.22lr vs 17hmr
- Thread starter dannymat
- Start date
Yep. It's a way over priced cartridge.
The .17 is a necked down .22 Magnum case using a 17 grain bullet at about 2610fps MV with about 257 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Runs $12 to $17 per 50.
The .22 Mag uses a .224" 40 grain bullet at about 1910fps MV with 324 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Runs $10 to $13 per 50. $2.29 to $3.50 per 50.
An HV .22 LR uses a 36 to 40 grain bullet in a much shorter case at about 1255fps with 140 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Runs around $25 per 500.
The .17 is a necked down .22 Magnum case using a 17 grain bullet at about 2610fps MV with about 257 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Runs $12 to $17 per 50.
The .22 Mag uses a .224" 40 grain bullet at about 1910fps MV with 324 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Runs $10 to $13 per 50. $2.29 to $3.50 per 50.
An HV .22 LR uses a 36 to 40 grain bullet in a much shorter case at about 1255fps with 140 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Runs around $25 per 500.
If you don't plan on shooting very much, the .17 HMR is a wonderful little round when it is presented in it's element. It allows a bit further of an accurate shot for most folks than a .22 LR, because of it's higher velocity and less bullet drop. However I still prefer the .22 LR round because of it's economy and performance. Basically the HMR shoots a grain of rice at double the velocity of the LR, but spectacular performance isn't a garanteed thing. I had one and a shot on a gopher at 75 yards showed no exit wound. At 50 yards, I blew a chunk out of another. This was kind of the normal thing for that rifle. Also if there is any wind, chances are you will not spot your misses as that little bullet cannot kick up much dust. I shoot alot of .22 LR every year and I can say this; It is the most fun you can have with a gun. It's so cheap there is no excuse to not shoot alot of it. And by shooting alot you are gaining experiance. Any experiance helps to making you a better shot.
.22 is fun because one doesn't need to calculate how much money was spent in an afternoon of shooting.
Moreover, .22 can be purchased in bulk for less money. Training to become a good rifleman is cheap. As well, the benefit of no recoil is good for beginners of any age or ###.
Moreover, .22 can be purchased in bulk for less money. Training to become a good rifleman is cheap. As well, the benefit of no recoil is good for beginners of any age or ###.
I was going to use my "awesome accounting powers" to show the pennies-per-shot rates ($.24-$.34/shot for the .17, $.20-$.26/shot for the .22 Mag, and $.05/shot for the .22LR)
, but I was initially confused by the 2 rates of per-50 for the .22 Mag . That said, the first set of figures sounds about right...Anyhow, at about $35-$40 for 500 of .22LR CCI Minimag, you're looking at the crazy-large amount of $.07-08/shot
. Da-dum-dum... And let's not even discuss Velocitors...
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Was cost the answer you were after?
If not then the .17HMR is a great rifle, it takes a bit of time to find the right round for a particular rifle but once you find it you can count on owning a very accurate rifle with enough umph to do any small game hunting. It is a controversial subject but it can be effective on game upwards to coyote, matter of fact, I got my first double with my HMR. Not my firearm of choice for that game but in the two shots I tried it I had two dead coyotes, both were over 100 yards.
A .22 is a great gun too, too much math for me though when it comes time to calculate bullet drop, I enjoy hunting squirrels and other small game, a .22 is definitely up for the job but often requires compensating for the slow bullet to reach a target accurately. The HMR is capable of a head shot on a squirrel up to about 140 yards before you have to worry about where that tiny, explosive bullet is going to land.
HMR ammo is more prone to be consistent that bulk .22 ammo, so that is a bit of a psychological advantage.
Don't let the little bullet fool you, it extremely potent when placement is correct, and is accurate enough to allow for consistent results.
The fact that they are both rimfires is the only comparison between a .22LR and a HMR. Terribly fun rifle.
Oh, one more thing, ricochets, they hardly exist in the HMR compared to a .22, the tiny, fast moving bullet tends to disintegrate on impact, with anything, that makes it a whole lot safer in my eyes too. I have never, ever had a HMR round ricochet.
Buy one, you will love it!
If not then the .17HMR is a great rifle, it takes a bit of time to find the right round for a particular rifle but once you find it you can count on owning a very accurate rifle with enough umph to do any small game hunting. It is a controversial subject but it can be effective on game upwards to coyote, matter of fact, I got my first double with my HMR. Not my firearm of choice for that game but in the two shots I tried it I had two dead coyotes, both were over 100 yards.
A .22 is a great gun too, too much math for me though when it comes time to calculate bullet drop, I enjoy hunting squirrels and other small game, a .22 is definitely up for the job but often requires compensating for the slow bullet to reach a target accurately. The HMR is capable of a head shot on a squirrel up to about 140 yards before you have to worry about where that tiny, explosive bullet is going to land.
HMR ammo is more prone to be consistent that bulk .22 ammo, so that is a bit of a psychological advantage.
Don't let the little bullet fool you, it extremely potent when placement is correct, and is accurate enough to allow for consistent results.
The fact that they are both rimfires is the only comparison between a .22LR and a HMR. Terribly fun rifle.
Oh, one more thing, ricochets, they hardly exist in the HMR compared to a .22, the tiny, fast moving bullet tends to disintegrate on impact, with anything, that makes it a whole lot safer in my eyes too. I have never, ever had a HMR round ricochet.
Buy one, you will love it!
If you can't afford $14+/- for 50 rounds like some people here, then the 17 is not for you. If you can, the .17 is a lot of fun. If the cost of a hobby is the deciding factor, then pick one with no consumables. Like collecting stamps.
- Location
- victoria bc
I thought long and hard before settleling on my 22mag over a 17hmr
The 22mag seems more versitile as a varmint rifle over the 17hmr
I can hit clay targets consistantly at 130m with the cheapest ammo i could find at crappy tire, winchester $10.95/box of 50, thats 22 cents a round
I can hit the same target with a 22lr just takes 4 or 5 shots
The 22mag seems more versitile as a varmint rifle over the 17hmr
I can hit clay targets consistantly at 130m with the cheapest ammo i could find at crappy tire, winchester $10.95/box of 50, thats 22 cents a round
I can hit the same target with a 22lr just takes 4 or 5 shots
I set up paper targets at 200 yards before just to see how 'accurate' my Savage was at that range. That was because I used to smak the 200 yard gong with it just about every time it got boring. After shooting paper, I saw that it sprayed the bullets around quite a bit, but still not that bad for that range. Now I like to fling them out to 300 just for fun. I have to use the very bottom of the crosshair on the lowest part of the field of view. So it doesn't offer the most precise aiming, but it's fun to try. 100 yard shots are easily done with a good rifle and ammo. Even stretching it to 150 can be done.
I understand orginal question was about paper punching only. 22lr without doubt is the only paper punching rig. Paper doesn't know if round was fast enough to mushroom inside gopher's body. Accuracy of 22lr vvaries wildly between rifles and ammo brands and even batches of same brand but mid-range priced bolt guns will put everything under 3/4" groups at 50 yards. Unless you are going to shoot benchrest this kind of accuracy is clearly beyond what you can do from prone, kneeling or standing positions.
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying, at the time I bought my Marlin there were only 9 different brands available, the Remington's worked in my gun the others were all a bit off in comparison, but still accurate enough to hunt with.
I kept reading posts about how most .17 ammo is the same anyways, but my gun would never see it that way. I logged all my groups after a good cleaning and my results were consistent each time, some worked good, others worked great.
I have never tried the 20 grain stuff, some guys claim it works great, I just settled once I found one my gun likes.
It can be such an accurate round it can get boring for paper stuff, I shoot at my 100 yard range and put paint balls on golf tee's.
I chalk a lot of it's performance up to my cleaning, after a range trip or hunt that uses more than a few rounds I use a bore snake, but never thoroughly clean, same with my .22's, avoids that whole "fowling shot" thing that drives me crazy. Bore snake is used with a bore guide of course.
It is one of my favorite go to guns, much quieter than it's .22 Mag counterpart, and again, less prone to ricochet. Significantly more accurate than a .22 (unless using match grade ammo, which is costly too).
A .22's miss can always be blamed on the ammo, if you are shooting a .17HMR any mistakes are likely to be the fault of the guy behind the rifle.
I also shoot a Ruger .204, for the exact reasons I like the .17HMR, only on a larger scale.
I shoot shotguns..... so cost of ammo will play a small factor, but as long as it's cheaper than my shotgun ammo, I don't really care about cost.
Yes it will be a paper punch, but if I ever get my country house, then i'll shoot anything and everything, so versatility might not be a bad idea.
Yes it will be a paper punch, but if I ever get my country house, then i'll shoot anything and everything, so versatility might not be a bad idea.
Well then, compared to $5 a round to shoot Partition Golds from a shotgun the HMR is very affordable to shoot.
I have been on a pool ball shooting spree with my HMR, bought a bucket full at a garage sale for that purpose. Turns them to dust.
Mike Oxbig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Scarborough Ontario
I shoot my scoped 17HMR bolt action when i want something at 150 yards to get a bullet in its eye the first time.
My 22lrs are all semis and never fire less than 200 rounds per hour of use. Lots of fun and accurate within a shorter range and cheap as hell to shoot.
I buy 17HMR ammo 50 at a time
My 22lrs i get a box of 5000 at a time.
My 22lrs are all semis and never fire less than 200 rounds per hour of use. Lots of fun and accurate within a shorter range and cheap as hell to shoot.
I buy 17HMR ammo 50 at a time
My 22lrs i get a box of 5000 at a time.
