I never really wanted one, never thought they'd be useful for anything. I mean, they're a might big for squirrel and a might small for pigs. I don't hunt varmints. There are some coyotes around, but I don't sit out at night calling 'em. If I won't eat it, I generally don't hunt it. I've considered thinning 'em out, but heck, that's an impossible mission, just too many around here and they're wiley.
A guy showed up at my door one day when I had a couple of little motorcycles for sale. I had this XR70 that he wanted and I wanted to be rid of it, he offered to trade me this .22 mag rifle for it, Bushnell 3x9x40 Trophy on it, and with a soft case. It was a fair trade. At first I thought I was getting skinned. The gun is a Remington 597 magnum. At the time I could buy 597s in long rifle for under 200 bucks at Wallyworld. Then, I looked up the price of the magnum online. Well, it was a good trade.
Again, I didn't need the gun, just figured it'd be easier to get rid of at a gun snow than selling an XR70. After I took it to the range, I decided I needed to keep it. Groups were impressive, 1.5" at 100 yards with most ammo. It doesn't like that TNT green stuff, more like 2" at 100 yards, but maximag and VMax shoot 1.5" at 100. I have a hard time getting rid of accurate rifles regardless of if I have an actual use for 'em. :laugh:
So, last spring, I took a tom turkey with it. This is one task that it's up to. This season I've been hunting turkey with my .223, but haven't seen/heard a turkey this year. I've shot a squirrel with the gun, 60 yard head shot. It is a good small game getter and can reach out further than a standard .22. I put a Volquarsen hammer in the gun which greatly improved the trigger. I have no real desire to sell the gun, it's a good, accurate rifle. But, the lack of .22 mag ammo on the shelves even with .22LR coming back is a bit off putting. And, heck, I can buy steel cased .223 for what CCI maximag costs when I can find it and that Tulammo stuff is available at all the walmarts around. I'm not sure why I wanna keep the gun considering all that, just do. Ammo will come back...SURELY. I'm not real sure why rimfire ever got scarce, just know it did.
So, I got out in my shooting/reloading room today, nice day to be outside. I shot some groups with various ammo in the .22 mag. Just got to wondering what uses others have found for a .22 mag and if there's any love for it out there.
A guy showed up at my door one day when I had a couple of little motorcycles for sale. I had this XR70 that he wanted and I wanted to be rid of it, he offered to trade me this .22 mag rifle for it, Bushnell 3x9x40 Trophy on it, and with a soft case. It was a fair trade. At first I thought I was getting skinned. The gun is a Remington 597 magnum. At the time I could buy 597s in long rifle for under 200 bucks at Wallyworld. Then, I looked up the price of the magnum online. Well, it was a good trade.
Again, I didn't need the gun, just figured it'd be easier to get rid of at a gun snow than selling an XR70. After I took it to the range, I decided I needed to keep it. Groups were impressive, 1.5" at 100 yards with most ammo. It doesn't like that TNT green stuff, more like 2" at 100 yards, but maximag and VMax shoot 1.5" at 100. I have a hard time getting rid of accurate rifles regardless of if I have an actual use for 'em. :laugh:
So, last spring, I took a tom turkey with it. This is one task that it's up to. This season I've been hunting turkey with my .223, but haven't seen/heard a turkey this year. I've shot a squirrel with the gun, 60 yard head shot. It is a good small game getter and can reach out further than a standard .22. I put a Volquarsen hammer in the gun which greatly improved the trigger. I have no real desire to sell the gun, it's a good, accurate rifle. But, the lack of .22 mag ammo on the shelves even with .22LR coming back is a bit off putting. And, heck, I can buy steel cased .223 for what CCI maximag costs when I can find it and that Tulammo stuff is available at all the walmarts around. I'm not sure why I wanna keep the gun considering all that, just do. Ammo will come back...SURELY. I'm not real sure why rimfire ever got scarce, just know it did.
So, I got out in my shooting/reloading room today, nice day to be outside. I shot some groups with various ammo in the .22 mag. Just got to wondering what uses others have found for a .22 mag and if there's any love for it out there.