WMR vr HMR

ALLHONE hunting knives designed and made in NZ
VssF

VssF

Well-Known Member
It's probably a pointless post as its pretty subjective. I have a slot for a 22wmr and dont seem to see any for sale near me. I dont fancy paying for annew one and cost of rfd makes second hand ones pointless. Would you guys get a variation for a 17 or wait it out?

I went 22 over 17 as I remember when I had my license 8 years split cases, and dud rounds were talked about alot making me reach for the 17 less.

Has this issue been resolved? If you was starting again which cal would you apply for? Pretty much a rabbit gun on relatively flat ground.

Im wondering if its worth the faff of a variation.
 
Starting out fresh I would get 17hmr as there's a lot more guns available. Plenty of power for rabbits.

I haven't had any issues with 17hmr ammo and I've shot a fair bit.

Depends on how long you got to wait in your location. They're both going to do the job on bunnies at the end of the day.
 
Plenty out there, you can always RFD, I just sold the one had advertised to Dauntsey Guns.

If the ammo is sorted (which people keep saying it is) and it’s purely a rabbit gun I’d go HMR. But I wouldn’t be upset with a WMR, I have a BRNO611 and a slot for another which will probably be an upper for my tactical AR.
 
seanct said:
It's probably a pointless post as its pretty subjective. I have a slot for a 22wmr and dont seem to see any for sale near me. I dont fancy paying for annew one and cost of rfd makes second hand ones pointless. Would you guys get a variation for a 17 or wait it out?

I went 22 over 17 as I remember when I had my license 8 years split cases, and dud rounds were talked about alot making me reach for the 17 less.

Has this issue been resolved? If you was starting again which cal would you apply for? Pretty much a rabbit gun on relatively flat ground.

Im wondering if its worth the faff of a variation.
Click to expand...
I had a WMR for a number of years - great round for reaching out beyond .22lr humane shots including close range foxes - I use .17hmr now but would consider changing back because I still get split cases in .17 Hornady GMAX plus others and have to carry a pair of pliers to extract those split cases, which means a swift follow up shot can’t be guaranteed. You can also get .22wmr in semi-auto, if that’s a thing you’d like. As for rifle choice, it’s limited but plenty of very accurate rifles out there, of those available. The only benefit I can see of .17 over .22wmr is ricochet risk is minimal in comparison.
 
Funny enough I’ve had both and shot a lot of rabbits and foxes with the WMR but the .17 hmr is laser-like. I loved the WMR but the HMR IMHO is unbeatable - out to 150.
🦊🦊
 
I’ve used the HMR for years and never had more than a few issues with it. I really like it.

I’ve recently got a WMR barrel and am impressed. It certainly hits harder and gives a level of confidence on a fox that you wouldn’t have with a HMR.

Trajectory wise, I’m not too bothered. The HMR is more useable in that sense, but my experience is the wind makes longer shots difficult with either, and before the HMRs trajectory gives a real edge over the WMR.

Personally, I now think the WMR is better. If you want to regularly go beyond 150m, I’d say use a CF.

All that said, the HMR may edge it if I was asked which to recommend, but purely because it’s easier to get guns and ammo.

Edit - if you’re shooting a lot of hares or fox and it needs to be rimfire, 100% the WMR.
 
Had a hmr at the start when they first came out and sold it due to split cases! Bought a wmr and I found it just a .22lr on steroids but not as good as the hmr at distance, so sold it after a couple of years and now back to the hmr after a 6-8 year lay off and so far the cases seem much better so I’m glad I went back.
 
Shot both for years. Now only have the HMR, would I have another WMR? Absolutely, but not at the expense of 17hmr.

I will contradict my friend Muir in as much as I do not find WMR particularly hitting harder on the small game animals and Vermont's than the HMRC in the field.
On paper maybe but that's just numbers.

What I can categorically say is that I have scored more hits on prey at long distances with the HMR than I could regularly do with a WMR.
I also found WMR to have expansion issues whereas the HMR rarely fails except at around 200yds, give or take.

Depending where you are in the UK the HMR is arguably safer if it's an issue etc.

Regards the ammo issues it seems apparent that they have changed the powder used that is not heavily dependent on a crimped bullet for good ignition like the old ammunition. I have stopped inspecting ammunition and removing any with split necks and suffered no squibs like one could with the old ammunition. By chance one day I noticed the powder has been changed.
I had great times with my WMR but found I needed to be no longer than 100yds for reliable fox kills whereas the HMR is reliable out much much further.
The flatter trajectory helps at misjudged range at night also over the WMR.
WMR below.
IMG_20170102_215725585.webp
17 HMR.
IMG_20250928_224228.webp
A distant shot of 150yds plus with HMR .


A 100yard one.

Some are more straightforward and for balance...
 
Smellydog said:
Shot both for years. Now only have the HMR, would I have another WMR? Absolutely, but not at the expense of 17hmr.

I will contradict my friend Muir in as much as I do not find WMR particularly hitting harder on the small game animals and Vermont's than the HMRC in the field.
On paper maybe but that's just numbers.

What I can categorically say is that I have scored more hits on prey at long distances with the HMR than I could regularly do with a WMR.
I also found WMR to have expansion issues whereas the HMR rarely fails except at around 200yds, give or take.

Depending where you are in the UK the HMR is arguably safer if it's an issue etc.

Regards the ammo issues it seems apparent that they have changed the powder used that is not heavily dependent on a crimped bullet for good ignition like the old ammunition. I have stopped inspecting ammunition and removing any with split necks and suffered no squibs like one could with the old ammunition. By chance one day I noticed the powder has been changed.
I had great times with my WMR but found I needed to be no longer than 100yds for reliable fox kills whereas the HMR is reliable out much much further.
The flatter trajectory helps at misjudged range at night also over the WMR.
WMR below.
View attachment 440637
17 HMR.
View attachment 440638
A distant shot of 150yds plus with HMR .


A 100yard one.

Some are more straightforward and for balance...
Click to expand...

Look at that fresh faced whipper snapper!! 😆
 
if the main use is fox then personally i would not recommend a 17hmr as a reliable one shot kill.
Even my .17hornet will on occasion still see the fox run on a few yards before dropping.
 
I've got both , they both have their uses , the issue I've got with the wmr is ammunition availability near me.
Hmr ammunition seems to be universally stocked , though that may differ from region to region.
 
Liveonce said:
if the main use is fox then personally i would not recommend a 17hmr as a reliable one shot kill.
Even my .17hornet will on occasion still see the fox run on a few yards before dropping.
Click to expand...
I have a 250 for the fox pal. That said if one pops up in range when out after the rabbit I may take the shot.
 
22 wmr is not as noisy as the 17 hmr , i have both but tend to use the 17 hmr more , just get the right ammo and its deadly . 22 wmr is harder hitting though , again get the right ammo .
 
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