Range Report - .22 Winchester Magnum

This is a first for my range reports, talking not so much about the gun, but rather the cartridge. I had the chance to try a (pre-1966) Winchester 1894. Done that before, and love it (Mmmm, Lever Gun!). What was new was the cartridge, the .22 Win Mag (the Wikipedia article is quite good, BTW).

The .22 Win Mag differs from the .22 LR in two respects. It is much higher velocity (2000 fps), and it's quite a bit spendier - same ballpark as 9mm. So for plinking, budget accordingly.

It is a lot of fun to shoot, especially in this rifle. No recoil at all, a bang loud enough to make you grin but not so loud as to distract. #2 son would love this. The kids would, too.

Accuracy from the 1894, as always, is more than satisfactory. 25 yards (I know, I know, but it's an indoor range), 21 rounds, slow fire:


A couple more times practicing with this, and I'd get the grouping down to "minute of rabbit." Not that you'd shoot rabbit with this - there likely wouldn't be a lot left to eat. This rifle and cartridge would be just the thing for a Coyote infestation.