.17 ammo is only about .30 cents a round in BC. 22LR was fun when I was a kid. Get the .17, it's fun. Shoots real hot.
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is the 17HMR round worth the extra cash
- Thread starter chezboy
- Start date
.17 ammo is only about .30 cents a round in BC. 22LR was fun when I was a kid. Get the .17, it's fun. Shoots real hot.
.223 ammo is too expensive for the wimpy bang you get.
I have owned a Custom 10/22 Magnum with top of the line barrels and I sold it to get a .17 HMR.
The 1st day on the range with my new .17 HMR, I shot more tight groups than I had ever did with the .22 Magnum. Now, I must admit, the .22 Magnum does knock gophers for more of a loop then the .17 HMR however I was really getting frusterated not being able to consistently hit a gopher over 100 yards.
That is the beauty of the HMR. It might not make them jump like the .22 Magnum but when your goal is to kill a gopher, hits at extended ranges is more common and consistent with the HMR.
As for the cost, if you can afford a .17 HMR rifle, you should be able to afford .17 HMR ammo. Yes it is a little bit more, but really, $12.99 for 50, not that expensive at all. Yes reloading a .223.....etc is going to be cheaper but you have to figure in the cost of reloading equipment and the time its going to take you to make 500 rounds.
I'd say give the .17 HMR a try. You will be pleasantly surprised what it can do.
Pros: More accurate
Flater trajectory than any other rimfire round
No recoil at all
Honest 150-200 gopher cartridge
Cons: Not as veritle as a .22 Magnum or centerfire, i.e - can be used for more than just gophers
Not as many bullet weight's to choose from
Ammo is more $$$ than other rimfire rounds
The 1st day on the range with my new .17 HMR, I shot more tight groups than I had ever did with the .22 Magnum. Now, I must admit, the .22 Magnum does knock gophers for more of a loop then the .17 HMR however I was really getting frusterated not being able to consistently hit a gopher over 100 yards.
That is the beauty of the HMR. It might not make them jump like the .22 Magnum but when your goal is to kill a gopher, hits at extended ranges is more common and consistent with the HMR.
As for the cost, if you can afford a .17 HMR rifle, you should be able to afford .17 HMR ammo. Yes it is a little bit more, but really, $12.99 for 50, not that expensive at all. Yes reloading a .223.....etc is going to be cheaper but you have to figure in the cost of reloading equipment and the time its going to take you to make 500 rounds.
I'd say give the .17 HMR a try. You will be pleasantly surprised what it can do.
Pros: More accurate
Flater trajectory than any other rimfire round
No recoil at all
Honest 150-200 gopher cartridge
Cons: Not as veritle as a .22 Magnum or centerfire, i.e - can be used for more than just gophers
Not as many bullet weight's to choose from
Ammo is more $$$ than other rimfire rounds
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Bull's-Eye's opinion is always something I look forward to...
IMHO, people could (and have) advised toward the .22 hornet over the .22 WMR, but let's face it: both the .22 WMR and the .17 HMR are fun, bring a lot more to the plate than the standard .22 LR, are a boon power/accuracy-wise for non-reloaders, and - unlike the .17 M2 - it looks as though the .17 HMR has considerable staying power...
IMHO, people could (and have) advised toward the .22 hornet over the .22 WMR, but let's face it: both the .22 WMR and the .17 HMR are fun, bring a lot more to the plate than the standard .22 LR, are a boon power/accuracy-wise for non-reloaders, and - unlike the .17 M2 - it looks as though the .17 HMR has considerable staying power...
Bull's-Eye's opinion is always something I look forward to...
Thanks Cyclone. It's nice to be wanted
- Location
- the prairies
apparently I continue as the only one with a .17m2 out there....!
If I owned a 17M2 I would be stocking up on ammo just in case it becomes unavailable.
- Location
- the prairies
working on my 10k round collection of M2-easy to go thru 500 rds a weekend in southern sask-1 shot 1 kill at a time.
I own several .22's, a .17HMR, and a .223. I do not reload, nor do I have any intentions of reloading in the future. For me, its like having 3 different tools available each of which costs a bit more to use, and consequently performs a bit better. Although I have no experience with the .22 mag, i could see how it could occupy the centre slot of the above lineup without much problem. The thing I love about the .17 is that is is a deadly accurate no-recoiling round, fairly cheap for both ammunition, and good quality rifles, and gives you more options than even the hyper velocity .22's. As far as gophers go, I think the (.17) round was designed with gophers in mind, I mean it is perfectly suited to gopher hunting. Anyway thats just my take on it, and the main thing being that personally since I don't plan on reloading, the .17 will always have a place in my gun collection. Incidently, my next firearm will probably be a .22 magnum, but I don't regret getting the .17 first.
I originally purchased my 1st .17 HMR back in 2003. It was a Marlin, gray laminate stock and a heavy stainless barrel (the fluted model wasn't available at that time).
Back in my home town, the range I visited had a centerfire range which was 350 yards long. One day when no one was shooting on that range I took out my .17 and put a pop can on the hill at the back of the range.
I was able to hit it at least once every 5-7 shots which I never could with my .22 LR.
I really enjoyed that rifle but traded it in for a Ruger 10/22 Magnum.
The .22 Magnum is gone and the .17 is back for another try.
Back in my home town, the range I visited had a centerfire range which was 350 yards long. One day when no one was shooting on that range I took out my .17 and put a pop can on the hill at the back of the range.
I was able to hit it at least once every 5-7 shots which I never could with my .22 LR.
I really enjoyed that rifle but traded it in for a Ruger 10/22 Magnum.
The .22 Magnum is gone and the .17 is back for another try.
