.17HMR work safely in actions/barrels chambered for .22WMR?

[grimjaw]

Forgive my ignorance on this topic, I'm just getting back into shooting sports after many years away.

I've been going back and forth between getting a single shot or bolt action chambered for .17 HMR or .22 WMR. I initially thought they were mutually exclusive, but an article by Chuck Hawks suggests that for rifles chambered .22 WMR, the .17 HMR should work . . .

The new cartridge also had to be adaptable to existing rimfire rifle designs. They settled on a .22 WMR case, the largest and strongest rimfire case available, necked down to accept a .172 inch diameter bullet. The maximum overall length of the cartridge is 1.35 inches, the same as that specified for the .22 WMR, insuring that it will fit in the magazines and work through the actions of rifles designed for the .22 WMR cartridge. The result is a bottleneck rimfire case about the length of the .22 WMR case with a small but definite 25-degree shoulder.

Original article: http://www.chuckhawks.com/17HMR.htm

I am trying to find additional info about this, but so far no luck. It would be great if I could get a single shot .22 WMR that could also fire .17 HMR. I wasn't trying to start an argument on the merits or shortcomings of actions or cartridges. Couldn't find a more appropriate forum than this one, as cartridges of these types are made for both hand guns and long guns.

jmm

 

[foghornl]

Way too much difference [approx .05"] in bullet sizing for any sort of velocity and accuracy.

The round is made so that a whole new design in magazines and actions is not required. Same reason that .308 sized bullets do not shoot well in .311-.312 sized bores, although the diameter diiference is much greater in the .17 vs. 22 sized bores.

 

[jsalcedo]

Having fired a .355 bullet in a .357 mag......

I know all you would get is a pop, unburned powder and crappy ballistics.

 

[Firethorn]

Foghorn has it. A new chamber/barrel would be required. While the required modifications for a manufacturer is minimal, they're on the substantial side for aftermarket modification.

It's just nice that a new magazine/action doesn't have to be designed.

 

[grimjaw]

That makes sense to me. Thanks for the explanation.

Just have to buy two guns instead of one, oh poor me.

Luckily single shot rifles in either caliber can be had for dirt cheap. Ain't it cool?

jmm

 

[Vern Humphrey]

There are switch barrel guns on the market -- you can get a Thompson-Center or an H&R with interchangeable .22 Mag and .17 HMR barrels.

 

[hksw]

Just have to buy two guns instead of one, oh poor me.

IMO, if you go with a .17HMR first, you'll forget about getting the .22mag.

 

[grimjaw]

IMO, if you go with a .17HMR first, you'll forget about getting the .22mag

We'll see if the rain lets up tomorrow and I get scope rings that actually FIT.

link to image

New England Firearms Sportster, 22" heavy barrel in .17 HMR. Only complaint I have so far is that it's not balanced well b/c of the synthetic stock and extra heavy barrel. The gun weighs 7 lbs, but the weight isn't really a bother. It's short. The trigger, wonder of wonders, isn't that bad!