.22mag vs .17HMR

[Okiecruffler]

In a few weeks I'll be putting a Savage Striker on layaway. I already have a 22LR that I adore and need a matching one in either 22 mag or 17hmr. Ammo prices run about the same. All I'll be doing with it is punching paper. Is the 17 that much more accurate than the 22 mag? Being in Oklahoma, wind is always a factor and I'll bet it plays havok on that 17.

 

[Snowdog]

I always experience a bit of trepidation when considering the purchase of anything in .17HMR, but I'll likely break down this spring and buy a rifle in the caliber.

In your situation, you might want to research the velocities of the .17HMR from barrels more representative of the length of barrel the Striker possesses if you haven't already. Since the velocity seems to be the only advantage the .17HMR has over the .22WMR, it should seem to prove quite relevent in deciding between the two, IMO.

Though the .22WMR does have the significant advantage of ammunition selection, the gap appears to be closing as other ammunition manufactures are offering their own recipes to the public. However, I have no doubt the .22WMR will always have the decisive edge in this catagory.

If it were up to me, I would likely choose the .17HMR if the rifle-to-handgun velocity loss isn't too severe, as I've always been a sucker for variety.

 

[AUTIGER04]

IMHO, Its hard to beat the ol 22mag.

 

[dude]

but it's WAY easy to when you use the .17HMR!

 

[Black Snowman]

Personally I'd go with the 22 mag for punching paper for the sole reason that it's easier to spot the holes. Seriously. Between my bad vision and my cheap spotting scope I need all the help I can get

 

[Coltdriver]

If you are punching holes then the ammo cost of the 22 mag is probably going to be less.

Best price I have found on 17HMR is about $8.25 per 50.

If the quarter inch difference in accuracy that you can get with a .17 over a .22 is important then go for the .17 and deal with the ammo cost.

I don't think there will ever be much difference in .17 ammo as far as load and weight goes. It is a great formula as represented by the Hornady round and the barrel twist everyone uses. More bullet and you get sub par performance. Less bullet and you get less accuracy. There is a fellow over on the rimfire forum who has experimented with the round and the round as created with the hornady express bullet always turns out to be better than the variations.

It is fun to have a rifle that will shoot so precisely. At the range I am able to hit a one inch square at 100 yards over and over. My little $200 savage makes me look much better than I am.

 

[hksw]

Ammo prices run about the same.

Where are you pricing .17 HMR? I need to get some of those in the .22 mag price range. .17 is running ~$2-$4 above that of .22 mag in NE OH.

(Recently purchased a .17 HMR conversion barrel for my 10/22M.)

 

[JBP]

My Marlin 17VS can do at 100 yards what my 10/22T can do at 50; consistent sub MOA groups. That said, my 10/22M is just a bit less accurate than the 17HMR but I have to work harder to get those results. What I like most about the 17HMR is that I can shoot it anywhere from 25 to 100 yards without any adjustsments whatsoever. It shoots straight without any drop. I've taken it out to 200 yards with only a three inch drop. Wind definetly affects the 17HMR more than the 22Mag and ammo is around $3-$4 higher in price per 50.

 

[MeekandMild]

I shoot .17 rifle. It does well. However I think you will lose a lot of velocity and will probably get a lot of variability in you patterns using a pistol due to the short barrel length. All that powder will probably make for a nice light show but it won't add to the velocity.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Well, I'm kinda leaning toward the 22mag just because I like the looks of nice clean straight wall cartridges. I can always get a 17rem barrel for my contender if I want to make really small holes in something. I would like to know however, just how much velocity would be lost in a 10inch barrel.

 

[JBP]

_________________________________________________________
I would like to know however, just how much velocity would be lost in a 10inch barrel. ________________________________________________________

http://www.bullberry.com/HMRdata.html

 

[Okiecruffler]

Many thanks, that was exactly what I wanted to see. And it kinda proved the theory I had.

 

[MeekandMild]

I noticed the chronograph data shown on the Bullberry page didn't include 4 to 9 inch barrels. Longest rimfire pistol barrel I own is a 6 inch. Big difference between 6 and 10.

I noticed that Bullberry's data, even as limited as it's sample was demonstrated a trend toward higher differences between velocities the shorter the barrel length. Maybe looks like the powder was optimized for an 18 inch barrel?

10 2276
+38
11 2338
+49
12 2387
+32
13 2419
+13
14 2432
+45
15 2477
+15
16 2492
+13
17 2505
+20
18 2522
+16
19 2538

 

[Okiecruffler]

I don't think I'd bother with a 17 in a shorter barrel than 10, especially if I had a barrel/cylinder gap to contend with on top of it. But a bolt action, or break action pistol with a 10 inch barrel, it may be interesting. Still figure on going with the 22mag, but I have several months to worry about it.