.22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Looking for a new .22 to shoot squirells and what not. Nothing fancy just something to take with me on the 4 wheeler. I am thinking of something made by Savage. So what are the advantages or disadvantages between a .22 LR or a .22 mag. I can't hardly find a .22 LR anyhwere, I guess because of christmas. But would I need a scope for a .22 mag or open sights. What would you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance, JB

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Get the 22lr as the 22 mag. ammo is very expensive compared to lr and also makes a lot more noise.

Everyone should have at least one decent 22lr just for cheap practise and small game hunting...

DM

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

I have a .22 LR, but it was my Grandpa's and it is a Remington Model 33 made between 1932-1935 or so I have been told. So I don't want to use it too much, although it is a shooter.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

The .22lr is the cheapest to shoot hands down. However I think I would go for the 17 Hmr2 the little 17 is more expensive to shoot but as far as accuracy they out shoot most .22's. Look at the marlin or savage models, they are accurate and a good value. IMHO.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

.22 LR hands down. Cheap to shoot and is just enough, or even a little big for rabbitts and squirrels, the .22 mag is just way to much for that game. I actually like a .22 that will shoot shorts. The .22 short is perfect for small game.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

go with the mag and you can shoot everthing from squirrells to deer;)

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

a .22 mag isn't legal for deer in many states.

Anyway, if all your going after is squirrel, a .22 LR is perfect, and cheap to shoot.

Scope or open sights? That's up to you.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Same here!

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

If it's for hunting, clean up and lube grandpa's 22 and enjoy useing it for what it was intended to be used for!!! You will never wear it out hunting!!

I have an OLD Savage 3D ? single shot from the 30's that we've been shooting for years and years... It stays on a 4 wheeler that is used to check "traps" with, and it gets shot more than most of the other 22's around here...

Enjoy Grandpa's rifle!!

DM

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

I have a 1976 Ruger 10/22 that my dad bought new. It's some special Bicentennial edition.

Anyway, long story short, this is a workhorse for our family. I don't even want to imagine how many rounds I've personally put through it, much less him. It's a NICE shooting little rifle. Earlier this year while taking practice I hit a sparrow at around 50 yards on the first shot, using a scope of course, and maybe this is a testimonial for the scope but it hasn't been adjusted in the 10 or so years I've been using it and probably even longer than that. It's relatively quiet, too. It's more of a crack than a gunshot. This keeps the neighbors happy when I do some backyard critter gettin.

As far as varmint hunting, I think it's a very effective gun. With a scope you can easily get a headshot on a rabbit or squirrel and not ruin any meat at all. I personally wouldn't use one for coyote hunting if you plan to do any of that unless you expect to get relatively close shots, and even then I'd go for the head.

And you said you can't find any? They seem to practically give them out here. They must just be sold out for the moment. I know both walmarts in my town have several models of .22 lr (Marlin, Savage, Ruger, etc. Semi-auto, lever action, bolt action, use your imagination) with probably 5 of each model in the back and the private shops usually have 3 or 4. I know that at walmart if you don't see it you can ask and probably 9 times outta 10 they have it in the back, somebody just sold the display. Plus what's on the rack isn't necessarily the only kind they have. For example, they keep a Savage model 110 in .243 on the shelf in my store but they keep that gun .243, .270 win, and 30-06 in the "gun room" as they call it.

But the best part about .22lr?

I can shoot .22lr all weekend long both in my Ruger 10/22 and my Browning Buckmark pistol (which is what I actually use for rabbit/squirrel lately. I like the challenge) for less than 8 bucks if I get a box of Federals. I don't even want to know what 500+ rounds of magnums would cost.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Hands down a .22LR. A .22 Mag is just overkill on squirrels and is pretty expensive to shoot. If you was a .22 cal. gun with more poop then I would get a .223, they are cheap to shoot (not as cheap as a .22lr, but still pretty reasonable) and you can take coyotes out to about 300 yards with them. Everybody should have at least one 22lr rifle. If I where you I would just clean up gramps ole 22 and use it. Which I do, I am still shooting the 22 Winchester which was my great grandads and it shoots better than any gun with open sights that is in the family. You just cannot hardly hurt those old things, and in my opinion any nicks or dings that might happen to it just adds to the heretige for when you pass it down to your kids.;)

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Thanks for the replies. I decided just to shoot the .22 of Papa's at times. But I did break down and get a Savage 17HMR, synthetic stock, heavy barrell. Plan to do some shooting tommorrow.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Was going to say tell you to scrap the 22 and go with the 17hmr. Havnt touched my 22's since I got mine!!!! I love it. I go to the range and dont even take any thing else! Wait till you really see how accurate they are.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Well now I have another question. Should I go with a low fixed power scope like a 4x32 or a variable power scope?

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

i've used both scopes on my 22. I currently have a 3-9 32mm bushnell 22 scope on it and i love it. The 4x worked great but trying to pull off a headshot on a squirrel 50yd away at 4x was a little rough sometimes. Now i just crank r up a lil and it makes the picture alot better. I'd say stick with something in the 32mm range. Check out a 3-9 22scope they are the way to go in my opinion.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

I would go with a variable. Squirell heads get a little hard to pick out past 50 yards. Good choice on sticking with Gramps gun. 22LR tend to be a little more accurate then mags.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

I have a Ruger 10/22 LR and love it. I put a nice little scope on it and it's perfect for squirels or just plinking targets.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

22lr. PERIOD. end of discussion. I've shot the .17-both hmr and mach2,and while they are accurate,the tiny bullets tear up meat except on head shots.Also,the .17s cost a LOT more to shoot than a .22lr. So the main consideration remains shooter skill and you can afford to shoot and hone your skill more with a .22lr. I've shot yotes and groundhogs with .17s and had approx. 30-40% run off only to die later. 1 thing I have found out is that .22wmr fmj or solid points has EXACTLY the same wound channel(terminal ballistics) as a .22lr high velocity hollow point only with more penetration and range.

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

don't rule out the t/c contender g2. you can get a 22lr barrel and tehn later on get a 17hmr barrel, or just about anything else for that matter. downside is the price. i bought a t/c encore 5 years ago and a g2 contender last year. wish i had picked these up alot earlier in life, i would definitely have saved alot of money buying barrels rather than the whole gun. just my .02

RE: .22 LR or .22 Mag
 

Id say the 22lr because they are quieter, the shells are cheaper, and i love my 22lr