17HMR or 22WMR

[chriswillis87]

just wanting some advise looking at geting a new small game rimfire but not sure if i should go a 17HMR or a 22WMR. Most of the shots will be under 120m. What do u think?

 

[CJ6]

I've had them both. Ruger mdl 9617 and in a Annie (1517 MPR)17hmr plus a Annie (1516)in 22 mag. the 17HMRs are gone the 22 mag is still in my hunting rack. IMHO the 22 mag is a better SG/VAR cartridge. The ammo is 1/2-2/3 the price of the 17HMR and you have a better selection of bullets/manufacturers to choose from. As a side note when I first bought the Ruger I also purchased 2 cases of the Hornaday 17HMR ammo $6.79 a box now it's $13.00-$15.00 depending were you get it. If you handload get a 22 hornet or a 221 Fireball it's cheaper and you can tune your loads for more range and still be fairly quiet. ...........There is a post started by Tommie dated 10/17/07 (I think) titled Loseing interest in my 17HMR >It has different points of view on it if you wish to read it.

 

[Austin]

Another for the 22mag.I have shot them both and only own 1,a 22mag.I have shot the 17 from 25yds to 300yds.Shot placement has to be rite on to kill a jackrabbit at 150yds plus in my experience with the 17hmr.Wind drift makes a big difference between the 2.if its just sage rats or squirls the 17 is well off.just my 2 cents.

 

[SS427]

I like the 17 HMR a lot. I have two of them and use them for sage rats. Rats explode big time with shots out to about 125 yards when I use the Hornady or Federal ammo with ballistic tips. I can still get ammo locally on sale for ten bucks a box and I stock up when it is on sale. Still costly and more than the .22 mag though. I can reload for my .223s for about the same cost.

Nothing wrong with the .22 mag, but between my .22 lr and the .17 HMR, I have never bothered with a .22 mag. My brother has one and shooting it has never sent me down to the gun store to get my own.

I tried target shooting with the .17 HMR and it was never satisfactory. The slightest wind drifts the bullets around. I rarely get groups less than 3/4 inch at 100 yards, with most around an inch. For sage rats though, that works fine. For longer shots or if the wind is blowing I use my centerfires .22 calibers.

 

[mattri]

Under 120 I would go with the 17 hands down.

I was in a very simmilar situation a few months ago, trying to decide between the 17 and the 22wmr.

From everything I could find the arguments came down to two man issues. 1) Accuracy 2) Lethality i.e killing power.

The 17 crowd says that the hmr is more accurate than the wmr, due to its inherent design and a better quality of ammo. The higher speeds, terminal ballistics and better shot placement equate to a better kill ratio.

The mwr crowd states that there is no replacement for displacement and that a bigger, heavier bullet leaves a bigger, deeper wound cavity.

The main area where this seems to matter is on larger game (coyotes etc) at extended range (150-200+).

I bought my 17 to shoot prairie dogs, rabbits, doves and paper. Out to 100-150 its deadly. Beyond that or for something bigger I get a centerfire.

 

[chriswillis87]

So the 22WMR is the choice than its very hard ones as good as the other isnt it. I manly want it for shooting rabbits and crows.

 

[rayjay]

For 120m or less and just rabbits and crows I would go with the 17HM2.

 

[CJ6]

I think you'll still be happier with the 22WM and be able to shoot it more.

 

[mattri]

The hmr is great for crows out past 120. I shot a magpie @ 125 yesterday with mine. Very strongly suggest that you do not use the 17 hmr for rabbits if you plan to eat them, they just blow up. A decent pelet gun is about the best way to kill a rabbit and save the meat.

 

[mongochicago]

I have shot P.D.s for a number of years. I use a 22 mag and my friend uses a 17 hmr. After seeing the results of both over several years, I have NO intention of getting a 17. The 22 mag is a better killer in my opinion.

 

[sdneil]

Get the 17HMR, most fun you can have with your clothes on! 22 mag with the new ballistic tips almost as costly as the .17HMR. the new b-tip ammo for .22 mag shoots great in mine,most .22mag ammo does not compare to new B-tip. 17HMR does a great job on P-dogs.