Originally Posted By: rookie7born2climb,
Nice coyotes. What kind of .22 mag do you have? Ammo you shooting? And what kind of accuracy at 100 do you get out of it?
It looks like I'll be buying a .22 mag. It seems it has an edge in killing power over the .17hmr on bobcats and yotes. Once bobcat and fox season are over here, I'll get the .223 back out. Bobcat and fox start in December.
Plus, I have one more concern that may lead me to take the .22 mag on certain hunts - when one of my daughters go with me. My 4 yr old went with me this morning after I finished deer hunting. I practiced with her covering her ears when I said, "Cover your ears", but I'm concerned that she won't do it sufficiently. I don't want the blast from the .223 to damage her hearing nor make her scared to go hunting. I wouldn't be concerned at all with the .22 mag for just one shot.
I have a Marlin 882SSV, which is their heavy-barrel, stainless model, with 7-shot clip. I also have a Marlin 883SS, which is the tube-fed version with standard weight barrel and laminated stock (also stainless).
I have the best results out of CCI Maxi-Mag, 40-grain hollow points. Out of the heavy barrel, I have shot several sub-1-inch groups. I haven't had the other one long enough to try it for accuracy, though at shorted ranges it seems adequate. I have a permanent target 250 yards from my front porch, and at one time, I could ring a 7" steel plate at that distance, after learning how much holdover was required.
The coyote I killed last year was a pass-through (ribcage), which is all I can ask of any caliber/bullet. The front-on chest shot two weeks ago did not pass through, but she fell in her tracks. I have been more than pleased with the overall performance of the .22 magnum.
As to muzzle blast, I use ear plugs or muffs when I'm target shooting, but seldom for one shot at game. It's quite a bit louder than a standard .22, but then I have sensitive ears. I wear hearing protection for running a pushmower, circular saw, you name it. I make a living running chainsaws, so I spend much of my time with plugs in my head.