What does the .17HMR do that the 22WMR doesnt?

Well for starters how about Launch a 17 Grain Bullet at over 2500 fps.....;)

I do however much prefer the 22 Mag !
LOTS more poop when it does hit something:)
 
I myself like the 17HMR more than the 22mag but many will disagree with me. IMO they have several important adantages - but also several minor disadvantages.

- From what I have seen 17HMR's are more accurate at all distances. The reason why I am not sure but it sure does seem that way. If you take a look at barrel makers for the 17 and 22mag their accuracy guaruntees will often be better for the 17HMR than the 22mag (i.e they will guaruntee 1.5" groups with the 22mag, and 1" groups for the 17HMR). This doesn't neccessarily mean a whole lot though.

- And they are flatter shooting. I conider it a huge advantage with the 17HMR for the fact that when you are sigthed in at 50 yards and switch to 100 yards you are very close to dead on - maybe 1/2" either way. I do most of my shooting at either 50 yards or 100 yards so this is definately nice with the 17HMR.

- However on the flip side the 22mag is harder hitting (more kinetic energy anyway) which could be better for some game animals.

- One more advantage I see with the 22mag that has been mentioned is the fact that ammo is cheaper.

Jordan
 
I like how the HMR's inspired ammo makers to produce better WMR ammo. There are several WMR loads with VMAX bullets now :D
 
Baby 270s. Fun to shoot and I don;t care if they are a couple bucks more than the 22mag.
 
I've got both the 17 an 22 mag. 22mag more explosive on gophers but the 17 reaches way out there. I take them both with me hunting the little buggers and the 17 is also more accurate.
 
I have to agree with Jordan. The .22 mag is really explosive, lots of jam to it when she connects. You know when you hit a gopher. My .17 on the other hand, even when using V-max bullets doesnt make them dance near what the .22 does. But the one thing the .17 has got is distance. whether it is 25m shot or a 150m shot, just put the cross hairs on the gopher and he is dead.
 
Like the other HMR fans flatter and more accurate plenty of energy for the targets in question. Heck it's not really fun till you get to 150. And anything I should not be shooting with my hmr I would not shoot with a 22 mag either, from the data I have seen at 70 + yards there is not a hole lot of energy difference and, under that range my 10/22 if my gopher killer of choice.
 
The .17 does make alot of fun out of gophers, it is essentially a waste at anything under 100m, with some practice it really shines out to 150m and beyond. Do I regret buying aq .17 instead of a .22mag?? Not really, I mean there are some really fast 30gr loads out there for the .22 that make it shine but for gophers and small varmint 17-20gr is plenty.
 
17 vs 22mag

i have shot them both thousands of times and the 22 mag is better.so i got out of the .17 game last year.still looking for a .22 mag semi for my daughter if any body knows of one
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

I was pondering the question and (like a lot of you) have decided that I don't need my 17HMR.

Going to sell it!
 
rimfirerick said:
Still looking for a .22 mag semi for my daughter if any body knows of one
Click to expand...

Marlin had a model listed a while back as did Ruger

As for the .17 not having the 'punch' on gophers, how much guts do you want? It does a good job of providing a comprehensive display of varmit innards for a rimfire
 
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