.22wmr at 175yrd….Anyone ?

[FirstBlood]

Just reaching out as I know this topic has been beaten around a bit !, I’ve recently purchased a Cz457 in 22wmr superb shooter with 4shot groups in a 3/4” sub MOA group at 125yrd (CCI 40 gr maxi mags ) so I’m impressed.
My question is there anyone who regularly will “stretch “this calibre out to maybe 175yrd for rabbit ? .
I know the round is typically a 125yrd gun and is superb in that area at the right quarry and after 180yrd goes transonic and all sorts of nonsense happens .
However I’m thinking a 30gr VMax being 2200 fps will stay supersonic a wee bit longer than the 1800fps of the Maxi Mags and therefore hopefully hold a decent group that bit further out .
Only reason for asking is I’m more likely to grab this gun out of the cabinet over the others if could potentially stretch it to 175yrd for rabbit and a close sub 100yrd fox…otherwise the 204 will come out , but it’s nice to shoot a “niche” calibre sometimes, call me old fashioned!.
Thanks for any insight in advance .

 

[Bo Diddley]

@Bowland blades

 

[sauer]

Im guessing with likes of zulu 5x20 or the alpex 4k both with lrf & ballistic calculator it will be doable
Or go old fashioned and do your drops on paper, physically see what its doing and either dial or a scope crosshair with sub tensions for hold over

Paul

 

[Smellydog]

I shot wmr a lot and pulled the occasional long shot off just guessing hold over.
With a ballistic calculating scope it would be easily achievable.
There is also the hawke range of scopes with a dedicated wmr multi reticles for various ranges.
My all time favourite round was the potent CCI 30gn maxi mag plus v.
The hornady 30gn bullets didn't like expanding from my cz. I did try some wmr loaded with a Speer hp bullet. They were reliable.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmmm.
In my (only marginally) less sensible days - your humble scribe, his bolt action CZ .22 WMR (we were not allowed anything heavier), a fair amount of holdover and I believe a Federal 40 gns killed this fox at 326 steps - no LRFs in those far-off (27th February 1996) halcyon days but likely in excess of 275 yards so rabbits were and still would be a doddle at 175…

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

Just reaching out as I know this topic has been beaten around a bit !, I’ve recently purchased a Cz457 in 22wmr superb shooter with 4shot groups in a 3/4” sub MOA group at 125yrd (CCI 40 gr maxi mags ) so I’m impressed.
My question is there anyone who regularly will “stretch “this calibre out to maybe 175yrd for rabbit ? .
I know the round is typically a 125yrd gun and is superb in that area at the right quarry and after 180yrd goes transonic and all sorts of nonsense happens .
However I’m thinking a 30gr VMax being 2200 fps will stay supersonic a wee bit longer than the 1800fps of the Maxi Mags and therefore hopefully hold a decent group that bit further out .
Only reason for asking is I’m more likely to grab this gun out of the cabinet over the others if could potentially stretch it to 175yrd for rabbit and a close sub 100yrd fox…otherwise the 204 will come out , but it’s nice to shoot a “niche” calibre sometimes, call me old fashioned!.
Thanks for any insight in advance

Watching with interest. I'm in a similar situation. For context, whilst chrono'ing Hornady V-Max and Federal Premium Speer today I was finding that the Hornady were 150 to 200 fps under book and the Federal were 175 to 200 over book, both 30grn and through a CZ457 21" barrel. Today the Federals outshot the Hornady by a wide margin which was the opposite of my previous findings. Weather and wind didn't help and adequate shooter input was poor so I'll try later in the week but I would suggest trying the Federals, there're not cheap but if they hold up for me under less stressful and solo non club shooting then I will settle on them. Would I stretch to 100 /150/170? Yes, that's the exact scenario I have in mind due to accepting that my CZ455 .22lr is a 65 yard gun, in my hands at least.

 

[FirstBlood]

Im guessing with likes of zulu 5x20 or the alpex 4k both with lrf & ballistic calculator it will be doable
Or go old fashioned and do your drops on paper, physically see what its doing and either dial or a scope crosshair with sub tensions for hold over

Paul

Thanks , I allways do my drops on paper so haven’t got an issue with finding the holdover necessary and so far I’ve got it at 140yrd and not looking too shabby , so I’m hoping when I get a chance to get to my field range to see if the 30gr VMax will group well enough at 175 yrd as anything over a 1 &1/2” group is not going to cut the mustard .
Nice to know what groups people are getting at these longer ranges with the 22wmr calibre , as I like “stretching” ranges provided they group well as often shoot rabbits with 22Lr with thermal at 155yrd with ease, so hoping the 22wmr will do this and more with the added benefit if Mr Fox pops up at around 100 yrd also it’s game on .

 

[John Gryphon]

I shot wmr a lot and pulled the occasional long shot off just guessing hold over.

Yes,open sights for me and shot quite a bit of dog tucker by holding over at 180 odd yards as they were vertical for a spine shot.
Although I did knock a big buck that had a flat .22 mag bullet under the skin on a forearm muscle.

 

[FirstBlood]

Watching with interest. I'm in a similar situation. For context, whilst chrono'ing Hornady V-Max and Federal Premium Speer today I was finding that the Hornady were 150 to 200 fps under book and the Federal were 175 to 200 over book, both 30grn and through a CZ457 21" barrel. Today the Federals outshot the Hornady by a wide margin which was the opposite of my previous findings. Weather and wind didn't help and adequate shooter input was poor so I'll try later in the week but I would suggest trying the Federals, there're not cheap but if they hold up for me under less stressful and solo non club shooting then I will settle on them. Would I stretch to 100 /150/170? Yes, that's the exact scenario I have in mind due to accepting that my CZ455 .22lr is a 65 yard gun, in my hands at least.

Interesting findings indeed, especially with the typical exaggerated factory fps claims ! so your finding the 30gr vmax to be more around the 2000-2050 fps mark not the stated 2200fps, i know 22wmr ammo can be variable at best and finding a good consistent batch is a challenge . I have some federal 40gr sp so will try them also.

 

[FirstBlood]

Yes,open sights for me and shot quite a bit of dog tucker by holding over at 180 odd yards as they were vertical for a spine shot.
Although I did knock a big buck that had a flat .22 mag bullet under the skin on a forearm muscle.

“ dog tucker “.

 

[John Gryphon]

“ dog tucker “.

cant say i was shooting `roos.....its not politically correct but just in case I was shooting them on a ground parrots licence.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Interesting findings indeed, especially with the typical exaggerated factory fps claims ! so your finding the 30gr vmax to be more around the 2000-2050 fps mark not the stated 2200fps, i know 22wmr ammo can be variable at best and finding a good consistent batch is a challenge . I have some federal 40gr sp so will try them also.

Hmmm.
My CZ liked 30gns Vmax and particularly Federal but with my little Winchester the barn door was inevitably intact!

 

[KimE]

No I use mine up to 110m or so then you have to hold to the wind 8"/20cm its no use to try it at longer distance.

 

[Smellydog]

No I use mine up to 110m or so then you have to hold to the wind 8"/20cm its no use to try it at longer distance.

This, the wind will be an issue before drop.

 

[Smellydog]

if Mr Fox pops up at around 100 yrd also it’s game on .

So if out with a 22 you wouldn't shoot at a fox if 100yds?

 

[FirstBlood]

So if out with a 22 you wouldn't shoot at a fox if 100yds?

Absolutely I would and have many times , but let’s be fair it ain’t no foxing calibre and I’m trying to hone down the calibres for certain needs and seeing how viable a 22wmr is as a Almost “do it all calibre “to qualify that statement i mean for rabbits at 175yrd and a clean kill on foxes at 100yrd maybe 125yrd , if it will then I will grab it out of cabinet more often .
Don’t get me wrong I’ve got Charlie many times with 22Lr at sensible ranges but 22Wmr hits with almost twice the energy.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Have you got many rabbits to cull?
Ever considered a Hornet?
I read on here of one chap who head shoots rabbits at 200-300 yards with a .22 Hornet and has done so for a good number of years. They are ok for sensible range foxing as well.

 

[Smellydog]

Absolutely I would and have many times , but let’s be fair it ain’t no foxing calibre and I’m trying to hone down the calibres for certain needs and seeing how viable a 22wmr is as a Almost “do it all calibre “to qualify that statement i mean for rabbits at 175yrd and a clean kill on foxes at 100yrd maybe 125yrd , if it will then I will grab it out of cabinet more often .
Don’t get me wrong I’ve got Charlie many times with 22Lr at sensible ranges but 22Wmr hits with almost twice the energy.

They still run a short distance before folding, twice the energy or not.

 

[Overlay]

The hawke vantage in WMR flavour are excellent, the in built range ladder are very good, only downside is they are 25mm tube, couple that with a pard oo7 sp you will have a tidy longer range scope with some accuracy i keep my WMR foxes at 70 yds where it is like a laser, but have the 22 hornet and 204 for anything longer than 70

 

[Smellydog]

Despite what most think and say and after owning both wmr and hmr I've found the hmr a far better fox killer.