.22WRM vs. .17HMR?
- Thread starter Wendell
- Start date
I own a Savage in 17hmr and I do love the thing. However, I've done a fair bit of hunting with a 22mag as well. My personal opinion is.. it depends.
Are you taking 150yd+ shots at crows, magpies or Jackrabbits? If so, 17hmr is your gun.
If shooting at varmints under 100yds, go with a 22mag.
Are you taking 150yd+ shots at crows, magpies or Jackrabbits? If so, 17hmr is your gun.
If shooting at varmints under 100yds, go with a 22mag.
I agree with this although I chose the .22 WMR. It seems to hit harder on foxes and coyotes in close, while leaving small game edible.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Me too! The clear advantage of the .17 is accuracy, and it generally doesn't exit on game that you want to keep the fur from. The standard plastic tip expanding bullets are wonderful for shooting "gophers" or magpies and such. But the .17 is not reliable enough on big critters like beavers and coyotes. And it blows grouse and rabbit meat all to heck. In fairness I did not try the FMJ bullets in the .17 while i had it, but that's because I never saw any for sale. I prefer the .22 magnum for edible game and fur bearers.
I sold the 22 mag when I bought my first 17HMR. Just have more fun shooting it. But as for game I don't use it on anything bigger than groundhogs and racoons and I only use the 20gr. hollow points. I have better rifle choices for coyotes
hans slayer
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island
You might want to add the .17WSM into this conversation as well.
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It was exciting to think about, when it was first announced, but ever since then I've heard nothing but problems, and issues, recalls, and mixed reviews.
If anyone with some first-hand experience has anything to say about .17WSM, I'm all ears.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
To be fair by the the same logic of one-step-up we should all just own a .30-06 and a 12g, if you hunt BC/Alaska/Africa a .375 & 12.
I’ve had / have Hornets and .223s... .221, 5.6x50, .22-250... none are remotely near the simplicity and pleasure of buying a box of 50 rimfire cheap with disposable brass and quiet report. I can shoot a .17HMR on my 15 acres in the foothills without neighbours livestock going through fences, a Hornet is much louder, and the others are complete no goes. Plus for 200 yard plinking and small vermin fun I don’t want to sit down at the loading bench. Entirely different applications.
I’ve had / have Hornets and .223s... .221, 5.6x50, .22-250... none are remotely near the simplicity and pleasure of buying a box of 50 rimfire cheap with disposable brass and quiet report. I can shoot a .17HMR on my 15 acres in the foothills without neighbours livestock going through fences, a Hornet is much louder, and the others are complete no goes. Plus for 200 yard plinking and small vermin fun I don’t want to sit down at the loading bench. Entirely different applications.
I use my 2 .17HMR rifles for gophers. Occasionally, I'll use a .22WMR. Mostly, I use a .22lr of some sort. .17's are very accurate and fast. Lots of fun in a gopher patch. .22WMR hit hard, lots of fun as well. .22lr are around 1/4 of the cost. .17 fmj should be ok on upland birds.
hans slayer
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island
In my neck of the woods, the ammo costs are very similar. I have the .17HMR in a heavy barreled Savage as well as the heavy barreled Savage Bmag in .17WSM. Most of the negative reports on the .17WSM seem to have come from early lots of ammo production and pencil barreled Bmags. My WSM shoots as good or better than the HMR with relatively equal scopes. The WSM is flatter shooting to greater ranges and hits with considerably more authority and seems less prone to wind drift due to the heavier projectile and faster speed. The Bmag is by no means my preferred rifle, you have far better rifle choices in .17HMR, but for me the WSM wins out.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
leveractionjunkie
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I would echo the others and suggest the 17HMR for small vermin, gophers, birds etc. And the 22wmr if you might want to poke the odd fox or coyote. The 17 will probably do short range predator but the 22mag will do it a bit better.
I’ve fired thousands of 17HMR rounds on ground squirrels and on small acreage shorter range spots there’s no equal. So much nicer than 22lr except on the wallet, but I prefer when they drt rather than hearing the hits and watching them go down hole.
I’ve fired thousands of 17HMR rounds on ground squirrels and on small acreage shorter range spots there’s no equal. So much nicer than 22lr except on the wallet, but I prefer when they drt rather than hearing the hits and watching them go down hole.
I have used them all. I liked the 17HMR as long as there was no wind. I used it on rabbits and uplands. Knocked the heads off at point blank to 150 metres. But if there was any wind, I found the 17 drifted quickly, even with a light breeze. I like the heavier bullets of the 22WM and the availability of ammo on a shelf. But I sold these rifles and went back to the 22LR as ammo is significantly less expensive and by far more readily available than the 17HMR or 22WM. Plus, most of my hunting with a rimfire is for grouse and rabbits in the bush so most of my shots are within 10 metres.
I do not own a 17WSM however I have been present when one was used on coyotes. I watched one dog drop on the spot at 150+ metres. At the same approximate range, another ran about 20 metres before tumbling. I was impressed with the performance of such a light bullet but I will stick with my 22LR in the bush and my 223 or 6mm for open country.
I do not own a 17WSM however I have been present when one was used on coyotes. I watched one dog drop on the spot at 150+ metres. At the same approximate range, another ran about 20 metres before tumbling. I was impressed with the performance of such a light bullet but I will stick with my 22LR in the bush and my 223 or 6mm for open country.
Hey Wendell~not sure if you're following the comments so far, but I've had at least 3-4 x 17HMRs over the years, and 1 x 22WMR. I got rid of all of them, but having spent a summer shooting groundhogs with both calibers, I can echo what R. Henning posted~22WMR is way more effective if the critter you're hunting has any size to it. In fact, no comparison. 22WMR is not an inherently accurate caliber in my experience, but provided you're within 125 yards and your target area is about 2" in diameter, you'll rarely miss if you're running ammo the gun likes. I've spent allot of money on setting up centerfire rifles to shoot groundhogs since (.223, .204R, .243, 17Hornet) and while the effect is more dramatic...and you can reach out from greater distances..I can honestly say I miss the simplicity of dropping a couple of 10 round mags of 22WMR in my backpack, a bottle of water and some snacks...and actually "hunting" groundhogs instead of sniping unsuspecting ones from 2-3X the distance. lol I mean...both are fun..
As for what to get, I think it's important to get a sense of how dramatically different they are, and like any caliber...consider the strengths/weaknesses. 17HMR is fast, flat, accurate, easily blown off course past 100 yards, extremely hard on small squirrel-sized game, etc. Not 100% effective on game even the size of a groundhog..but will turn a gopher inside out. Tells me that the "useful" aspect of the caliber is relatively small. The only guys I've talked to who use them on rabbits have told me that it's head-shots only or you risk losing too much meat. I might add, I reluctantly bought another HMR when I started getting into traveling west to shoot gophers...but the gun never leaves the safe here in Ontario. I think a real positive is how accurate the caliber is, almost centerfire-like if there isn't any wind. 22WMR hits very hard in comparison, and is largely an unappreciated caliber if you ask me. I plan on getting another one day, but fully acknowledge that it's not exactly a caliber you'll be satisfied with as a target shooter. Far from it. It's a shorter-range, harder-hitting 22 rimfire that just gets it done. I'd be inclined to say it's not as easily blown off course, but that would be anecdotal..not proven in anyway. Also, not reaching out as far with it as a rule...so who knows? I do know this~you can pretty much count on whatever small game/varmint gets hit by 22WMR won't make it far...and I made lots of good hits on groundhogs with HMRs with far less desirable results.
Seems no conversation about magnum rimfires is complete without some people suggesting reloading centerfires @ the same cost, etc. I used to hate reading that before I reloaded. Now that I have for a number of years, I can sure see where that advice comes from. About a year and a half ago, I picked-up a CZ527 in 17 Hornet, and that caliber is crazy-effective on varmints. In fact, I consider it the best caliber for things like groundhogs, the most punch for the least amount of noise, etc. Any groundhog inside of 200 yards I simply aim at, and it's off to the great hay patch in the sky. Haven't had one do anything but drop on the spot when hit. Basically works like people SAY 17HMR does. lol I'm intrigued every time I use it too, as you're holding a rimfire-sized rifle, making 22WMR-like noise...then seeing it performing like a .223. It has an identity crisis.
Back to rimfires~other than that gopher HMR, I do most of my shooting/gophering/pigeon hunting/plinking with 22s, just so easy to find good ones and the ammo selection is incredibly diverse. I think unless coyotes are part of the requirements, familiarizing yourself with 22LR ammo options and exploring the potential usefulness would be the best place to start.
