.22 lr or .17 hmr

[Jagged77]

I quite like the calibre to be fair, I’m actually selling mine for more of a sporter type rifle

A sporter in .223 is a good shout. I wouldn’t part with my Browning A-Bolt for sure.
A .17 cal centrefire might be a good option. Certainly the .17 Rem is easy enough to shoot with a mod on. Next to no recoil but a decent muzzle blast. The 20gr v-max bullets are unsubtle to put it mildly but fast, accurate and do the job. I think on balance I’d have my Hornet back, but the .17 is very good.

 

[plumber01]

I have 3 x.22rf, and a 223, I think for me a 22Hornet would be nice as somewhere in the middle, I did use a .17hmr and wasnt up to much in windy/rain conditions, especially half way up a mountain side in wales. In all fairness it probably wasnt much worse than a .22rf, but I think knowing it could be accurate on the right conditions further out made me try longer range shots that I would try with a .22rf. So it was my own stupid fault when i missed really!

 

[3595wilk]

Do love the 22. My 24 yr old Annie 22LR, CZ semi in 22WMR and Tikka T3 lite in .222 have most jobs covered.

Not had the need/urge for HMR.

 

[Andydorset]

I love using the 17hmr, for the golf course, the 22lr for the paddocks.

 

[ChesterP]

I'd keep the 22LR and add either a .222 or .223 and adjust loads and bullets for what you need. .22 CF is an incredibly versatile and accurate chambering and can take everything from longer range vermin to fox and munty. I had an HMR but found ammo too inconsistent and after my third or fourth squib round (I always checked necks for splits but sometimes they were just not easily detectible) I got rid of it, following two rounds stuck in the barrel. By comparison, the 223 was no more noisy (possibly less noisy with a decent mod), and was a joy to shoot. Little noticeable recoil, superbly accurate and infinitely more reliable and useful than the 17 hmr. I also had a 22 wmr which I preferred to the hmr. No split necks and very useful to 150 yds on rabbits, if a little ore loopy than the hmr. Your other option might be a .204 Ruger. Another very versatile and accurate chambering. Pick one that suits, practice lots, know your holdovers and shoot it.

 

[Sakoodin1]

I’m thinking of getting the .22lr and a alpex lrf then running that on the .22lr and the .22 wrm so that should help them preform??? I’ve got a .223 and lots bigger cal ‘s so I’m covered that way

I'd keep the 22LR and add either a .222 or .223 and adjust loads and bullets for what you need. .22 CF is an incredibly versatile and accurate chambering and can take everything from longer range vermin to fox and munty. I had an HMR but found ammo too inconsistent and after my third or fourth squib round (I always checked necks for splits but sometimes they were just not easily detectible) I got rid of it, following two rounds stuck in the barrel. By comparison, the 223 was no more noisy (possibly less noisy with a decent mod), and was a joy to shoot. Little noticeable recoil, superbly accurate and infinitely more reliable and useful than the 17 hmr. I also had a 22 wmr which I preferred to the hmr. No split necks and very useful to 150 yds on rabbits, if a little ore loopy than the hmr. Your other option might be a .204 Ruger. Another very versatile and accurate chambering. Pick one that suits, practice lots, know your holdovers and shoot it.

 

[ChesterP]

Accessories may assist your shooting but performance is all down to you. Practice with suitable and consistent ammo and know your drops and windages. Distance estimation you can sort of get away with approximating with some cals but not with 22LR once past 50yds. You really need to be precise in distance estimation so I'd recommend a decent range finder if one not already owned. IR scopes are fine for dusk and night shooting but if most of your shooting is in light conditions that a decent scope can cope with well, I think you'll find a range finder especially useful to accurately dial in or hold off for. I particularly liked the Leupold VX3 scopes with the BDC varminting ret and side parallax when using my 22LR and .223. Really under rated scopes with excellent contrast coatings and relatively inexpensive compared to some of the competition.

 

[Eyefor]

If you really want 2 different calibres use .22lr and .222

I find the WMR great but it’s certainly no .22lr for sure .

22LR and .222 is what I have.

I really disliked the 17HMR. Even a sparrow fart sends it way off target. Over rated.

 

[old 30-06]

22lr. Nothing more needs to be said.

 

[Warbucks]

No sure what to buy?? I’ve a .22 wmr here that I use a bit but the it’s noisy ( ish ) but I don’t mind overly but I don’t find it very accurate past 120 yards really ?? I’m trying to decide whether to go back to the .22 lr and keep the wmr for things that I need it for or buy a .17 hmr to get a bit more distance and use the wmr as a soupe up .22 lr if you get me?? Does the .17 still have bother with cases splitting? I had one 10 years ago and can mind if an odd bullet getting stuck up the barrel after dodgy firings! I’m just no blooming sure what to get any opinions appreciated

"Past 120 yds" -------imo your expecting too much.
I assume we are talking about shooting rabbits here ?, when i'm shooting rabbits for the freezer (head shot) i walk the rabbits down to 80-90 yds maximum, (if i cannot get this close i leave them) try shooting into what ever slight wind there is, do it on a cloud covered night, this is done with the hmr and pard 007 n/v and spotted and range found with pulsar thermal spotter, this system works well --------up to the point where you either run out of rabbits or the remainder wise up so its one shot, and the field clears.
If you wmr is accurate to 90-100 yds stick with it, your not going to gain owt by going hmr, imo going over 100 yds is just too risky in missing and waisting amo, even if you do your bit you can expect "up to" a 20% miss rate due to bad amo.

Dave (warbucks)

 

[User00056]

Either has more than enough energy to kill a rabbit size target at 200 yards

I read somewhere it only takes around 4ft/lb of energy to kill a rabbit? Can't remember where I picked up that wee gem though

 

[Sakoodin1]

Has anyone on here got one of those baffle lining up bars for a Parker hale moderator that I could borrow and send back? I stripped my old moderator today not knowing that I can’t find my one

 

[rob_suffolk]

22LR cheap and quiet but you need to know ranges... 17HMR louder, and more expensive but point and shoot out to 125+ no problem.
Treat yourself and get both!

 

[mealiejimmy]

I read somewhere it only takes around 4ft/lb of energy to kill a rabbit? Can't remember where I picked up that wee gem though

4 ftlb is enough if you hit in the head, but definitely not enough if you miss it's head and hit it in the body - and it only takes a puff of of wind or a last second movement by the rabbit for that to happen
If you use a sub12ftlb aur rifle to shoot rabbits, you only have one shot - a head shot
IMHO, the risk of wounding a rabbit and subjecting it to an extended period of pain and suffering is much greater when using a sub12ftlb air rifle than any other legal weapon
If you use a 22LR or HMR and you want to put the meat into the food chain, you only have one shot - a head shot
However, if you are carrying out pest control with a 22LR or HMR and the rabbits are not going into the food chain then I don't see the need for a head shot
Pest control is all about numbers and you can shoot more and miss less by hitting them in the body with bullets that have over 100ftlb muzzle energy and produce fatal wounds that cause death instantly or very soon thereafter
A rabbit that bounces around for a few seconds after it has been shot is no different to a deer that runs 200 yards after being heart/lung shot - and head shooting deer is generally frowned upon

Cheeers

Bruce

 

[User00056]

4 ftlb is enough if you hit in the head, but definitely not enough if you miss it's head and hit it in the body - and it only takes a puff of of wind or a last second movement by the rabbit for that to happen

Yeah, I wasn't advocating it as a standard, more just as an interesting aside. Very good points though

 

[Smellydog]

I read somewhere it only takes around 4ft/lb of energy to kill a rabbit? Can't remember where I picked up that wee gem though

It does.

 

[Smellydog]

Who said HMR is poor in the wind?

Practice more!

 

[DesG]

Yup
.223 is noticeably more powerful , louder , more recoil
Bigger faster head holds more power at distance.
It’s noticeable.

I used 55gn bullets in my 222 and 55gn bullets in my 223. Same bullet, same powder similar velocity. I have a soft spot for the 222 though and reckon it is marginally more accurate than the 223. My 222 was a beat up old Marlin and my 223 is a nice shiny Weatherby vanguard I had for a good price otherwise I'd have stuck to the 222.

 

[Maran14]

I have found that my 17 HMR has a fair crack to it, not as noisy as my 223, but it’s honestly not far off!
I tend to use it when I know I’m going to be getting off a lot of rounds between 50 - 200 yards, for rabbits and birds across the ground, because rounds are dirt cheap.
I’ve probably put 400 rounds through it this year alone and had only one issue with splitting and thrown out maybe 10 max rounds that I wasn’t happy with when inspecting them.

If you’re looking for something quiet, instead of a 22 LR, why not look into FAC Air Rifles?
I’m sure there will be lots of opinions on this, but for me, it will always have its place.
Around barns, with houses close by or when you’re on the rabbits in one particular field.

 

[old 30-06]

Maran14, 17 HMR are noisy, and can be a bit expensive to run. FAC air rifles can cost an awful lot of money, well over a grand, and there is the pa-lava of compressing air, etc. 22lr are cheap and cheerful, some good ones for around a hundred quid. Ammo is plentiful and cheap. What is not to like ? The Certificate bit is the same, so 22lr every day.