Is .17hmr a worthy upgrade for ruffed grouse over .22LR?

[.22LRGUY]

If it were a dedicate grouse rifle, 17HMR ammo prices wouldn’t be a deciding factor unless you’re harvesting them on an industrial scale.

There is a step between 17HMR and 22-a favorite of mine 17M2 but I’ll cut that idea down=too HMR like at close range.

I know lots of experienced shooters who don’t know what 22LR rifle/scope/ammo options are even out there today, so perhaps exploring that avenue might be a good idea?

Something not too heavy with excellent accuracy potential like a 16” Tikka T1x maybe. Scope it with something suitable to the distances you’ll be taking your shots. Anything outside of about 30-40 yards I’d pick the 20” barrel.

Leaving out anything Winchester, Remington-made, do some load testing with all available HV hollow points and see what the rifle likes best. Excellent factory trigger can be dialled down, YoDave can sell you a trigger spring that can bring it down lower still.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

As said previously, 17 hmr is significantly louder and hearing protection is advised. The added power serves no purpose. The added accuracy and ballistics at 75 plus yards is completely wasted on what will most likely be off hand shots at 15 yards or less.

 

[Alberta Bigbore]

Im deaf already. We use 410 shorties by charles daly... mainly.

But ruger 1022 takedown with red dot grouse and gopher slayer this season. it will shoot just over an inche at 50 yd.... With a 25 yard zero using fed blue box champion 40gr. Hold on the neck and its dead ruffie.

Ive used 17hmr in past.. not so pretty outcome unless headshots are ur plan.



Go 22lr

 

[DGY]

22lr is more than enough for anything small games, rabbit, grouse, ptarmigan etc.
When you know where to shoot and place your bullet you properly you will have great success!!

 

[Dogleg]

The hammer hitting the pin is louder then cci quiets going off

Yep, sounds like a mis-fire. I used standard velocity and a can hunting steinbuck at night; same thing, just a click. Different sort of experience.

 

[skwerl]

Growing up shooting Grouse with a CIL 125 (.22) my Dad wouldn`t even buy Long Rifle just
because it was over kill , all I shot was .22 Shorts.

Hunting Blue Grouse was different , they would always fly so it was .410 shotgun for
me and 12 gauge for him.
...;. skwerl

 

[bisonviril]

Growing up shooting Grouse with a CIL 125 (.22) my Dad wouldn`t even buy Long Rifle just
because it was over kill , all I shot was .22 Shorts.

Hunting Blue Grouse was different , they would always fly so it was .410 shotgun for
me and 12 gauge for him.
...;. skwerl

That certainly puts things in perspective. Thanks

 

[bisonviril]

If it were a dedicate grouse rifle, 17HMR ammo prices wouldn’t be a deciding factor unless you’re harvesting them on an industrial scale.

There is a step between 17HMR and 22-a favorite of mine 17M2 but I’ll cut that idea down=too HMR like at close range.

I know lots of experienced shooters who don’t know what 22LR rifle/scope/ammo options are even out there today, so perhaps exploring that avenue might be a good idea?

Something not too heavy with excellent accuracy potential like a 16” Tikka T1x maybe. Scope it with something suitable to the distances you’ll be taking your shots. Anything outside of about 30-40 yards I’d pick the 20” barrel.

Leaving out anything Winchester, Remington-made, do some load testing with all available HV hollow points and see what the rifle likes best. Excellent factory trigger can be dialled down, YoDave can sell you a trigger spring that can bring it down lower still.

Thank you for your very thorough answer. I have a lot to think about. I will definitely go the .22 way. Now I have the happy problem of finding which one to buy.

 

[bisonviril]

Im deaf already. We use 410 shorties by charles daly... mainly.

But ruger 1022 takedown with red dot grouse and gopher slayer this season. it will shoot just over an inche at 50 yd.... With a 25 yard zero using fed blue box champion 40gr. Hold on the neck and its dead ruffie.

Ive used 17hmr in past.. not so pretty outcome unless headshots are ur plan.



Go 22lr

That's a solid marksmanship display!

 

[270WSMXBolt]

On the ground. 17 is the way. anything above ground should be shot loads... Sorry but the accuracy of a 17hmr is nuts compared to the average 22lr. Many people have guns that do or perform great but a basic setup on a 17hmr can poke out eyes.. so nice to walk and pluck birds on the ground... Red ships at fifty with a 17... green with a tricked out 10/22

 

[dimeN]

myself.. id say both work well for grouse ! Id only take head shots with both 22 and 17. Ive got several cz rifles that accuracy is great and never a problem. Ive been using 22mag for grouse and enjoy it. Sure it costs a little more but im only taking a few grouse every season. I like a 1-4x variable scope on several rifles or irons. I dont know about hearing damage on rimfires and never bothered…. But centerfire id definitely use something, plugs or muffs. 17hmr does shoot alot flatter than 22lr, so if you enjoy longer shots, this would be of benefit… id get them both, and cz

 

[ivobb]

if your a good shot use 22 low velocity ammo 720 feet per sec - practice with this ammo because it drops like a brick

 

[DGY]

one thing interesting is in Scandinavia they hunt grouse and ptarmigan with center fire rounds with full metal jacket bullets to not waste meat, some 222, 223, even 6.5x55…. I’m not sure why but it seems to work great for them. When I found that out I thought it was mainly for the massive capercailli and the black grouse but they do use lt on all type of grouse, but mostly in the winter( snow on the ground) .

 

[Paul_T]

For me it's 22LR for grouse (we have 3 main varieties in the Okanagan Valley). On the ground head shots to 40-50 yards using Eley subsonic HP.

17HMR is my go-to for rabbits. Flat and dead accurate for head shots 25-125 yards with 20gr varmint ammo

OP find a Tikka T1x or CZ you like and buy it.

 

[BLCB]

I have spent my life headshotting grouse with .22lr. I didn't always succeed, which has lead me to think sometimes it would have been nice to have something that shot flatter. It has never been enough of an issue to bother though. I don't understand shotguns for such small birds at the ranges I seem to typically find them at.

One issue I can see already would be finding a .17 with usable and decent iron sights.