.22 WMR or .17....?

22mag 'cause I like it better

Plus it's cheaper to shoot.

I have no problems hitting accurately with my 77/22 at 100 or even 150 but it gets tricky beyond that.
My .17 that I sold shot 150-200 but terminal performance is what led me to keep the .22 WMR.
I agree the .17 shoots flatter but is more susceptible to changes and natural variants affecting it past the 150 mark.
Just my opinion others will follow.

depends on what you consider "flat" shooting vs too much drop, but 200 yards is a bit of a stretch for either
probably better off with the heavier bullet WMR for consistency at 200

in centerfires, those old heavy rainbow rounds tend to be more "consistent" at VERY long distances than fast-n-light, no matter how fast.. something or other analogous to that

22 mag doesn't have quite the range the 17 has, but it hits harder inside that range. Ammo for the 22 mag is cheaper as well, but if rabbits and groundhogs are what you're after you can't go wrong with either.

22mag is more consistent at 150yds and the heavier bullet is better for hunting

What the world needs is a better selection of .22 Hornet rifles and ammunition.
There is no reason Savage and Mossberg could not produce moderate priced rifles and ammunition companies could not offer both medium & high velocity loads.
As a plus the cartridge is reloadable, something none of the rimfires are without going to more trouble than it is worth to do so.

The magnum rimfires are simply not cost effective anymore.
It is time to bring back the .22 Hornets, .22 extra long centerfire straightwall, and the .25/20s!

I couldn't agree more with onmilo, the rimfire magnums have priced themselves out of the market. Just a few years ago I was buying 22mag for about 8-9 cents per shot. Even then my tack-driving Marlin 22mag was not a plinking rifle.. 22 Hornet makes 22mag seem like a bb gun and they are rarely seen anymore

After spending plenty of time with both, I concluded that the .22Mag is more potent within its effective range of 150yds but the .17HMR shoots flatter and is plenty capable on small varmints out to 250yds. The .17 tends to be more accurate, my $300 Savage shoots half-MOA all day long with 20gr XTP's and that seems to be rather typical. The XTP is also the better game bullet, particularly if you're after coyotes, bobcats, coons, possums, skunks and foxes. On smaller critters, the 17gr V-Max is very explosive. Ammo cost is not really a consideration for me because they are both hunting cartridges, not for plinking. So a few boxes lasts me a long time.

It is time to bring back the .22 Hornets, .22 extra long centerfire straightwall, and the .25/20s!

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I fully agree but I think there will always be a place in my heart and collection for rimfire magnums. Sometimes you just don't wanna spend an hour at the reloading bench to do five minutes of shooting.

the rimfire magnums have priced themselves out of the market

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Hardly, just because .22 mag costs more than it did a few years ago doesn't mean it is expensive to shoot. Price is relative, .22lr has more than doubled in the last few years and I wouldn't say it has "priced itself out of the market". This doesn't happen in the real world, demand will control price, and the demand for rimfires has only increased. I would happily pay more than .17hmr cost now just because I like to shoot it, and only shoot 50-100 rounds at a time. If I were so concerned about dollars I guess I could give up scotch, and good espresso...and thats not going to happen.

See Varmint Al's page...

http://varmintal.com/17hmr.htm


This a .22m Magnum chart with a 125yd zero point.

I chose the .17 HMR because it looks on paper to be better suited for target shooting at various ranges. I don't plan lots of hunting with it so that's secondary for me.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that I found a rifle I'd always wanted, CZ 452 Varmint, used at a reasonable price in .17 HMR! Around here, if you actually compare between .22 WMR and .17 HMR prices they aren't far off, with .22WMR being cheaper by about a dollar usually.

I have to say that I LOVE my HMR, it easliy shoot sub .5 MOA at 100. It is a laserr beam, anything that I can get the BDC reticle on gets hit. That being said, I am also looking to get a 10/22 for those really long gopher days, just cause it is cheaper than the HMR, but if you look for sales at your local gun/sporting goods store, you can often find specials on the HMR, and make it just about as econimical to shoot.

I go 17HMR if shots are going to be around 100 plus, 22WMR if shots are going to be inside of 100. 17 HMR lets you take head shots at 125 yds. 22WMR probably does more damage in close. I proved a 17 HMR will punch a clean hole through a (cheap) steel cooking pot at a measured 100 yds. Its powerful enough.

i understand the idea of the 17hmr, but really, unless it was for target shooting at varying distances, i would rather have the 22 wmr. of course, i would rather use a heavier bullet than a light one in any gun at any range when actually taking game. paper kills very easily. animals (other than humans) tend to fight hard to stay alive. that is why we have such devestating bullets.

I got the Savage 92r17 at Cabelas for around $300. It came with a Pine Ridge 3x9x40 scope with elev & windage turrents. Clicked for the HMR. Accutrigger, lammy stock & heavy barrel. It's a bolt 5rd mag. I have no exp with the 22mag. This response is based purely on my experience with the HMR.

Sighted in at 100yrds clicked turrent to 200yrds & first shot made the 20oz rootbeer bottle jump! 4 shots later the rootbeer bottle was torn to shreads & 20 from where the first shot hit it. 17gr V-max.

Three yotes 100yrds, 179yrds & 211yrds DRT with the 17gr V-Max

I've never had a 22mag I'd still like to get one but don't think it'll be anytime soon. As for ammo price. They both are the SAME around here 10-20cent difference +/-.

I have single shot 17HMR. It's really a nice cartridge and it is pretty accurate out to 200 yards. I haven't taken it hunting yet, but I'm confident that I won't have a problem with lethal shot placement.

Mptrimshop,

IMO I don't think you will be dissappointed. It's a great rifle & I'm kickng tires about ordering a Richards stock for it. I don't believe I've heard a bad thing about them. I do reccomend not buying it until you get to work the bolt on the one they SELL you. The display gun had a great bolt but when they brought out the one from the back, the bolt was not as smooth. I ended actually buying the 3rd one they brought from the back. You don't have to settle for the one that the warehouse boy brings up. I learned this lesson the hard way & always check now.

If you decide to buy it, let me know what you think of it.

I've been having great results with my 22 MAG by Marlin. Ordinary WINCHESTER ammo featuring 40 grain hollow tip produces best accuracy for me. 5 shots cluster together into a Dixie cup sized group at 75 yards every time.

These bullets strike like a grenade. Flesh damage is ghastly; stay with head shots.

TR

Congrats!! let us know how it shoots.

Congrats!!! I know you'll love it!! Check out the picture TomADC posted on the thread about the Centerpoint 4x16x40 scope. I get the same results & grouping. Once you get it dialed in, you will as well.

Have fun with it & be ready to be impressed!