17 HMR vs 17 WSM

[J_Hensley]

I have a marlin 17VS with the heavy barrel and rifle basix trigger. I don't have any varmint to hunt with it, I'm only shooting paper. And I've never put a ruler to any of my groups, but I am always very pleased with my groups at 100 yds. Every time I take that rifle out it puts a big smile on my face. Easily my favorite rifle to shoot.

 

[TheCZKid]

I ended up getting a 17 Hornet, so I could reload instead of buying the rimfire ammo, and that became my sage rat hunting rig. I'd start with the closer ones with the 17 WSM, then go to the Hornet. Now I've got a 20 Vartarg, and mostly the rest stays in the truck.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Like TheCZKid above, I've got a 20VT, 221FB, K-Hornet and more, but for ground squirrels under 250 yds and rock chucks in the lava rock, if I keep my shots all head-shots under 200 yards, my Anschutz 17HMR gets the job done nicely and no reloading. The HMR has its place, and is relatively inexpensive to shoot compared to the CF's.





I've resisted the 17WSM as the ammo is substantially more in terms of cost. My Annie HMR gets the job done for what I use it for, and when a tad more power/range is needed, I've got reloadable options such as the K-Hornet, 20VT and the like.

The low noise factor is also a plus for the HMR, as I shoot some small ranches that noise becomes a factor to the landowners. The accuracy of my Anschutz is plenty good 'nuff for work at 250 for the varmints I hunt. And sometimes I just want 'light and simple'....the little HMR checks all those boxes without going for 'more'. The 17WSM does have its followers, and that's a good thing. I just don't see the 'need' for one for what I do. It's great to have options...we have both. We're truly fortunate in that regard.

 

[Schandler]

I dont mind reloading and have primers and powder and brass to not worry for next twenty yrs but for the ease of rimfire i just enjoy shooting the 17’s. Have Mach 2 and hmr and wsm in bolt and semi auto. I just ordered a a17 in wsm thumbhole. Reason for ordering is i have a semi auto in the hm2 and hmr and for a semi auto they’re very accurate. The bolt guns i have in wsm are great shooters but i didnt have the 17 wsm in semi auto. If its as accurate as the other two calibers then i will be very happy with it. Seems the wsm is a very accurate round if you sort through the ammo maybe a lil more so than hmr and hm2 plus i bought a lot of wsm ammo way back before the prices went up

 

[B23]

It's great to have options. We're truly fortunate in that regard.

Bingo!

As Rick and CZ Kid or anyone else that's spent much time shooting sage rats knows a day can consist of a few hundred rounds of shooting per day and though they may be cute they certainly aren't the smartest of God's creatures so shooting them anywhere from literally just a few feet away to out as far as you can see them is the norm. Banging away at them from 25 - 300yds going through hundreds of rounds a day is where, IMO, the rimfires particularly the HMR and WSM really shine not to mention saves you soooooo much time in the reloading room.

I've used a variety of different rimfires over the years but my personal favorite has to be my 17 WSM certainly not because it's any kind of beauty queen or marvel of modern engineering because it is neither BUT most generally it always hits what I aim it at and the destruction of what it does upon impact is more exciting then any other rimfire I've shot. As for ammo I lucked out and bought up a bunch of it years ago when different places couldn't hardly give it away so I've been living off of that stock pile for some time and I figure if my Bmag lasts through the ammo I have on hand I'll have gotten my money's worth out of it.

The 17 Hornet is a pretty significant step up from even the 17 WSM and I generally reserve using the Hornets to days when there's more wind or I've gotten bored shooting the closer ones. Also, if one pops up at 15yds shooting it with my WSM I only feel a little guilty but if I did that with my Hornets well that would just be silly and I'd probably feel bad for at least an hour or so.

 

[TheCZKid]

As B23 said, I also was able to pick up a good supply of ammo, as a local Bimart used to carry it and have specials on it, but I also have picked up some at gun shows locally. Probably have enough to last me from here on out. The 17 Hornet is definitely a bit of a chore to load, as the bullets are small, and getting the EXACT amount of powder is pretty critical for consistent accuracy from round to round. I had to upgrade to a more accurate digital scale when I started loading the Hornet. But I'm always glad to shoot the WSM, as it's very accurate, and I don't have to be as concerned about the brass!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Also, if one pops up at 15yds shooting it with my WSM I only feel a little guilty but if I did that with my Hornets well that would just be silly and I'd probably feel bad for at least an hour or so.

Ha! That's the reason myself and my entire crew always have a .22LR belt pistol or revolver handy, either on the bench or on the belt for those 'lil sneakers that pop up and give you "the look" from ten feet to 25 yards out. They must pay for such insolence!





Besides, it's just another good opportunity to stay proficient with that handgun. More shooting = more fun.

 

[BugOnPoint]

I have a B-Mag in WSM. It shoots lights out. Pretty easy to hit sage rats at 150-200 yards. If you hit them just right you can flip them up in the air.

The only problem is finding ammo. It's easier to find Center-X than WSM ammo.

 

[B23]

I have a B-Mag in WSM. It shoots lights out. Pretty easy to hit sage rats at 150-200 yards. If you hit them just right you can flip them up in the air.

The only problem is finding ammo. It's easier to find Center-X than WSM ammo.

I'm not sure if Rick in Oregon was the originator but he was the first I heard it from but the technical term for those flips through the air is "ratObatics".

Not sure if you've shot any with the faster 15gr 17 WSM ammo but I think they actually do a better job of blowing them up like to the point it looks like they just swallowed a grenade.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I'm not sure if Rick in Oregon was the originator but he was the first I heard it from but the technical term for those flips through the air is "ratObatics".

Not sure about that either, but we started using it around 1980 shooting the little buggers here, still do. It just seems appropriate for what we/they do....

A few launches epitomizing the term:







One thing we've firmly established....it IS the most fun you can have with a rifle!
And at this time of year, thoughts are already pondering spring, 2025!

 

[searcher]

I ended up getting a 17 Hornet, so I could reload instead of buying the rimfire ammo, and that became my sage rat hunting rig. I'd start with the closer ones with the 17 WSM, then go to the Hornet. Now I've got a 20 Vartarg, and mostly the rest stays in the truck.

I did the same thing, getting the Hornet. Adds some nice yardage and tuned accuracy over the .17 HMR, for sure. If I ever run through my stash of .17 HMR ammo, I'm going to pick up a .17 WSM if the ammo becomes more readily available around here...

 

[MTPaul]

Not to stray too far from the OP, but since reference has been made to terms that accurately or even humorously describe the result of a fast-moving projectile after it impacts the soft tissue of a ground dwelling creature (or even a fine feathered creature perched on a limb) I thought I'd toss out a few starting with the one attributed to Rick;

ratObatics

Here are a few more to get the wheels moving as I'm sure there are others;

blastomatic

aerial ballet

 

[Rick in Oregon]

A few more that have appeared over the years, usually in the field after a particularly impressive launch from a high speed bullet....

Helicopter
Twister
'Sploder
Fence hanger

And when the report of the rifle and the sound of impact are almost one and the same...."did you get any on ya?"

 

[RegionRat]

When they blow in half right at the diaphragm and the upper body and head flies straight up, we called it an "Astronaut" because they got launched....
After reading some of his posts here, last year some of the folks started saying "Snert!" when they head shot one... @snert

 

[searcher]

Certainly, you guys give extra points for "cannibals", right?

 

[Fern]

Planning on going to do p dog next year and buddy has a 22-250 launching 40g nosler bt at 4500fps. Trying to see if we can get it on video for educational purposes of course

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Planning on going to do p dog next year and buddy has a 22-250 launching 40g nosler bt at 4500fps. Trying to see if we can get it on video for educational purposes of course

Hey Fern, good to see you here posting.
If your buddy takes that 22-250 out for PD's shooting the 40gr NBT, be sure he takes time to cool that barrel between shots, or he'll need a new one upon returning home. Great caliber, just not really well suited to colony rodent shooting due to excessive barrel heat. I had a guy come out here with a well known writer a while back for GS's with a full custom 22-250 and fry the barrel in a day and a half. We tried to tell him, but the excitement in the rat patch was just too much for him.

I'm sure you'll take your new 11T 204 too. It should really shine in a good PD patch. Your digital camera should be on your short list of things to take, so you can share the event here with us. We're all 'visually oriented' here and live vicariously through the adventures of others if we're home. lol

 

[Fern]

Rick where I hunt the wind makes the 17hmr/wsm pretty useless as most shots are 200+ yards.
I take my 204ruger, tikka 223 varmint and a 20 Tac