[OldYeager]

Hi KAG ................... OldYeager here

I've used 22 shotshells some. I don't think they would hurt your Ruger, in fact it might be the ideal shotshell shooter.

What I use for shotshell mostly is an old (very old) 9 shot H&R 922. We have a creek running thru the property and comes in handy on Cottonmouth water moccs. Killed a big one this Summer here. Distance was about 8 or 9 feet downwards. Snake was in water and shot pattern was size of a dinner plate. Right straddling the middle back. First shot did not kill snake but disabled it from swimming. Head was still moving and tongue still flicking. I was afraid the dog would grab it and get bitten, so fired twice more. It was then good and dead.

The story by Virginian above is sad, but I can certainly believe it. I did not think these little tiny shot could do much either. I have a number of bird feeders hanging from the trees around my house. And the squirrels are pesky little raskels. I don't specially want to kill them over some birdseed. So I kept a little Red Ryder BB gun (spring action) handy just to pepper their hides to discourage them from stealing all the birdseed. They come every day to match wits with me. But one day I ran out of BBs, so I pulled out the snakegun (922) and ran outside. The squirrels usually scatter upon hearing the front door open. But that day one just ran about 30 feet up into tree branches and hid. But I spotted him. I firmly thought I'd only pepper his hide. I shot and squirrel jumped srtaight up and fell out of the tree. It hit the ground and sat up (looking a little stunned). I thought 'now little squirrel put uour fanny in gear and git'. Next thing I knew, the squirrel fell over on its side, kicked a couple times and then was stone cold dead. I felt sad for the critter. And was completely surprized at what that shotshell would do.

I'd have to say, those pellets Can kill small animals out to maybe 50 to 60 feet or so. They don't just burn their hide - they go inside.

[jeepcreep927]

Originally Posted by Virginian

22 shotshells are notoriously bad performers consistency wise. I have had to shoot more than once to hit a snake at about 4 feet. A 38/357 shot charge is significantly better. On the other hand, the little #12 pellets often clump together. My uncle shot at a neighbor's beagle many years ago with a 22 shot round out of a Marlin 22 rifle. His intention was to scare it out of his garden, he did not want to hurt the dog at all. He was a dog lover and then some. It turned out the neighbor's dog was a registered Beagle worth $900, and he dropped him dead with a little clump of pellets that stuck together and went right in the earhole. It was a measured 90 paces. The neighbor was crying, my aunt was crying, my mother was crying, and I think I even saw a tear in my uncle's eye, even before he got the bill.

Hence why you don't shoot at something you don't intend to kill, with any gun, ever. Not to bag on your uncle, or rip off this post, but that was just plain stupid. This is the kinda thing that makes people who don't own or don't care for guns think we're all a bunch of inbred- back water idiots. Shot a beagle, to scare it, it died. Real surprising. If that was something I had knowledge of, I'd never speak of it out of absolute humility.

[OldYeager]

To the members of FireArmsTalk, OldYeager appologizes for Offending Mr Jeep on your Forum Board.

I was warned about such as the above poster. Sorry it came out so quickly. Gosh, only a member for 2 days and this already. But then again, I'm only human and subject to make bad calls. I'd hoped my experience with Mr Squirrel, and Virginia's uncle's experience with the Mr Dog would be a good heads up, that those little shotshells ARE potent. All I'm going to say.

[stalkingbear]

I don't think you offended anybody-everybody was just sharing experiences.

[robbo60]

I really believe that .22 shotshells are junk and the biggest waste of money out there. I'll never buy them again.

[KAG]

Dead cotten mouth via 22 shot shell. One shot kill makes them pretty worthwhile to me. Used the shot shell in a single six. No problems.

[Virginian]

I didn't shoot at the dog, and have in fact gotten into an altercation over someone else shooting at a setter bird hunting to "get their attention", and my Uncle is very long dead so I could care less what you think of him. My intent was to illustrate the extremely variable performance of the little shotshells.
I just realized I was talking about the older crimped end shells, and the inquiry may have been about the CCIs. I have seen the CCI Mini-Mag 22 shotshells in both 22LR and 22Mag, with the little blue plastic shot compartment, but have never used those. I would think those would be much more effective, but have no personal experience. In 38/357 and 44 the CCIs are quite effective.