Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Dammit! This is why I hate this forum!!!
Now I want a .17HMR too.
Now I want a .17HMR too.
17 HMR vs 22 Mag
- Thread starter Cow Town Bill
- Start date
I see the results of an objective test in Bullseye's post and a highly subjective opinion in noneck's post. Seems pretty clear to me.
Yes, and some base their opinions on whimsical observations instead of scientific tests like the ones carried out by the ammo manufacture's themselves:
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/rimfire.aspx
Compare the ballistics of each and you will find that they agree very much with the graph above.
But hey, what does Federal know about real world ballistics?
.
I too like the 22 Hornet but I use 35 grain V max and get a little more velocity than 40 grainers. I agree that reloading the Hornet is about the same cost as 17 HMR ammo but of course there is the time involved to reload which is substantial when 100's of rounds are required. Another factor to consider is that reloaders will save their brass whereas the rim fires litter the ground with brass.
The picture corresponds to my ballistics program. Experience does not usually trump the facts.
Of course you do, and that trumps all of the data from the manufacturers themselves and from proven ballistics programs, naturally.
I also have shot 1000's of rounds of each and the .17 HMR does drift less. I didn't mean to sound like a ####. Sorry. I have had experience with top notch custom .22 magnums as well as .17 HMR's and the .17's are just simply more accurate and drift less.
But to each his own.
Peace
Actual MVs on Winchester Supreme 22WMR is 2120 not 2000 for a 34g bullet vs 2375 for the 20g 17HMR, both using JHP bullets. So, that narrows the drift difference down enough that I don't really care about holding off 2" at 200yds. For only smaller rodents I can see the HMR, but my go-to gun on the the farm is a 9422M since I may have to shoot anything ranging from squirrels to coyotes. In any case, if I have to shoot out much past 100yds, I'll be grabbing a .223 anyway. Can load it to duplicate 22WMR or 22 Hornet if I need less noise than the .223, and it's still cheaper than HMR ammo.
Roughly speaking, for a strictly gopher diet inside 200 yards the .17HMR shoots flatter and hits with authority. It's certainly an accurate cartridge in my experience.
I went with a .22 WMR to hendge my bets against the occaisonal coyote, badger or beaver that requires dispatching. As far as accuracy, it'll hold minute of gopher out to about 175 yards.
I went with a .22 WMR to hendge my bets against the occaisonal coyote, badger or beaver that requires dispatching. As far as accuracy, it'll hold minute of gopher out to about 175 yards.
LongBomber
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fernie, bc
I have both as well. I use the 17hmr way more, it is an honest 200 yard gopher gun when the wind is down. It has also replaced my .223 and 22-250 under 200 yards. But the 17 does not hit nearly as hard as the 22mag CCI TNT ammo. Hit a gopher under 50 yards and it will turn them inside out. Sure the 17 flattens them, but the Vmax, and tnt from the 17 only knock a hole roughly 1" in diameter.
I think everyone needs a 17hmr. Likely the most usefull new cartridge to come along in a very long time.
I think everyone needs a 17hmr. Likely the most usefull new cartridge to come along in a very long time.
While the 17 HMR is an awesome little gopher cartridge I have never had one. My son and my best friend have had one since they first hit the market. Best friend has a nice 22WMR but never seems to take it out anymore since he got his CZ 527 American in 17 HMR. My sons CZ527 V got velocities more than 100 fps faster than Hornady quote for the 17 V max and would shoot 3/8" groups at 100 yards.
For some time I used my Rem 700 SPS loaded with Speer 50 grain TNT's, for the long shots, and the 33 grain TNT Hornet for closer in. I could do better than 66% on gophers to 400 meters with the 50 grain load and the 33 vaporized gophers at under 50 yards and did a number on them to 150 yards. A reduced load of Blue Dot at 13.5 grains pushed the 33 TNT Hornet to about 3240fps, shot much better than any 22 Hornet and cost the same to load. It shot a bit to the left with the 33 grain TNT but I was able to use the windage circle on the Hawke SR reticle and it was right on. This reticle compensated the 50 TNT to 400 meters, as well, so it was a deadly combination.
http://www.hawkeoptics.com/us/riflescopes/reticles/reticleinfo/index.php
I would probably still be using this combination but moved on to a 19 Badger by Calhoun that was just awesome. This inspired me to do a 20 cal Wildcat that I call the 20 EXTREME. For the last two years my CZ 527 Varmint Kevlar, in this wildcat, has been the only gun I use. Haven't tried reduced Blue Dot loads because it does extremely well with 20-22 grains of powder as is.
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- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
I owned both, sold them both, and now own a 22 Hornet. It can take coyotes on down. Of course, there's nothing left of gophers, especially with the Hornady V-Max... but what the hell, we're not keeping the pelts.
However, my preference was the 22 magnum of the two. It had a bit more punch, and plenty of range for most real world situations.
However, my preference was the 22 magnum of the two. It had a bit more punch, and plenty of range for most real world situations.
My vote goes to the .17HMR. I was amazed at how LITTLE wind seems to effect the POI out to about 120 yards using .17gr. V-Max ammunition. As a friend of mine says; "They're lasers out to 100 yards"
I use mine as an Ontario groundhog buster and these S.O.B.s are big...and skittish when you get within 200 yards of them. Either they're onto us, or are very skittish to begin with...or both. My longest shot so far was a 140 yards with a pretty good cross-wind. Almost took him "on the wing", but whistled to distract him as he was hustling back to his hole. He paused to see where the sound was coming from.. 
I'd love to try my .17HMR out on gophers, I can just imagine how well they'd do the job. I can't say I'd ever use it for anything bigger than a groundhog or raccoon-sized animal, and don't think it's "enough" for a coyote. I've heard first-hand accounts from hunters who have taken coyotes with them....but I'm shopping for a .223 instead.
I use mine as an Ontario groundhog buster and these S.O.B.s are big...and skittish when you get within 200 yards of them. Either they're onto us, or are very skittish to begin with...or both.
My longest shot so far was a 140 yards with a pretty good cross-wind. Almost took him "on the wing", but whistled to distract him as he was hustling back to his hole. He paused to see where the sound was coming from.. I'd love to try my .17HMR out on gophers, I can just imagine how well they'd do the job. I can't say I'd ever use it for anything bigger than a groundhog or raccoon-sized animal, and don't think it's "enough" for a coyote. I've heard first-hand accounts from hunters who have taken coyotes with them....but I'm shopping for a .223 instead.
I love my hmr . Never had a gopher move after being hit just bang flop . The thing is a laser beam out to 100 meters . At the range off a rest nice dime size groups. Mine is a 1022 magnum conversion so I have all the benefits of 25 round mags and quick follow up shots . My 1022 hardly gets used out in the gopher patch anymore 17 hmr is just too fun
