17HMR vs .22 Magnum...

[CMS_]

Me and one of my buddies have been discussing the 17HMR vs .22 magnum for small varmit hunting (squirrel and groundhogs). I don't have but want a 17HMR for the straighter shot and more distance... My buddy is suggesting the the .22 magnum has more knock down power between 75 and 125 yds.. So guys, give the low down...

I actually have 2 questions.The second, I'm definitly buying a 17HMR. I'm just trying to decide on which one. I really want the Magnum Research 17 Magnalite semi-auto but I here they have alot of bad issue's. I also have heard bad info. on lever action rifles too. Local folks are telling me to go with a Marlin 917VS or a Savage 93 with the Accutrak bolt action rifles. I really want a semi-auto but would be pretty ticked to pay for the MR and it be a piece of crap!!!

Facts needed.

Thanks

[kilimanjaro]

A Ruger No. 77 bolt will serve quite nicely and with no cycling issues.

[brotus2]

I've got an early 80's Marlin 782 bolt 22 mag with a cheap Tasco scope. Never fails me.

[qwman68]

i bought a rossi single shot and put a burris scope on it and its a tack driver. i personally like the 17 way better than the 22 mag. i paid less than 100 dollars for the rossi and have been very satisfied with its performance.

[TRguy]

I was quick the jump on the 17HMR bandwagon a few years ago. I bought three separate firearms that shot that caliber.

After one to many windy days they have all been sold and will not buy the 17HMR again.

Stick with the 22WMR a little heavier projectile will fight the wind better than the 17 will and the arch in bullet trajectory is negligible within the the distances you are talking.

Plus you have a more versatile round to that will take a Coyote with good shot placement.

My Vote is 22WMR

[FrankenMauser]

I've shot both.

I own a .22 WMR. (Marlin 882SS)

There isn't much else to say, except that those puny little 17gr bullets get blown around like gnats in the win.

[Lunker]

I know that 17HM2 has fallen somewhat out of favor, but it is a great round at half the cost of 17HMR. The 17HMR is based on a necked down 22mag case. The 17HM2 is based on a necked down 22lr case. The 17HM2 is only a few hundred FPS slower than it's big brother and the trajectory is nearly the same to 125 yards. I have a CZ452 Varmint and it is a tack driver.
And if they ever stop making 17HM2 ammo (which I doubt), I can just have the barrel resized for 22LR.
As for the difference between 22WMR and 17HMR, check out Chuck Hawks website. The 17HMR is a good deal more accurate. Here is the page comparing the two.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled discussion.

[wingman]

I had a 22 magnum found it lacking for hunting purposes on animals bigger then groundhogs and then less then 70 yards, I now have a 17hmr more accurate (wind is a factor) however I have only used it for target shooting but if not better (for hunting)then the 22 mag. it would be poor. IMO

[Brian Pfleuger]

Originally Posted by TRguy

After one to many windy days they have all been sold and will not buy the 17HMR again.

Stick with the 22WMR a little heavier projectile will fight the wind better than the 17 will and the arch in bullet trajectory is negligible within the the distances you are talking.

Interesting perspective.... since the 17HMR has LESS wind drift than the 22mag... by a full 10 INCHES at 200 yards in a 10mph crosswind.

17HMR, 2550fps, 17gr


22mag, 2200fps, 30gr

[TRguy]

I dont' know about most folks but I am not taking a shot at 200 rds with the 17 hmr or the 22 win mag.

and the OP discussion was 75yds to 125yds

at that distance the MOA of a pie plate is negligible between the rounds.

"Did I kill it sub MOA dead or MOA dead?....I gotsta KNOW" :barf:

Bottom line at those distances most likely you are gonna hit what you are aiming at.....Question is do you want a light weight bullet or a really really light weight bullet

[Brian Pfleuger]

Bottom line at those distances most likely you are gonna hit what you are aiming at.....Question is do you want a light weight bullet or a really really light weight bullet

For squirrels and woodchucks?

The question is do you want more drift and more drop or less drop and less drfit? The energy levels are virtually identical at 100 yards.... 142 vs 139.... and the wind drift is still in favor of the HMR by over 2.25 inches.

I'll take the 17HMR. I've never had a 'chuck get away except one that my cousin shot in the butt. The 17 kills woodchuck (and certainly squirrels!) very, VERY dead and it will do it handily out to ranges of at least 200 yards with less wind drift and less drop than the 22mag.

17 wins hands down. For anything smaller than a coyote there's really no question. The 17 wins every category and energy is a virtual tie.

[NWCP]

I own both the 17HMR and .22WMR. They each have their uses in the field. My CZ 452 Varmint in .17HMR is exceptionally accurate out to 150 yards. Wind is be a big factor with the .17, but it also plays with the .22. The .22WMR out to 100 yards is a fine round for small game as well especially with the new 30 grain ballistic tips. I have a Winchester Model 9422M in which is accurate and fun to shoot The .17HMR can cause serious damage to the critter you hit so I use it on vermin rather than food for the table. My .22LRs actually get the nod when shooting 75 yards and under. To each his own, but I find good use for both the .17HMR, the .22WMR. and the .22LR as well. While the .22WMR will take a coyote if the distance and shot placement are right I prefer to use my .223 If that's what I'm going to be hunting.

[Scorch]

Didn't we just do this one a few weeks ago? I don't remember giving anyone a Mulligan!

Either will do fine at 125 yds. 22 WMR launches a heavier, blunter bullet at almost the same speed, and by 200 yds it is getting pretty tired. 17 HMR fires a little bitty bullet a little faster, and by 200 yds it is getting pretty tired. 22 WMR packs more punch up close, 17 HMR shoots flatter out there. Other than that, very little difference. Pick the one you want and shoot it.

[TRguy]

Scorch typed - Either will do fine at 125 yds. 22 WMR launches a heavier, blunter bullet at almost the same speed, and by 200 yds it is getting pretty tired. 17 HMR fires a little bitty bullet a little faster, and by 200 yds it is getting pretty tired. 22 WMR packs more punch up close, 17 HMR shoots flatter out there. Other than that, very little difference. Pick the one you want and shoot it.

sums it up. Exactly.

matter of fact if I am not plinking and shooting at some small creature or coyote I am shooting this in 223:



Now that is a 22 Magnummmmmmm

[benroe]

gotta agree with that. the 223 is the fosho 22mag.

[Brian Pfleuger]

gotta agree with that. the 223 is the fosho 22mag.

For SQUIRRELS?!

Holy smokes.

[TRguy]

No Killer

I use this on squirrels and such:Marlin Model 60 in 22LR

[James R. Burke]

I never had the 17, but had a few 22 mags that I liked. One I wish I would have kept. It was a Browning 22mag A bolt. Nice looking and a tack driver. A friend of mine is trying to sell his 17 says it get blown all over the place. But like I said I never owned one just going on what I hear.

[Freight_Train]

I don't know about chucks but I know a 17HMR will set off tannerite at 100 yards where a 22mag won't.So,I would guess to say the 17 has a little more Umph.I was actually suprised when the tannerite went off.Also,the accuracy is scary good on my Savage bolt gun.

[Crosshair]

Interesting perspective.... since the 17HMR has LESS wind drift than the 22mag... by a full 10 INCHES at 200 yards in a 10mph crosswind.

Interesting that you are using a 30 grain 22 mag load. How about going with the far more common 40 grain load for the 22 mag.

If my numbers are right I get 17.5" wind drift at 10 mph and 162 ft/lbs of energy at 200 yards.

So the wind drift is rather close and you have twice the energy to boot with the 22 mag at 200 yards with just a bit more drop.

I don't know about chucks but I know a 17HMR will set off tannerite at 100 yards where a 22mag won't.So,I would guess to say the 17 has a little more Umph.I was actually suprised when the tannerite went off.Also,the accuracy is scary good on my Savage bolt gun.

Tannerite needs good velocity to set it off, that's why the 17 worked. A 45 Colt has more energy than the 17, but it won't set off tannerite.

[micksis86]

I have a savae 93 in 17hmr and boy does it shoot. My best so far is three rounds all touching in a nice little clover leaf at 100m i think it measured about .15". centre to centre. That was using winchester supreme 17gr. With Hornady 17gr Vmax it is much more consistent and will shoot half inch groups at 100m all day.

[Brian Pfleuger]

Originally Posted by Crosshair

Interesting that you are using a 30 grain 22 mag load. How about going with the far more common 40 grain load for the 22 mag.

I used ballistics numbers from Hornady. I didn't hand pick ammo to make my point.

I'm not sure why you say that 40 is "far more common". Hornady doesn't even make a 40, Federal only makes 40gr in FMJ and Remington makes three versions, one in 33gr and the other two are 40. Based on those 3 companies, the split is 50/50 for the two sizes.

Plus, none of the companies except Hornady list the BC of their bullets, which complicates calculations.

Based on Federals numbers, the 17 is more than 2 inches higher at 150 than either of their 22mags. That's hardly "almost as flat".

The energy levels are not really relevant for this application. It's not like either cartridge is marginal for woodchucks or squirrels. I know as an eye witness that the 17 is a one shot "insta-kill" machine for large woodchucks out to AT LEAST 200 yards. Anything else is irrelevant to the OP's question.

[Uncle H]

Hornady's new 22 WMR are stoked with 30 gr. V-Max's.

They're awesome on groundhogs under 150 yds. 2,200 fps outta the tube (so says Hornady).

Over 150 yds I use .204 Ruger w/Berger 40 gr. varmint bullets.

[ronl]

17HMR any day. I chronoed rounds from Federal, Hornady and CCI out of my Savage 93. CCI was 2762fps avg. Fed was 2608 with the Hornady coming in a little under 2600. The thing is also a tack driver.

[tachunter]

My savage 17 will shoot circles around a 22mag. My krono is around 2550 with Hornady V-Max. It's a squirrels worst nightmare out to 150yds. This is my last occurrence at 90yds.