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Hey team, I’m looking to buy myself a really nice rimfire some time soon. Proper top shelf quality….
I was just going to go with a .22lr but started to wonder about the .17HMR. Is there any reason I should buy one over the old favourite? Used for rabbits on a mates farm during summer and cleaning up the stacks of possums there in winter.
Ammo wise 22lr is the place to be or split the difference and go 22wmr. I have a lithgow la101 22wmr if your looking for a good all rounder
For high volume shooting I would stick with the 22lr. Ammo is waayyyy cheaper and you'll be able to find an accurate one pretty easily.
HMR is awesome in the wind if you're having to take longer shots but otherwise, you'll be happy as with a 22lr.
I love the 17HMR in my Brno 611, deadly accurate, absolutely nukes rabbits where 22lr injures them.
i gave up the 22 as i was getting richochets, none with the 17 which is a consideration on a small block
For me it comes down to noise. Subsonic 22LR is silent and reliable out to 75 metres (for some, 100 metres and even further). No issues killing rabbits with head or chest shots.
17HMR will kill cleanly out to 150m, 22LR relay only to 75 IMHO (unless your name is Dundee) but with ammo at roughly 1/4 the price it's a costly kill. Used to use it on everything inc possums but I am currently conserving it for longer range rabbits and hares. I do recommend it on Hares as in my experience it kills much cleaner than 22.
17hmr is going to me more lethal out to an extended range, it isnt going to be as effective to suppress and ammo is pushing the cost of 223 which is going to be more versatile if its safe to shoot on your mates farm, i would also be hestant to shoot into trees with a 17 but i dont know the farm/location. 22 is gonna be significantly cheaper, easier to suppress effectively and has a wider selection of ammo to buy for it. the secret is to buy both����
Interestingly 17HMR has less energy beyond 200 m then 22LR due to the lighter bullet and bad ballistics of the bullet so it looses velocity and energy faster. I suspect a falling 17 is less lethal (not safe!) than a falling 22LR.
because you want to vaporize magpiesQuote:
Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick
Re: Killing capability of 22LR. I haven't shot as many hares/rabbits as some forum members, but it would be in the hundreds and I've yet to see an animal walk away from a head shot.
22LR can be shot at an indoor range, can be very well suppresed and ammo is cheaper. However Ive found it hard to get real good accuracy at 50m and thats with a good rifle (Sako Finnfire 2) it needs $20 a box Eley match. But for practice at 25yd several brands are OK all shots touching eg CCI subsonic HP which will also be good for possums ( havent used it yet).
For hunting, the 17 HMR will be much better unless youre shooting dozens a night. I didnt want to commit more hours to reloading a 223 and my rimfire hunting will be low volume so its good for me. 223 would open up centrefire target competition for you and could handle a deer or pig if seen at close range.
17 has a whole new ecosystem of cleaning gear and technique and the rods bend easily.
The noise from the 17HMR is just fine with a suppressor (DPT rimfire standard modular) for hunting and on the range you should use protection anyway.
My opinon is that even a subsonic 22LR has a lot of energy to kill a rabbit and no centrefire on a goat or deer comes close to it. A hare will run 20m like a deer with a 303. So accuracy is the limitation not power. 17HMR is very much flatter shooting which will help a lot. Get a low mounted scope to maximise point blank range (ie trajectory is within 1cm of sight line).
My theory is that the 17 is safer to shoot possums in trees as the projectile explodes if it hits a tree branch sand so will not carry the way a 22 does.
The 17 seems deadlyerer on possums that the 22 as well. I've seen possums seemingly soak up a 22 to the chest but 17s just knock the shit out if them.
When all is said and done, you want both
Why wouldn't you get a .17??
The only downside to me is the price of the ammunition. But is you can afford a higher end .17 then that isn't an issue.
It certainly is deadly on rabbits and possums etc. I like the flat shooting nature of the round and its power.
I've just got a Sako .17. Very impressed.
What most are saying about the 17hmr vs 22 is based on projectile choices. You can use ballistic tips in a 22lr or 22wmr and achieve much the same. Problem with the ballistic tips is they are no good if you want to kill pigs etc they won't penetrate. They open up to early. If it is only going to be a dedicated gun 17hmr will be sweet if you are wanting an all rounder the 22lr or 22wmr would be the best choice and you'll have tons more options on ammo choice and availability
Rabbits, Hares, Cats, Opossum, various bird life, absolutely awesome, I’ve matched DDS 22 with a 190 metre dead rabbit and didn’t have to lob or pray.
Always put a smile on your face.
Thanks for the input guys, a bit to think about there. I’m still leaning towards .22 but might have to borrow an HMR to see what all the fuss is about
I'd go 22. I had a marlin xt 17 and it was awesome. Light straight shooting, head shotting rabbits at 100m. Ammo became a real problem and I let it go. I'm more than happy to get closer with my model 60 and save alot of dollars. There's positives and negatives for both. For me it was cost and noise. Horses really didn't like it.
Hope it all goes well.
P.s 17hmr was like a 50cal hit a bunny it would just mulch them up with the ballistic tips
I like my .22LR. Anywhere I shoot, 100m is a long shot. I have even shot pigs with it. (Mainly because only saw them when after rabbits.) Something very satisfying about sneaking in to around 25m, and placing my shot. Now I'm a pensioner, I have to factor in ammo cost. And my Marlin 795 is very accurate.
You really need both.
i suggest you get a rifle that can change barrels such as a Sako Quad or Brno . . . i like the HMR and think you will like it but give yourself the option of going to the .22lr later if it doesnt workout for you.
I own both a .22 n .17 HMR.
Horses for courses.
Once a 17 is sighted in the distance variation between targets is less of a concern than .22.
Must admit i wince a little when i miss with the HMR...happened a few times last night...
Use HMR for majority of pest shooting cod it just works. Possums a deader than using a .22. If shooting into trees ie possum/ magpie projectiles are more liable to 'blow' so less chance of ricochet than with .22.
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I own both, cannot remember what my collection of .22s look like, but if your after a nice one I’ll have one in the safe, if you want a 17 HMR, mines not for sale:D
I have run a 17 for years, the CZs are tack drivers.
22 are good for subsonic, but I shoot Waikato dairy farms that are often open and the hares and rabbits are pretty wary, so you cant get close.
I found a lot more ricochets with a 22
My logic with the 17 and 20 grain projectiles is they would be safe returning to earth over a 40gr 22 also.
Dont feed dogs rabbits where you have shot them though, they are little hand grenades when they hit things. cut off the bits that arent toast
Great wee caliber for getting people into shooting, as they are virtually point and shoot
Ask Mintie. He uses one professionally every day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick
I've toyed with the idea but stuck with .22LR since I'm typically close <100m and I like subsonics with suppressor.
if I really need to shoot to 200m then I'd go with a 17 HMR ... but ammo is pricey and I'd need another rifle, so I'll stalk closer lol
Buy a quality 17, you will love it. They are just so point and shoot.
If you later find you need a .22 to fill a gap you will be able to pick up a good used one pretty cheaply.
I use both, more or less every day. I always take both with me on my daily run because they both serve a different purpose.
The 22lr is great for closer stuff that is within the range you have it set up for, it is cheap to shoot and can be ninja quiet. If I'm working on a property with horses next door etc then I'll be using a 22lr or pcp.
17hmr is a much more useful tool that really doesn't require range calculations or scope adjustments, hits MUCH harder and definitely doesnt ricochet like 22lr does. Anything between 50-200m is a very dead animal within seconds of it being spotted. Mine is a Savage semi auto with a DPT centrefire overbarrel suppressor, I am very commonly shooting multiple animals sitting next to each other without them getting a chance to spook off.
22lr can be used for longer range targets as well for sure but that takes time and adjustments etc where the 17hmr is more or less just point and shoot from 50-200m.
Buy both and be happy
Why does no one seem to use 204 Ruger ??
Overkill ...(if there is such a thing?) ??
I'm loving the 22 mag. 100 mtr head shots removes them completely.
For me it was noise and ammo cost. I can't deny how good the 204 killed but even with a good suppressor they are VERY loud.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ftx325