.17 vs. .22lr

[NotSoFast]

I am contemplating a new bolt action rifle that I want to use mainly for non-competitive target shooting and plinking. I am really liking the Savage Mark II wooden stock, but am also weighing a .17 chambered Savage.

I already know the limitations of a .22lr and their advantage of being really cheap.

So what would be your preference and why? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a .17 compared to a .22lr?

 

[Bartkowski]

If you aren't hunting, just go with the .22. It's cheap and fun to shoot, plus ammo is easy to find.

 

[NotSoFast]

I don't plan on hunting with it.

 

[esmith]

You won't want to plink with the cost of .17HM2. .22 is the way to go all the time.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

.22 LR is the king of plinking rounds. .17HMR (or .17 HM2) are going to be much more expensive than good, ol' .22 LR. Cheap plinking = good plinking.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

If you're happy shooting at 50 yards or less, then definitely get the .22 long rifle. If you want to try to shoot at 75, 100, or 150 yards, get the .17 Hummer.

 

[rangerruck]

if not hunting, i would go 17mach2, then 22lr, as nowadays, you can get 17m2 ammo for 4 to 6 bucks a box, plenty cheap enough to plink with. Whereas the 17hmr is not cheap. Also with a 17m2 rifle, you can also fire the 17 aguila round, a spectacular little hunting round.

 

[NotSoFast]

rangerruck - What size is the 17Mach2 box you're talking about? I can see that it would be more accurate so price would be the other factor.

PremiumSauces -

If you want to try to shoot at 75, 100, or 150 yards, get the .17 Hummer.

Why? I would usually be shooting at 100 yards, but occasionally 200 yds.

esmith, SimpleIsGood229 - Thanks. That's three so far.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Because, past 70 or 80 yards, the .22lr is moved way down and left or right due to wind and drop - hard to make hits and get small groups. The higher velocity of the .17 HMR makes the bullet get to the target more quickly, giving less time for the wind to work against the bullet. Also the faster vel gives a straighter trajectory (less drop). The .17 HMR has become extremely popular for good reason. The bottle necked round tends to be very accurate, as compare to straight-walled rimfires (.22lr & .22 WMR) due to the round being kept straight/aligned during ignition of the primer as the bullet starts its trip down the barrel.

If you're gonna shoot at 200 yards, get a .22 hornet, .221 fireball, .17 fireball, or .223 rem. Out to 150 only, a .17 hummer or .22 hornet (or .218 bee) will work.

Distance, distance, distance. Sure you can shoot .22lr at 200 yards, but it takes a lot of practice and trial and error to hit even a largish target at that distance.

 

[NotSoFast]

PremiumSauces - Thanks for the explanation. I will keep that in mind.

 

[Joe Cool]

PremiumSauces - your explanation is very, very clear, thank you.

I bought a scoped 17HMR for my son, who had been getting bored at 25-35 yards or frustrated at 50-100 yards with 22 caliber plinking and iron sights. He watches me with the larger bore rifles, but isn't ready for the recoil just yet. Now he can sit with me at the 100 yard range and enjoy shooting with his old man in a different distance.

 

[Damon555]

No question about it.....22 lr. I went through the same thing a few months ago. It's cheaper and will never go away!

 

[AK103K]

I doubt the .17HMR is going anywhere.

I have one of the Savage's with the laminate thumbhole stocks, and a BSA Sweet 17 scope on it. Its my "garden game management rifle".(read that as, shooting over bait ) Most of my shots are usually at about 50 yards, as thats where the garden is. Here are a few examples of what it will do.....

(blood and guts follow ).....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7d700b3127ccec27eeaff39c400000010O00CYuWbdo5bsQe3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d628b3127ccec486dfc4e3e100000040O00CYuWbdo5bsQe3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

This was shot at 100 yards off a bipod using CCI BT's.(same round that got the critters) Its pretty much what you can expect all day long, as long as the wind doesnt pick up. Wind is the only downfall that I can see to this round, but mainly only on the longer shots.

 

[HB]

The bottle necked round tends to be very accurate, as compare to straight-walled rimfires (.22lr & .22 WMR) due to the round being kept straight/aligned during ignition of the primer as the bullet starts its trip down the barrel.

I don't know if it is the cartridge itself that makes it more accurate, but I would say bullet design has more to do with it. The use of heel based bullets is what holds back .22 lr's.

Get a nice .22


HB

 

[MCgunner]

I'm convinced that you cannot be a decent marksman without a solid background with a .22LR. It just ain't possible. Okay, an over-statement, maybe, but the .22 is important. I couldn't afford to fire the rounds in a centerfire, even reloading, that I have rimfire. God, it's one of those things that "if I had a nickel for every round fired, I'd be a millionaire". .22s are just plain fun and cheap and teach you all the basics. Go after squirrels with one and you'll really learn quick, both hunting techniques and field marksmanship. I'm one of those rural types...AKA rednecks...that grew up with a .22 rifle in his hands. When I wasn't at school or doing chores, I was in the woods with my .22.

BTW, I've got a .22 WMR, M597 Remington, that has fired 1/2" five shot groups at 100 yards. Don't tell ME the .22 can't be accurate! I have an old Remington bolt that can shoot 1.5 MOA all day long at that range with cheap ammo. It's a friggin' match grade rifle with RWS target. That gun is 46 years old this November first. If I just had a nickel for every round that went down THAT rifle's barrel..........

 

[NCsmitty]

The 17 HMR is a wonderful flat shooting, accurate rimfire. I have one in a NEF heavy barrel Sportster. The downside is the $10-$15 per box of ammo. I can reload my 222 or 223 Rem. for the same money and have twice the range.
Buy the 22 unless you have have the money to feed the 17.

NCsmitty

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, most small game hunting is a 50 yards and in proposition. Exceptions can be some varmints that are best taken with a center fire anyway and maybe jack rabbits out on the open desert. But, I can't think of a squirrel I saw at 100 yards that I couldn't close the distance on for the shot. I've shot a BUNCH of 'em with .22 CB shorts, very fun and accurate in my old Remington out to 25 or 30 yards. I use solids cause they don't mess the little critters up so bad. A .17 would vaporize 'em. Actually, most of my squirrel hunting is done with a .22LR handgun now days, but I'm just saying. I wouldn't even have this .22 mag I have except that I fell into a good trade. I'd never have spent money on it. It's fun and accurate, though, so I ain't got plans to sell it. I really don't have much hunting use for it, though. I shoot squirrels with the LR. I mostly just take it to the range and play with it cause it's a very accurate and fun rifle and with a hammer replacement has a great trigger.

 

[rangerruck]

the 17mach 2 is 50 rounds per box. our boys at ammotogo.com sell the eley for basically 4 bucks a box, if you tell them you are a member of Rimfirecentral.com, you may still get our group discount, which was 3.50 per box, but you have to buy at least a case.
here is a pic of 5 shot groups, shooting a marlin 717 m2 semi auto, with open sites, THATS RIGHT , OPEN SIGHTS!!!




HERE , is a group i shot, with a ruger 7717m2, with a scope, at 100 yds;
4 bullets through the same hole, then parrallax jumped up in my face, and I shanked the 5th shot. Really thought I had a world record group going here...the first target has multiple rifles, the ruger
is in the bottom right corner.

 

[rangerruck]

the 17mach 2 is 50 rounds per box. our boys at ammotogo.com sell the eley for basically 4 bucks a box, if you tell them you are a member of Rimfirecentral.com, you may still get our group discount, which was 3.50 per box, but you have to buy at least a case.
here is a pic of 5 shot groups, shooting a marlin 717 m2 semi auto, with open sites, THATS RIGHT , OPEN SIGHTS!!! two diff groups at 50 yds.




HERE , is a group i shot, with a ruger 7717m2, with a scope, at 100 yds;
4 bullets through the same hole, then parrallax jumped up in my face, and I shanked the 5th shot. Really thought I had a world record group going here...

 

[CRITGIT]

That Savage MKII is a winner. Inexpensive to shoot and deadly accurate.
My friends with .17's love 'em but they don't shoot 'em much due to the cost of ammo.
Good luck!

CRITGIT

 

[jhansman]

Started with .17HMR, enjoyed it for a while (until ammo got too costly), moved on to .22LR and have never looked back. I only target shoot, however.

 

[Dookie]

personal preference, for just plain fun, 22LR
I am a 17 HM2 fanatic and shoot it tons. The HMR is shot when I get REALLY bored and feel like uselessly burning money.
If you are going to plink and do target shooting the LR is the way to go. If you like the 100 yard spot go with the HM2. past that up to about 200 the HMR. Centerfire for anything more.
And if you ever do plan on hunting the HM2 is plenty accurate enough to go squirrel beheading.
But when it comes down to it my Mossberg Palomino 22LR is the most fun I have. factory open sight and a lever action.

22LR
Bulk is $15.00 for 500. $.03 a shot.
Hunting $6.00 for 50. $.12 a shot.
Target $10-20 for 50. Split the diff. $.30 a shot
Max safe hunting range. 75 yards.

17 HM2
Hunting/Target/Bulk
Online, $4.50 for 50. $.09 a shot.
In store $7.00 for 50. $.14 a shot.
Max safe range 150 yards.

17 HMR.
Hunting, $14.00 for 50. $.28 a shot.
Max safe range, 200

 

[Zip7]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a .17 compared to a .22lr?

I have a cz rifle in 17HMR and it's a lot of fun to shoot. Very accurate. Extremely accurate.

On the other hand, Like mcgunner, I grew up with a 22 rifle in my hand all the time. I have a bunch of 22 pistols and rifles.

So one day, we were riding around in the woods at the hunting camp - armed of course, on the lookout for varmints like possums, coyotes, coon, etc. We come upon a huge cottonmouth crossing the road. I had my 17HMR rifle, nothing else, so I get out and fire about 5 shots at it at close range - never hit it. My buddy killed it with one shot from a H&R 22 pistol. Scope height above the bore was the problem.. I told him he should have stopped 100 yards from the snake and I would have got it. So for pure practicality, I prefer the 22 with open sights especially if I were to be attacked by venomous snakes . When I want to shoot small insects at 50 to 100 yards and amaze my pals, the 17HMR gets the nod.

 

[bhk]

The .22 is just more versitile. You can shoot Stingers for killing power on varmints, regular long rifle hollow points for most hunting, bulk pack anything for normal plinking, high-dollar target ammo for spetacular accuracy to 100 yards, and CBs or Aguilla Super Colibris for very quite backyard practice (quieter than some air rifles). With the .17s, you essentially have one choice.

 

[Dookie]

one choice.
lets see.
17 gr. HP
20 gr. FMJ
17 gr. vmax
20 gr. jacketed spire point
20 gr. xtp
20 gr. HP
all made for hunting and all will out shoot a target 22 at 100 yards, unless someone gets LUCKY