22mag and 17hmr

Don't own any myself but for x5 the price on ammo it gets very close to .223 center fire, which are a lot more powerful and if you reload .223 can be actually cheaper then 22mag and 17hmr. Couldn't justify it based on pricing personally.

.17hmr hornady 13.45 a box of 50
223 el cheapo (shoot in my mini-14) $10+ abox
do the math
however my 17hmr gets pushed around by any wind, my 223 not so much
ps if you cant shoot centerfire as on the farm i hunt 22mag and 17 hmr are a great option
 
I have often wondered about the 22mag and where it sits with the 17s as well but find myself happy with my pile of 22s and my 223. I reload the 223 and you should keep in mind they can be reloaded many times so cost of brass is only a one shot deal. Primers, powder, and bullets make the 223 fairly inexpensive to shoot if you reload and you can improve your performance significantly. I think I will stick with what I have. Maybe if I win some lottery money....
 
.17hmr hornady 13.45 a box of 50
223 el cheapo (shoot in my mini-14) $10+ abox
do the math
however my 17hmr gets pushed around by any wind, my 223 not so much
ps if you cant shoot centerfire as on the farm i hunt 22mag and 17 hmr are a great option

Again I embellished a bit with the 5 times, also I'm comparing bulk prices not small boxes. I'm not saying 17hmr or 22mag are bad cartridges, I'm just saying y not .223 instead.
 
Lebarons is selling 17 HMR 20gr win. for $10.27, although I still prefer the 17gr hornadys. Had a 22 mag for years until the HMR came out. Just bought my second one this week and I personally wont go back. For small game they are the cats a**. 17gr for groundhogs, starlings etc blow up inside and for something you intend to eat, the 20gr hollowpoints, small hole and go right through. A 223 would be easier to use out at farther distances but I like the quieter rimfires for small game.
 
yah i just picked up a marlin 917vs at wss on sat, shot my buddies a month ago and that was awesome, had to have one. got a couple different ammo's federal 17gr, hornady 17gr and 20gr. horn 17gr 14.99, horn 20gr 13.99, federal 17gr 11.99. havent had it out to sight in etc. yet so that will be happening soon with a report. i do have my rem 700 22-250 for stuff further out, that still needs some tuning as well. never tried a 22mag.
 
I like these topics, and have chimed-in on almost every one I've read. The re-loaded .223 cost vs. the factory magnum rimfire ammo cost, the effective range, all of that compared to .22lr, etc. etc. etc. I don't think it can be said any clearer~every person I know (myself included) who shoots magnum rimfires DO so when they're hunting. I don't know anybody who shoots pop cans with HMR or .22WMR, unless it's a bit of practice FOR hunting, sighting-in a scope, etc. The shooting world, outside of the .22lr rimfire reality, means higher-priced ammo across the board. Period. I love .22lr (own more of them than anything else) but WOW do people squawk about ANY ammo that costs more than it does. It's cheap as dirt, hope it stays that way, but if you want more punch, you're paying for it.

I can't remember anyone (in the rimfire forum) who re-loads centerfire EVER say how much setting-up for it cost them. I recently bought a press, and dies for .223 and got cold feet when I started adding-up what all the extras are going to cost me. I'm going to eventually round it all up, but lets just say you can buy allot of .22WMR ammo for what it's going to cost me and the end result won't be free .223. I read some of these posts and picture people owning .22s, and centerfires, and nothing in between. I consider .22WMR and .17 HMR to be "niche" calibers, and largely misunderstood by allot of people on web forums. Compared to .22lr, they're louder, have more power, and have a greater hunting range than .22lr hands-down. Comparing them to .22lr is as crazy as comparing them to their big brothers in in the centerfire realm.

"Niche" is a word I use that sounds complimentary, others might use the word "limited". Limited, as in what they're useful for IN a hunting role. .22WMR is more .22lr-like, only hitting harder. The faster HMR has an accuracy advantage, but V-Max ammo is very destructive on game smaller than a groundhog. Rabbits hit with it (body shots) render it useless for consumption, birds almost explode when hit with that stuff. I could expand on allot of this, but suffice to say, there are WAY bigger, and more important comparisons to be made than price when talking about all these different cartridges. You're paying more when you step-up, but you're also getting something much different when you do.
 
I like my 17 just because it is a neat caliber. So small yet devastating on varmints. Never tried a 22mag on the other hand.
 
22lrguy, well said. I was curious of other opinions of these 2 calibres, I'm very aware of the cost. It's like any other hobby, if you enjoy doing it the cost is just something that is associated with it. My wife and I use it to punch paper all the time, and I find it really helps you work on your accuracy because with very little recoil it totally eliminates your flinch. Yes the ammo is a bit more expensive but I get to enjoy shooting at the 200yrd distance vs 100yrds with the 22's. I only learned of this calibre a couple years ago and the first time I shot a 17 was about a year ago. I will say the 22wmr has more hitting power but the 17 shoots just so incredibly flat.
 
Last edited:
I like these topics, and have chimed-in on almost every one I've read. The re-loaded .223 cost vs. the factory magnum rimfire ammo cost, the effective range, all of that compared to .22lr, etc. etc. etc. I don't think it can be said any clearer~every person I know (myself included) who shoots magnum rimfires DO so when they're hunting. I don't know anybody who shoots pop cans with HMR or .22WMR, unless it's a bit of practice FOR hunting, sighting-in a scope, etc.

That's because the ammo cost too much! :D

The shooting world, outside of the .22lr rimfire reality, means higher-priced ammo across the board. Period. I love .22lr (own more of them than anything else) but WOW do people squawk about ANY ammo that costs more than it does. It's cheap as dirt, hope it stays that way, but if you want more punch, you're paying for it.

I don't see it as "squawking" about cost of ammo. Some people don't agree with you that the price of the rimfire magnum provides value for the performance.

I can't remember anyone (in the rimfire forum) who re-loads centerfire EVER say how much setting-up for it cost them. I recently bought a press, and dies for .223 and got cold feet when I started adding-up what all the extras are going to cost me. I'm going to eventually round it all up, but lets just say you can buy allot of .22WMR ammo for what it's going to cost me and the end result won't be free .223.

Cost of reloading for most is a set of dies, primers, powder, and .223 bullets. The press(es) is already setup for other calibers; pistol and rifle. Free brass is abundant at the range bins.

I read some of these posts and picture people owning .22s, and centerfires, and nothing in between. I consider .22WMR and .17 HMR to be "niche" calibers, and largely misunderstood by allot of people on web forums. Compared to .22lr, they're louder, have more power, and have a greater hunting range than .22lr hands-down. Comparing them to .22lr is as crazy as comparing them to their big brothers in in the centerfire realm.

"Niche" is a word I use that sounds complimentary, others might use the word "limited". Limited, as in what they're useful for IN a hunting role. .22WMR is more .22lr-like, only hitting harder. The faster HMR has an accuracy advantage, but V-Max ammo is very destructive on game smaller than a groundhog. Rabbits hit with it (body shots) render it useless for consumption, birds almost explode when hit with that stuff. I could expand on allot of this, but suffice to say, there are WAY bigger, and more important comparisons to be made than price when talking about all these different cartridges. You're paying more when you step-up, but you're also getting something much different when you do.

That's great you're enjoying your rimfire magnums. I don't have a problem with them, and have shot my friend's 17HMR. No misunderstanding about the magnum rimfires. I, and some others posters on this thread, don't see any "niche" as the .223 can take over from the top end of the .22LR's performance for the same cost as the rimfire magnums, but with superior performance. Now IF the rimfire magnums could perform almost like a .223, but only cost a little more than the .22LR, then I would perceive a "niche". Unfortunately that is not the case. But if they make you happy, have at her! I would not be one to discourage higher ownership of legal firearms. :)
 
Point missed a little maybe...? I've had 2 HMRs, and still have a .22WMR, multiple .22s and a .223. All get used, I understand them all. If you think anything between a .22lr and a .223 isn't worthwhile, then on that we'll have to disagree. Don't let all the guns/ammo sold in these magnum rimfire chamberings sway your thoughts on the matter either. :)

I'm not trying to say one is better than the other, but the world isn't full of people with the money, time, space, or interest in reloading~as unusual as an idea like that might sound in shooting forums. I fall into the time/space/money category myself, so good quality varmint ammo is about $1.25 a round all-in if I want to shoot my .223. I do that, and am content, but sometimes the .22WMR comes-out for some groundhog work. Puts them down at ranges greater than .22lr, with more authority than .22lr, and allot less noise than the .223. (the last point not always a bad thing, depending on how close you are to neighbors, even rural neighbors) So, suggesting that it offers nothing the .22lr and .223 can't isn't true in my opinion.

Guess we'll agree to disagree.
 
Point missed a little maybe...? I've had 2 HMRs, and still have a .22WMR, multiple .22s and a .223. All get used, I understand them all. If you think anything between a .22lr and a .223 isn't worthwhile, then on that we'll have to disagree. Don't let all the guns/ammo sold in these magnum rimfire chamberings sway your thoughts on the matter either. :)

Yes, perhaps you have missed what other were saying. And no, the quantity of sale will not sway me on the rimfire magnums. I had a chance to pick up a CZ455 with 2 barrels at a great price at last year's local gun store sale. I couldn't justify paying for something I had only half a use for, the .22LR portion, no matter how great a deal. :)

I'm not trying to say one is better than the other, but the world isn't full of people with the money, time, space, or interest in reloading~as unusual as an idea like that might sound in shooting forums. I fall into the time/space/money category myself, so good quality varmint ammo is about $1.25 a round all-in if I want to shoot my .223. I do that, and am content, but sometimes the .22WMR comes-out for some groundhog work. Puts them down at ranges greater than .22lr, with more authority than .22lr, and allot less noise than the .223. (the last point not always a bad thing, depending on how close you are to neighbors, even rural neighbors) So, suggesting that it offers nothing the .22lr and .223 can't isn't true in my opinion.

Guess we'll agree to disagree.

LOL! You're paying more for you .223 rounds than I'm paying for my 300 Win Mag rounds! Local price for .223 JHP rounds is between $0.60 to $0.70 a round tax in, and even less during sale time. But I haven't seen any sales for magnum rimfire ammo.

I already agreed to disagree in my last post. It would seem you missed that point too. :)
 
I have a .17HMR and it is great, I can shoot the thumb tacks out of the targets at 5m with it (it does take few to get aimed in).

The bottom line with price of ammo, the more popular the ammo caliber the cheaper it will be that's why .22LR and .223 are much less expensive. But as more people start shooting 17HMR and 22WMR the cost should come down eventually.
 
It would seem you missed that point too. :)

Yeah, nothing you said registered. Not one shred of it. You see, I don't understand plain English. Listen, I may not share your opinion of them, but don't let Savage, Marlin, CZ, Cooper, Henry, NEF, Mossberg, Anschutz and other manufacturers know that they're making rifles for misguided souls who should know better than to buy guns that require ammo. that doesn't go on sale. The horror! :rolleyes:

As for the price of .223, I shoot Hornady and if you want to buy that in Southern Ontario...you're paying between $20-$22 a box (before tax). Goes where I aim it, but it should..for $1.25 each. :)
 
got a .22, 17 hmr and 223.
17 hmr is the most fun.
really precise, low noise, no recoil, lots of power. 17 hmr varmint/target sniping is awesome.

you cant hunt small game with centerfire in quebec so its .22 or 17

maybe 17 hmr costs as much as reloading 223, but its quieter. 223 is quite noisy, really
 
I don't think it can be said any clearer~every person I know (myself included) who shoots magnum rimfires DO so when they're hunting. I don't know anybody who shoots pop cans with HMR or .22WMR, unless it's a bit of practice FOR hunting, sighting-in a scope, etc. .

I do :wave: and that is all I do with them is shoot pop cans or targets , I have took the 22mag out the odd time for grouse but thats it . Here on the coast we dont have any thing to hunt with them .
 
^^my 17hmr is a pop can slayer!! Ive only seen 1 rabbit in the bush (I live in the middle of the island..) we do have grouse but I just got my rimfire so I cant wait till grouse season opens up so I can get something with it lol.
I had a gross urge to get a 17hmr or a 22wmr. I didnt care which..the best priced one that came my way was going to be the deciding factor. I also really wanted it before the weekend cause my newphews where coming over. So I made ee thread and got a WICKED deal (thank you Claude!) On heavy barrled bolt action marlin 17hmr (with a beautiful scope at no cost, again THANK you Claude!)

Any who, its a tack driver my nephews and I love it! I cant wait to try streching my legs with it out to 100-125 next tuesday!

I'm still going to pick up a 22WMR maybe not this month or next but one day!
 
Last edited:
I also use 22wmr exclusively for target shooting and plinking......
Try a 2200 fps speer hollow point on a water bottle vs a 22lr and the difference is amazing. The wmr also penetrates much thicker steel we have found out the hard way....lol

I just sold a .223 to get my latest 22 wmr (cz512) because I find the 223 is just too much cartridge in a lot of cases. I can put 150 22wmr in my pocket and go for a hike no problem....223 just gets too bulky.

Typical (non reloaded) price for me was about .39 per round of 223 vs .25 per round of 22 mag.

Just my 2 cents btw

Oh and for the record, the cz 512 with 10 rounds of reliable semi auto goodness is awesome!
 
I have always been a .22lr fan. In '95 I inherited two. 22mags. A Ruger 3screw single six and a Savage/Anschutz model 141M.

I bought a bunch Winchester Dynapoint 22 Wmr a few years ago. I don't remember how much, but I know it was on sale.
That cheap stuff shoots great in the pistol, and it seems to hit dead on at 100 yards. It's not that great in the rifle however. Groups are in the 3/4" range at 50 yards. My 10/22 does 1/2".
But when you run the 32 grain Cci's through it magic things happen! Gophers run and hide out to 200 and fifty yard groups shrink to just under half an inch!

I don't spend a lot of time shooting it, and yes, that is based on ammo cost. But I do shoot it more than my .22-250 (that I reload for) because it's more fun!
I'll never let either of them go, but I will likely buy a 17 one day just to have one...
 
Back
Top Bottom