Which of these two calibres do you prefer for gopher or other varmint shooting? Of course, the 17 HMR is a necked down version of the 22 Mag and has a lighter faster bullet but the 22 Mag has a little more energy. Personally I favour the HMR but at least one of my buddies favours the 22 Mag. What is your preference?
17 HMR vs 22 Mag
- Thread starter Cow Town Bill
- Start date
For gophers the flatter shooting and more accurate .17HMR is my choice over the .22 Magnum. However if it is bigger critters you are after such as groundhogs, foxes, beaver, etc then the heavier .22 Magnum gets the nod.
Lots of people have taken coyotes with either but if that is the main use then, personally (out of respect for a clean kill), I would go with a centerfire
Lots of people have taken coyotes with either but if that is the main use then, personally (out of respect for a clean kill), I would go with a centerfire
I would say the .17 is a bit louder. Not much of a difference IMO though.
The .17HornadyMach2 is the cartridge based on the LR Stinger length case. Although it seems to be pretty good on the performance level, I don't think it'll have the legs the HMR has.
I don't have the confidence it'll survive .
I've owned both and both are good at what they were intended for. Just remember, little bullets for little critters and bigger bullets for bigger critters.
Last year I shoot many Ground hogs with my .17 HMR. It drops them dead out to 100yds most of the time. Out to 150 yds, shot placement is very important and breezes become a pain.
I wouldn't shoot anything bigger than a Ground hog or a Large coon with a .17 HMR. Maybe a fox and definitely not a coyote.
Last year I shoot many Ground hogs with my .17 HMR. It drops them dead out to 100yds most of the time. Out to 150 yds, shot placement is very important and breezes become a pain.
I wouldn't shoot anything bigger than a Ground hog or a Large coon with a .17 HMR. Maybe a fox and definitely not a coyote.
Actually,the 17mach2 is getting a little more popular recently.There were guns sitting on shelves in many stores,last year,but most were recently purchased.Hornady has just released a new no-lead 17mach2 load for locations that don't allow lead,so they haven't given up on it yet.
I myself own two 17mach2 rifles,as well as a 22hornet ,and a 223.The 17mach2 is a great gun for 100 to 125 yard shots on ground squirrels,for half the price of the 17HMR.If the wind comes up,or if the shots get longer,the 22hornet totally outclasses the 17HMR,and I can load it for about the same price.As well,the 22hornet is adequate for coyotes to over 200 yards.For the longer shots,the 223 is superior in every way,but it is louder,and costs slightly more to reload.
Depending on the varmint, distance, and proper shot placement, the .17HMR will do it more accurately and further out. They buck the wind better than a .22 mag, shoot flatter, ammo is better quality, you can't go wrong.
And for all the naysayers, there are guys that shoot fox and even coyote sized varmints with pellet rifles (there was a thread on here about a week ago where someone shot a coyote with a pellet gun as one example) so i'm pretty sure the .17hmr can handle it
And for all the naysayers, there are guys that shoot fox and even coyote sized varmints with pellet rifles (there was a thread on here about a week ago where someone shot a coyote with a pellet gun as one example) so i'm pretty sure the .17hmr can handle it
