{"id":15902,"date":"2020-02-16T20:19:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-16T20:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/?p=15902"},"modified":"2020-02-16T20:25:02","modified_gmt":"2020-02-16T20:25:02","slug":"the-22-magnum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/the-22-magnum\/","title":{"rendered":"The 22 Magnum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There was a time when the 22 Magnum was the darling cartridge of riflemen. All real riflemen had a 22 Magnum and used it extensively. Shortly after the dawn of the new millennium that changed; the 17 HMR was introduced and its flat trajectory and pinpoint accuracy lured many 22 Magnum aficionados away. For a while, it looked like \u201cThe Mag\u201d was doomed to become useless. Some gun writers even predicted as much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As shooters became more experienced with the 17 HMR they begin to learn it was not the end-all answer to rimfire power. Most lightweight 17 HMR bullets were too explosive to give deep penetration on larger critters like coyotes, and when used at close range on edible game, the results were messy at best. Ammunition manufacturers began to build better and more versatile 22 Magnum loads and in a few years the Magnum was more popular than it had ever been. The 17 HMR might have been the best thing to ever happen to the 22 Magnum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 17 HMR might be a bit sexier, but the 22 Magnum is an all-around more versatile cartridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first gun I could truly call my own was a Marlin model 782 22 Magnum. I put thousands of rounds down range and even though the rifle\u2019s trigger was atrocious, I killed truckloads of small game. In those days we really only had two 22 Mangum loads to choose from. One was a 40-grain hollow point and the other a 40-grain FMJ. Today there is a wide selection of 22 Magnum loads offering a wide range of terminal performance. However, there is limited data out there to help shooters make the proper choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With the right load the 22 Magnum can work exceptionally well on critters as large as coyotes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After my love affair with the 17 HMR ended, I returned to the 22 Magnum and then conducted an investigation to help me categorize the available loads based on their terminal performance. If I was going to rely on a 22 Magnum as my primary rimfire utility rifle, I wanted to be able to always select the best load, based on what I was planning to shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I selected ten loads with bullets weighing between 28 and 40 grains. I mixed multiple blocks of 10% ordnance gelatin and placed them at 50 yards. Using a Ruger 77\/22 Mangum with a 20-inch barrel, I fired three bullets from each load into the gel blocks to obtain an average of the terminal performance they provided. Using the same rifle, I also fired three, three-shot groups at 50 yards to get an idea of the accuracy potential each load offered. I expected\u00a0some<\/em>\u00a0variance in performance but was surprised to see just how versatile the cartridge is; penetration ranged from 4.5 to 18.5 inches.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 22 Magnum is a fantastic squirrel getter. However, savvy hunters will not use the frangible bullets unless they only plan to take head shots.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you \u2018re using a 22 Mangum for non-edible small game like prairie dogs and gophers, the highly volatile or fragmenting bullets that penetrate about six inches or less are ideal. If you\u2019re after larger varmints like rock chucks or ground hogs, the loads delivering bullets that penetrate between six and 12 inches should offer a good balance of penetration and tissue destruction to help anchor these beast before they make it into their holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the larger predators and vermin like fox, bobcat, badger and coyote, you need penetration of at least 10 inches in order to drive the bullets into the vital cavity no matter the angle. And, for small edible game like squirrels and rabbits, any of the loads will work if shots to the head are all you take. But, we all know that sometimes we cannot make head shots and sometimes they are just not an option. For table fare, the minimally expanding 40-grain loads will destroy the least amount of meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though the Hornady 30-grain V-Max load was not included in the testing, it performs very similar to the Remington 33-grain AccuTip load, and would work well as an all-round load for the 22 Magnum. This is not surprising since the 30-grain AccuTip and 33-grain V-Max load are the same bullet design.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In an instance where I thought I might have to use the 22 Magnum in a defensive situation, against a rabid or feral animal, or even a human, I\u2019d opt for the most penetration possible. Granted, a 22 Magnum is not an ideal defense gun against a grizzly bear or a felon with murderous intent. That does not mean you may not find yourself in that situation. When dealing with ultra light bullets pushed at low velocities, penetration is what you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering the defensive suitability of the 22 Magnum got me to thinking about its use for that purpose in a handgun. Compact revolvers like the Ruger LCR in 22 Magnum are becoming more popular all the time. No, they cannot compare to a 38 Special but it\u2019s a point of fact that some folks will not carry the heavier 38 and some folks are just not comfortable shooting one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 22 Magnum was never intended to be a self-defense cartridge. However, for those who may employ it in that manner, some loads are substantially better than others.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind I extended the terminal performance testing to include handguns. For this test I rounded up one of Ruger\u2019s LCRs with a 1.8 inch barrel, a North American Arms revolver with a one inch barrel, and borrowed my son\u2019s Ruger Single Six with a 4.6 inch barrel. I then picked seven loads and mixed some more gelatin. Three shots from each handgun, with each load was fired into the gelatin from a distance of 24 inches.\u00a0(The Winchester load was only tested in the 1-inch barrel.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Speer\u2019s Gold Dot load for the .22 Magnum will perform in gelatin very much like the Gold Dot loads for more common defensive handguns. Obviously, with the .22 Magnum load, tissue destruction is much reduced.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Penetration ranged from a low of 7.25 inches to a high of 20.5. For the most part, as velocities increased due to barrel length, so did penetration. However, there were exceptions. The highly volatile 30 grain CCI TNT Maxi-Mag load penetrated to a shorter depth when fired form the 4.6 inch barrel than it did when fired from the one inch barrel. This was because the high velocity pushed the bullet to expand wider, thus limiting penetration. And, the purpose built defensive loads from Hornady, Speer, and Winchester performed almost identically whether fired from a 1.8 or 4.6 inch barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would be the best defensive load from a .22 Magnum handgun? Based on my testing I could find no fault with the Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot or Winchester Defender loads. All three delivered 12 plus inches of penetration from either the 1.8 or 4.6 inch barrel. They even pushed to 10 inches out of the super-snubby, one-inch barrel. However, the old standby 40-grain FMJ and JHP loads always penetrated to 12 inches, regardless of barrel length and to 16 inches or more from the 1.8 and 4.6 inch barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Remington’s 30-grain AccuTip load is a great all-round choice for the 22 Magnum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s true that the defensive 22 Mangum loads from Hornady, Speer and Winchester did show some<\/em> expansion. However, given the fact the expansion was minimal and that the bullets are so small and impacting at such low velocities, I think I\u2019d prefer the guarantee of penetration instead. Interestingly, Remington\u2019s 33 grain Accutip load that performed so well from the rifle did reasonably well from the handguns too. It did not expand but did penetrate to a depth of 12 inches out of the one-inch barrel and to 17 inches from the 4.6 inch barrel. If I had to pick a single, all around load for the 22 Magnum \u2013 in rifles and handguns \u2013 the 33-grain Remington Accutip would again get my vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 22 Magnum might be old. And, compared to the more modern 17s, it might be slow. However it is far from obsolete and offers a wide range of terminal performance, allowing you to perfectly match your load to the job at hand. I\u2019ll for sure always have a .22 Magnum. It\u2019s just too good of a cartridge not to have around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NOTES: BW = Weight of unfired bullet. VEL = The average of five shots fired over a Shooting Chrony positioned 15 feet from the muzzle. PEN = The average depth the bullet penetrated in a block of 10% ordnance gelatin at 50 yards. ACC = The average of three, three-shot groups fired at 50 yards from a sandbag rest. Temperature at time of testing was 67 degrees. Elevation: 2200 feet.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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NOTES: BL = Barrel Length, VEL = Impact Velocity, RD = Diameter of recovered bullet, RW = Weight of Recovered Bullet, PEN = Penetration Depth. All loads tested from handguns were fired into 10% ordnance gelatin from a distance of 24 inches. Velocity was recorded with a Shooting Chrony chronograph prior to bullet impact. Temperature at time of testing was 39 degrees. Elevation: 2200 feet.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

NOTE: This article was originally published in 2015. Though it is a bit dated and does not include some of the most modern 22 Magnum loads, the information is still valid.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There was a time when the 22 Magnum was the darling cartridge of riflemen. All real riflemen had a 22 Magnum and used it extensively. Shortly after the dawn of the new millennium that changed; the 17 HMR was introduced and its flat trajectory and pinpoint accuracy lured many 22 Magnum aficionados away. For a while, it looked like \u201cThe Mag\u201d was …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":15908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2509,2821,2522,2820,1],"tags":[2866,2932],"class_list":["post-15902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defense","category-empty-cases-exclusive","category-hunt","category-latest","category-uncategorized","tag-coyote-hunting","tag-ruger-77-22"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/X12.jpg?fit=1000%2C722&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hujZ-48u","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15580,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/best-varmint-cartridges-ever\/","url_meta":{"origin":15902,"position":0},"title":"Best Varmint Cartridges Ever","author":"gunwriter","date":"July 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Yeah, lots of you will disagree, but the list is only 10 cartridges long. I collaborated with several professional hunters all over the world and this is the best 10 varmint cartridges we came up with. If you don't like them, too bad, this is not your list. The cartridges\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Field & Stream"","block_context":{"text":"Field & Stream","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/field-stream\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_8455.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_8455.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_8455.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_8455.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8047,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/favorite-loads-factory-handloads\/","url_meta":{"origin":15902,"position":1},"title":"Favorite Loads (Factory & Handloads)","author":"gunwriter","date":"January 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019m often asked what my favorite load for a cartridge is. I test a lot of different cartridges and I handload for just as many. However, the list of cartridges I use on a regular basis are not that extensive. And, I don\u2019t routinely handload for every cartridge I commonly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \".22 LR\"","block_context":{"text":".22 LR","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/tag\/22-lr\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CCI Stinger","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/CCI-Stinger-200x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15122,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/why-choose-the-327-federal-magnum\/","url_meta":{"origin":15902,"position":2},"title":"Why Choose the 327 Federal Magnum","author":"gunwriter","date":"October 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Overlooked and under appreciated, the 327 Federal Magnum might be the most versatile and useful revolver cartridge of all time.","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/327-federal-magnum-personal-defense-2.jpg?fit=1000%2C564&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/327-federal-magnum-personal-defense-2.jpg?fit=1000%2C564&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/327-federal-magnum-personal-defense-2.jpg?fit=1000%2C564&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/327-federal-magnum-personal-defense-2.jpg?fit=1000%2C564&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7603,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/id-buy-one-now-if-i-was-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":15902,"position":3},"title":"I’d buy one now if I was you.","author":"gunwriter","date":"October 18, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the last month I've been shooting Ruger's new American Rimfire. It is a very nice rifle with lots of features and it shoots very well. Best part, it costs $ 300! Last weekend my son and I took the little Ruger squirrel hunting and Bat went out every day\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "HUNTING"","block_context":{"text":"HUNTING","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/hunt\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ruger American Rimfire","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Ruger-American-Rimfire-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15383,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/federals-327-magnum\/","url_meta":{"origin":15902,"position":4},"title":"Federal’s 327 Magnum","author":"gunwriter","date":"December 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"It's one of my favorite cartridges, and possibly the one I shoot the most. Underrated, and misunderstood, it is an ideal general-purpose cartridge. Click HERE to read the full article.","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/327.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/327.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/327.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/327.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7521,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/hump-day-list-5-greatest-handguns\/","url_meta":{"origin":15902,"position":5},"title":"Hump Day List – 5 Greatest Handguns","author":"gunwriter","date":"September 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Five Greatest Handguns The criteria for consideration was that the handgun had to be born before me, still be in production and still be in demand. The choices were easy for me but do you agree? #5: Ruger Blackhawk Sure, there is the Colt Single Action Army and it\u2019s been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"5 greatest handguns\"","block_context":{"text":"5 greatest handguns","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/tag\/5-greatest-handguns\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ruger Blackhawk","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Ruger-Blackhawk-200x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15902"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15915,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15902\/revisions\/15915"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}