We love our 22Lrs right? But what is the mext step up?

PSE Composites Limited - The next level Rifle Stocks
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Sheprador1973

Well-Known Member
Hi guys.

Simple one I think. I love my 22lr (cz). Accurate, fun to shoot, cheap to feed and can knock bunnies over all day. It got me my first FAC and ammo is available everywhere right? I'm not even considering getting rid of it but had couple of thoughts...

I only shoot rabbits for food on my perm and have no need or interest in foxes. But, I do like to reload, would like to shoot out a bit further accurately, and would like to avoid damaging game to the point that it is inedible.

So I'm guessing my choices for 'stepping up' are 17hmr, 17 hornet, 22 hornet, 204 ruger and 222/223? I already have an empty slot for .223 on my fac but do you think I'd be better of with any of the others? For clarity I'm not concerned with noise or recoil particularly...more suitability tbh.

Thanks in advance 😉
 
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The HMR is perfectly good out to 150yds for rabbits (ammo quality dependant) but the Hornet is the better and more versatile cartridge. The others you mention are overkill for rabbits in terms of using them for the table. They will certainly headshoot them with ease out to 200yds+ but you still splinter bullets and risk fragmentation wounds and wasting of meat.

I like my HMR for night time control of rabbits when high volume means reloading is just too much of a ballache but if you are talking about daytime shooting, having some fun and keeping as much meat as possible without having to rely on the potential limitations of rimfire ammo, then the Hornet wins this race by a country mile.

I don't see a day when I would sell the HMR and I shoot a .222rem for different reasons, so the Hornet is not on my shopping list but my circumstances were similar to yours, I would buy the Hornet.
 
Cottis said:
The HMR is perfectly good out to 150yds for rabbits (ammo quality dependant) but the Hornet is the better and more versatile cartridge. The others you mention are overkill for rabbits in terms of using them for the table. They will certainly headshoot them with ease out to 200yds+ but you still splinter bullets and risk fragmentation wounds and wasting of meat.

I like my HMR for night time control of rabbits when high volume means reloading is just too much of a ballache but if you are talking about daytime shooting, having some fun and keeping as much meat as possible without having to rely on the potential limitations of rimfire ammo, then the Hornet wins this race by a country mile.

I don't see a day when I would sell the HMR and I shoot a .222rem for different reasons, so the Hornet is not on my shopping list but my circumstances were similar to yours, I would buy the Hornet.
Click to expand...
Thank you Cottis...makes a lot of sense. It's a shame really, my single small permission is dominated by rabbits, muntjac and fallow. I have a 308 which will sort the fallow out all day long and the 22lr obviously for the bunnies. It just feels like 308 on munties is a little overkill? Yes it does the job, but were it legal in England I'd sooner stroll about with one of the aforementioned for the smaller bodied creatures. Must admit, I do like the concept of the hornet. So 17 or 22?
 
Thank you guys. I guess my existing slot for .223, given my circumstances, remains probably the best choice? A bit too much for rabbits for the table agreed but maybe I could add a hornet at renewal time? In my post work delirium I'd lost the fact that a .223 is a legal muntjac cal in england! Right? o_O
 
Was out with a .17 hornet the other night . It mullered some rabbits but head shots usually left some meat. A wicked little round that will give you more range and more consistent accuracy at range that the hmr. Having said that a mate of mine is shooting long range bunnies with his 22-250 (175yards) and surprisingly it’s not blowing them to bits so maybe something bigger at range would be ok.
 
If your thinking of reloading the .223 I copy the hornaby 53 grain with my mate as it goes through both our rifles well and costs about 40p per round, it turns rabbits to spaghetti though😂
 
Sheprador1973 said:
Hi guys.

Simple one I think. I love my 22lr (cz). Accurate, fun to shoot, cheap to feed and can knock bunnies over all day. It got me my first FAC and ammo is available everywhere right? I'm not even considering getting rid of it but had couple of thoughts...

I only shoot rabbits for food on my perm and have no need or interest in foxes. But, I do like to reload, would like to shoot out a bit further accurately, and would like to avoid damaging game to the point that it is inedible.

So I'm guessing my choices for 'stepping up' are 17hmr, 17 hornet, 22 hornet, 204 ruger and 222/223? I already have an empty slot for .223 on my fac but do you think I'd be better of with any of the others? For clarity I'm not concerned with noise or recoil particularly...more suitability tbh.

Thanks in advance 😉
Click to expand...

You missed the mighty .22 WMR which is a cracking calibre.

For rabbits only then if yo like reloading the .22 hornet is your answer, can be reloaded for less cost than HMR / WMR ammo costs
 
Whitester said:
Was out with a .17 hornet the other night . It mullered some rabbits but head shots usually left some meat. A wicked little round that will give you more range and more consistent accuracy at range that the hmr. Having said that a mate of mine is shooting long range bunnies with his 22-250 (175yards) and surprisingly it’s not blowing them to bits so maybe something bigger at range would be ok.
Click to expand...
175 yards - long range?! :rofl:
 
Sheprador1973 said:
Thank you guys. I guess my existing slot for .223, given my circumstances, remains probably the best choice? A bit too much for rabbits for the table agreed but maybe I could add a hornet at renewal time? In my post work delirium I'd lost the fact that a .223 is a legal muntjac cal in england! Right? o_O
Click to expand...

It is but I've never taken one out for a muntjac, if I am out for a deer then I want to be able to knock the inevitable roe (or fallow in your case, and it will be a medal) that will show up if you only have a mouse gun - unless you're after that special experience with a munty and a .357 underlever equipped with irons
 
It’s hardly American sniper territory granted but given most bunnies are shot within 100 yards I’d say 175 yards in long range bunny bashing .
 
Cottis said:
The HMR is perfectly good out to 150yds for rabbits (ammo quality dependant) but the Hornet is the better and more versatile cartridge. The others you mention are overkill for rabbits in terms of using them for the table. They will certainly headshoot them with ease out to 200yds+ but you still splinter bullets and risk fragmentation wounds and wasting of meat.

I like my HMR for night time control of rabbits when high volume means reloading is just too much of a ballache but if you are talking about daytime shooting, having some fun and keeping as much meat as possible without having to rely on the potential limitations of rimfire ammo, then the Hornet wins this race by a country mile.

I don't see a day when I would sell the HMR and I shoot a .222rem for different reasons, so the Hornet is not on my shopping list but my circumstances were similar to yours, I would buy the Hornet.
Click to expand...

Until they make .243 and 1700 ft-lb the minimum for the 'other reaons' because the feedback they are getting is .222 / .223 is not humane enough ;)
 
I use to reload hornet with full patch bullets purely for harvesting rabbits for sale.

Don't dismiss wmr. Full patch ammunition is available for it too.
Some of the game points in 20g HMR loadings are less explosive for harvesting too.
 
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