17 HMR or 22Mag
- Thread starter srachel
- Start date
22 mag would be more versatile. If you were going to shoot more than lil critters and paper, I'd say go 22 mag. You could take down larger "game" with 22mag. I used one to shoot ferrel dog for a couple seasons, quite effectively I might add. The 22mag and 17hmr are two pretty different creatures when it comes down to capabilities. Both are pretty freak'n accurate. Both cost about the same. What are you going to do with the rifle? (both would not be recommended for anything you'd want to eat. I've shot grouse with 22mag; the wound channel was horrific. The 17hmr's light weight, faster FPS and rapid expansion bullet is even worse. POP!)
srachel
The 17HMR is quite a bit faster than the 22 mag. At 2500 FPS its very flat shooting and explosive on things like gophers. I have a CZ 452 american in the 17 and always take it when we go gopher shooting. At $120 a brick its not an all day shooter but at the end of the day when the shots are usually longer I like to take the HMR out. My friend hase a ruger 77 in 22 mag and he like it. Let your eyes be the judge and your pocket book your guide-----Cowboy
The 17HMR is quite a bit faster than the 22 mag. At 2500 FPS its very flat shooting and explosive on things like gophers. I have a CZ 452 american in the 17 and always take it when we go gopher shooting. At $120 a brick its not an all day shooter but at the end of the day when the shots are usually longer I like to take the HMR out. My friend hase a ruger 77 in 22 mag and he like it. Let your eyes be the judge and your pocket book your guide-----Cowboy
I have a .17HMR and have not shot a .22 mag. In my opinion the 17 is the best buy out there right now unless you hunt for meat then it can be tricky. The 17's accuracy is amazing right out of the box on a $200 rifle and it is a true joy to shoot out to 200 yards. Shots under 100 yards are effortless.
If I had the sapre cash (and if they made it in left hand) I'd buy Savage's new .17 with the accutrigger and fancy stock for about $450.
What type of hunting do you plan to do and will you be keeping the meat?
If I had the sapre cash (and if they made it in left hand) I'd buy Savage's new .17 with the accutrigger and fancy stock for about $450.
What type of hunting do you plan to do and will you be keeping the meat?
Go with the 22 mag. I've owned both and finally made the decision to keep the mag because of the way it killed. Bang flopped a few coyotes with it. Shot one with a 17 at 70 paces and he did the spin thing and ran off about 300 yards before he went down. Then had to shoot him again when I got close enough. Pretty fun on gophers though. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a 17 just because I wouldn't shoot it much. The NEF sportster is a good buy. I ended up keeping my marlin 882 in stainless. It is very accurate and deadly. Heavier bullet usually puts critters down for the count.
