17hmr or 22

[Pedro]

thought I'd try to answer the OP's question...

The .22LR is good for small to medium sized vermin. The advantages of it are that it can be virtually silent, ammo is cheap and you can get a semi-automatic version (which is obviously advantageous if there's a lot to shoot, although a bolt action is generally thought to be more accurate and definitely more reliable). The disadvantages are that it isn't as hard hitting as the .17, it's a "loopy" round, so you have to learn about holdover (arguable disadvantage). It is more prone to ricochets given the conditions.

The .17HMR is good for not only small to medium sized vermin but within reason can tackle foxes. It's a flat shooting round, accurate to distances of 200m and holdover is less of an issue at normal ranges. There are well documented problems with ammo, which appear now to be historical (so I believe). It isn't quiet, so you run the risk of, for example, shooting one rabbit and all it's mates clearing off. It's also susceptible to wind, having a very light projectile.

So rather than take advice over which contributor on here is in love with which rifle, or indeed is divorced from which rifle, I'd consider what your use of it will be and make a choice on that. Or, indeed, as suggested above, plan to get one of each if your usage and pockets will lead you in that direction.

Hope that's helpful.

 

[DAVIDAIKEN]

I kick myself for buying the T-Bolt 17 HMR. I have several hundred acres now and a slot for .223 on an open ticket. No money for a .223

 

[Blacknsilver]

Why does my bullish-t comment my your life harder?

 

[jimbo1984]

Why does my bullish-t comment my your life harder?

.243 is a big cal ??? Why is it ? If he wants to shoot deer it's the minimum cal available to him ( muntjac and cwd aside ) is that attitude that the police and feos use to make life harder for us , I got 7mm on my first fac if it was down to you is probably get an air gun

 

[Blacknsilver]

Airguns are a good place to start. Still don't see how I have made your life hard.

 

[Harry Brown]

I love the HMR due to it's accuracy and cheap round cost, but recent bad experiences with all brands of ammo have put me off a little. Squib rounds stuck in the barrel can be a real problem and sometimes difficult to be sure when they've happened, so awareness of the problem keeps me on my toes. I carry a cleaning rod at all times in my car just incase. That said I prefer it over the .22LR still. I shoot with a couple of guys who claim to never have ricochets with them. I Think they need to book hearing tests myself, because I've heard them when they miss.
As already stated get both or maybe a 17 C/F instead of the HMR.

 

[jimbo1984]

Airguns are a good place to start. Still don't see how I have made your life hard.

They certainly are sadly I outgrew them some 20 odd years ago , get a deer cal shoot a few deer then get back to me

 

[plumber01]

It may be me, but does everyone else must have a dodgy .22,? mine is zeroed at 50 yards, and your half an inch high at 25, and 1 inch low at 75 , after this it drops to about 4 inches at 100, as about 75 is really about max range for a bunny, you don't need to be a NASA Phd to work out the hold over, a 22 will move about in the wind and rain, but nothing like a 17. For every day small vermin a 22 cant be beaten, cheap, accurate, and reliable.
Ive also shot them at far greater ranges with a 223, a 308 and even a 270, although there is usually just crow feed afterwards.

 

[TOMMO.B]

They certainly are sadly I outgrew them some 20 odd years ago , get a deer cal shoot a few deer then get back to me 

Get a grip who are you Rambo. outgrew airguns did you.

 

[DAVIDAIKEN]

I love the HMR due to it's accuracy and cheap round cost, but recent bad experiences with all brands of ammo have put me off a little. Squib rounds stuck in the barrel can be a real problem and sometimes difficult to be sure when they've happened, so awareness of the problem keeps me on my toes. I carry a cleaning rod at all times in my car just incase. That said I prefer it over the .22LR still. I shoot with a couple of guys who claim to never have ricochets with them. I Think they need to book hearing tests myself, because I've heard them when they miss.
As already stated get both or maybe a 17 C/F instead of the HMR.

HMR a cheap round! I'm paying upto £17.00 a box of 50 where as .22lr CCI Mini-Mag is £8.50 PER BOX OF 100!!

 

[jimbo1984]

Get a grip who are you Rambo. outgrew airguns did you.

Yeah he drew first blood ha ha , and to be fair mate I don't need to get a grip why don't you and your pal get your gat guns and blat at some sparrows

 

[TOMMO.B]

Yeah he drew first blood ha ha , and to be fair mate I don't need to get a grip why don't you and your pal get your gat guns and blat at some sparrows

Good quote. its all fun. and dont slag gat guns. when i was five i could take stags elephants and destroy cars with just the darts. the corks were kept for big game.

 

[jimbo1984]

Good quote. its all fun. and dont slag gat guns. when i was five i could take stags elephants and destroy cars with just the darts. the corks were kept for big game.

I should hope you didn't use the darts !!!! lol all fun

 

[Harry Brown]

HMR a cheap round! I'm paying upto £17.00 a box of 50 where as .22lr CCI Mini-Mag is £8.50 PER BOX OF 100!!

I was paying £9.50 until quite recently, I hear what you're saying. But compared to C/F HMR is cheap.

 

[Blacknsilver]

Ok. So in your thinking you should be given what ever caliber rifle you ask for regardless of experience? The post starts by asking what best .22lr or .17hmr. It's obvious that he has no experience. So asking for a .243 to start him
off is is to 'me' a large cal for a first time application. If he was experienced he wouldn't of posted such a question.

So I need to shoot Deer and get back to you? Will that make me a better shot or marksman? Most Deer are shot at close range. Most have expensive rifles and scopes so where is the skill in a 100 yard shot?
I shot air rifles for 30 years and still shoot then now. More powerful ones I grant you but every cal has its place.

I excuse my brief comment at the start of the post regarding the calibers being to big I should have been more detailed. Safety is paramount. And giving someone a .243 as a first rifle with out any experience is asking for trouble.
My opinion.

 

[jimbo1984]

Ok. So in your thinking you should be given what ever caliber rifle you ask for regardless of experience? The post starts by asking what best .22lr or .17hmr. It's obvious that he has no experience. So asking for a .243 to start him
off is is to 'me' a large cal for a first time application. If he was experienced he wouldn't of posted such a question.

So I need to shoot Deer and get back to you? Will that make me a better shot or marksman? Most Deer are shot at close range. Most have expensive rifles and scopes so where is the skill in a 100 yard shot?
I shot air rifles for 30 years and still shoot then now. More powerful ones I grant you but every cal has its place.

I excuse my brief comment at the start of the post regarding the calibers being to big I should have been more detailed. Safety is paramount. And giving someone a .243 as a first rifle with out any experience is asking for trouble.
My opinion.

Most have expensive rifles and scopes so where's the skill ?? Truly spoken by someone who has never stalked well done !
And how do you know this guy hasn't got experience ??? I'll have next weeks lottery numbers off you pal seeing as your clearly clairvoyant .....
for all we know this guy could've been on 20+ paid stalks with a pro or hand a very experienced mentor showing him the ropes ..... My opinion.

 

[Blacknsilver]

He hasn't due to the post he left. Did you not read what I wrote?
I have stalked lots of animals. Has nothing to do with caliber of rifle.

 

[VSS]

The combination of .22LR and .243 will cover all bases nicely for general purpose shooting in the UK. It's a good combination to start off with I think, and as both calibres are very popular there's always plenty of rifles for sale 2nd hand at affordable prices, and ammo for both is readily available everywhere.

If, subsequently, you find yourself "specialising", and only ever shooting long range crows, big red stags and wild boar, then maybe think of changing to .177HMR and .308, but in all honesty what are you main targets likely to be? Rabbits? Roe? Muntjac?

(And yes, I'm biased - I have both .22LR and .243, my first and only rifles, enjoying them very much, and don't at any time feel inadequately armed).

 

[FGYT]

I got 6.5mm for my first application for deer and also got 22lr for rabbit and 17hmr for fox all AOLQ
All have a place and a use the 22 is subsonic and semi auto the hmr is bolt action so splitting the difference and use a little wider.
But that's just me and I am happy with that mix.

if only a 22lr it would be bolt action


I may add a .223 and S1 shotgun later .

.

 

[spandit]

Definitely get a .22LR - there are no other rifles that are as quiet, especially in bolt action.

Go for a .17HMR as well or a small CF (.17hornet or .222/3) or both!