johnclif@cs.washington.edu (04/11/91)
I've done just about all of my .22 hunting with a Remington 541-S and CCI Green Tag ammo. I've never had a problem I could trace to the ammo. What most people don't realize is that the difference in velocity between target and high-velocity .22 ammo really isn't that much. And, most game one hunts with a .22 where accuracy is critical (squirrels, rabbits), are of a size where the bullet size/speed to animal mass ratio is somewhat comparable to shooting a deer with a 5" A-P artillery shell. I've shot squirrels with high velocity hollow points through the chest and have had to shoot them again to kill them. I've also shot many squirrels through the head with Green Tag solids and dropped them instantly. Ditto for rabbits - a solid through the head at 50 yards gets 'em every time. I also have killed many crows with my rifle at ranges up to 100 yards. I can recall only hitting one crow that wasn't killed, and from the amount of feathers that flew and the raucous calling, I assumed I just nicked him. If you are shooting larger game (coyotes, fox, bobcats), you may want to go with the higher velocity hollow points, or even the Stinger-type rounds. The decrease in accuracy is negligable for such game at 100 yards or under and the increased stopping power would be worth it. I would graduate to the .17s or .22 centerfire rounds for these animals. When I was in my early teens, my father managed a country club with a severe feral dog problem. Evidently, pets from the surrounding low-income area had either been deserted or had run away, and were living in packs on the club grounds. After a few standoffs with club members looking for lost golf balls, my father and the local golf pro went out early one morning to curb the problem. The first few animals were shot with .22s but even with high velocity hollow points several shots were needed and it wasn't the most humane or effective cartridge to use. There was also the problem with the occasional dog that came towards us instead of running - these animals had no fear of humans. After a couple of charges, they switched to deer rifles. A decent-sized mongrel coming full-tilt at you with it's teeth bared despite being shot repeatedly with a .22 may not be comparable to the charge of a lion, but for a 12-year old kid (and the father and friend) it was pretty damned scary. In summation, except for the louder report and the increased destruction to the game, I'd be willing to bet that the same hits would produce exactly the same results on small game. Of course, the target ammo makes head shots at 50 yards a certainty. John Clifford Developer, Applications Microsoft Corporation Disclaimer: I speak for me, Bill speaks for Microsoft.