.17 HMR or .22 mag

[acmax95]

I am looking for a bolt action .22 MAG or .17 HMR for small game hunting. What round would you recommend? I already have a .22LR and was wanting something with a little more power.

Also any recomendations on rifles in the under $400 range?

 

[mjyeagle]

go for the 17 check out savage model 93r17 dont know how much it costs but i love mine very accurate 100 yds or less the only problem is it not made in the usa(canada)

 

[22/17 SHOOTER]

17HMR hands down.
I have rifles in both calibers, i shoot them side by side, there is no doubt in my mind, the 17HMR is the ticket. Super flat trajectory, pin point accuracy, my Savage is shooting .750 dia. groups at 100 yards.
But i do not like the Accu Trigger. It's a matter of taste i guess, some people like it, some don't.
I tried the Marlin model 917 el cheapo rifle in 17HMR and i like it even better than Savage. The store price here in NE Ohio is $248.00, plus scope, so $400.00 should cover it easy with some $ left for ammo.
Go with the 17,
Cezar.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

They fill the same niche. Differences in accuracy are relatively insignificant for a hunting rifle. Paper shooters prefer the .17. No difference in price. The .22 mag offers heavier bullets, the .17 lighter faster loadings. The .17 is in vogue for sure, but the .22wmr would be a fine choice for small game also.

 

[winknplink]

+1 for the 17 HMR overall, but, the 22 mag will be the better "game" killer within the first 100 yards. Heavier bullet, more power and it seems to do less damage than the 17 HMR, which is good for game. Whereas inside that same range, the HMR tends to do much more damage, which makes it the better "varmint" rifle...IMO.

small game within 150 yards = 22 mag

varmints/targets from here out to 300 yards = 17 HMR

 

[TonyAngel]

I too have had both and each has it's advantages. The .22 mag is a bigger, heavier bullet and is less affected by the wind. The .17 is a light faster bullet, with a flatter trajectory, but is more affected by the wind. As a practical matter, if you are just punching holes in paper, I'd go with the .17. If you are hunting, I'd go for the .22.

 

[A and O]

17 hmr hands down. I have the Marlin 917 elcheapo with a sweet 17 on it and and can shoot gnats off of flies with it at 100yds. Well sorta like that.

 

[viking499]

+1 with what TonyAngel said......

I was looking at getting a 17 awhile back, but with some of the new 22 mag ammo that is out now, I just put mine on a new diet and it really has done well. Have no desire for a 17 now. If I was starting from scratch, I would probably still go with the mag over the hmr.

 

[CraigC]

For edible small game, neither. For varmints and smaller predators, it depends. The .22Mag is more effective on game within its range of around 150yds. The .17HMR tends to be much more accurate and is plenty effective to 250yds and beyond. Contrary to popular belief, the .17 has less wind drift.

 

[TonyAngel]

The .17 has less wind drift? That wasn't my experience at all, and I was only shooting to 100 yards. May have been the ammo I was using.

 

[Pulsar]

go with the 17 HMR
i have both and the 17 goes hunting alot more than my 22mags

marlin 917, and savage 93r17 cant go wrong with either

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I have both and currently my Savage 93 .17hmr comes out of the safe more often. I have killed some big pigs with it, internal damage was unbelievable. 100 yard shot on a #200 sow behind the ear dropped her in her tracks.

 

[non2os13]

i was looking for a pest control rimfire 2 years ago. i ended up going with the 17hmr. i love the gun. i have shot crows out at 250 yards and it usually ends up being a 1 hit mess.

 

[gbran]

I have both. The 17hmr has a much flatter trajectory and is a joy to shoot, but I often just break out one of my .223's for which I reload.

 

[rangerruck]

the hmr, zero'ed at 100 yds, will only drop 7 inches at 200 yds, with half the windrift of the 22 mag. that is really all you need to know.
For a rifle, it is really hard to get a non accurate hmr, but for 400 bucks or less, I would do a cz or the maxed out Savage.

 

[Buzzard]

.17HMR has a higher velocity, a longer range and a much flatter trajectory. It does, however, drift a bit in the wind because the bullet weighs a mere 17 grains. The nice part is you can use rapid-expanding varmint bullets in the .22WMR for pests, and HPs or solids for hunting. Can't do that with the .17HMR as it only comes with the blow-'em-up bullets.

As for a rifle... Savage 93. Comes in both calibers, has an Accutrigger, will shoot lovely groups, and won't break your wallet. The 93FSS in .22WMR is around $270, same goes for the 93R17 FSS. Aside from the caliber difference, the .17 will need a scope as it doesn't come with open sights.

 

[Tentwing]

Same as many of the posters so far I too own both, and like both of them. The 17HMR makes it to the woods more often though. It is surprising what that tiny bullet can do.

It will nearly vaporize a squirrels head at 100 yards, and you can see the impact through the scope cause there is no kick. Also if a Coyote interupts your squirrel hunt?? ......Well his head did not fair much better. It will also drop a Yote if you hit him in the boiler room.

I still like them both though, so I imagine my post was no help to you ,.....sorry...Tentwing

 

[A and O]

And the scope that does not break the budget is the Sweet17 or for the 22 the Sweet22.

 

[rodensouth]

The 17 can use cci 20 grain "game bullets" which do hold together well.

The 17 drifts less.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

the 20 grain game points do some really hellacious damage to the innerds of a big hog if you hit him right, like I stated before, massive internal damage, I have seen lungs, heart completely blown up. I aint seen the .22 mag do this.

 

[CraigC]

Can't do that with the .17HMR as it only comes with the blow-'em-up bullets.

Not really. The XTP holds together and works well on the bigger stuff. Haven't had a coyote tote one off yet!

 

[oldfool]

another vote here for -
22 WMR for hunting
17 HMR for tight groups

there is enough overlap, though, that it is not night vs. day
on tree rats <75 yards, the old standby 22LR will do "better" than either
and on yote size, any of the 20-something centerfires have advantages

 

[Davek1977]

Not really. The XTP holds together and works well on the bigger stuff. Haven't had a coyote tote one off yet!

CCI alos produces a .17 HMR fmj round, correct? Or has it been discontinued? II'm a fan of thre .17 myself, owning a Marlin 917VSF. I've shot groups I thought were previously impossible at my skill level with this gun, and although I haven't gotten that far yet, I've heard a Rifle Basix trigger makes it that much better of a gun.

 

[oldfool]

various brand flavors come in 20 grain solid points, 17 grain hollow points, and 17 grain poly-V
there is no predicting in advance which round you will print with best, at 50 yards, nor 100 yards, not even if your buddy shoots same make/model rifle, you have to shoot your own to find out
mine likes the TNT 17 grain at 50-75 yards, 20 gr solids at longer, is not real fond of the poly-V

the after market triggers do not make the gun any more accurate, they can make a difference for the shooter... doesn't hurt to throw a bunch of rounds downrange before presuming advantage, the Savage accu-trigger works well enough for me, not for all

 

[RainDodger]

I found that my Savage is really particular about ammo, but once I got that sorted out, I'm printing about .7" groups at 100 yards when the conditions are right. Mine seems to like the Hornady 20 grain XTPs and I get out to 1.5" groups if I stray to the 17 grain bullets.

Other than finding the ammo you shoot the best with, I've found the .17 to be a lot of fun, and I'm one that likes the AccuTrigger. I think it's just going to be whatever you like the best!

edit: the scope is a $109 Simmons 6.5-20X "Whitetail Classic", from Midway. First non-Leupold I've had in years. Seems ok.

Savage 93R17 BTVS: