.22 vs. 17 HMR

[jgreco15]

I want to buy a small rifle to play with in the yard to pick off squirrels or rabbits. I also want to play with it at the range. I really like the 17 HMR due to the higher power but don't want to spend a hell of a lot of money. Can somebody here please convince me that buying the .22 would be just as fun for a lot less money...

 

[George]

i own both.... if you are going to do a lot of plinking then go with the 22... if you are going to shoot to kill go with 17hmr...

17 ammo is more expensive than 22, but I really love the dime size grouping at 100yds with my 17

 

[TowTruck]

22 if you aren't wanting to spend money.

 

[kcinnick]

I love my savage .22, best part is no aftermarket so I am not tempted to spend tons and tons of money on a plinker rifle when there are more firearms to add to the collection.

 

[whbonney26]

You can get a .17HMR Marlin Bolt gun for around 200.00. They are super nice too.

 

[11Bravo]

+1 on the Marlin

 

[jimdana1942]

.22.

 

[jmcrawf1]

I heard that a .17 hmr would wreck a squirrel.

 

[11Bravo]

I heard that a .17 hmr would wreck a squirrel.

Headshots...or use the gametips, FMJs. Stay away from the V-Max, etc.

 

[hot shot]

I just bought another .22 yesterday, but if you dont have a .17HMR, Id defiantly go with that. I LOVE shooting mine, and its very deadly if you plan to kill stuff with it. Make head shots though!!

 

[k0k0m0]

what about a .22 mag

 

[AK shooter]

I have a 17HMR and I really like it, but I would not have bought one. The 17HMR I have I won at a Friends of the NRA meeting. Whatever I want to do with the 17 I can do cheaper with a 22.

 

[jgreco15]

I have a 17HMR and I really like it, but I would not have bought one. The 17HMR I have I won at a Friends of the NRA meeting. Whatever I want to do with the 17 I can do cheaper with a 22.

What about the difference in power?

 

[senseiturtle]

If you're just looking to shoot a WHOLE TON of rounds, maximum fun factor, and can take small game (squirrels, birds, up to rabbits)... then .22 is perfect. You'd be surprised what you can kill with a .22, granted you're accurate. If you gut-shot anything, you'll be chasing it for a while... but it's been used to take down unsuspecting coyotes on a friend's farm.. They flop around for a few minutes, but it works... and multiple shots do the job quickly.

If you're looking to pick off prairie dogs at 400m, then 17HMR is for you. The 17 is much more of a "rifle round", so to speak, and will do more damage than a .22lr. It's more accurate, and much better suited in a scoped rifle. It's more pricey.

--

Honestly, man... if you don't own a .22, then you should. It's a staple of every small arsenal, for a number of extremely good reasons. It's enough to feed yourself, carry thousands of rounds with ease, and make a significant (lethal) deterrent to anyone not better armed. Given a woodland survival situation, i'd grab my .22 with as many rounds as I could carry.

 

[mct601]

what about a .22 mag

I was going to ask the same


I'd go .22LR if you don't already have one. So cheap to shoot and definitely sufficient for small stuff like squirrels. .22mag and .17HMR are fun as hell though.

 

[AK shooter]

What about the difference in power?

The 17 is about like a 22mag, as far as power is concerned. If you are shooting farther than 100yds with the 17, the wind plays a big factor in accuracy. The little 17 cal bullet is easily blown around by the wind. The same can be said about the 22. The decision is whether you want to spend about $13.00 for 50 17HMR rounds or $15.00 for 500 22.