Wmr

Asus1

Well a while ago i was thinking of getting rid of the 10/22 and getting a 17hmr,reason being I could shoot a fox at a greater distance and have a bit more power than the 22lr.Now i dont do alot of fox shooting,ive really only shot what has decided it takes a fancy to my poultry so i don't see the need for a centrefire rifle
I'm thinking that as i could probably get a whole wmr package second hand for under €400 is it an acceptable 100/120y fox rifle.Im going to keep the 22lr rifle as i like the odd bit of silent plinking and was thinking as the wmr has gone out of fashion I could pick up a bargain for the few fox a year I shoot.
This topic has probably been done to death but with the new ballistic tip magnum rounds now available is it a suitable sub 150y humane round or am I looking at a small centrefire.

Ghost.

The 22 wmr is a superb little round and will do all you want. 150 yards would be the limit for it.

But 100 to 130 yards it will drop foxs with ease if you do your part. And its cheap get ammo for. There's a big jump up in the price of ammo once you move up to any centrefire.

I think the 22 wmr is in the sweet spot for power/price of ammo. A hornet would also be a nice option but with the price of ammo you would be as well of buying a 223.

You should be able to pick up a clean gun for very small money.

Uinseann_16

If its for the very occasional shots you can often find .22 hornets for very little money , rifle for under 250 if you look around
Ammo is more expensive than even a .223 though:pac:

customrifle

The cousin picked up a mint cz 22 magnum with hawke scope, bipod and moderator for 350 at Christmas. It will put 3 rounds into a group you would cover with a 5 cent coin at 100 yards with the hornady 30gr vmax. He has knocked foxes out to 150yards with it cleanly. The 22 magnum is a great round and is ideal for what you want and you can pick up plenty of bargains too as it's not as fashionable as the 17hmr. You won't be disappointed with one.

Asus1

It does seem like a caliber that has lost its followers to the 17hmr and if you browse online few people who have left it behind would go back to it.It does seem like an ideal medium range fox and head shooting bunny round(if you have any around) but the ease now of getting a centrefire leave it in no mans land.

customrifle

If you are talking a 150yard max gun then the difference between both hmr and 22mag running the 30gr vmax at that distance is very little. The mag will drop a couple of inches more with a 100yard zero but will hit harder. I'm not knocking the hmr, had a couple and both shot great, but if I wanted a cheap accurate foxing rifle for realistic distances of 150 yards I'd pick one up in the morning.

Feisar

Uinseann_16 wrote: »

If its for the very occasional shots you can often find .22 hornets for very little money , rifle for under 250 if you look around
Ammo is more expensive than even a .223 though:pac:

I was thinking the same. If it’s an occasional shot ammo cost wouldn’t be much of a factor really.

Uinseann_16

Feisar wrote: »

I was thinking the same. If it’s an occasional shot ammo cost wouldn’t be much of a factor really.

Exactly my thoughts you could pick up a hornet for very little money, ammo can be pricey but if youre not shooting alot thats not a huge issue
Theres a 223 here on for sale and wanted id snap up if i wasnt waiting on my hornet:(

Feisar

Uinseann_16 wrote: »

Exactly my thoughts you could pick up a hornet for very little money, ammo can be pricey but if youre not shooting alot thats not a huge issue
Theres a 223 here on for sale and wanted id snap up if i wasnt waiting on my hornet:(

I have basically the same .223 as the one on sale except mine is in the tan stock. I put a Timney Calvin Elite in it and it prints pretty little clover leafs when I’m on form.

Asus1

Uinseann_16 wrote: »

Exactly my thoughts you could pick up a hornet for very little money, ammo can be pricey but if youre not shooting alot thats not a huge issue
Theres a 223 here on for sale and wanted id snap up if i wasnt waiting on my hornet:(

Seen that 223.I actually sold some shotgun shells to the person selling it and hes sound so if anybody wants a 223 give this fella a shot.

Asus1

customrifle wrote: »

If you are talking a 150yard max gun then the difference between both hmr and 22mag running the 30gr vmax at that distance is very little. The mag will drop a couple of inches more with a 100yard zero but will hit harder. I'm not knocking the hmr, had a couple and both shot great, but if I wanted a cheap accurate foxing rifle for realistic distances of 150 yards I'd pick one up in the morning.

Would it be a handy gray crow and magpie gun to 200y or is that pushing it.The more I think about it I wonder should I just trade in the 22lr and get the best wmr i fancy.Im just thinking how many rounds I plinked with the 22lr this year and id say its less than 100.
Most of that would of been a bit of boredom over the lockdown.If that haven't of happened I would of been fishing most evening's and weekends as ive gotten back into it after a long way away from it.

customrifle

The cousin was hitting a 4" steel plate consistently at 200yards with his 22 mag the last day we were out so no reason once you get used to your drop and windage so no reason you couldn't be getting clean kills on Grey's and magpies

minktrapper

customrifle wrote: »

The cousin was hitting a 4" steel plate consistently at 200yards with his 22 mag the last day we were out so no reason once you get used to your drop and windage so no reason you couldn't be getting clean kills on Grey's and magpies

Have you any idea what make it is.

customrifle

minktrapper wrote: »

Have you any idea what make it is.

It's a bog standard cz 452. I put a yo Dave spring into the trigger for him that's all that's been done with it. I had a sako quad in 22 magnum about 10 years ago that shot aswell but cost double what he paid for his full set up. The cz just shoot, great rifles

feartuath

Shot foxes for years with the .22magnum.
Used to check the wind then stalk them untill i got within range.
It was a great round to learn on before getting into the bigger stuff.
.22lr is used more than any rifle at present.

ace86

Have a sako quad varmint in 22wmr great rifle and I use 40gr Hornady in it, and I wouldn’t buy a 17hmr myself from what I’m hearing lately a lot of people having issues with shell cases cracking and I’m told the wind has a serious effect on it compared to the 22wmr. I know they are small Calibres and wind will effect them but like the guys saying I’d sell . 22 for a WMR u won’t regret it and if ur not shooting a lot of rds and if I’m right mine are €20 for 50 if my memory services me correctly.

Richard308

22wmr are a sexy little round still in my mind. Half sorry I sold mine for a 223. The cz I had I had 15 years and miss it.

Asus1

Another question.Is the wmr suitable for chest/broadside shots or only a headshot round.I know people love to headshoot so that we have a definite kill but sometimes its not possible.Id like to be able to shoot a fox in the chest as no one wants to blow the snout or jaw off a fox at 100y as the head moves just as your pulling the trigger.

LIFFY FISHING

Asus1 wrote: »

Another question.Is the wmr suitable for chest/broadside shots or only a headshot round.I know people love to headshoot so that we have a definite kill but sometimes its not possible.Id like to be able to shoot a fox in the chest as no one wants to blow the snout or jaw off a fox at 100y as the head moves just as your pulling the trigger.

100 yard..Engine room with the .17hmr v max will do the buissness everytime.
I have the CZ 452 American in .17HMR , put a timney trigger in it...its my go to rifle for midrange foxing...

Asus1

LIFFY FISHING wrote: »

100 yard..Engine room with the .17hmr v max will do the buissness everytime.
I have the CZ 452 American in .17HMR , put a timney trigger in it...its my go to rifle for midrange foxing...

Do you have runners or do they drop.Id be near the bog so any runners disappear into thick gorse or overgrown ditches and when that happens its next to impossible to find them and you'll always worry you injured the animal.

LIFFY FISHING

Asus1 wrote: »

Do you have runners or do they drop.Id be near the bog so any runners disappear into thick gorse or overgrown ditches and when that happens its next to impossible to find them and you'll always worry you injured the animal.

All down to bullet placement..I call them into range and 99% are shot in the engine room...I mainly shoot at night under a lamp so dont take head shots as a preferance..I tend to shoot them at a max of 120 yards and when they get a chest shot...they drop...

Asus1

LIFFY FISHING wrote: »

All down to bullet placement..I call them into range and 99% are shot in the engine room...I mainly shoot at night under a lamp so dont take head shots as a preferance..I tend to shoot them at a max of 120 yards and when they get a chest shot...they drop...

Cheers ðŸ‘

minktrapper

Having used both the .22 WMR and the.17 HMR for foxs I much prefer the .22 magnum. I find the 22 has more stopping power. I also use hollow points as the plastic tipped bullets tend to pass through the animal and out the other side. The hollow points seem to be retained within the animal. My thinking is that the plastic tipped bullets don't reform and just pass through the animal. I have yet to see a hollow point bullet pass through the animal. Therefore losing all its energy within the animal.

The other problem is of course trying to judge distance at night. Very hard to define 100 yds from 120 yds. Most people will tell you the HMR is only a long range rabbit gun. Also I find the 22 is quieter.

Feisar

OP what sort of distances would you be shooting foxes at? I’m thinking the 22LR might do the job?

Asus1

Feisar wrote: »

OP what sort of distances would you be shooting foxes at? I’m thinking the 22LR might do the job?

Im shooting them at a max maybe 50/60 yards.Problem is i have is i always have to head shoot them and thats not always easy on a windy day or shooting off a tree branch.I've shot some in the chest or just behind the shoulder with cci velocitors and they nearly always run.Some I find others I don't.
I'd like to be able to shoot out to 100y or thereabouts and not have to aim at a small head.I'd like to be able to body shoot them and not have run offs so I know the animal is dead not injured.

minktrapper

Try the CCI stinger .22 bullets.

Zxthinger

The wmr is poor with accuracy. Too much rear drag on a projectile that hitting supersonic air..
The round is inherently inaccurate. Any anomalies in the crown or s sloppy chamvernor a warn throats will lead to poor accuracy. I used to have an anschutz 1516 in 22wmr. It was sub moa for a few years but eventually it opened up.
I regularly shoot foxes out to 150yards and they might have ran 50 yards before going down..
It's a good round fir killing but not the perfect rabbit cartridge.

I have seen that 17cal bullets are poor penetrators. However the 17hmr is good for accuracy and therefore good to shoot with but at longer ranges the 22wmr Carey's more energy..

nophd08

LIFFY FISHING wrote: »

100 yard..Engine room with the .17hmr v max will do the buissness everytime.
I have the CZ 452 American in .17HMR , put a timney trigger in it...its my go to rifle for midrange foxing...

+1 on this, I've taken around a dozen foxes so far this year, all with the hmr, chest shots, and between 90 and 118 yards with no runners. I also couldn't find any exit wound. Using Hornady vmax.

Asus1

Its a hard decision.I could probably sell the 10/22 as a trade in on a 17hmr or keep it and buy 22wmr.I dont shoot many if any rabbits any more as they are not in big enough numbers.I also dont plink as much as i used to so I wonder if keeping the 22lr is worth it.All im looking for is a humane way of taking the odd fox but still having a rifle that is ok for the occasional rabbit and corvids.

minktrapper

Asus1 wrote: »

Its a hard decision.I could probably sell the 10/22 as a trade in on a 17hmr or keep it and buy 22wmr.I dont shoot many if any rabbits any more as they are not in big enough numbers.I also dont plink as much as i used to so I wonder if keeping the 22lr is worth it.All im looking for is a humane way of taking the odd fox but still having a rifle that is ok for the occasional rabbit and corvids.

May I suggest getting a Sako Quad or another switch barrel. Thereby keeping your.22 LR and in time get a 22 magnum or a HMR as an addition. One licence will do the 22LR and the 22 magnum.

Asus1

minktrapper wrote: »

May I suggest getting a Sako Quad or another switch barrel. Thereby keeping your.22 LR and in time get a 22 magnum or a HMR as an addition. One licence will do the 22LR and the 22 magnum.

Its 1 licence for every calibre is it not.So if i got a quad I'd have to licence each caliber individually e.g 22lr 1 licence 22wmr 1 licence 17hmr 1 licence so three licences in total.

minktrapper

Asus1 wrote: »

Its 1 licence for every calibre is it not.So if i got a quad I'd have to licence each caliber individually e.g 22lr 1 licence 22wmr 1 licence 17hmr 1 licence so three licences in total.

One for .22 and another for .17. So one licence should cover the.22 LR and .22 WMR. On the licence only the calibre is stated not the type of bullet.

garv123

minktrapper wrote: »

One for .22 and another for .17. So one licence should cover the.22 LR and .22 WMR. On the licence only the calibre is stated not the type of bullet.

Thats incorrect, unfortunately things aren't that simple here. just because it says .22 does not mean you can have both barrels.

minktrapper

I could be wrong.

Zxthinger

garv123 wrote: »

Thats incorrect, unfortunately things aren't that simple here. just because it says .22 does not mean you can have both barrels.

Myself and many many others know that it is a contested issue by those that error on the side of safety. However calibre is the metric by which the items are governed and the nomenclature of chambering is ignored.
Furthermore it is only an infringement of the statute to increase the calibre thus it is hypothetically correct to assume that a smaller calibre could be covered or even should be covered by the larger of the two
i.e. 22 vs 17

minktrapper

Zxthinger wrote: »

Myself and many many others know that it is a contested issue by those that error on the side of safety. However calibre is the metric by which the items are governed and the nomenclature of chambering is ignored.
Furthermore it is only an infringement of the statute to increase the calibre thus it is hypothetically correct to assume that a smaller calibre could be covered or even should be covered by the larger of the two
i.e. 22 vs 17

Could you explain that to the masses in english.

minktrapper

Zxthinger wrote: »

Myself and many many others know that it is a contested issue by those that error on the side of safety. However calibre is the metric by which the items are governed and the nomenclature of chambering is ignored.
Furthermore it is only an infringement of the statute to increase the calibre thus it is hypothetically correct to assume that a smaller calibre could be covered or even should be covered by the larger of the two
i.e. 22 vs 17

Could you explain that to the people that are not so intellectually inclined.

Feisar

One up for sale there now.

Zxthinger

minktrapper wrote: »

Could you explain that to the people that are not so intellectually inclined.

The statute book describes or categorises long rifled firearms by calibre and makes no distinction related to the chambering of the firearm.
I.e. A 223 is .22 cal, a 22-250 is 22cal a 22lr is a 22cal a 22swift is a 22cal and a 22hornet is a 22cal
If I'm theory you changed you chambering from a 223 to a 223 wssm then there would be no issue.
If you applied for a CZ 452 in 22lr and a CZ 527 in 220 swift then you be correct to infer that you are seeking a .22 rifle.

Some are rimfire some are centrefire and some are hot..

Someone will be along shortly to dismiss this but this how it's worth up in the big book.

Zxthinger

Anyway. Does anyone know if 22wmr rat shot can be obtained or if 50grain ammo is available.
Also wasn't subsonic ammo touted by some as being officially available.

The pigeon man

I have .22 inch on my license. I applied for a .22 cal so I'd say if you have that on the license anything in 22 is okay.

I'd be interested to hear some of the more legal opinions on this.

Feisar

Zxthinger wrote: »

Anyway. Does anyone know if 22wmr rat shot can be obtained or if 50grain ammo is available.
Also wasn't subsonic ammo touted by some as being officially available.

The 50 grain stuff is available in Outdoor Sports in Mullingar. Google tells me there is a Winchester 45 grain sub available. One would think they’d max out on the weight when going subsonic. Probably a stabilisation issue like the Aguila 60 grain 22LRs needing a tighter twist than normal LRs to perform. Only ever seen LR rat shot.

Was also looking at the 200 yard wind drift on a typical WMR vs Subsonic LR. I thought the Magnum would have overcome the drift issues of HV LR ammo but apparently not!

minktrapper

Zxthinger wrote: »

Anyway. Does anyone know if 22wmr rat shot can be obtained or if 50grain ammo is available.
Also wasn't subsonic ammo touted by some as being officially available.

WMR rat shot is made but I can't say where it can be purchased. If you ever come across some please let me know.

Savage93

Asus1 wrote: »

Well a while ago i was thinking of getting rid of the 10/22 and getting a 17hmr,reason being I could shoot a fox at a greater distance and have a bit more power than the 22lr.Now i dont do alot of fox shooting,ive really only shot what has decided it takes a fancy to my poultry so i don't see the need for a centrefire rifle
I'm thinking that as i could probably get a whole wmr package second hand for under €400 is it an acceptable 100/120y fox rifle.Im going to keep the 22lr rifle as i like the odd bit of silent plinking and was thinking as the wmr has gone out of fashion I could pick up a bargain for the few fox a year I shoot.
This topic has probably been done to death but with the new ballistic tip magnum rounds now available is it a suitable sub 150y humane round or am I looking at a small centrefire.

I have a complete foxing set up for sale at present, see my ad.