Poll: Pick a big rimfire plinker

[rgs1975]

If given the following 3 choices which would you pick for some high velocity rimfire plinking fun? Not varmint shooting so flesh destruction is not a concern. Would be used for killing paper only.

.22 WMR
.17 HMR
.17 M2

 

[IndianaBoy]

To be perfectly honest.


There is no reason to add the expense of the larger rimfires if you don't intend to shoot game animals/varmints with it.


Traded my 17HMR towards my CZ 452 in 22lr, and couldn't be happier.

 

[stevelyn]

I agree, you're better off with a .22lr if all you're doing is punching paper.

 

[rgs1975]

Already have a .22LR, which is why I left it off the list. Looking for something else to have fun with.

 

[rgs1975]

Just compared the prices of .17HMR to .22WMR and I think I'll go with the .22WMR LOL

$14.50 for 50 .17HMR FMJ
$9.69 for 50 .22WMR FMJ

 

[glockman19]

I agree, you're better off with a .22lr if all you're doing is punching paper.

+1

Agreed.

Spend the money on ammo instead.

 

[Tarvis]

Depends on how far you plan on shooting and how windy it is where you live, 17 hmr drifts pretty bad. If you can hit it with a 22lr, why spend more?

 

[ArmedBear]

None of these rounds are good for truly long-range shooting.

I'd just use .22LR and learn my drops. Spend the money on a rangefinder instead, and go to town. It's a learning experience well worth having. Remember: BP cartridge shooters use .45-70 rounds with about the same muzzle velocity as common .22LR for 1000-yard competition. You should be able to hit targets at 200+ with .22LR.

The .22WMR is more for doing the same thing as .22LR but with a lot more energy, for ethical small game hunting. E.g. it took several rounds of .22LR for my friend to kill a desert jackrabbit. Good .22WMR JHP would have killed it in one shot.

.17HMR can be a crazy accurate round at 100 yards. I've seen some amazing 10-round groups, but our club has a 100 yard indoor range without wind. Most .17HMR comes with fancy-schmancy varmint bullets, not target bullets, and you pay for them. You might as well get a .223 instead, and be good for a lot more distance, and of course, .223 has a wide variety of match bullets and factory match ammo available for it, as well as bulk ammo.

 

[BOXRULES]

17 Hmr Is Fun To Shoot ! 22 Lr Is Way Cheaper Though . Sometimes There's A Cost Increase In Cool Factor.

 

[mp510]

.22lr

 

[Acheron]

.22LR is best rimfire for paper.

 

[Tarvis]

None of these rounds are good for truly long-range shooting.

He didn't say he was going to shoot long range; the criteria was a rim fire.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

ditto .22LR for anything the aforementioned are intended for. it comes down to $$ 4 me.

 

[doc2rn]

I looked at .22 WMR today for $7.76/50 box at Wally World. You would be better off with a .22 lr for paper punching. If you plan on scary accurate, Ruger 77/22 MK II in .22WMR or 17 HMR you will pay for it though.

 

[jcord]

22 hornet

 

[theotherwaldo]

If I'm just punching paper, it's .22rf, .44mag, .44c&b, .223, .50bp, in that order of preference. Beyond that it's action shooting and air guns.

 

[ArmedBear]

He didn't say he was going to shoot long range; the criteria was a rim fire.

In that case, it's REALLY a mistake to shoot rimfire other than .22LR. Good .22LR's with high-end match ammo can shoot one-hole groups at 50 yards and probably 100, but you can still load them with bulk stuff.

 

[Bearhands]

I'd pick the 22mag... purely because I like it and it's years of being a "designer" cartridge are over. Besides, you dont need a magnifying glass to see the holes you punch I shoot 22lr's all the time and once in a while a 22mag just makes ya feel good

ArmedBear, I'll have to disagree a bit... it's NEVER a mistake to shoot other than 22lr, in fact it's just not a mistake to shoot anything, and "good match ammo" sneaks up near the price of a box of 22mags.

 

[eliphalet]

I can buy a 550 pack of 22LR for about the same price as 50 for my 22 WMR. If you really want "high speed", step up to 22 centerfire.

 

[ArmedBear]

"good match ammo" sneaks up near the price of a box of 22mags.

Hence the rest of my sentence: "but you can still load them with the bulk stuff."

If you buy a .22 WMR, you have to shoot .22 WMR, and you have to pay for it. It will never be as accurate as an ARA comp gun, ever.

If you buy a match-grade .22LR, you can shoot Eley, or you can shoot Wolf, or you can shoot cheap standard-velocity practice ammo.

 

[JohnBT]

I vote for the .17 HMR, even though I only have revolver. I didn't shoot it, but here's a 0.059" group. Five shots at 100 yards.

www.shootersolutions.com/onehole.html

Of course, he really knows how to shoot, too. "Chief Dave: x-sniper (US Army) ranger - Special Forces - VietNam VET.
owner - Explosive Demolition Co., hobbies include shooting "

 

[Atla]

As I've always been told "Theres nothing a .17 HMR can do that a .22WMR can't."

But then, I'm still bitter over Taurus canceling their remake Winchester Model 62/63's in .22 WMR.

 

[Tarvis]

22 hornet

I'm sure you like your 22 hornet, but that is the 22 center cartridge that should have died a long time ago and never did.

 

[CBS220]

As I've always been told "Theres nothing a .17 HMR can do that a .22WMR can't."

But then, I'm still bitter over Taurus canceling their remake Winchester Model 62/63's in .22 WMR.

I find .17HMRs to be more accurate and more explosive on target more consistently than the WMR.

The logical solution is to buy one of all three.

 

[ArmedBear]

BTW my favorite rimfire plinkers/paper punchers are not available in the magnum chamberings above. Marlin 39 and AR .22LR upper are both really, really fun and well worth getting IMHO, before any magnums, unless you are hunting something and need the specific capabilities of the WMR or HMR.