.22lr or .22mag?

Question

I was looking at a marlin model 60 .22lr and a Marlin 983T which is better for possom, raccoon, muskrat, fox. Shots will be 0-60 yards. Is .22 mag ammo normally in stock at walmart?

Answer 1

I do not hunt but I think that 22 Mag would be better because it was designed exclusively for hunting. I only get a kick ut of people who shoot the .22 magnums at the range I go to just for fun. Now that is a waste of money. But for hunting I see no reason not to get .22 WMR. Just have another .22 (LR model) for fun. Marlins are not my cup of tea and I don't shoot .22 rifles anymore (although that Walther G22 enters my mind now and then) but they are cheap enough to have more than one on hand.

Answer 2

Both the .22 lr and .22 mag are great cartridges. I've only had experience with the .22lr, but I've been told the .22 mag has as much power out of a rifle as a 9mm luger round does out of a pistol, which is pretty good for a rimfire rifle. Either one is guaranteed to reach out effectively to 100 yards with the .22 mag however having more power and velocity than the .22 lr. That being said though, you can get some pretty devastating cartridges for .22lr in high velocity hollow points or stinger rounds that can reach up to 1700 feet per second. Look at which one will be cheaper and go with that one.

Answer 3

Possum, raccoon, muskrat and fox can be killed with the .22Lr, but .22 Mag would be a better choice. Is it more expensive? Yes. It harder to find? Not much. Will it do what you want it to do better than a .22 Lr? In all likely hood. A 22 Lr is adequate, but the magnum is more than adequate.

Answer 4

I've owned at least one revolver with a .22 WMR cylinder for over thirty years. When I bought my first handgun, it came with the spare magnum cylinder and most of a box of ammo.

I now have a second revolver with a spare magnum cylinder. During that 30+ years, I've purchased one additional box of .22 WMR ammo, and all together, I still have overe 50 rounds left. I'd say that my .22 shooting has been something on the order of 10,000 LR cartridges for each WMR cartridge I've shot over the last 30+ years.

Get the Model 60, or a Ruger 10/22. It doesn't ruin as much meat as the WMR and the ammo costs about a third the cost of the Magnum ammo.

Doc

Answer 5

I would go with the .22LR, you don't need the magnum power to hunt the things you mentioned, and the cost of .22 mag ammo is about $ 8 /50, compared to about under $2 for 50 .22LR.

Answer 6

With a properly placed shot, either will kill any of the animals you listed. With poorly placed shots, neither will kill the animals you listed.
Yes Wall-mart will stock .22 mag ammo, as long as they stock ammo. But 22 LR is cheaper.

My preference would be for the 22 mag. It will shot flatter and deliver more on the far end.

Answer 7

Why not shoot the 22 LR loaded with the cci stingers,,, mini mags,, or maxi mags. All will shoot in the 22 LR. And,, deliver excellent killing power with flatter trajectory than the standard 22 LR ammo.

Answer 8

The .22mag is a fair bit more powerful than the .22LR. But .22LR ammo has so much variety and is just rediculously inexpensive.

.22WMR ammo is pretty common as well and you won't have much trouble finding it, but .22LR is the most popular cartridge in the world and any place whatsoever that sells ammo will have it.

Either will be good.

Answer 9

Just out to 60 yards?

The .22 mag will do everything the .22 LR will do for twice the price.

Go with the LR.

Answer 10

Marlin Model 60 .22 Long Rifle.* Practice, practice, practice.* One shot one Kill. As always proper shot placement is necessary.* Don't count your Shots, Make your Shot count.*