[bigtime_077]

Does anyone own a magnum rimfire rifle? 17HMR or 22 Mag. I am kinda leaning towards the 17HMR. I like the flat shooting compared to the 22 Mag and I will primarily be using it for varmints. Let me know what you think and what gun you have.

Thanks

 

[GhostMaker]

I have had one of the Marlin XT's in 22 Magnum and really liked it. It was my experience that the factory sights were not that great, so I added a scope that had Mil-Dots. The biggest difference I saw between the 17HMR and the 22 Magnum was performance at +110 yard ranges. Out past that point the 22 Magnum performs better on varmints than the 17 HMR. While the 17 HMR has a flatter trajectory the 22 Magnums added mass allows it to penetrate better at extended ranges. Inside the 110 yard mark the 17 HMR performs VERY well, slightly better than the 22 Magnum according to most folks. Additionally, the 17 HMR is more expensive to buy off the shelf in my area (and most others from what I have been told). For coyote sized animals the 22 Magnum is a better performer according to local coyote hunters in my area. If you think you might be hunting some "Yotes" I would definitely go with the 22 Magnum.

 

[MrBuckwheat]

I use the 22mag for coyote hunting. With my very old Winchester lever. When you shoot a coyote you are going to be over 100 yards away if not 200 yards.
So my rifle has a 200 yard zero. At the range plinking away at 200 yards is no problem. I can get a group 2-4 inches from the bench. Not great but good enough. If I shoot the standard 22LR out of a bolt gun it is hard to group at 200 unless it is calm day, any wind will push it around but the 22mag seems more wind proof at 200 yards. Since we shoot coyotes into the wind, you need to wind proof your shot. I don't know about the 17HMR other than all the stores have it in stock. In case you wonder why a rim fire for coyote hunting. My town has a no center fire rule.

 

[ghost tracker]

My town has a no center fire rule.

Does that mean you can hunt coyotes inside the city limits with a rimfire? I don't live in a city so I was just wondering. Heck, I guess I could shoot a mortar off the back porch.

 

[phantomfury04]

I have a Savage 93R17. It's a bolt-action .17HMR with the Sagave Accu-Trigger which is adjustable. It comes from the factory at the lightest setting so I haven't adjusted it at all. I put a $40 Tasco 3-9X40 scope on it and it gets me sub-MOA groups at 100 yards easily. I also put a BLACKHAWK bipod on it. I haven't hunted with it yet, but I don't plan on hunting coyotes with it. More like squirrels, raccoons, etc. My dad has a Marlin bolt-action .22WMR that is a sweet shooting rifle as well. Either decision you make, you won't be sorry.

I do recommend a Savage with the Accu-Trigger in anything but semi-auto. I just prefer not to have a rimfire in semi-auto due to jamming and double-feeding problems. Check the availability of ammo in your area as well. My friends with .22LR and .22WMR have trouble finding ammo. I never have issues finding .17HMR. Good luck to you!

 

[rockratt]

I have a Savage 93R17. It's a bolt-action .17HMR with the Sagave Accu-Trigger which is adjustable. It comes from the factory at the lightest setting so I haven't adjusted it at all. I put a $40 Tasco 3-9X40 scope on it and it gets me sub-MOA groups at 100 yards easily. I also put a BLACKHAWK bipod on it. I haven't hunted with it yet, but I don't plan on hunting coyotes with it. More like squirrels, raccoons, etc. My dad has a Marlin bolt-action .22WMR that is a sweet shooting rifle as well. Either decision you make, you won't be sorry.

I do recommend a Savage with the Accu-Trigger in anything but semi-auto. I just prefer not to have a rimfire in semi-auto due to jamming and double-feeding problems. Check the availability of ammo in your area as well. My friends with .22LR and .22WMR have trouble finding ammo. I never have issues finding .17HMR. Good luck to you!

Surprising!! I am in the Harrison area and as you stated 22lr is rare but 22wmr is every where.
I have a Henry Golden Boy in 22wmr I like really well but I am a lever action kinda guy. Would have to vote for the 22 mag.

 

[Bmoliv66]

I love my 17. I've got a NEF single shot that was under $150 new and a $40 scope- my bargain set up that I got lucky with. Great trigger and groups 1/3 inch at 50 yards. Not many opportunities for longe range shooting around here but it has been devastating on squirrels, crows, groundhogs and foxes from 120 yards and in. 17 does have a flatter trajectory than the 22 mag but I guess in some instances you might want the extra bullet mass- depends on your needs.

 

[G-man*]

Im always going to a heavier round and this is no different. The 17 just seems a little light for the usage a rifle like the 22 mag is used for like groundhogs, coy dogs and such. For smaller critters like prairie dogs and squirrels, the 17 would probably excel.

 

[zacii]

Once upon a time, I pondered getting a 22 mag. It was to be primarily a rabbit gun. But, then I got into reloading and the 22 mag dream turned into a 223 reality.

The 223 was a little much for covert rabbit/ground squirrel operations, and I felt like my original 22 mag idea would be redundant with the 223.

So, I got a 17 HMR and I am super pleased with it :yup: For my needs it's the bomb.

If I was confined to rimfire for 'yotes, like some are, then I would opt for the 22 mag, or possibly the new 17 WSM.

Since the popularity of the 17 rimfires, manufacturers have made the 22 WMR ammo better. I've seen 30 grain cartridges advertising 2300ish fps. That's pretty impressive; twice the weight of an HMR at comparable velocity.

Either way you choose, magnum rimfires are a load of fun.





Sent from my Galaxy S2

 

[bigsky109]

I have an old AMT Automag II that is in the .22WMR caliber. It is a lot of fun to shoot but I haven't used it to shoot varmints yet. I bet it would do a good job on the pesky gopher that the farmers up here let you plink at. I have a friend with some acreage that is ready to start shooting the gophers on their land. They invited me up there to hunt a few with them and it sounds like a lot of fun. I would recommend the .22WMR over the .17. Round weight is much better.

 

[dangerranger]

This one started out as a 22mag but I re barreled it to 17HMR.

I mostly shoot ground squirrels with it and can easily shoot them from 150 to 200yds with it. It will take a coyote but you have to hit them right. I converted it just before the new crop of 22 mag bullets came out, So I may get another 22 mag to take advantage of them. My favorite 17 tho is a 17 Mach 2, its a 22 LR necked down to 17. Out to 150yds it will take ground squirrels all day long for about 1/3 of the cost of either 17HMR or 22Mag! DR

 

[GoPackman]

You can get 20 grain bullets in the 17HMR caliber that aren't affected by the wind like the 17 grainers, plus have more knockdown power.