Good round between .22lr and .223

[baddarryl]

Hi all. I saw a nice Ruger 77 in 17hmr the other day and it got me thinking of .17s. I have several .22lrs, .223 bolt and ARs, .30/30 and .30/06.

What falls right between the .22lr and .223? I am leaning center fire and I reload. 17 Hornet, 204 Ruger? I want to reach farther and flatter than .22lr a but not be too redundant and intrude on .223 territory in a bolt rifle. Thanks.

 

[Yamess191]

I would say 221 fireball, 20 vartarg, 17 fireball 22 hornet 22 k hornet, 17 hornet are all good out to 200-300 on small varmints. The 20 vartarg and 17 fireball being the two flattest shooting.

 

[357Mag]

Baddarryl -

Howdy !

If you don’t view it as being too close to .223, I’d vote for the venerable
.222Remington. Superbly accurate, easy on barrels, easy to load for; can be shot using reduced loads....if desired. A common bolt face.

I DK the type of gun you want to shoot, but you might consider the
.22 Hornet, if it’s range capabilities are a good fit for your shooting needs.
Many that shoot them, love em’.

I have sometimes thought about a “.22 Jet “, set-up as a true .224” calibre gun. That would greatly expand bullet choices vs the stock “Jet”. It would only require a very minor case neck ID expansion to true .224” cal.

I also think reloading die changes would be readily do-able ( seating stems,
neck size bushings, etc ). Hmmm......
Again, range requirements play a role.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[jds holler]

It's far from common these days, but I love my 218 Bee. It's a much better case to reload than the Hornet, a smidge more powerful, and now becoming easier to get brass for. I haven't tried any of the new brass, cause I've still got stuff that Jesus and I were shooting squirrels with when we were kids.

I'd love to find a bolt gun to fit it, and make a 20 cal. Bee. I'd call it
"The 204 jd Bee". My old Win. Model 43 is too sweet and original to mess with. jd

 

[RDavies]

I say either a 221 Fireball or a 17 Fireball. In either case it is a step down from a 223 and practical for the field. Decent quality and strength brass and accurate designs. I have a 17 Rem which I love but and used to have a 221 Fireball which was great on hundreds of crows with 40gn pills though I did have a quieter 35gn load which was a bit above K hornet speeds.

 

[NorCalMikie]

.221 Fireball or 20 Vartarg. I stay away from the 17 calibers. Bullets are way too small for older fingers to pick up and deal with anymore.

 

[linebaugh]

.221 Fireball or 20 Vartarg. I stay away from the 17 calibers. Bullets are way too small for older fingers to pick up and deal with anymore.

what he said

 

[drover]

Hi all. I saw a nice Ruger 77 in 17hmr the other day and it got me thinking of .17s. I have several .22lrs, .223 bolt and ARs, .30/30 and .30/06.

What falls right between the .22lr and .223? I am leaning center fire and I reload. 17 Hornet, 204 Ruger? I want to reach farther and flatter than .22lr a but not be too redundant and intrude on .223 territory in a bolt rifle. Thanks.

17 HMR will fill that slot nicely, lots of ammo available, relatively cheap, no reloading required, a good selection of rifles that shoot well without breaking the bank - that is a hard combination to beat.

For high percentage hits I use my 22 lr out to 75-80 yds, the 17 HMR out 125-135 yds and the 223 for anything further than that.

drover

 

[snowpro440]

Why not 22mag ? Don't got to reload ammo. If reloading 17Fireball or 221 or 222 would be my choice.

 

[biggun2869]

I love my CZ in 22 hornet. I like the fact that I can reload for it, Much cheaper than 22 mag or 17 HMR. But then I had a friend give me a lot of brass a few years ago.

 

[Bill K]

204 R, 20 VarTarg or even a 17 Fireball. Anyone would fit very nicely between the two cartridges you mention. Especially where you do reload.

I am 82 yrs old and have no trouble handling the 17 caliber bullets and reloading the 17 caliber cartridges I shoot. 17 Hornet and 17 Fireball. And I don't have what I would call small hands.

 

[baddarryl]

On the subject of 17HMR I have read the .17 rimfires are even more finicky to find good ammo for. That is why I am veering away a little. Any truth to that?

Darryl

 

[AWS]

If you just have to have a new rifle any of the above, what ever rings your chimes.

A svelte little sako L416 in 222 Rem are great and with a little reloading you can make it anything from a 22 Mag on up.

You can do the same with your 223 load it like you want.

 

[garandman]

Target or varmint?

 

[garandman]

Vudoo chambers a 17HM2. IIRC, they said its a more legit caliber than 22WMR. I trust Vudoo to know their stuff.

 

[Bill K]

On the subject of 17HMR I have read the .17 rimfires are even more finicky to find good ammo for. That is why I am veering away a little. Any truth to that?

Darryl

My little CZ455, heavy barrel bedding into a Boyd's pepper laminate stock shoots the lead free 15.5 and even the 17 grain ammo, consistently MOA or under. It is just sweet too shoot and up to around 175 yrds very deadly on small critters.

 

[Dessert]

One more vote for the 22 mag.

 

[Mulligan]

The 22 Waldog is another dandy. Although it is really tough to beat the VarTarg.
CW

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

After having fun and watching the 17 wsm on prairie dogs, I would include that on my list. If commented to centerfire and reloading go 20 practical. Then when you tire of the 223 you use the brass in the 20p. Other choice of 17/223, just easier to find 20 cal bullets.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

The two calibers that are your answer have been mentioned numerous times: 221FB or the 20VT.

I shoot 14 varmint calibers, those two are the ones to consider for what you want, period.