Which caliber?

[rgs1975]

Which caliber is more inherantly accurate out to 100 yards, .17 HMR or .22 WMR.

How about out to 200 yards?

I know accuracy has more to do with the rifle and the shooter than the bullet but let's just say you've got a great rifle and a great shooter. Which round would he do best with?

 

[Macgille]

.17 HMR by far, mine will shoot 1/4" groups at 100.

 

[Shawnee]

After 100yds. it depends on the wind.

The Good News is - they're both great cartridges because - at the ranges where a lot of people really do a lot of their shooting - either one can be ultra-deadly.

 

[ashtxsniper]

If you want to shoot out to 200 yds your best bet is the 22 WMR.

 

[rangerruck]

17 , hands down. and out to 200 yds. Why? because the 17 is faster at 100 yds , than a 22 mag
is at the muzzle. a 22 mag also loses almost fully half of it's speed from the muzzle, out to 100 yds.
the 22 mag has a terrible ballistic coef.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If you want to shoot out to 200 yds your best bet is the 22 WMR.

The .17 HMR has more energy , a flatter trajectory and a shorter flight time at the 200 yard mark than the .22 WMR.

 

[skinewmexico]

They make a ballistic tip like the 17 for the 22 now, and that might change everything.

 

[MachIVshooter]

They make a ballistic tip like the 17 for the 22 now, and that might change everything.

It has helped the WMR, but the spitzer bullet design and higher velocity of the HMR continues to keep it ahead.

 

[Timthinker]

In terms of accuracy, the .17 seems to have a slight advantage over the.22 WMR, my preferred cartridge of the two. If you intend upon using a rifle for target practice only, then the .17 is a good choice. But for varmints or even self-defense considerations, the .22 WRM is superior because it is less likely to fragment before achieving adequate penetration. Yes, a centerfire rifle such as a .223 is superior to either, but that is not the question that has been asked.


Timthinker

 

[rgs1975]

If you intend upon using a rifle for target practice only, then the .17 is a good choice.

Yup, it's going to be a paper killer only. Thanks guys.

 

[rgs1975]

Where does the .22 Hornet fall in with the other two calibers mentioned?

 

[BigGunsMoreFun]

Paper killer is right

I don't know the answer to that question for sure but it seems to me the .22 would be the better all around especially where there is any wind blowing. I think a heavier bullet in these small calibers would be much less likely to be affected by wind than a lighter one.

On the other hand, the .17 has less surface area to be affected by the wind but I still think the .22 would be my choice.

I just don't like the .17 caliber. The guns all seem like little more than a beefed up pellet gun to me. They are a bitch to clean. The ammos so small I can bearly see it.

Of course I'm an old codger that loves the big bore, boomers so I might be a little biased.

What you like to shoot and what shoots the best for you is the best gun for you. Go rent one of each at a range and try them out. Buy what you like after a decent trial with each.

I prefer my guns caliber to start with a .3 or preferably .4 or even bigger if I can get them. I have a couple of .50s.

Who knows, maybe I'll try one of these .17s on my grandson but he already has a .17 and a .22 pellet rifle so what would be the point?

Molon Labe,
Joe

 

[AnthonyC.]

The .22 hornet comes in at EXPENSIVE!!!!