22mag vs. 17hmr

[j870sm]

Maybe this has been discussed but would like to hear your opinions.
I have both and for yotes I prefer the 22mag. I was not that impressed with the job the 17 did, the 22 mag simply performed better. The 17 for small game is great and it is slightly more accurate than the 22 mag.

I guess where I am at on this is I will go with the 22mag for larger varmints up to yote and keep it under 150 yds. For small varmints and game I will go with the 17.

 

[CJ6]

That sums up the way I feel about the 17HMR also.It's a gopher killer and it's way to wind sensitive

 

[bentwood]

I just sighted in my Ruger 77/22 in 22mag.3/4 inch groups at 100 yards,no rest or bags.I am very happy with that and better then a higher priced 17 hmr I had.

 

[barrowsr]

I think the ballistics of the 22 mag round make it a better all around cartridge. Looking at trajectory alone the 17 drops less but when it hits something the energy delivered is so much less than the 22 mag it didn't seem,to me) to be the best careidge for even small animals. Accuracy of the 22 mag has been scetchy over the years while the ammo makers produced some good quality 17HMR stuff right out of the shute. The higher quality 22 mag fodder recently produced has been reported to give very good accuracy.

Robin

 

[jpattersonnh]

I have a browning A-bolt .22 WMR and a Marlin 917v .17HMR. I bought the .17 for my boys as a go vermin hunting w/ Dad gun. At 75 yards w/ a 20gr game point bullet, it is ok on Yotes. My .22 mag on the other hand w/ CCI Maxi mag HP's cleans their clocks every time at 100 yards. Right in the Head. I have an old Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40mm on her, w/ Amberglow optics. That scope is at least 20 years old and the Rifle, 14. I picked up some of the new 30gr offerings in .22 mag, the old 33gr BT remingtons sucked. The .17HMR is a good Woodchuck and smaller gun to 200 yards. I was dissapointed. jp

 

[trapper99]

By both, and after some testing sell the 22 mag. You will be happier with the 17. I did this and sold the 22 mag.

 

[1000yardstare]

Hope nobody minds if an F Class shooter weighs in here. I find the little rimfires very relaxing in between the 1000 yard centerfire competitions. Also a lot cheaper. Just bought a Rem model 5 in .22 Mag. Already have a Savage .17 93BVSS. Have read with interest the various opinions in this thread as to the relative merits of each. After wringing out both over the next few months I hope to contribute new info to this thread. My initial reaction is that the little .17 doesn`t like windy days but will the .22 mag be any better? Looking forward to finding out.

 

[jpattersonnh]

Lets see, bullet weight. I use 20gr for .17HMR and 40gr 90% of the time in .22WMR. We are talking double the mass weight. Even w/ a 30gr .22WMR we are talking a 1/3 increase in weight. Look at it this way, w/ a .223 you can shoot a 55gr pill or a 77gr pill. The 77gr w/ it's heavier mass is the clear winner at distance in the wind. The 55gr may be fine at 300 yards, but after that it really starts moving in the wind. So w/ 2 accurate rifles, 3/4' groups at 100 yards, which do you think will buck the wind better, lighter, or heavier? I shoot my .22mag w/ 40gr on those breezy days and my boys shoot .22LR, CCI Stingers or Aguila Hyper velocity 38gr. Sure the .17HMR would be effective at .22lr ranges, but costs more to shoot. I live in New England, the wind blows allot.

 

[rangerruck]

I disagree with everything the above dude says. Why? I will repeat after Roy Weatherby; ' speed kills'.
the 17, zero'd at 100 yds, drops 3 inches at 150, and 8 inches at 200. WOW!!!!
The 17, at 100 yds, is faster than a 22 mag is, at the muzzle.
Even though most boxes list the 17 at 2550 fps, that is old school rounds, with old school bbls. most dudes I know, are over 2600 fps, and most are near to 2700fps. That is approaching 30.06 speed.
Inside of 80 yds, the 22 mag has more energy, becuase of it's mass, but after that, the 17 takes over in every other way; speed, energy, wind bucking ability, you name it.

 

[rangerruck]

of course, that being said, I prefer the mach 2.
firing eley/remmy rounds,which are hotter loaded, you get over 2300 fps, the rounds cost 1/3 what the hmr's do, and of course, with a mach 2 rifle, you can also shoot 17 aguila, my all time fave round. Which they now make in a hollow point as well. Schwing!!!!

 

[jpattersonnh]

Remington does not make a Eley primered M2. M2 is rated at 2100fps w/ a 17gr bullet. 1500fps at 100 yards and 88lb energy. Glad you got a woodie on that last post, but you are wrong!

Here are facts:

Parent case .22 WMR
Bullet diameter .172 in.
Neck diameter .190 in.
Shoulder diameter .238 in.
Base diameter .238 in.
Rim diameter .286 in.
Case length 1.058 in.
Overall length 1.349 in.
Bullet weight - 17 gr. / Velocity - 2,550 fps. / Energy - 245 ft.lb
Bullet weight - 20 gr. / Velocity - 2,350 fps. / Energy - 250 ft.lb.



Case length: 1.052 in.
Overall length: 1.350 in.
Bullet diameter: .224 in.
Bullet weight - 40 gr. / Velocity - 2,020 fps. / Energy - 360 ft.lb.
.22 Winchester Mag, JHP

30 gr Sierra,velocity,fps/ ft lb)
M
2200 / 325
50m
1720 / 200
100m
1340 / 120

I understand that speed kills, but accuracy rules supreme. Ever wonder why a 9.3x62 is a dangerous game cartridge when the 300 mag is not? Mass weight. Most African countries will not allow a .30 for dangerous game, but a heavier, slower cartridge is a go. Yes the HMR will out range the WMR in calm comditions, but as soon as the wind blows the .22WMR wins the accuracy contest..

 

[1000yardstare]

Went to my local club yesterday and chronod .17,Savage 93BVSS) and .22,Rem model 5) mag loads. Was blowing somewhere between tornado and hurricane so will do comparitive 100 yd groups some other day. Here are the results on my PACT Pro XP:

.17 HMR, all 17 gr.
CCI 2527 fps
Fed 2579
Horn 2536
Win 2548
Rem 2549

.22 WMR
Win SuprX 40 gr 1847 fps
CCI MaxiMag 40 gr 1941
Win Supreme 34 gr 2142
Fed 50 gr 1575
Rem 33 gr 2096
Fed 30 gr TNT 2193