22 WMR or 17 HMR?

[cyclone]

... I'm trying to figure if I can use one caliber to do everything instead of getting extra gun for each hunt....

The age-old quandry.

 

[Northman999]

I have .22 LR, but want something different. I can shoot a rabbit with 22LR, but what if I come across coyote or fox? What if we just go varmint shooting... I'm trying to figure if I can use one caliber to do everything instead of getting extra gun for each hunt....

Yeah, if you want to shoot coyote or fox on occaision then .22 lr is not the ticket. All the more reason to go with the .22 mag I think. I sometimes forget that in other jurisdictions those are considered small game; up here coyotes are big game (so no rimfire's period) and foxes are neither small nor large game, they're on the furbearer's game list and only trappers can take them.

 

[golddust]

I've got both the 22mag and the 17hmr. Dont really care. I just love them both . Each one has a different feel and I do like the 2600 fps from the 17hmr. The ruger 7717 is a little more compact then the savage I got and is a little better for grouse as the front end is not so heavy. Voted for 17hmr but like them both.

 

[cz452shooter]

I would get the .17HMR.

They are more accurate (95% of the time), faster, and they do not drop as much as the 22mag. The only time I would get a 22mag would be for hunting larger, smaller game (eek: - confusing).

Take a look at these:

 

[Thad]

Well I also have a .204 and it is a tack driver, I know that term is thrown around like Paris Hilton but try one and you will see. All the knock you need to down your coyote or fox.

 

[444shooter]

I have owned both, and the .22WMR is my choice. A number of years ago, I was out shooting gophers and put the crosshairs on at the time what I thought was ONE gopher, and squeezed the trigger. The bullet hit the gopher with a loud thud, and proceeded to blow a huge hole in it's chest and then do the same to the gopher standing right behind the first. Two kills with one shot! The farmer I was hunting with could not believe the killing power. I racked up 26 and he got 6 or 7 with his .22LR. Most shots where between 50-75yds and all one shot kills. Numerous would get blown up into the air a few feet with the impact. Was using W-W 40gr JHP.

 

[.330Dakota]

17hmr

 

[Bull's-Eye]

If you were to spend some $$$ on a nice rifle, the .22 Magnum can be as accurate as the .17 HMR any day of the week.

 

[bobbyjack]

You can shoot 22WRF (about the same cost)in your 22WMR,and it will slow it down to just a little hotter than CCI stingers. There is your two guns in one answer.

Bo)

 

[prosper]

There's bunch of new 22 WMR ammo coming out soon; loaded with premium jacketed bullets (instead of the more traditional plated bullets) which are every bit as accurate as the HMR. And, in the 35gr weight, offers nearly the same trajectory as the HMR.

The difference between the HMR and WMR is due to bullet quality. Most WMR bullets are very cheaply made, while the HMR uses center-fire quality projectiles (mostly Hornadys)

 

[aulrich]

Oh well I almost made the year without posting on a 17 vs 22 rim mag (last year resolution). My vote is hmr but my ussage has been 99.9% gophers,the odd pocupine has tipped over but that is it. Should do OK for fox and rabbit though it depends if it is cottontail or jackrabbits, i'd bet a body shot would shred a cottontail.

Neither is a first pick for coyote round.

If you load 22 hornet can fit this nicely, either loaded down or loaded with a 55 gr head it should be a decent meat loads on cottontails. regular loads work very well on jackrabbits, hit right leaving most of the edible meat. And unlike either of the rim mags the hornet is an honest 125-150 coyote gun.