Thread: .17hmr vs .22lr vs .223 BEST FARM GUN?

Hey team,

New to the forum but looking for some opinions on the best rifle/calibre for pest control on the family farm. Mainly hares, rabbits, magpies etc. Rolling land + flats. Recommendations on .17hmr vs .22 vs .22Mag vs .223? Was thinking .17hmr could be the sweet spot, affordable ammo and a bit more distance than .22 but have never shot with one nor a .22mag. Would love some opinions. Currently stalking hares with the compound bow but she's a relatively low success rate!

Cheers!

Depends if you have critters larger than hares on the farm. If you don't you won't need a .223. If you do, I'd go .223.

17hmr if the biggest quarry will be a hare or possum, it's cheap to run and deadly accurate and flat shooting.
Get a good scope like a 4-12 and a suppressor and you'll be set for anything from 5 ft to 150ft + without too much trouble

223. If you can see it you can hit it. Go see Dave at shooter ready. He'll sell you a Howa Mini for a good price.

Get one of each

They all have their uses

Cheers for the wisdom guys- nothing bigger than Hares really, the odd wild cat roams about too so .223 may be an overkill. Sounds like .17 should be the ticket

Had a chat with Dave @Shooter ready before the lockdown, hell of a nice dude! Think he's sold me on a 6.5 Creedmoor for the bigger stuff so just needing a pest gun now

Yup, if your biggest critters hares and possums, go for 17hmr. Cheap to run, much quieter than a 223, arguably safer and more range than a 22.
Would recommend a suppressor for the 17.

I have a scoped bsa martini 22 that completely outshoots my CZ 17hmr. I'd love to sell the CZ, but my wife says no.

For anything further out that 150m, i use my 7mm08 and treat the rabbits as good practice for deer

Get a .22lr and use the CCI velocitor ammo for longer shots,CCI subsonics for everything else,ammo is readily available and cheap,easy to suppress ,if stuff is to far away sneak in closer!!!

.17 the better .22
17 good if your eating the critters.
22 best for shooting possums up trees, wont go so far.
other than that 223 trumps all, especially in open ground and wind, longer distance. often find ammo same price as 17 also. if your not around neighbors houses the noise of the 223 is no big deal.

Good info coming in, cheers all!

every man should own a .22lr
that said I shoot more bunnies n hares with the .223 BUT I arent in populated area....hares and rabbits out to 75-80 yards no issues and if you work out your drop 100yards is doable with humble .22lr
with the .223 I can stretch that out to 200-250 without any problem at all.
you can put down animals with .22lr but if cattle sized a .223 is mush better...you said farm gun
.22lr = $0.10 a shot .223 or 17 you looking closer to $0.50 a shot
with any of the options your ammunition choice is criticle...

I have had 22lr, 22mag and 223 for about 25 years. Some things to consider...
if noise is an issue, 22lr with suppressor and subsonic ammo is by far the quietest,
22mag has more range than 22lr, but 223 can be reloaded for about the same cost as 22mag ammo, and has way more range than 22mag,
I would never use 223 for shooting possums up a tree!

I'd like to know where ur getting 223 ammo for 50c a round md