The 22 Magnum, officially known as the 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire or 22 WMR, is an outstanding cartridge for hunting small game, varmints, and light predators. It offers a significant step up in power and range over the standard 22 Long Rifle, making it the perfect tool for animals like raccoons, foxes, and woodchucks. Hunters generally utilize bullet weights between 30 and 50 grains, which achieve muzzle velocities from 1,530 to 2,200 feet per second out of a rifle barrel. This generates a muzzle energy of roughly 300 to 324 foot-pounds, providing excellent knockdown power for tough pests. Because the lightweight bullets lose energy over distance, the practical and ethical hunting range of the 22 Magnum is firmly capped at 100 to 125 yards.
22 Magnum Hunting
| Ammo / Load | Bullet Weight | Bullet Type | Muzzle Velocity | Muzzle Energy | BC | Hunting Purpose | Best Feature |
| Hornady V-MAX | 30 grain | Polymer Tip | 2,200 fps | 322 ft-lbs | .095 | Varmints / Prairie Dogs | Explosive expansion and flattest trajectory |
| CCI Maxi-Mag | 40 grain | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,875 fps | 312 ft-lbs | .084 | General Small Game | Proven reliability and reliable mushrooming |
| CCI GamePoint | 50 grain | Jacketed Soft Point | 1,530 fps | 260 ft-lbs | .118 | Tough Furbearers / Foxes | Deep penetration without fragmenting |
| Winchester Super-X | 40 grain | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,910 fps | 324 ft-lbs | .090 | Pests / Small Predators | Consistent high velocity and energy transfer |
| Federal Speer TNT | 30 grain | Jacketed Hollow Point | 2,200 fps | 322 ft-lbs | .089 | Pest Eradication | Violent fragmentation on thin skinned rodents |
What Makes 22 Magnum Suitable For Hunting
The 22 Magnum bridges the gap between the short range 22 Long Rifle and the much louder, more expensive centerfire cartridges like the .223 Remington. While a standard 22 LR produces about 130 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, the 22 Magnum produces well over 300 foot-pounds. This massive increase in kinetic energy makes it vastly superior for anchoring tough animals that might shrug off a 22 LR and escape into a burrow.
For hunting, the 22 Magnum shines in populated or semi-rural areas where the loud report of a centerfire rifle would be a nuisance. It is highly effective in dense woods for squirrel or raccoon hunting, and equally at home on the edge of a pasture for shooting groundhogs. It hits hard enough to cleanly kill medium sized pests but does not possess the extreme velocity that destroys edible meat, provided the hunter selects the correct bullet type.
Best Bullet Weight For Hunting
Unlike the 17 HMR, the 22 Magnum offers a very useful variety of bullet weights that drastically alter its terminal performance.
- 30 grain: The hyper velocity option. Bullets in this class, like the Hornady V-MAX or Federal TNT, reach 2,200 fps and offer the flattest trajectory available in this caliber. They are highly destructive and should be used strictly for pest control where meat preservation is not a factor.
- 40 grain: The traditional gold standard. A 40 grain hollow point traveling at roughly 1,900 fps provides the perfect balance of velocity, wind resistance, and hitting power. It is the best all around weight for general hunting tasks.
- 50 grain: The heavy hitter. Loads like the CCI GamePoint travel much slower at 1,530 fps but carry significantly more momentum. This weight is specifically designed for deeper penetration, making it the top choice for tough animals like large foxes, raccoons, or close range coyotes.
Best Bullet Type For Hunting
Because the 22 Magnum pushes bullets fast enough to initiate true expansion, selecting the right bullet construction is paramount for your specific hunting goal.
- Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP): The most common and versatile choice. At 22 Magnum velocities, a hollow point will mushroom reliably, transferring energy quickly into the vital organs of rabbits, groundhogs, and foxes.
- Polymer Tipped: Bullets featuring a polymer tip, such as the V-MAX, are highly aerodynamic and expand violently upon impact. They are the best choice for small rodents and prairie dogs to ensure instant anchoring.
- Jacketed Soft Point (JSP): Best for tough game and meat preservation. The exposed lead tip expands much slower than a hollow point, allowing the bullet to penetrate deeply through bone and thick muscle before stopping.
- Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): Highly specialized for trappers and fur hunters. An FMJ will not expand, punching a tiny, clean hole straight through a pelt to ensure the hide retains maximum market value. It should not be used for general hunting due to the high risk of over penetration.
22 Magnum Hunting Ballistics
While the 22 Magnum hits hard at close range, its blunt bullets lose velocity quickly, resulting in a noticeable drop past 100 yards.
Note: The following data represents standard manufacturer specifications fired from a 20 inch to 24 inch rifle barrel with a 100 yard zero.
Hornady 30gr V-MAX
- Muzzle: 2,200 fps / 322 ft-lbs
- 50 Yards: 1,775 fps / 210 ft-lbs
- 100 Yards: 1,421 fps / 134 ft-lbs
- 150 Yards: 1,154 fps / 89 ft-lbs
- Bullet Drop @ 150 Yards: -4.8 inches
CCI 40gr Maxi-Mag JHP
- Muzzle: 1,875 fps / 312 ft-lbs
- 50 Yards: 1,540 fps / 211 ft-lbs
- 100 Yards: 1,273 fps / 144 ft-lbs
- 150 Yards: 1,084 fps / 104 ft-lbs
- Bullet Drop @ 150 Yards: -6.2 inches
Even at 100 yards, the 22 Magnum retains more energy than a 22 Long Rifle produces at the muzzle. However, past 125 yards, the bullet transitions into subsonic flight, which can slightly destabilize accuracy and severely limit terminal expansion.
22 Magnum Effective Range For Hunting
The effective range of the 22 Magnum is 100 to 125 yards for most small game hunting.
Ethical hunting requires a minimum amount of energy to ensure a clean kill. For small game like rabbits or squirrels, the 22 Magnum remains lethal out to 150 yards. However, for tougher animals like woodchucks or foxes, the bullet energy drops below the optimal 100 to 120 foot-pound threshold right around the 100 yard mark. Taking shots on tough furbearers past 125 yards greatly increases the risk of the animal escaping into a den to die slowly.
Supersonic vs Subsonic 22 Magnum
The 22 Magnum is designed specifically to be a high velocity, supersonic cartridge.
While some specialty subsonic loads exist, using subsonic ammunition in a 22 Magnum completely defeats the purpose of the rifle. If you drop the velocity of a 40 grain bullet down to 1,050 fps to keep it subsonic, you have effectively just recreated the ballistics of a standard 22 Long Rifle, but at three times the cost per round. For quiet, suppressed hunting, a 22 LR is the correct tool. The 22 Magnum should always be fired with full power supersonic hunting ammunition to utilize its energy advantages.
Best Barrel Length For 22 Magnum Hunting
Rimfire cartridges use fast burning powder, meaning they reach their maximum velocity in relatively short barrels.
- 18 to 22 inches: The optimal barrel length for a 22 Magnum hunting rifle. A 20 inch barrel burns all the powder, maximizing the velocity of 30 grain and 40 grain loads while providing an excellent balance for carrying in the woods.
- 16 inches: Very popular for compact brush guns. You will lose roughly 50 to 80 feet per second compared to a 20 inch barrel, which is a negligible difference at standard hunting distances.
- Handgun Barrels (4 to 6 inches): Firing a 22 Magnum from a revolver results in a massive velocity loss. A 40 grain bullet will often drop from 1,875 fps in a rifle down to 1,300 fps in a handgun. While still lethal at close range, handgun hunters must restrict their shots to 50 yards or less.
Game Size And Hunting Conditions
The 22 Magnum is remarkably versatile within the small game and predator categories.
- Rabbits and Squirrels: Highly effective, but hunters must use 40 grain hollow points or 50 grain soft points and aim for the head. If a 30 grain polymer tip strikes the shoulder of an edible animal, the meat will be completely destroyed.
- Woodchucks, Raccoons, and Foxes: This is the absolute sweet spot for the caliber. It anchors these tough animals much faster and more humanely than a 22 LR.
- Coyotes: The 22 Magnum is considered highly marginal for coyotes. While it can kill a coyote, the hunter must be extremely disciplined, restricting shots to 50 yards or less and using a heavy 40 or 50 grain bullet aimed precisely at the brain or heart. At 100 yards, the 22 Magnum will often just wound a mature coyote.
- Deer: Absolutely illegal and highly unethical in all circumstances.
Shot Placement And Bullet Performance
Because rimfire bullets rely on relatively low energy to dispatch animals, shot placement is critical.
For pest control on rodents, a center mass shot is perfectly acceptable. The high velocity impact will cause massive internal trauma. For edible small game, headshots are mandatory to preserve the meat. When targeting tough predators like foxes, a broadside shot directly through the shoulder into the heart and lungs is required. Quartering shots on tough animals should be avoided, as the lightweight rimfire bullets often lack the momentum to penetrate the length of the body to reach the vitals.
Best 22 Magnum Hunting Loads
Based on ballistic testing, accuracy, and proven field results, these are the best ammunition choices for hunters:
- Best Overall for Hunting: CCI 40gr Maxi-Mag JHP. The undisputed classic. It offers the best combination of velocity, reliable mushrooming, and widely available affordability.
- Best for Varmint Eradication: Hornady 30gr V-MAX. Delivers the flattest trajectory and the most explosive fragmentation, making it perfect for prairie dogs and groundhogs out to 125 yards.
- Best for Deep Penetration: CCI 50gr GamePoint. The heavy jacketed soft point design drives deep into tough muscle and bone, making it the premier choice for foxes and raccoons.
- Best for Pelt Preservation: Winchester 40gr Full Metal Jacket. Leaves tiny entrance and exit holes, ensuring maximum value for trappers and fur hunters.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Hits significantly harder and shoots much flatter than a 22 Long Rifle.
- Ammunition is relatively cheap compared to centerfire varmint cartridges like the .223 Remington.
- Excellent performance on tough pests like woodchucks that often survive 22 LR hits.
- Produces virtually no recoil, making it highly accurate for shooters of all sizes.
- Quieter than centerfire rifles, making it ideal for hunting near populated areas.
Cons:
- Ammunition costs roughly three to four times more than standard 22 LR ammunition.
- Trajectory drops severely past 125 yards compared to the flatter shooting 17 HMR.
- Too destructive for small edible game unless strict headshots are taken.
- Marginal kinetic energy makes it a risky, short range choice for coyotes.
FAQs
Is 22 magnum good for hunting?
Yes, it is an outstanding cartridge for hunting small game, varmints, and light predators out to 125 yards, offering significantly more knockdown power than a standard 22 Long Rifle.
What is the effective range of 22 magnum?
The ethical effective range of a 22 Magnum rifle is between 100 and 125 yards. Past 125 yards, the bullet loses too much velocity to reliably expand on game animals.
Is 22 WMR big enough for coyotes?
It is highly marginal. While it can kill a coyote, shots must be restricted to 50 yards or less using a heavy 40 or 50 grain bullet. A centerfire rifle is a much better choice for ethical coyote hunting.
What is the best 22 magnum ammo for squirrel hunting?
A 40 grain hollow point or 50 grain soft point is best, provided the hunter takes headshots. High velocity 30 grain polymer tipped bullets will destroy too much meat on a squirrel.
Will 22 magnum ruin meat?
Yes, if used improperly. A body shot on a rabbit or squirrel with an expanding 22 Magnum bullet will cause severe meat damage. Headshots are required for harvesting edible small game with this caliber.
How much energy does 22 magnum have at 100 yards?
Depending on the specific load, a 22 Magnum bullet fired from a rifle will retain roughly 130 to 150 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards.
Can you hunt deer with a 22 magnum?
No. It is completely illegal in almost all jurisdictions and highly unethical. A 22 Magnum lacks the energy and penetration to reliably harvest a deer, and using it will result in animal suffering.
Final Verdict
Is the 22 Magnum good for hunting? The 22 Magnum is a classic, highly effective rimfire cartridge for hunters who need more power than a 22 Long Rifle but do not want the noise or expense of a centerfire rifle. It is best suited for hunting tough pests like woodchucks, raccoons, and foxes in environments where shots are kept inside 125 yards.
The ideal ammunition is a 30 grain polymer tipped bullet for explosive pest control or a 40 grain to 50 grain hollow point for deeper penetration on tough furbearers. Its major advantages are its excellent medium range energy transfer, mild report, and lack of recoil. Its primary limitations are a steep trajectory drop past 100 yards and a lack of sufficient power for consistent coyote hunting. If you need a reliable, hard hitting rimfire rifle to clear tough predators out of the chicken coop or eliminate groundhogs in the pasture, the 22 Magnum is an exceptional tool.