Can one enjoy the .22 Mag and the .17 HMR?

Bull's-Eye

Bull's-Eye

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I am wondering how many of you own both a .22 magnum and a .17HMR and if you shoot them equally or if you had one first and now the other is a safe queen?

The reason I ask is I am thinking about adding a .17HMR to the safe. I have a .22 magnum and I don't want to get one and ignore the other.

Do they both have places in your safe?
 
I have a CZ American 17HMR on the way and have had a 22Mag for about 10 years. I am a huge fan of the 22Mag. I have often killed 3-500 gophers in a day with my CZ LUX and it really explodes them good. Lots of ammo development over the years but so far nothing beats the old WIN 40 grain HP's for 0-125 varmint yard use. The 40's hit harder than lighter bullets past 50 yards or so. My CZ will put 5, Win 40's into 1-1.25inches at 100 yards and some lots a bit better. For small game the 40 grain solids will do a good job now that the Federal 50 grainers seem impossible to find.

For gopher and small varmint use I am convinced the 17HMR has ballistic advantages with better trajectory, less wind drift and adequate if inferior killing power. It seems to be potentially more accurate on average. For edible game or bigger varmints like coyotes the 22 Mag is still the king, (IMO).

Different enough areas of excellence that one could easily own and use both.
 
I'll trade my Savage .17HMR for your 10-22 Mag. :D

Seriously though, I think .22LR will eventually be my only rimfire caliber. .22WMR and .17HMR cost as much as reloading for .223 so the magnum rimfires just don't offer me anything.
 
CanFire said:
I'll trade my Savage .17HMR for your 10-22 Mag. :D

Seriously though, I think .22LR will eventually be my only rimfire caliber. .22WMR and .17HMR cost as much as reloading for .223 so the magnum rimfires just don't offer me anything.
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I agree, I've owned both but found them too expensive to shoot. The fun factor is there when gopher shooting though. I found the 17 and the 22 mag to light for yotes, too many runners, prefer a bang flop. Too much for gophers and small varmints and too light for the bigger varmints. Just my opinion and experience. But if you want both, go for it!
 
You'll likely have more fun with a CZ .22 hornet as you can reload it at least and get 700 rds per lb of powder at 10 grains a crack! Harold
 
I like them both , got to have one of everything . But I do love the 22mag the best. As for the 22mag costing as much to reload as 223 ? would like to how ? I am about $5 or $6 per 20 for my 223 and I can buy a box of 50 22-mag at wallyworld for $7.50 per box
 
I would love a .22 Hornet and I would definately have to become a reloader as the factory Hornet ammo is way expensive:confused:. The only problem is, I don't have any space in my Condo to use as a reloading room and the places where I shoot don't have enough room for a center fire, I think anyways.

Canfire, you may recall that ranch we shot on, would there be enough room there for a .22 Hornet?

Basically having the room to reload would be the only real setback.
 
Bull's-Eye said:
Canfire, you may recall that ranch we shot on, would there be enough room there for a .22 Hornet?
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Definately. That place is perfect provided the rancher is OK with you shooting a centerfire there. I'd suggest setting up right around where we parked our cars and shoot downwards into that bowled out pasture land. That puts the house behind some hills, off to the right and behind you. The roadway would be almost entirely behind hills with only a small "unprotected" piece 90 degrees to your left. Distances would easily exceed 600 yards.

Check out his winter pasture area too. Maybe ask him to point out where his neighbours are and any other roadways might be.
 
Reloading 500 rounds of ammo is a hell of a lot of work. Even if it cost the same I'd rather be shooting than reloading. It's rimfire for me unless the ranges are going to be very long.
 
Takujualuk said:
Reloading 500 rounds of ammo is a hell of a lot of work. Even if it cost the same I'd rather be shooting than reloading. It's rimfire for me unless the ranges are going to be very long.
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That exactly what I was just thinking. I was taking a look at reloading equipment, a good setup is around $750-1000. Then you have to factor in the number of hours to make the ammo.

For that amount of money and time you can sure by alot of HMR ammo.:sniper:
 
It's two different worlds. With .22LR you can chew up 200 rounds in minutes. When I was shooting my .223, a box of 20 rounds would last me half an hour and I never shot more than 60 rounds in a single day. When target practicing with a centerfire, you (should hopefully) have much further to walk to setup targets, maybe fiddle with a spotting scope in between rounds to see how you're doing, and likely writing down shot details to match up with your loads.
 
I own both the 17 HMR and the 22 WMR. In my world, the 22 mag gets about 2x the shooting time the 17 gets, but both are a lot of fun. Both mine are super accurate with ammo they like, and hits out beyond 100 are easy and effective, barring any gale blowing. Regards, Eagleye.
 
x2

I have a 22mag (first by about 5 years) then got the 17HMR about a year ago. They are both very accurate and super fun to shoot! Both are Savages. The 22mag is a 93GL, pre-accutrigger with standard barrel. I put a Rifle-Basix sear in this one. This trigger is now extremely light. The 17 is a 93R17-BVSS with Accu-trigger and heavy barrel.

I really like the laser-like accuracy and flat trajectory of the 17.

I have used them both on Ontario ground hogs (rock chucks). The 17 has anchored a higher percentage of hogs out to 150+ yards. The 22 hits them but the 17 dispatches them more positively.

I prefer the 17 for shooting g-hogs off a bipod and the 22mag for everything else it can handle.

That said, I'll always use a centerfire rifle first (unless noise is an issue).

So, there is a place for both the 17 and 22!

If I lived in prairie dog country, I'd probably use both too.

Good luck - SD
 
i have ponderd the same question i have owned 2 17hmr's and loved them alot but in the market again for another magnum rimfire and could only see my self using one
 
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