Good round between .22lr and .223

[B23]

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?

It's not so much they are "finicky" but rather the ammo quality/consistency for just about all rimfires, short of 22LR Target ammo, is marginal at best and can have pretty significant variance in how it shoots from lot to lot.

You didn't mention what you'll be using this for so knowing that will help make any suggestions and you didn't mention if this needs to be a standard cartridge chambered in factory guns or a wildcat cartridge.

The little 17 Hornet is a really fun cartridge and being a CF you can develop a load and really dial your gun in to it. Also, factory ammo generally shoots pretty decent.

A couple others to consider but are not factory chamberings would be a 20-221 or 20-222. The 20-221 does everything the 20VT does, just without the marketing hype and added expense. I think the 20-222 is an easier build and will feed as well as extract like butter with just about any 223 action where as anything based off the 17/221 FB case not so much without a little extra work/cost.

 

[El Matador]

The 17 HMR can be pretty decent and I like being able to buy 50 rounds for 10 bucks. The trick is to test several types of ammo and then buy a bunch of the brand that shoots best. This way you're immune from any lot-to-lot variation. My CZ 455 American shoots the CCI 20 grain soft points into 1 moa at 100 yards. At 50 yards most shots go into about 1/2 MOA but I get about 20% flyers that open it up. Very low recoil, minimal barrel heating, and the guns are less expensive than a centerfire.

For a centerfire gun I really like the .218 Bee. My dad has a Model 43 and it's his favorite rabbit gun. The biggest problem with it is the brass can be hard to come by. Another thing to consider would be a slow twist 223 and shoot light bullets. There's a big difference between a 62 grain bullet at 3000 fps and a 35 grain loaded down to 3300 fps. You probably have the brass and dies already laying around. Other than these options I think the best ones have already been mentioned.

 

[rkittine]

I received so many responses to my request for loading supplies for the .22 Remington Jet that I now could open a Jet Store. I have reached out to Bob White about chambering a barrel for me in this caliber to take advantage of all the brass and projectiles I have. If I shot them all up without reloading, I would probably wear out my S&W Model 53. Looking forward to seeing what it would do in a long barrel.

Bob

 

[Bill K]

[
The 20-221 does everything the 20VT does, just without the marketing hype and added expense. I think the 20-222 is an easier build and will feed as well as extract like butter with just about any 223 action where as anything based off the 17/221 FB case not so much without a little extra work/cost.[/QUOTE]

The 20 VT is the 221FB case necked down. And even the 17-221 FB was the 17 Rem Fireball, all of them have/had the parent case based off the 221 FB. The 20-222R case would probably feed better in most repeaters, for sure.
But if you are shooting single shot, as most to off a bench in the rat fields all work great.

 

[drover]

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 experience with the 17 HMR is limited to two rifles, a CZ 452 sporter and a Ruger American Rimfire sporter, both shoot 5 shot groups of 1/2" or less at 50 yds and 5 shot groups just under 1" at 100 yds, with the RAR surprisingly shooting slightly smaller groups than the CZ. The only ammo I have used in either of them is the Federal 17 grain, with them both shooting it that well I could not see any point in trying anything else. Oh yeah, that is from various lots of it.

My local ranch store often has it on sale for $8.99 per box of 50 rds, so whenever I am in I pick up a couple of boxes, I don't notice the outlay as much that way.

drover

 

[biggun2869]

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.

I actually have a 17-223! It is an old duck. Made on a 722 action and supposedly a Douglas barrel. In any case it is a fine shooter. It is still in the old 722 stock which we all know isn't condusive to accuracy. I love that old gun!

 

[biggun2869]

I just don't have love for the 17 HMR. It is an OK idea but it is made by U.S. manufacturers! It just isn't gonna happen!!

 

[searcher]

I, along with my ground squirrel shooting buddies employ .22 LR, .17 HMR, .17 WSM, .17 Hornet, .20 Practical, .223 Rem - along with a lot of larger cartridges. We shoot these mentioned a LOT! To choose between the .22 LR and .223 Rem., I'd choose the .17 WSM. It will easily shoot accurately to 250 yards, with substantially more reach and authority than a .17 HMR and one still doesn't need to reload. If you are insistent on reloading or want a bit more controllable accuracy through reloading- I'd go with the .17 Hornet because it is much quieter than the .20 or .223, uses less than half the powder and bullets are cheap as well. It will do anything all the rimfires will do - only better. The .20 practical (or .204 Ruger) have an edge with light bullets over the .223, though not by a large margin. I'd consider the .20 or .223 an "either/or", though I favor the .20 Practical when shooting 39 Blitz Kings as opposed to the .223 when the heavier bullets are not needed due to conditions.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The 17 HMR and the 22 Mag.

Both rim fire rounds and if you live in California, you HAVE to go thru an FFL to buy it and when the ammo supply gets tight, you're SOL.
I'am not a real big fan of the 20 VT but maybe I need to go back and give it another chance?

 

[Bangs OH]

.19 Calhoon Hornet.

 

[baddarryl]

Thanks everyone. I posted this mostly out of curiosity. This rifle would be mostly target, but occasionally for small varmints IE Squirrels etc. I like flatter shooting out to 150 than I can get with the .22lr. I also vote for easy ammo and factory rounds as I have no need to be eccentric. As soon as we jump up to Coyote land my CZ 527 in .223 will obviously do, but has a 1:9 twist so I can’t go too light in bullets. Maybe a deal on a slow twist one will come up. I kind of like that idea.

Thanks, Darryl

 

[drover]

Thanks everyone. I posted this mostly out of curiosity. This rifle would be mostly target, but occasionally for small varmints IE Squirrels etc. I like flatter shooting out to 150 than I can get with the .22lr. I also vote for easy ammo and factory rounds as I have no need to be eccentric. As soon as we jump up to Coyote land my CZ 527 in .223 will obviously do, but has a 1:9 twist so I can’t go too light in bullets. Maybe a deal on a slow twist one will come up. I kind of like that idea.

Thanks, Darryl

Try your CZ 527 with lightweight bullets, you will likely be surprised at how well it shoots them. I have 223's with 1-8 and 1-10 twist and they both shoot 40 gr V-Max and Nosler Ballistic Tips into 5 shot groups of 1/2" at 100 yds and both shoot 50 grain bullets fine including Speer TNT.

drover

 

[B23]

Thanks everyone. I posted this mostly out of curiosity. This rifle would be mostly target, but occasionally for small varmints IE Squirrels etc. I like flatter shooting out to 150 than I can get with the .22lr. I also vote for easy ammo and factory rounds as I have no need to be eccentric. As soon as we jump up to Coyote land my CZ 527 in .223 will obviously do, but has a 1:9 twist so I can’t go too light in bullets. Maybe a deal on a slow twist one will come up. I kind of like that idea.

Thanks, Darryl

222 or 17 Hornet

 

[Depart123]

5.7 FN.

 

[Hohn]

Just load your .223 really light with a fast powder. Not worth it proliferating a caliber to split such a small difference.

 

[baddarryl]

Just load your .223 really light with a fast powder. Not worth it proliferating a caliber to split such a small difference.

I picked up some 40gr Sierra HP Varminters today. What are some powders like you describe? I have just started reloading. Thanks

 

[strut64]

I would throw out that a 20 practical is a good choice. I am tempted on. My next build .

 

[Hohn]

I picked up some 40gr Sierra HP Varminters today. What are some powders like you describe? I have just started reloading. Thanks

Reloder 7, power pro 1200, h4198, imr4198, h322, imr3031, benchmark. I’m sure there are others.

 

[redrockranger]

The 20 Practical is my favorite Prairie Dog rifle. Good info in the 20cal section.

 

[searcher]

Both rim fire rounds and if you live in California, you HAVE to go thru an FFL to buy it and when the ammo supply gets tight, you're SOL.

I have asked a few small gun shops around where I live in southern California and they will typically charge 10% mark-up to receive ammo. Find a place who has it on sale and will ship to FFL in California and buy enough to wear your rifle out. Then no need to ever give it another thought. .17 HMR was intermittently available (even lead free) when no .22 rimfire was available. Getting .22 Mag was the worse!