17 HMR vs 22Mag

[stovepipe699]

Hello to everyone in the hunting forum, I have only posted in the reloading forum until now. I'm risking stirring up the pot here, but I have never owned either caliber and want to know if the 17 HMR will do the job on jack rabbits and coyotes as well as the 22 Mag. The guy at the gun store would have me believe the 22 mag is al but obsolete now, but I know people who had both and told me the 17hmr didn't have as much killing power. Or maybe I should get a 22 hornet. What's your experience?

 

[trueg50]

First off, from what I have heard, either of those calibers might be a little iffy for coyote, though of course shot placement is very important here.

The 22 Mag will be cheaper than the 17, thats a given. As to it dying? I doubt it, they 17 has range, but the 22mag has a lot of power at under 125 yards. So it really depends on the range you will be shooting at.

If your post this in the rimfirecentral forums you might have better luck.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have both the .22 WMR and the .22 Hornet. For coyotes, I'd much prefer the Hornet. My favorite load for the Hornet is a case full of Hodgeon's L'il Gun behind a 35-grain Hornady V-Max, loaded out to touch the lands. This gets a bit more than 3,000 fps in my M82 Kimber and shoots about 1/2 minute of angle.

 

[627PCFan]

From what Ive heard, the HMR and the 20 Grain Controlled Expansion will do the job on a coyote +/- within a 100 yard max. Cant speak to the 22 mag-

 

[marksman13]

The 17 HMR with the 20 grain CCI Gamepoint bullet is quite effective on coyotes and similar sized animals within 100 yards. The 22 Mag ain't going anywhere though. The 17 HMR shoots a little flatter, but the 22 Mag should retain more energy downrange. how much does knockdown really matter when we're talking about mouse guns anyway though? Either will do what you want. The 17HMR is just the latest edition to the rimfire line up. I like mine, but that salesman was just trying to turn a bigger long-term proffit.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I originally got a .22 Mag because I hunted an area where rimfires were legal for turkey -- and where legal, the .22 Mag beats the heck out of a shotgun. I would hesitate, though, to use the .17 HMR for that purpose. A .22 Mag solid packs plenty of punch for turkey and doesn't blast meat into turkeyburger.

 

[eliphalet]

. The guy at the gun store would have me believe the 22 mag is al but obsolete now

Might be wise to shop at a different gun store. Your going to have questions in the future and you want to have some faith in whats being said. This guy doesn't install that confidence to me at all.

 

[stolivar]

what if

If they used the same type of bullet on the 22 mag we would not even be having this discussion.


steve

 

[marksman13]

Care to explain, stolivar?

 

[stolivar]

if

If it use the same type of hornady bullet the 22 mag would keep up and pass the 17

the advantage of the 17 is the better bullet.


steve

 

[marksman13]

I think this is a matter of opinion, stolivar. It really depends on the distances being hunted. The 17 HMR owns the 22 mag in velocity, trajectory and accuaracy. Say what you want about bullet construction, but I don't think there will ever be a 22 mag bullet that will match the inherrent accuracy of the 17 HMR. That said, the 22 mag does outshine the 17 HMR in terms of energy, and sectional density. Inside of 100 yards the 22 mag compares fairly well to the 17 HMR, but beyond that, I don't care what kind of bullet you put in a 22 Mag case, it is going to be hard to top the performance of a 17 HMR. Here is a good article comparing the two.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

 

[RonE]

The 22 mag shoots a bigger bullet (about twice the weight) than the .17 HMR but the .17's volicity is about twice as fast. The thing that I like most about the .17 is that it doesn't riccochet as bad as most .22 cal rounds, especially the .22 rimfire rounds. Properly sighted and with proper shot placement both rounds will kill cayotes, especially within 100 yards. The 22mag will have greater down range energy but the flatter shooting .17 will be easier to hit the target with at almost any mid range out to 150 yards. Regardless of what you choose, just shoot it as much as you can and as often as you can. Personally, I would buy both.

 

[stolivar]

Thats right

I stand corrected.


steve

 

[marksman13]

Both of these cartridges have their merritts. I love my 17 HMR, but I would never discredit the history of the 22 Mag. It is a great round and inside of 100 yards it beats the 17 HMR hands down. Over 100 the HMR rules.

 

[stovepipe699]

Thanks for the advice evreyone. I may go with the 22 Mag for better killing power and cheaper bullets.

 

[eliphalet]

Some good info in this thread and some not so good.
Comparing the Federals premium 17HMR using 17 grain bullet and the 22 Mag's 30 grain.
Velocity is only 330 faster for the 17, with less muzzle energy from the beginning.
Drop comparisons sighted in at 100 yards is less than 2 1/2 inches difference at 150 yards.

All in all I prefer the 22 Mag but,
Compare for yourselves.

http://www.federalpremium.com/ballistics/Ammo_Search.aspx?act=choose&firearm=3&s1=1

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I don't think the 17 is quite up to yotes. The .22 mag. is more powerful and with good shot placement it will make humane kills. I've not had any luck with my .17 except it's an excellent crow rifle. The .22 mag. is quite a bit more powerful out to about 75 to 100 yds.

 

[skinewmexico]

I think they are making the 22 mag with the same bullet as a 17 HMR. I don't consider either good for coyotes, although I'd probably try to drop one in an ear if that was the rifle I was holding. I do love my 17 though. Like shooting a laser to 200 yards, and amazing on jackrabbits at 100+.

 

[skinewmexico]

Oops. Duplicate.

 

[marksman13]

I think the 17 HMR outshines the 22 Mag due to sheer accuracy potential. I have never shot a 22 Mag that was MOA accurate. I have yet to shoot a 17 that won't shoot MOA. I do believe the 22 Mag is a better sub-one hundred yard cartridge, but past that mark, the 17 HMR smokes it. You can't go wrong with either one though.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have a minute-of-angle .22 Mag, a Ruger M77/22M in stainless.

 

[Bearhands]

I've heard that a moth passing wind will blow the .17 off target past 100yrds

 

[ratgunner]

The .17 may be flatter shooting,but past 100-125yds. does it really have anything left to kill a coyote reliably ?Stovepipe,buy a Hornet if you want to shoot 'yotes.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That's why I haven't traded in or rebarreled my Ruger M77/22M. It does what I want, and if I need more, I'll step up to my Kimber M82 in .22 Hornet.

 

[skinewmexico]

I've heard that a moth passing wind will blow the .17 off target past 100yrds

It's not that bad! And I live where the wind blows.