.22 Mag

[Kyguy]

That doesn’t quite jive with what I’ve seen on game, there’s definitely some .22 mag loads that expand reliably. The wound channels are still relatively tiny, but they expand

What kind of game? If you're not recovering bullets, you don't know if they're expanding.

 

[Kyguy]

"Sorry officer, I was lying for clout on the internet."

People do dumber shit all the time.

 

[Ozarkansas]

What kind of game? If you're not recovering bullets, you don't know if they're expanding.

Personally a pig and squirrels, I have family members that have killed pigs, turkeys, coyotes, and raccoons as well. And I’m talking chest shots, not head shots. What I shot the pig with (and what my family members who have had success use) is the old Winchester silver tip.

You’re right that I don’t know it expanded unless I see the bullet, but the exit wound was certainly indicative of expansion.

Here’s a Gel test that suggests my uncle and dad are on to something, and that the Winchester silvertip performs quite well at rifle speeds

 

[BigGrinner]

The only way I would consider using it is things have gone really, really bad, I didn't have anything more lethal and needed some meat. I've always heard stories about old timers using it effectively "back in the day" but don't know anyone personally that has used it or would even consider it.

 

[Kyguy]

Personally a pig and squirrels, I have family members that have killed pigs, turkeys, coyotes, and raccoons as well. And I’m talking chest shots, not head shots. What I shot the pig with (and what my family members who have had success use) is the old Winchester silver tip.

You’re right that I don’t know it expanded unless I see the bullet, but the exit wound was certainly indicative of expansion.

Here’s a Gel test that suggests my uncle and dad are on to something, and that the Winchester silvertip performs quite well at rifle speeds

The last raccoon I shot years ago with a .22 mag and CCI 40gr hollow points put me off the .22 Mag for anything bigger than a coyote, and even that would only be relatively close range. That damn thing would not let go of the tree limb and I couldn't get a clear head shot on it. It took 5 shots to the body before it let go, and his guts were spilling out as he fell. He dropped 30 ft and still tried to crawl off as he was trying to push his guts back in. That's when I shot it in the head. He was a big one, had to have weighed 25 lbs.

Perhaps using the self-defense ammo is the way to go for hunting. I'll admit that video shows the best performance in gel that I've seen with the .22 Mag, but putting a layer of something to simulate a hide can make a big difference.

Though I always wonder about consistency in that homemade gelatin using the Knox powder.

 

[Ozarkansas]

Perhaps using the self-defense ammo is the way to go for hunting

True, it’s interesting that it’s a chicken/egg situation with the self defense ammo. Two of those loads (federal TNT and Winchester silvertip) show up in regular rifle loads that predate the self-defense loadings.

So you have effective old hunting ammo being adopted as new self defense ammo, and effective new self defense ammo that is could easily be used effectively hunting as well.

Which makes sense: if it can expand at pistol velocities, it will expand out to 100 yards or so from a rifle.