Thread: 22LR or 17HMR, your thoughts?

Originally Posted by Hugh Shields

Personal bias declaration: I hate air rifles and I hate .17 anything!
The 22LR has been the go to caliber for rabbiting for over 100 years, I see no point in changing what clearly is tried, proven and works.
Distance - Effective Range: 22LR 10m - 200m (.17 The same). Subsonic 22LR, my longest one shot kill is 164m with Winchester 42grn HP at 1065 fps. Best Supersonic 22LR one shot kill 192m Browning BPR 40grn HP.
Projectile Weights: 22LR 28grn, 38grn, 40grn, 42grn, 45grn and I think I missed one or two. HP or solid (Last time I checked .17 only came in three bullet weights? Check)
Velocity: 22LR Subsonic to supersonic lots of options from 700fps to 2000 (roughly). (.17 supersonic only, you can't effectively mitigate the sonic CRACK! You can reduce it, but you can never get them silent!)
COST! COST! COST! Retail gun shops LOVE selling .17 because they know they have then you locked into buying the most expensive rimfire ammunition in the world! Which is good for their sales figures and profit margin, but hard on your Bank Account. The pricing structure is, from cheapest to most expensive; 22LR - 22 Magnum - .17HMR. Basically .17 is DOUBLE the price of 22LR. Do the maths on 5000 rounds and you pack your pants!
Suppressors: Buy quality, buy DPT modular system.
WHAT RIFLE: Weihrauch HW60J (new Model HW66 CH comes factory threaded) should be about $800 - $1000 on TradeMe or $1200 to $1400 retail. Reloaders Supplies Auckland got me the best price on my last on in 22 Hornet. You will buy this rifle, never change it, and pass it on to your grandchildren. Quality German engineering.
SCOPE: Get a good quality scope with magnification range of 3 0r 4 to 14 or 16x. Maximum front lens diameter 40 - 44mm (You don't need 50mm and 26x for rabbits)

Hugh Shields
Controlled Rabbit Culling
Wellington
Mobile: 021 9888 41

You forgot the bit about the flat trajectory and incredible terminal ballistics of HMR, and the lack of ricochet danger. If you are a rabbit culler and hate 17 anything and all air rifles then you must be too stubborn to open your eyes and see a whole range of tools that suit different jobs so much better than a .22lr.

I'm a culler too and my kit that I take out every day includes a PCP, 22lr, 17hmr and a 12ga. And there are often days when they all get a turn due to the varying range of property types I'm on.