22 mag versus 17
- Thread starter Waterfowler
- Start date
The17 is a little more accurate but the 22wmr hits harder , ammo is expensive compared to 22LR ($11 or so for 50) .
I got the Savage FV 22WMR , put a Boyds tacticool stock on it , a Bushnell 3200 elite 3x9 . Added a Harris Swivel base notched leg bipod .
I really like the rifle .
I got the Savage FV 22WMR , put a Boyds tacticool stock on it , a Bushnell 3200 elite 3x9 . Added a Harris Swivel base notched leg bipod .
I really like the rifle .
For hunting .22wmr hands down !
My favorite round. Its all around much superior compared to an .22lr
.17hmr is good, but just too small of a bullet in my opinion.
Cant beat a classic round thats been around for quite some time than a wildcat rimfire.
My favorite round. Its all around much superior compared to an .22lr
.17hmr is good, but just too small of a bullet in my opinion.
Cant beat a classic round thats been around for quite some time than a wildcat rimfire.
If you plan mostly plinking and occassional hunting I would suggest the .22WMR. Ammo is much cheaper. The Savage rimfires are fantastic rifles and excellent quality for the money. I would recommend a laminate stock and heavy barrel. I have the 93BTVSS and it is a tackdriver at 50 yards, you can shoot 1 hole all day long with CCI ammo. I plan to get the action bedded and I should get better results at 100. I have a Bushnell Banner 6-24x40 and Caldwell 6-9 swivel bipod mounted on mine.
Note: the .17HMR is greatly affected by wind between 50 and 100 yards. Even a light wind will push the small bullet around.
Note: the .17HMR is greatly affected by wind between 50 and 100 yards. Even a light wind will push the small bullet around.
- Location
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
i like the .22WMR. i'll be getting one in the next week or two, and will be using it as a coyote/bobcat/lynx gun. more punching power than a .17HMR and less affected by the wind.
Take another look at the wind drift, the 17HMR has it all over the WMRF.
Except for when you miss in any kind of a wind. You can't spot your misses.
The difference in cost from shooting 17HMR to shooting 22WMR is minimal so I wouldn't rank it as a consideration
I have both and for gophers I prefer the 17, it blows em up real nice while the 22 can push the bullet through with out good expansion and leave you a zombie gopher. Dead but still moving
I haven't had my 22lr out of the gun safe since I bought them because of the crappy accuracy and range
I have both and for gophers I prefer the 17, it blows em up real nice while the 22 can push the bullet through with out good expansion and leave you a zombie gopher. Dead but still moving
I haven't had my 22lr out of the gun safe since I bought them because of the crappy accuracy and range
I've had too many with the 22wmr that leaves a gaping exit wound but the gopher still alive enough to crawl down the hole
17hmr usually leaves them dead where they lay
I really considered a 17 and if I was just shooting gophers, cans or paper I might have got one ...No gophers out here just groundhogs thats another reason I went to 22WMR .
Anything bigger than that I would want at least a.223
Anything bigger than that I would want at least a.223
^x2. If varmints like gophers/groundhogs are being discussed, it's important to be mindful of the differences in size. Here is a photo of a hefty hay pig (Groundhog
) I shot this past summer beside my Savage 93FV, .22WMR. 
I've shot lots of groundhogs with both HMR and .22WMR and the .22WMR is by FAR a better choice. This big one took the shot to the right side of his noodle, dead instantly. I've taken shots like this with the HMR and the results weren't nearly so clean/humane. The reason I got out of the HMR altogether for Ontario hunting. Would be fine for rabbits, crows etc., bit that's it for out here.
On the farms I hunt, they're getting a little wiser with hunting pressure, so I've moved-up to a .223 for the extra reach/punch...but I'll never get rid of this .22WMR, the thing shoots too well. I also plan on taking it west for it's first gopher hunt this summer...which is why I'm interested in this post;
Pharaoh2~what ammo do you find has the best effect on (as described) on them? My Savage loves the Hornady 30gr. V-Max loads, but I'm 100% willing to experiment a little.
I found the same results with the V-max load in the WMR as I did in the HMR. Both bullets gave me less then spectacular results. Most of my shooting was done with the standard Winchester jacketed hollow point, and anything it touched came apart. But the most spectacular were the Winchester black box Supreme bullets, of my goodness, talk about horrible things. One shot in particular stands out in my mind. My buddy shot a gopher at about 100 yards, the bullet hit him broadside. When we walked over there, the whole opposite side was gone, most of the back was torn up but the heart was still beating, just kind of sitting there for the world to see. (Yes, we shot it again) Horrible, horrible little bullets. 
Horrible, horrible little bullets.
I found the same results with the V-max load in the WMR as I did in the HMR. Both bullets gave me less then spectacular results. Most of my shooting was done with the standard Winchester jacketed hollow point, and anything it touched came apart. But the most spectacular were the Winchester black box Supreme bullets, of my goodness, talk about horrible things. One shot in particular stands out in my mind. My buddy shot a gopher at about 100 yards, the bullet hit him broadside. When we walked over there, the whole opposite side was gone, most of the back was torn up but the heart was still beating, just kind of sitting there for the world to see. (Yes, we shot it again)
Well, looks like I'm off to do some ammo shopping.
Thanks for the info.
I have been shooting ground hogs with a 22 mag. since 1970. The only other rimfire that equals it, or some will say is superior too it, is the Rem 5mm mag. I had the 22 mag, my Grandpa had a 5mm. They were both very effective on ground hogs. I have both guns now in the vault. Better killing power than the 17 no question.
Of course finding a ground hog in these parts since the coyote explosion makes the whole issue mute.
Of course finding a ground hog in these parts since the coyote explosion makes the whole issue mute.
