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bloke -

I've purchased larger caliber rifles from ads found in my local paper and in local "ad rags" (e.g., The Mininickel), but see ads for smaller caliber rifles (e.g., Ruger 10-22) all the time. There are a few auction-type places that you could look that likely have ratings for sellers, but none that are straight "classified ads." I know that Guns America is good; I have several acquaintances that have used it and been pleased. There is also Gunbroker.com and Auctionarms.com. I do not have any experience with any of these sites. I only know people that have used them before. Like any auction site, make sure you know on what you're bidding before you bid. Your dealer's FFL must be on file with the seller before they can legally ship.

By the way, why a .22 WMR and not a .22lr? The gophers in my pasture go down just fine with a .22lr and the rabbits taste just as good. I'd go so far as to say that even the grouse taste better when taken with a .22 instead of a 12 ga.

Used to have an over under 22/.410 squirrel gun.

I kick myself frequently for getting rid of that thing. Most pathetic looking rifle I've ever had, but the most useful.

Getcha one of these thangs. Must be an ammo source somewhere around Memphis!

How about the local gun and pawn shops, Bloke? I've been doing this very thing lately looking for a .308 Winchester. I think it's better to be able to pick the thing up and look at it, haggle with the shop owner and be able to walk away with it right then. They'll check to see if you're a terrorist or felon right there, no dealing with the 4473 in otherwise circumstances. Gun shops seem to have a LOT of used .22 LRs, .30-06s, .270s, .30-30s and shotguns.

http://www.gunbroker.com

I've bought several guns here. You just have to know a local FFL holder to receive it for you. They usually charge about $25, but if the dealer is a good enough friend he might do it for nothing. My sons' Scoutmaster receives them for me without charge.

my dad has a varmint rifle with a .222 over a 20 guage. I do not know how the specs on a .222 differ from a .22 magnum. But it is a nice rifle/gun. I have not shot it for a few years. I forget the brand. I just mention it as another option for you to consider.

ken k

bloke wrote:I'm looking at 22 mag because of the range that I'm trying to make it go...From my deck to the back of the pond is prolly 200 yds.

At this range, I'd take a look at .17 HMR instead of .22 WMR. Based upon the ballistics and energy data that I've read, at > 100 yds, the .17 is much better.

Here's some info:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm" target="_blank

SR

bloke wrote:Again, the cost of the rounds strongly factors into the choice.

Were this not the case, I don't mind "overkilling" varmints with the .30-06.

".22 magnum" are cheap rounds and will do what I want them to do.

Cost-per-round difference is roughly $0.03:

.17 HMR - http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/49685-5.html" target="_blank

.22 WMR - http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/52456-5.html" target="_blank

I guess, over the long run, that can add up.

Hmm

I can't remember the trajectory of the .22 WMR but I always thought of it as more of a 125 yard rifle rather than a 200 yard rifle. Do you reload? You could always work up some varmint loads with cast bullets in the 30-06.
The .222 is a pretty good 200 yard rifle - it's usually sighted it in at 200 yards although you're still paying for centre-fire ammunition. How does your 30-06 group at 200 yards?

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm" target="_blank

This article make the .22 WMR sound like a 125 yard cartridge and the .17 HMR sound like a 165 yard cartridge.

Is the .22 Hornet still available in the US? A lot of people here used to like it when they wanted more range than a .22 magnum but didn't want the noise of a .222, but ammo for it is very expensive here.

Are you shooting over a known distance? (to within a couple of yards) What are wind conditions like?

It makes me cry to hear you guys talk about the Ruger 10/22 - we haven't been able to buy those in Australia for a long time - the government here sees anything semi-automatic as a weapon of mass destruction.

Regards

Gerard

Bloke, why not pick up an old Mosin-Nagant rifle and some old 7.62x54R ammuntion? I have no doubt that it can reach out to where you need it to go (just make sure you keep the bayonet fixed). You can probably find at the least the rifle at a gun show for cheap, and ammo should also not be that difficult to find nor that expensive.

I don't know if it'll cost more or less than a used .22 WMR rifle and ammo; it's just another option.

bloke:

Did you ever find a good .22 wmr for those pesky across-the-lake varmints?

Interesting .17/.22 comparison article from Chuck Hawks. My dad used to say, "Ya can't kill what you can't hit". Bloke's objective doesn't seem to be as much killing something as keeping it from returning. Wounding should accomplish that nicely.

After researching and writing this article, I have reached a conclusion about these two cartridges. I would favor the .22 WMR for shooting small game and varmints within 100 yards, and the .17 HMR if shots often run much beyond that distance.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

You needed to go to Texas anyway didn't you, bloke?
http://beaumont.craigslist.org/bar/1830491846.html" target="_blank

My absolute favorite pest rifle is an old old Remington model 12, it's a pump action hammerless .22. I love it because it'll cycle .22 shorts or longs. Shorts for quiet in town pest control and longs for targets. I just dispatched a skunk the other day : and was blowing up Hedge Apples with hollow point .22s I had left over. Now that was fun! .22 is enough power for small animals and plinking fun on the cheap. To get out and reach I use a Mauser 8mm K98k.

bloke wrote:I'm looking at 22 mag because of the range that I'm trying to make it go...From my deck to the back of the pond is prolly 200 yds.

For shots up to 200 yards, the regular ole .22 mag & .17's do not make clean kills.

Consider at least a .22 Hornet...
http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.22hornet.html" target="_blank

Over 200 yards - .223, maybe even a .243.

gunbroker.com is a good place to find some deals. Rememeber FFL fees...
http://www.gunbroker.com/" target="_blank

T.