eat. Of course the rats were left, same as the jack rabbits you shot, but I don't class jack rabbits as vermin. They are food for something important out there.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of the 22LR. Since I'm planning on working up some reduced loads for the 6.5 Grendel, if that works out, it will be a rare occasion that I need the 22 WMR. Besides, it seems to me from what I've been reading that the 22LR gives better accuracy, since match ammo is available for it, and not for the 22 WMR.

If I think about it too much, heck I'll just have to get one of each.

BTW, there is little difference in Blue Dot and Unique. Both are Tweezer Gweezer powders.

KB

Kabluey--That 6.5 would probably work great with reduced loads using cast bullets. Yea I don't eat the jacks--most likely the ticks etc they carry has more meat. We help the food chain by shooting them--the varmints that eat them don't have to chase them.

Kabluey--If going 22lr I never hear anyting bad about the Ruger 10-22.

Kabluey--College??? Didn't know they had special Ed college.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Kabluey--College??? Didn't know they had special Ed college.

If it was "special", I don't remember it being like that. I chose college based on how near it was to good rabbit and squirrel hunting, and fishing. That was my special ed, as well as chasing college girls.

But then I didn't ride the short bus, as I imagine you did.

You should be careful around those lead vapors. I heard that it is tuff on brain cells, and you need all you got left.

I used to want to mess with cast bullets, but gave the idea up, as I gave up shot shell reloading - long ago. I don't plan on shooting thousands of rounds. Another thing is that I've never been able to get the kind of accuracy I want with cast bullets out of a rifle.

With the Grendel, I have the advantage of some very precise jacketed match bullets, that will have no problem whacking a squirrel. If they work like I think they will, the accuracy should be very good - as good or better than match 22LR ammo, and better trajectory, even with reduced loads, making longer shots more probable than with a 22LR. Over the years I have had several 22LR rifles, some very accurate, and I've tried many different brands of match ammo. I have never been able to get the kind of accuracy for consistant squirrel head shots past about 50-60 yards, even with match ammo. Funny thing is that I have had, and now have, several center fire rifles that will shoot groups smaller than a squirrel's head at 100 yds. I'm expecting that kind of accuracy from the custom Grendel.

Right now, it's just an idea, since I haven't tried it. But I'm looking forward to trying. If it doesn't work well, then I still have the full power Grendel loads, which will be great for deer and hogs.

Beats a 223 anytime.

KB

Kabluey --Yes that was a good idea giving up casting. I'm sure someone else suggested that to you. Working on a brain cell deficit you didn't need to be taking any risk whatsoever.

I'm not partial to Rugers, but I do have a great little Ruger 77 in 22WMR and it's a shooter. I took it out last spring and shot over 300 chislers in one day, many out quite a distance. I love that little rifle with the leupold scope! And boy oh boy, does it do the trick on those little varmints!

This should have been on the Rim Fire forum to start with and PS: I can down load my 22Hornet for 1/2 the cost of 22 WRM ammo.

Not if you put any value whatsoever on your time.

Best?
Cooper or Annie. I am partial to Cooper as I am left handed.

I have a couple of Marlins, and a Ruger in 22 Mag... however the most accurate one I have, that will shoot whatever you feed it, just like a high buck bench rifle... is a lowly $110 single shot NEF....with a $59 Tasco 3 x 9 on top...

put a Stoney Point Target Turret on top of the Tasco, and the little NEF will nail popcans right out to 200 yds all day long...

same with Sage Rats...

Funny how well those cheap NEFs shoot isnt it?

I've got a Ruger 96/22 in 22WMR that 13 striped ground squirrels just hate. It's a fast handling natural pointer. It shoots the Remington Premiers so well I've not bothered to try anything else.

I bought a Stevens 35M about 30 years ago from a now extinct hardware store. IIRC, I paid around $90 for it. Mounted an even older Tasco 4x scope on it, and couldn't even imagine how many rounds I've put through it. It's one of those special guns that just instinctively knows where you want the bullet to go. I'll pass it down to one of the boys someday.... maybe.

quote:

Originally posted by generalwar:
BRNO 611

HK 300

Could not agree more, I have one of each

my well worn HK 300 from the mid 80's


By null at 2009-01-31

My ZKM-611 SN# 0004


By coachsells at 2011-03-27

My Brno



My HK

Great taste in .22 wmr's guys!

Ok, here's mine. I need to check the serial # because I'm wondering how early it is. I bought it new 12+ years ago.

We all have our own picks based on our own reasons. There is so many great rifles out there and so little time......
I can only base my top choice on what I own and have fired on target dead or alive. Now having to be a 22 mag cuts down the number of rifles in my safe (s).
#1. Walther KKJ
#2. Anschutz
#3. Cooper
#4. ZKM 611

I would really like to try that HK 300.

One more vote for the Browning T-Bolt, you can get it in either field barrel or heavy target barrel, and either wood or synthetic stock,

I love mine----

A well made .22 WMR is the Brno 611.

Kabluey, you might want to check out the CZ455 American. They have very nice stock lines, (no humpback), and the ones that I've had in have great looking wood. They are also convertible, thus eliminate the .22wmr/.22lr/.17hmr debate. If you buy the 455 American in .22mag, it is super affordable to convert to one of the other calibers. Midway USA sells conversion kits for around $135.

Hey, what happened between March 2011 and March 2014?

I have a ZKM-611 and have had it for a long time. I bought it new. I like mine but I would not pay what they are asking for them now. The magazines are out of sight in price. I sold a Marlin 94M and I have been sorry I did that. It was very accurate. If you can get one grab it.

I have recently bought a browning pump and when I can I am going to check it out. It looks well made and was reasonable in price. Last time I checked there were several on gun broker that were reasonably priced. I will post results when I get a chance.

Sako Quads are nice. Not easy to find. If you get tired of 22WMR you can always switch to 17 or 22.

Buddy has one in an XLR stock

Kabluewy was acting and talking like a normal human being, and somebody had to go and try to pick a fight.

Even then, ol' Kabluewy held it together and gave him only a very mild swat in return. May have to change my opinion of him.

I wonder if there is a way to block or hide or make invisible his posts in the Political Forum, while still seeing his posts on other forums?

Or to convince him that the way he handled this thread would go a LLLOOONNNGGG way toward making discussions on other forums more enjoyable, and toward getting others to actually consider his point of view, rather than automatically and immediately tuning him out and completely discounting his opinions as invalid?

I sure hope so!

The best 22 WMR I have owned was a couple of Win. mod. 63 pumps, those older guns were all machined and beautiful..The ones I owned shot well and were my Turkey guns with a the flat nose solid of the day..

I'm surprised they have not been mentioned, but maybe I just dated myself.

The downside is today that gun in 90% condition will fetch about $1200 last I looked and feeding the 22 WMR is costly and the reason I sold the ones I had..I can shoot a 22 Hornet,or even a .222 cheaper.

I do have a 5mm Remington bolt action with tube magazine, that so accurate its scary, its a beat up old gun and I have lots of panic bought ammo for it..

We have tried a few 22 WMR rifles.

They are all good, but none was as accurate as a 22 LR version of the same make.

Henry in a lever action.
Volquartsen in semi auto first choice. Magnum Research second.
Kimber of Oregon in a bolt followed by Cooper then Anchutz.

They are all fun to shoot no matter the quarry. Forget about the money you only live once. In fact buy a few. You will find a reason to sell and buy more. Eventually you will find what you like. The journey is more fulfilling than the destination. Happy hunting.

TC Prohunter Thumbhole Encore with 23" MGM standard weight barrel.

Have a trigger job done by Stratton arms and enjoy.

Have a ZKM611 w/4X Redfield in Conetrols. Would love a HK300. Sam

I have a Browning T-bolt, the current version, and love it. It weighs about 5 pounds and is very accurate. I have the wood stock version but if I bought it again, I'd buy a synthetic stock version that has a full extra 10 round magazine in the buttplate.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
The best 22 WMR I have owned was a couple of Win. mod. 63 pumps, those older guns were all machined and beautiful..The ones I owned shot well and were my Turkey guns with a the flat nose solid of the day..

I'm surprised they have not been mentioned, but maybe I just dated myself.

The downside is today that gun in 90% condition will fetch about $1200 last I looked and feeding the 22 WMR is costly and the reason I sold the ones I had..I can shoot a 22 Hornet,or even a .222 cheaper.

I do have a 5mm Remington bolt action with tube magazine, that so accurate its scary, its a beat up old gun and I have lots of panic bought ammo for it..

Would that be in fact Win Mod 61 pump, I had one to & great old girl, worth too much now days ?

I like the A Bolt & Anschutz 54 & other models to.

Guys, On a fluke back in the mid 70's I bought a Browning in 22 mag, it is a pump gun and a lot more accurate than I had any right to expect! I used it as a truck,work gun and the blue was poor or I should say came off the receiver very easy, I just had it Ceracoated.