Soliciting opinions on .22 Mag ammo

22583 Views 26 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Halwg, Mar 11, 2011

DWB

Discussion Starter · Feb 18, 2011

For those of you that have shot a butt load of .22 Mags, what is the preferred ammo of choice? After seeing the nice Ruger convertible that Halwg picked up, I am considering a .22 Mag handgun, and was just curious of the consensus or opinions of which brands are worth the $8.00 to $13.00 per box prices I have seen.

Also, with your preferred brand of manufacture, which is your preferred loading? I have seen the light weight, very high velocity bullets to what I suppose is the old standard 40 grain loads. But at an average of $10.00 for a box of 50, I don't want to sample every last one of them if I can help it.

Thanks in advance for chiming in.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

TallGrass

· #2 · Feb 19, 2011

Morning DWB,

Saw your post last evening but didn't have a chance to chime in. I have settled on two different 22WMR offerings.

For squirrel and rabbits I like the CCI Maxi-Mag HP, 40 gr, load # 0024. They shoot well out of my 983, shoot flat and hit hard.

For larger small game, I tried and like the Federal Game-Shock 50 gr, load# 757 product. Not as flat shooting as the CCIs but I like the heavier bullet.

Edit: Once I shoot up the 50 gr Federals I have I will probably just settle on the CCIs as they have a much flatter trajectory and carry comparable energy across the likely ranges where I use them.

Hope you get some more input to your question.

Regards, TallGrass

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DWB

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 19, 2011

Thanks for the reply. The LGS has three shelves full of them. I looked at three different loads at the LGS last night in some degree of detail. The CCI 40 gr FMJ #0023, a Fiocchi 40 gr SP, and the Winchester 45 gr Dynapoint (which looks like a copper washed lead with a really shallow dimple).

Another question -- How about reliability? I have always had great luck with CCI .22's going bang every time, Remington rimfire ammo - not so much, Winchester has been so-so, but certainly better than Remington.

That .22 Magnum is calling to me...

TallGrass

· #4 · Feb 19, 2011

I have never had a problem with either of Federal or CCI loads I listed but I did try the Winchester Dynapoints when I first bought my 983.

I had numerous failures to fire, problems with extraction, they were terribly dirty and accuracy was horrible. As they were the first ammo I used, I had some worry that there were issues with the rifle itself but decided to try other ammo.

I did a thorough cleaning of the rifle and tried the Federals and was quite pleased. No further failures to fire or extract and accuracy improved greatly.

I then began experimenting with the CCIs and a few other brands but have never fired any of the Fiocci ammo.

I fired up the last of the Dynapoint ammo out of my Single Six just to burn it up. I won't buy it again.

Hope you can get out there this weekend and punch some holes to see what your rifle or pistol likes.

Regards, TallGrass

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Tommie D

· #5 · Feb 19, 2011

Just incase you wanted to know what's available. Here is a list of current .22 mag ammo I made up.

.22 Whinchester Magnum Rimfire (.22WMR)

Armscor
.22WMR 40gr JHP
.22WMR 40gr JSP
.22WMR 40gr FMJ

Bitteroot Valley
BV22M-1N .22WMR 42gr JHP

CCI
0022 Game Point 40gr JSP
0023 Maxi-Mag 40gr TMJ
0024 Maxi-Mag 40gr TNT JHP
0025 Maxi-Mag 52gr #12 Shot
0059 Maxi-Mag +V 30gr TNT JHP
0060 TNT GREEN 30gr TNT GREEN HP
0063 Maxi-Mag 30gr TNT JHP
0073 V-MAX 30gr Poly-Tip V-MAX

Federal
P765 .22WMR 30gr Speer TNT HP
737 .22WMR 40gr FMJ
757 .22WMR 50gr JHP

Fiocchi
22WMA .22WMR 40gr JSP
22WMB .22WMR 40gr JHP

Hornady
83202 .22WMR 30gr V-MAX
83201 .22WMR 25gr NXT
83200 .22WMR 45gr FTX CRITICAL DEFENSE

Remington
R22M1 .22WMR 40gr JHP
R22M2 .22WMR 40gr PSP
PR22M1 .22WMR 33gr AccuTip-V

RWS
2133075 .22WMR 40gr FMJ
2133083 .22WMR 40gr SP

Sellier & Bellot
SB35513 .22WMR 45gr ?
SB35520 .22WMR 40gr JHP
SB35521 .22WMR 40gr FMJ

Speer
954 .22WMR 40gr GDHP-Short Barrel

Winchester
X22MHLF Super-X 28gr JHP-Tin
X22M Super-X 40gr FMJ
X22MH Super-X 40gr JHP
S22M2 Supreme 30gr JHP
S22WM Supreme 34gr JHP
USA22M Wildcat 45gr Dynapoint Plated
S22M2PT Varmint HV 30gr Poly-Tip JHP

.22 Winchester Rimfire (.22WRF)

CCI
0069 WRF 45gr TNT JHP

Winchester
22WRF Wildcat 45gr LFN

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Tommie D

· #6 · Feb 19, 2011

My Ruger Single Six is not a convertible so I can't tell you which .22 mag round it likes but my Marlin 882SSV is best with the Federal 757 50gr JHP so far. I just ordered some more ammo to try out in the Marlin. The CCI 0022 Game Point 40gr JSP & the CCI 0073 V-Max 30gr Poly-Tip and a box of the Hornady 83202 30gr V-Max.
That's the FUN part of the .22 Mag is finding out what it likes best.

MarlinGeorge

· #7 · Feb 20, 2011

In my Marlin 782, the standard WW 40 Gr loads perform better than any other. Second best was the standard CCI ones. Did not like the Fed 50 grs at all. I have a Ruger Single Six Convertaible, but to be honest, I mostly shoot LRs out of it. I suppose that I should really do a serious ammo evaluation on that piece. One of these days...

h d hawgr

· #8 · Feb 20, 2011

Believe I read somewhere that the Win Dynapoints are a good bit lower in velocity than standard WMR ammo. Is this true?
I've always had good luck with Winchester and CCI 40 grainers, haven't tried the other brands or weights. I sure do like the 22 WMR tho.

MontanaMan

· #9 · Feb 20, 2011

DWB for my purposes the Winchester Supreme HP's have been the best but YMMV. The best way to find out is to try a box of each kind and see what your gun likes. Good luck, love those 22 mags.

MM

Audie54

· #10 · Feb 21, 2011

I have a Ruger Single Six Convertible. All I can say, in regards to mag ammo, I have fired 100rds of Winchester X22MH through it. I shoot LR out of it, thousands of those by now. With only a 5.5 inch barrel, I don't think I'm getting all the .22WMR has to offer, as far a muzzle velocity go's. However there was a lot of flash and especially, bang! The pistol range was 7' and 15'.

jh45gun

· #11 · Feb 21, 2011

22 mag ammo is like any other 22 ammo you have to see what your gun likes. Every gun has a preference.

Halwg

· #12 · Feb 21, 2011

Audie54 said:
I have a Ruger Single Six Convertible. All I can say, in regards to mag ammo, I have fired 100rds of Winchester X22MH through it. I shoot LR out of it, thousands of those by now. With only a 5.5 inch barrel, I don't think I'm getting all the .22WMR has to offer, as far a muzzle velocity go's. However there was a lot of flash and especially, bang! The pistol range was 7' and 15'.

I agree with you and I'm going to shoot both the 22 LR and the 22 mag out of my 5.5" barrel through the chronograph just to see what the difference is in velocity. The 22 mag is fun to shoot, though.

Big Shrek

· #13 · Feb 21, 2011

Tommie D said:
Just incase you wanted to know what's available. Here is a list of current .22 mag ammo I made up.

.22 Whinchester Magnum Rimfire (.22WMR)

Armscor
.22WMR 40gr JHP
.22WMR 40gr JSP
.22WMR 40gr FMJ

Bitteroot Valley
BV22M-1N .22WMR 42gr JHP

CCI
0022 Game Point 40gr JSP
0023 Maxi-Mag 40gr TMJ
0024 Maxi-Mag 40gr TNT JHP
0025 Maxi-Mag 52gr #12 Shot
0059 Maxi-Mag +V 30gr TNT JHP
0060 TNT GREEN 30gr TNT GREEN HP
0063 Maxi-Mag 30gr TNT JHP
0073 V-MAX 30gr Poly-Tip V-MAX

Federal
P765 .22WMR 30gr Speer TNT HP
737 .22WMR 40gr FMJ
757 .22WMR 50gr JHP

Fiocchi
22WMA .22WMR 40gr JSP
22WMB .22WMR 40gr JHP

Hornady
83202 .22WMR 30gr V-MAX
83201 .22WMR 25gr NXT
83200 .22WMR 45gr FTX CRITICAL DEFENSE

Remington
R22M1 .22WMR 40gr JHP
R22M2 .22WMR 40gr PSP
PR22M1 .22WMR 33gr AccuTip-V

RWS
2133075 .22WMR 40gr FMJ
2133083 .22WMR 40gr SP

Sellier & Bellot
SB35513 .22WMR 45gr ?
SB35520 .22WMR 40gr JHP
SB35521 .22WMR 40gr FMJ

Speer
954 .22WMR 40gr GDHP-Short Barrel

Winchester
X22MHLF Super-X 28gr JHP-Tin
X22M Super-X 40gr FMJ
X22MH Super-X 40gr JHP
S22M2 Supreme 30gr JHP
S22WM Supreme 34gr JHP
USA22M Wildcat 45gr Dynapoint Plated

.22 Winchester Rimfire (.22WRF)

CCI
0069 WRF 45gr TNT JHP

Winchester
22WRF Wildcat 45gr LFN

Nice listing

I've used quite a few of those...my Marlin 25MN likes the Federal Game-Shok 50-grains & CCI Maxi-mags
...but seems to be quite happy to shoot anything.

Now my semi-auto Grendel P-30 LOVES Hornady 30-grain V-max & CCI MaxiMags...
while the R-31 cycles nicely with the Remmy 33-grain Accutips & CCI Maximags

CCI MaxiMags are a GREAT place to start...midline price & solid performance!

janott

· #14 · Feb 21, 2011

DWB,

I have used a lot of different ammunition in my 22 magnum and it seems to shoot everything very well so I buy the cheapest or what is available, and sometime availability is a problem. I purchased some CCI Maxi-Mag high velocity 40 grain that is advertised at 1875FPS and it shoots OK but cost a bit more than most. The Federal JHP50 grain shot real well but do not know how fast it was, I liked it. The Winchester 45gr Dynapoint magnums "dimple like HP" were the cheapest of the three around $7.50 bx. and they shot very well and I would get them again if available.

Audie54

· #15 · Feb 21, 2011

Halwg said:
I agree with you and I'm going to shoot both the 22 LR and the 22 mag out of my 5.5" barrel through the chronograph just to see what the difference is in velocity. The 22 mag is fun to shoot, though.

I'd be real interested in what you find out.

horseshoe

· #16 · Feb 21, 2011

At the present I do not own a 22 mag but I am on the hunt for one. I always like the 40 grain WW HP but I saw a man recently kill 10 hogs in 3 days with a Marlin bolt 22 mag at distances of 50 to 60 yards and some of the hogs were big. He would sneak up on them in a pasture and the only one that took more than one shot was a 300 pound boar and he had to shoot him 3 times. The boar was sick after the 1st shot and he sat down but as soon as he spotted my friend here he came at a slow run and got popped 2 more times. My friend was down to 1 bullet when the hog gave it up. He was shooting 40 grain CCI Maxie's HP's.

Regards
Horseshoe

Halwg

· #17 · Feb 22, 2011

Audie54 said:
I'd be real interested in what you find out.

I had the chronograph set up on Sat. checking velocities in my 30-06 and 338 ME but got so enthralled shooting the Single Six I forgot to shoot it through the Chrony!

MontanaMan

· #18 · Feb 22, 2011

Hal I guess you know now that single actions get as bad as Marlinitis....grin. Check out this link and consider picking up one of these for your gun, you'll be very glad you did.

http://www.beltmountain.com/

MM

dag

· #19 · Feb 22, 2011

I have tried a few different brands of 30 grainers and was not impressed with the accuracy of any of them. Don't know that I can pick a best brand when shooting 40 grains many of them seem to shoot the same in my rifles. I would love to give you info on how they shoot in a pistol, however my pistol skills are woeful so it makes any meaningful comparison impossible.

Num_1_Dad

· #20 · Feb 22, 2011

CCI Maxi Mag #0023:

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/detail.aspx?use=1&loadNo=0023

was what mine likes the best.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,66887.msg655981.html#msg655981

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