Looking at adding a more powerful rimfire

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LondonDave

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I currently have a couple of .22 lr but I'm looking at something with a little more punch like a .17 HMR or .22 magnum or hornet.

Any distinct advantages to one over the other? This would be a gopher/plinking gun. I'm not entirely familiar with the differences between them.

Thanks,

Dave
 
.17HMR is loads of fun. I picked up a Savage, and it turned my 22LR into a "safe queen". The only downside is the (much) higher cost of the ammo compared to 22LR.
 
cz452shooter said:
Hi Dave,

This thread should give you an idea about how your .22lr compares to the HMR and 22mag.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63954

For a plinking/gopher gun the HMR would be an excellent choice! Not that 22 hornet is overkill but unless you are handloading your own rounds general plinking and gopher hunting could get a little pricey.
Click to expand...


I looked at that thread and had 2 problems with it....

1. I'm terrible at reading graphs.
2. I'm colour blind so it's next to impossible for me to firgure out what is what. :eek::)

Thanks,
Dave
 
Lately I've been super impressed with my 22 mag. Much more 'punch' than either 17 HMR or the various LR ammo out there. Ammo is cheaper than the HMR, too.
 
Me too. I was contemlpating on getting a .17 HMR but I went out to the range the last few days and my magnum is really shooting great. I will post the groups soon (to lazy right now to take the pictures:D)
 
LondonDave said:
I looked at that thread and had 2 problems with it....

1. I'm terrible at reading graphs.
2. I'm colour blind so it's next to impossible for me to firgure out what is what. :eek::)
Click to expand...

:) In the 3 of the 4 Categories, it shows that the 17 HMR is technically the best round. Lost in Energy. But by very litttle.
So 17 HMR is the way to go... for rimfires that is.

Nice charts cz452shooter!
Gonna try that software...
 
If you want more power, but are unsure about spending money on a new gun, just buy CCI stinger .22 lr's. They pack quite a punch for a lr and are quite a bit cheaper than any of the other high velocity rimfires you've mentioned.
 
Don't forget you can buy 40 rounds of Winchester 223 varmint at WalMart for around $18.00. I was thinking 17HMR, then decided on 223 instead. Its not that much more money, and is a lot more versatile.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Don't forget you can buy 40 rounds of Winchester 223 varmint at WalMart for around $18.00. I was thinking 17HMR, then decided on 223 instead. Its not that much more money, and is a lot more versatile.
Click to expand...

I have thought about a 223 especially if a 22 magnum or 17 HMR isn't noticeably different in power over a 22 lr and if they ammo is not that much more then it seems a 223 would be the way to go.

Does anyone have any info about the advantages/disadvantages of a 17 HMR or 22 magnum over a 223?

Thanks,
Dave
 
There is no comparison between a rimfire and a centerfire in accuracy, drift, terminal ballistics, etc. The only area where rimfires win out is that they're quieter. And usually a little bit cheaper
 
prosper said:
There is no comparison between a rimfire and a centerfire in accuracy, drift, terminal ballistics, etc. The only area where rimfires win out is that they're quieter. And usually a little bit cheaper
Click to expand...

Very true. I've got a couple 22LR's a 17hmr, and a 223. each are excellent at what they're designed for. (these are my opinions only, I am not a "senior" gunnut by any means)

a 22 is the ultimate plinker really, cheap, really good out to 100y (or more for you snipers ;)) a 22 bolt action, with subsonics is awesome for pest control with "sensitive" neighbors. Stingers/yellow jackets are quite devestating on the recieving end.

17 is super accurate and has a real good wow factor for popping varmints, but is louder that 22 and more effected by wind. I just got mine days ago, so my experience is limited, butit's been a lot of fun so far

223 is a whole other round really, far superior range and end impact. but signifigantly more expensive than 22, and moderately more than 17HMR, also much louder than both.
 
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Could always reload a .20 or .19 wildcat cartridge, it's a bit cheaper than the magnum rimfires in the (very) long run.
Cheers,
Grant
 
comparing a 22mag to a 22 lr is like comparing a slingshot to a 22 lr its just not the same i was nailing gophers out to 200 yesterday with my 22 mag and making them flop, more than a few got airborne and almost none of them got back down their hole. Now compare that to a 22 lr at 200, unless its a head hit there more than likely going to get back down the hole, never going to get airborne and most deffinetly its not going to have the punch to get much farther out than that. Now with a 223 or 22-250 then again the slingshot comparison with the 22 mag out to 500+ yds depending on the shooter and absolute devestation on the gophers, air time getting up to 10 feet, shot one yesterday at 100 yds and if was barely in one piece. Havent shot the HMR yet bought on for my dad for fathers day and want him to be the first one to shoot it so i havent seen what it will do yet but i would suspect that it will do better than the 22 mag and be close to the hornet
 
the HMR is nowhere near a Hornet. Actually, it's not really even that close to the WMR when it comes to making gophers fly.

But you raise a good point. I can reload the 22 Hornet for slightly LESS than I can buy HMR ammo for. The hornet is somewhat noisier, but it's not in the same league as the 222/223/204/22-250/etc. It's faster, flatter, and typically more accurate, as well as a lot more spectacular on the receiving end than any rimfire
 
17n22vj1.png
 
CCI (and Federal, and Hornady) load that same 22 WMR VMAX to 2200 fps (as compared to the relatively light 2,000 FPS of the Remington load). Initial reports on this ammo indicate that the manufacturer claims are a bit conservative, if anything. Some guys are claiming closer to 2400 fps in real life.
This puts the WMR neck and neck with the HMR, though it will still drift a bit more, and lose velocity a bit faster due to the inferior BC. But, in trade, it brings 30% more weight to the party, and more downrange 'whop.'

Still, nothing close to what the centerfires bring to the table
 
prosper said:
There is no comparison between a rimfire and a centerfire in accuracy, drift, terminal ballistics, etc. The only area where rimfires win out is that they're quieter. And usually a little bit cheaper
Click to expand...

I would say if you spend the same on a rimfire that you would on a center fire rifle, ie 1500 - 2000 with scope the rimfire (within its range) will be more accurate...
(In ideal conditions ect with low wind blah blah blah..)

Just an opinion though...
 
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