See that "every way possible" is what I can't agree with. I can see how it does many things better but what about an inexpensive plinker? You can't honestly believe it is a better inexpensive plinker can you? "Every way" is a pretty broad claim.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of .17hmr vs .22lr?
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noob_shooter
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okay fine.. hahaha.. the cost is a factor. I owned a 22LR and while it was cheaper to plink with, i didn't enjoy it much. I still plinked with my 17hmr more over my 22LR.. why? i like seeing things blow up. Sure, my wallet blows up too, but it's not making me poor so i'm good 
The 22LR can pop cans at 100 yards, but the 17hmr just does it better and i like that..
The 22LR can pop cans at 100 yards, but the 17hmr just does it better and i like that..chevyforlife21
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id call the 17 almost a pointless caliber, the ammo cost the same price as if you got a .223, so your paying more for a bullet smaller then a cheap .22, i know its a flatter shooting round but wayyy not worth it to me. get a .22 if you want to shoot or hunt
rangerruck
Member
vern , if you reload for 22 hornet, then the perfect round for you is almost within your grasp allready; the 17machIV, or the 17 fireball. just neck down your 22 hornet case, and you got it.
now you can get some 20 or 25 grain 17's moving out at 4000fps, with reloader 17 powder.
now you can get some 20 or 25 grain 17's moving out at 4000fps, with reloader 17 powder.
Rob96
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I think the reason the prices are so competitive is because, depsite the different brands they are ALL loaded by the same ammo maker. Reportedly CCI is the only maker that produces 17HMR ammo.
minutemen1776
Member
ArmedBear, I just get prickly whenever it's suggested that shooters naturally ought to get into reloading. As I said, I've tried it and don't ever want to go back. Others enjoy it, realize enhanced accuracy, save money, or all three, but my point is that it's just not for everyone. That's all, and I certainly don't want to get into a fuss about it. My apologies if I came across too bluntly.
More importantly, the thing we can certainly agree about is that the .17 HMR does not replace the .22 Long Rifle. Aside from the fact that they're rimfires, they really have little else in common. Personally, I only use the .17 HMR to do things that my .22 LR simply can't do. Unfortunately, I think too many shooters get hung up on the fact that the .17 HMR is a rimfire and thus want to compare its cost to the .22 LR. That's where all the "it's too expensive" fussing and cussing comes from. I think those comments are unfair to the .17 HMR, because it fulfills a unique role for shooters, and for that role it is cost effective. It just seems to be one of those things that you either get it or you don't. Maybe it's like reloading in that respect...
More importantly, the thing we can certainly agree about is that the .17 HMR does not replace the .22 Long Rifle. Aside from the fact that they're rimfires, they really have little else in common. Personally, I only use the .17 HMR to do things that my .22 LR simply can't do. Unfortunately, I think too many shooters get hung up on the fact that the .17 HMR is a rimfire and thus want to compare its cost to the .22 LR. That's where all the "it's too expensive" fussing and cussing comes from. I think those comments are unfair to the .17 HMR, because it fulfills a unique role for shooters, and for that role it is cost effective. It just seems to be one of those things that you either get it or you don't. Maybe it's like reloading in that respect...
hub
Member
To make a fair comparison the .17hmr should be compared to .22mag ammo not .22lr price wise IMO. The performace of the .22lr compared to the .17hmr is not even close.
Also I really don't see the whole why by a .17hmr when i can get .223 cheaper comparison. It not a fair to say the least because you are comparing apples to oranges. You can't compare the cheapest milsurp bulk crap to premium hunting ammo, instead why don't you compare the same ammo from the same company by different calibers.
From what I have seen Hornady .17hmr goes from $12.00-$15.00 per 50 and the same Hornady ammo in .223 goes for $27.00-$30.00 per 50. That's .24-.30 cents per round for .17hmr and .54-.60 cents per round for .223.
Now I do understand that reloading .223 is a whole new ballgame but still using the same components your looking at about $8.50 for vmax bullets per 50, and $25 per 50 for brass. Sure you can reuse your brass but that's not even counting powder, primers, or the initial cost of a reloading set up if you was to just load .223.
With that being said I do own and shoot both the .17hmr and the .223 rem. I like them both and think they both have there place. Sure I could reload quality .223 just as cheap and I do but sometimes it's just kind of nice to be able to stop by the local store and pick up 200 rds for $50 bucks to have some fun shooting with without trying to find all my brass when I'm done, or worry about when I will able to find primers or the right powder again locally.
I do wish some other makers like Wolf or Aguila would put out some .17hmr do drive the prices down a little or at least make a bargain type bulk ammo fairly cheap. They could also make some match type bullets. That would make the .17hmr a whole lot more appealing to a whole lot more shooters. I don't think anything will ever replace the .22lr in my lifetime but the .17hmr does have it's place and is a fun addition to my collection.
I also would like to see them make a 30gr. ballistic tipped .22lr round like they did for the .22mag. Basically the same as a .17HM2 but without necking it down to .17, just a mini mag with a ballistic tip. I think it would sell pretty good if they kept the cost down to about the same as the .17hm2. It would probably make excellent .22lr hunting ammo and bridge the .17hm2-.22lr performance gap considerable.
Also I really don't see the whole why by a .17hmr when i can get .223 cheaper comparison. It not a fair to say the least because you are comparing apples to oranges. You can't compare the cheapest milsurp bulk crap to premium hunting ammo, instead why don't you compare the same ammo from the same company by different calibers.
From what I have seen Hornady .17hmr goes from $12.00-$15.00 per 50 and the same Hornady ammo in .223 goes for $27.00-$30.00 per 50. That's .24-.30 cents per round for .17hmr and .54-.60 cents per round for .223.
Now I do understand that reloading .223 is a whole new ballgame but still using the same components your looking at about $8.50 for vmax bullets per 50, and $25 per 50 for brass. Sure you can reuse your brass but that's not even counting powder, primers, or the initial cost of a reloading set up if you was to just load .223.
With that being said I do own and shoot both the .17hmr and the .223 rem. I like them both and think they both have there place. Sure I could reload quality .223 just as cheap and I do but sometimes it's just kind of nice to be able to stop by the local store and pick up 200 rds for $50 bucks to have some fun shooting with without trying to find all my brass when I'm done, or worry about when I will able to find primers or the right powder again locally.
I do wish some other makers like Wolf or Aguila would put out some .17hmr do drive the prices down a little or at least make a bargain type bulk ammo fairly cheap. They could also make some match type bullets. That would make the .17hmr a whole lot more appealing to a whole lot more shooters. I don't think anything will ever replace the .22lr in my lifetime but the .17hmr does have it's place and is a fun addition to my collection.
I also would like to see them make a 30gr. ballistic tipped .22lr round like they did for the .22mag. Basically the same as a .17HM2 but without necking it down to .17, just a mini mag with a ballistic tip. I think it would sell pretty good if they kept the cost down to about the same as the .17hm2. It would probably make excellent .22lr hunting ammo and bridge the .17hm2-.22lr performance gap considerable.
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Actually, Volquartsen makes a semi-auto .17 HMR
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