Choice between .17 HMR and .22 LR

[FlyBoy270]

I only shoot rabbits in the head, so meat damage with my 17HMR is not an issue, I also only use the 20gr Gamepoints, much more reliable and accurate than 17gr in my experience. Its also a very capable round on Fox. I also employ a 22K Hornet in sensitive areas which is great fun and peanuts to load for, generally I use 223 for Fox.

FlyBoy270

 

[Gunner971]

I would go with the .17, you'll find it far more useful than the .22. Muir is lucky, living in the U.S. That he can have as many guns as he wishes. Here in the U.K. Where we have to show a need for each calibre it's totally different. The .17 isn't a wonder round but used properly it will do everything you need. As to shooting fox with a .22 magnum, it's not allowed in West Yorkshire where we are limited to .22 centrefire.

 

[Gunner971]

I would go with the .17, you'll find it far more useful than the .22. Muir is lucky, living in the U.S. That he can have as many guns as he wishes. Here in the U.K. Where we have to show a need for each calibre it's totally different. The .17 isn't a wonder round but used properly it will do everything you need. As to shooting fox with a .22 magnum, it's not allowed in West Yorkshire where we are limited to .22 centrefire.

 

[Baggy]

Used a .22 and a .17HMR for a long time and from what I have found, the 17 is definitely the more versatile caliber (rats to foxes). Inherently accurate meaning head shots at long range are not an issue so meat damage is not an issue either. Even so just as with the 22 you'll need to know your drop.
On the rifle side, i'd always go with the CZ 452 whatever the caliber. Used both Ruger and Anschutz with no obvious gain for the extra price. Plus a lot of the CZ rifles have beautiful woodwork if your going down that route. Triggers are more than acceptable and with the accuracy....is a 5p piece at 100 small enough for you?

 

[Overlay]

.22. LR over a .17 for rabbits, If you want a brilliant all round calibre. I would go for the .22 WMR. Any day. Rabbits 100 yds and really does the business on foxes up to a 100 yds stops em dead. You wont get that with a .17. WMR 30 grn works a treat, HMR is a fast round but lacks the punch at the end

.17 HMR and foxes don't mix very well, if you use one, my advise would be to get a tracking dog as well, because you'll probably need one quite a lot.

 

[wivenhoe65]

Get both .22lr and .17 hmr - easy enough to justify good reason to aquire both ,imo both have their drawbacks and pluses , if i had to choose it would be .22lr - on the cost and reliability of ammo and the fact that i could go back to long range bunny bashing with a .223 .
As a slight aside Essex Police will not 'condition' any rimfire calibre at all for fox - our post code firearms licensing system at its worst again.

 

[big ears]

As a slight aside Essex Police will not 'condition' any rimfire calibre at all for fox - our post code firearms licensing system at its worst again.

I know it's an aside but that is interesting Devon and Cornwall promote the .17 for foxing which is why I got one. As someone said needed to go out with tracking dog so traded it in for 223. Much more realistic round for foxes however also liked look of 22 hornet and 222.

BE

 

[Muir]

Get both .22lr and .17 hmr - easy enough to justify good reason to aquire both ,imo both have their drawbacks and pluses , if i had to choose it would be .22lr - on the cost and reliability of ammo and the fact that i could go back to long range bunny bashing with a .223 .
As a slight aside Essex Police will not 'condition' any rimfire calibre at all for fox - our post code firearms licensing system at its worst again.

A good suggestion. They really are two different cartridges and not exactly overlapping in utility. The OP has already set himself on the path towards the 17 (or the 22WMR if allowed and he was smart) but every rifleman should have a .22LR in is cabinet. It is interesting that the term "inherently accurate" is used over and over again in reference to the 17HMR but not so often with the 22LR. It had been my experience that next to a quality air rifle, there is nothing more 'inherently accurate' than a gun chambered for 22 LR. I own dozens of them from all different vintages and makers, and they all shoot well.~Muir

 

[jubnut]

A good suggestion. They really are two different cartridges and not exactly overlapping in utility. The OP has already set himself on the path towards the 17 (or the 22WMR if allowed and he was smart) but every rifleman should have a .22LR in is cabinet. It is interesting that the term "inherently accurate" is used over and over again in reference to the 17HMR but not so often with the 22LR. It had been my experience that next to a quality air rifle, there is nothing more 'inherently accurate' than a gun chambered for 22 LR. I own dozens of them from all different vintages and makers, and they all shoot well.~Muir

I like your style man.

Good luck to the OP. I just read through the entire thread again. It's amazing the amount of contradictions from one post to another. It seems that .17 is just like marmite, you either love it or you hate it.

 

[diverdave]

I had both, a cz 22 and a savage HMR. The savage was a stunner, laminated on stainless and i really wanted to like it. Some days it was perfect, 10 rabbits for 10 shots, and the next day it was terrible. I think it really depends on your needs and environment but found it has more variables then any other caliber The ammo is variable, it likes to be clean, but not too clean, it appears to be badly effected by wind. Some days mine was deadly, others it was terrible. My 22 just shot well all the time. I found i was always on the range checking and adjusting the HMR. I found it would cloverleaf perfectly one day, and the next it was like a machine gun. My pal had the CZ hmr at the same time, and found exactly the same. It was exactly the same as my 22, but performance was so different. it performed exactly like my hmr, so the rifles were not the issue for us.

I also wanted it for fox, and sometimes it was deadly. However, other times i worried about its killing ability, and the 243 just killed them clean.

I sold it and this is what i have found. I now spend more time hunting, and less time on the range. My 22 is the rabbit gun, it works perfectly for my needs. anything bigger the 243 will deal with, and for the very big stuff the 3006 is the tool.

I actually don't think it is a bad round, but it will work well in some environments, and for some uses, but not in every one, and for me, for what i do the 22 and 243 are just better suited.

Dave

 

[VSS]

I spoke with the FEO before applying for my FAC, and he suggested I should go for .17HMR.
However, in the event I disregarded his advice and got .22LR (BRNO Mk2).
My main reason was the cost of ammo - being completely new to rifle shooting I wanted to know that I could afford to practice properly until I got good at it!
Other things that put me off were the noise issue, potential problems in high winds, and meat damage. Whether or not these are genuine concerns I don't really know, because I've never even fired a HMR, but I hear them enough times to be convincing!

Now I love my .22LR. I have no desire to take really long range shots. A perfect summer evening involves lying behind a clump of nettles with the rifle on a bipod, about 60 yards from where the rabbits feed, and picking them off silently, one by one. Quite happy spending hours in the same spot, watching other wildlife come and go.

I've also learnt a lot about ballistics, trajectory etc, which perhaps wouldn't have been the case if I'd a bought a "point in right direction and pull trigger" type of rifle.

Above all, the .22LR has stood the test of time, it's the most popular round in the world, and in a fairly recent thread on here titled something like "if you could only have one gun in your cabinet, what would it be?", a significant majority said .22LR.

Also, if you need advice about anything to do with a .22LR, you can be sure to get a lot of sensible help off this forum. However, if you ask the same questions about HMR you'll get lots of vary varied replies, and probably a disagreement or two. A bit like this thread really!

 

[Psyxologos]

Indeed, there is so much contradiction between different people's posts, it is phenomenal. I guess I will have to learn which one suits me better by trying them both out.

 

[Muir]

I spoke with the FEO before applying for my FAC, and he suggested I should go for .17HMR.
However, in the event I disregarded his advice and got .22LR (BRNO Mk2).
My main reason was the cost of ammo - being completely new to rifle shooting I wanted to know that I could afford to practice properly until I got good at it!
Other things that put me off were the noise issue, potential problems in high winds, and meat damage. Whether or not these are genuine concerns I don't really know, because I've never even fired a HMR, but I hear them enough times to be convincing!

Now I love my .22LR. I have no desire to take really long range shots. A perfect summer evening involves lying behind a clump of nettles with the rifle on a bipod, about 60 yards from where the rabbits feed, and picking them off silently, one by one. Quite happy spending hours in the same spot, watching other wildlife come and go.

I've also learnt a lot about ballistics, trajectory etc, which perhaps wouldn't have been the case if I'd a bought a "point in right direction and pull trigger" type of rifle.

Above all, the .22LR has stood the test of time, it's the most popular round in the world, and in a fairly recent thread on here titled something like "if you could only have one gun in your cabinet, what would it be?", a significant majority said .22LR.

Also, if you need advice about anything to do with a .22LR, you can be sure to get a lot of sensible help off this forum. However, if you ask the same questions about HMR you'll get lots of vary varied replies, and probably a disagreement or two. A bit like this thread really!

That says it all.~Muir

 

[riflehunter583]

i also agree with vss

the .22lr is a workhorse, reliable and dependable teaches and offers so much to all shooters hunters and target shooters.

i have never shot a hmr so cannot comment, but have used a .22lr alot.

in fact i skipped the hmr and got a .223 instead and do not regret it.

if you get lucky and get a really nice .22lr you will be able to kill bunnys effectivly out to 120/130 yards with range finder and mill dot scope.

my .22lr wll group an inch at 120 95% of the time and sometimes better. ammo choice is excellent and very cheap.

one thing i would consider is that if shooting at night with night vision its hard to judge range and this is where a hmr with the flatter shooting helps alot on the lamp or with the nv.

i would never sell my .22lr and the police would have to take it from me if i ever lost my licence.

if its your first gun the .22lr will help you learn alot about shooting.

as have allready been said any rfleman should have a .22lr and i agree with this.

atb

 

[Psyxologos]

I already own a .22lr (a target Anschutz Match 54) and I know that the .22 is a great round. I also own a .308 so I have full bore experience. I just need a rifle for rabbits and hares etc. I have been thinking of the .22 WMR in the last couple of days...

How is meat damage with one of these? Anyone know?

 

[Muir]

I already own a .22lr (a target Anschutz Match 54) and I know that the .22 is a great round. I also own a .308 so I have full bore experience. I just need a rifle for rabbits and hares etc. I have been thinking of the .22 WMR in the last couple of days...

How is meat damage with one of these? Anyone know?

It depends on the bullet you use. A 30 grain TNT HP at 2300 fps will blow a rabbit to bits. The Federal 50 grain, won't much.~Muir

 

[bewsher500]

I already own a .22lr (a target Anschutz Match 54) and I know that the .22 is a great round. I also own a .308 so I have full bore experience. I just need a rifle for rabbits and hares etc. I have been thinking of the .22 WMR in the last couple of days...

How is meat damage with one of these? Anyone know?

less than an HMR for similar shots
most bullets are far less frangible on smaller quarry.

 

[Psyxologos]

Thanks guys! Much appreciated.