I want to get a new varmint gun for before spring but am undecided on the caliber. This gun will only be used for gophers. I am thinking of either the .17hmr or the .22 hornet, I dont have any experience with either of these cartridges and have a few questions. I know the .22 hornet shoots a much heavier bullet at a higher velocity but I am wondering if this will make a big difference compared to the hmr on a small animal like a gopher?? I have read that they both have a range of about 150yards, is the .22 hornet worth the extra $$$?? Thanks for your help
.17hmr vs. .22 hornet
- Thread starter cowpolks
- Start date
I am not familiar with the hornet but am with the .17HMR. For what you are useing it for it sounds like the 17 will be sufficient. It won't give the omph and splatter effect that the hornet might give due to the heavier bullet at higher velocities. If you don't plan on becoming a reloader, my vote is for the 17. However if you plan to reload then I would spend the extra money and get the hornet. You can never go wrong with being able to customize your loads and have a rig that offers more power. Basicall in my opinion it comes down to if you are going to reload or not. If not then the 17 will do what you need it for. It will take gophers 150-200+ yards. Not sectacular kills but it will kill them.
Hornet
upside
More power, it can be used to hunt coyote if you wish
Can be reloaded
downside
You have to reload factory ammo is pricy
Accuracy can be good but not the same as HMR
Gun price other than a handi 22 hornets tend to be pricy when compared to an HMR
As a straight gopher gun i'd go hmr I love mine.
Another round to consider would be 221 fireball (I think Wholesale still has some 700 classics) or the wildcat 20 vartag (20/221)
upside
More power, it can be used to hunt coyote if you wish
Can be reloaded
downside
You have to reload factory ammo is pricy
Accuracy can be good but not the same as HMR
Gun price other than a handi 22 hornets tend to be pricy when compared to an HMR
As a straight gopher gun i'd go hmr I love mine.
Another round to consider would be 221 fireball (I think Wholesale still has some 700 classics) or the wildcat 20 vartag (20/221)
- Location
- Medicine Hat
The Hornet can reliably kill gophers to 200 yds, I'm not so sure about the 17 HMR as I have only seen them in action on the range. The Hornet is also much better at bucking the wind out to that range. Much past that and you are better off with a larger round. If you reload, the price can be comaprable to the 17. I have two Hornets, and think they are fine little rifles.
The .22 hornet that I would get would be the model 40 Savage. I am thinking that the .22 hornet fits my needs better than the .17hmr as I spend a fair amount of time shooting when it is windy and I was worried about the wind and the hmr. Also I have to admit I like the extra splatter efect that the hornet would give. I dont currently reload but if I got a hornet I would start. I read that the hornet is a difficult cartridge to reload since I dont have any experience reloading should I be worried?? Is there enough power in the hornet that I will not need a follow-up shot with a well placed hit since the model 40 is a single shot??
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.204 Ruger
I purchased the .204 Ruger M700 LV SF (Light Varmint Stainless Fluted)
Then I had a trigger job and retro firing pin and shroud installed. (The new system they put on it has some serious issues.)
Now the trigger pull is a crisp 3 pounds and the lock time is virtually instantaneous.
Hornady sells the 35 grain factory load for about US$13.00, so factory loads are fairly economical and with loads of about 26 grains of 10x with the Hornady 35 grain bullet this is a spectacular round, which consigns the .17HMR to short range gophers or Low Noise Applications.
If you are considering the hornet this little 5mm round is the cat's pajama's.
and the round is capable of fine accuracy!
I purchased the .204 Ruger M700 LV SF (Light Varmint Stainless Fluted)
Then I had a trigger job and retro firing pin and shroud installed. (The new system they put on it has some serious issues.)
Now the trigger pull is a crisp 3 pounds and the lock time is virtually instantaneous.
Hornady sells the 35 grain factory load for about US$13.00, so factory loads are fairly economical and with loads of about 26 grains of 10x with the Hornady 35 grain bullet this is a spectacular round, which consigns the .17HMR to short range gophers or Low Noise Applications.
If you are considering the hornet this little 5mm round is the cat's pajama's.
and the round is capable of fine accuracy!
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DMCI brings up a valid point, I was assuming this is a second varmint rig. if it is a first varmint rig and you have a 22. then the .204 would be a good next pick. 204 components are finally showing up with consistancy. And if you want an inexpesive rig my handi in 204 shoots really well not as well as DMCI but .39 for 3 @ 100 is not bad.
And a 39 grain sierra is some sort of spectacular on gophers. That said i'll probably be getting a 22 hornet some time soon most likly in another handi. Soon i'll be needing a gun that one of my boys,one they can shoot after gophers and the graduate to coyotes with.
Last year I did the bulk of my gopher hunting with my 17hmr and I can't fully describe how much fun that is, that might change a little this year now that I can make a decent supply of rounds for the 204. I'd have to run the numbers but I am not sure that the stubby 22 hornet bullets would be better in the wind than the 17hmr. In my experience the wind problem with the 17 hmr seems to be over stated.
And a 39 grain sierra is some sort of spectacular on gophers. That said i'll probably be getting a 22 hornet some time soon most likly in another handi. Soon i'll be needing a gun that one of my boys,one they can shoot after gophers and the graduate to coyotes with.
Last year I did the bulk of my gopher hunting with my 17hmr and I can't fully describe how much fun that is, that might change a little this year now that I can make a decent supply of rounds for the 204. I'd have to run the numbers but I am not sure that the stubby 22 hornet bullets would be better in the wind than the 17hmr. In my experience the wind problem with the 17 hmr seems to be over stated.
- Location
- Medicine Hat
The real advantage of the Hornet over the 17 is when you are shooting stream lined handloads, like the 40 gr Nos BT, or 40 gr Hornady V-Max. I really wouldn't recommend the 35 gr Hornady, as it is not as aerodynamic as the 40 grainer. I've tried the Hornady 35 gr factory load, and it really doesn't offer much of an improvement over the Win 46 gr HP factory load. The Sierra Blitz King is also offered in a 40gr for reloaders. Of all these the Hornady is the cheapest and can be seated deep enough to fit in a Ruger 77/22 Magazine, and the Sierra most expensive. You can cut the cost by buying the Nosler Bulk pack of 250. As far as accuracy goes, all three shoot the same out of my two rifles, when loaded on top of 13 grs of H Lil'Gun.
These loads can stand up to a mild cross wind, and I've connected on gophers out to 175yds. The result is always devestating, and they do not slip back down their holes. The other load I use is a 50gr Rem PLHP, and IMR 4227. If you buy the Rem bullets in Bulk you can save, and 1lb of powder is usually enough for over 500 reloads.
These loads can stand up to a mild cross wind, and I've connected on gophers out to 175yds. The result is always devestating, and they do not slip back down their holes. The other load I use is a 50gr Rem PLHP, and IMR 4227. If you buy the Rem bullets in Bulk you can save, and 1lb of powder is usually enough for over 500 reloads.
Savagefan that's funny, I must live in a parrallel universe or something, where a 80% normal day I am good to go for about 150- 200 yards. There was one day where I got ~6: of drift over 100 yards but it was a sort of wind that would rip the car door off, and even my 338 was drifting 2" that day.
Just thought I would run the numbers between 22 hornet and the HMR and 204 ruger just for contrast.
Hornet 40 Nosler @ 2793
17 v-max As per federal documentation
204 ruger 40 grain Hornady @ 3800
Sighted for 150 for all three
Trajectory
204 (-1.1)
hornet (-2.5)
hmr (-5.8)
Drift (10 mph wind)
204 (3.4)
hornet(10.6)
HMR(15.4)
Hornet 40 Nosler @ 2793
17 v-max As per federal documentation
204 ruger 40 grain Hornady @ 3800
Sighted for 150 for all three
Trajectory
204 (-1.1)
hornet (-2.5)
hmr (-5.8)
Drift (10 mph wind)
204 (3.4)
hornet(10.6)
HMR(15.4)
Nice post Aulrich, so it really boils down to where and what you want to shoot at and whether you reload or not. Which is why I really want that.19 Calhoon, which seems unlikely this side of the border. ToddBartell posted a good one on 20's and that Vartac seems to fit the bill for me also. Happy new year and I hope Santa was good to everyone.
The 19 calhoon is a cool round, isn't one of the site sponcers a import export expert. Buy a ruger hornet up here then import 2000 brass 5 or 10 k of heads and a brarrel and you are good to go. Though I think the vartag is a better bet, with the success of the 204 ruger the 20 cal bullets are not goin to dissapear too soon, and the rumor is that Lapua is going to start to make brass.
I was figuring Questar right in the header would do, not that Calhoon is metiond specifically, but it would seem they could to the paper work. I wonder if Calhoon would to the paperwork himself?, skip the middle man especially is you just bring , a barrel, brass and heads over no FAC required for purchace just and export permit from the US.
