.22 mag vs. .17 hmr

[h2ofowlr]

I was wondering what your thoughts were on the two calibers?  I am looking at going with one or the other.  Any pro's or con's?

[CAMPMEAT]

I have both. The 22 mag is better. You can get more distance than a 17 HMR and more knock down power.

I have the 17 WSM too. Someone needs to make a little bull barrel rifle instead of the crappy Savage B mag. It's a cheaply made, in a hurry rifle.
The caliber is great.

[Skillet]

Tag.  I am considering a switch from my trusty Savage 23AA in .22 LR  to either a .17 hmr or .22 mag for a grouse/small varmint gun now myself.

[carpsniperg2]

22 magnum all the way. A lot more knock down over the 17.

[KFhunter]

The "hits harder" argument is invalid at ~ 125 yards as the .17 HMR starts to carry more energy than the .22 mag.
at 150 yards the .17HMR has more knock down power if you're talking ft/lbs energy stored.

The .17HMR is around 550fps faster then the .22mag.  They make a mess of squirrels.

If I wanted to shoot a coyote at 50 yards I'd use a .22mag.  If I wanted to shoot a coyote at 100+ yards I'd use a center fire.

the .17hmr is stupid accurate out of my savage heavy barrel,  very fun popping heads off p-dogs at 100 yards.



At 100 yards the .17HMR in 20gr carries more ft/lbs of energy than the 30 grain .22mag. 

The charts don't go beyond 100 yards for the .22mag, so that tells you something too huh. 

[carpsniperg2]

  Most people are not shooting dogs at 125 or + yards. So I think it is very valid. We have killed tons of dogs with the 22 mag and most are dead on impact type kills. I have watched my buddies shoot probably 10-12 coyotes with the 17 and only seen them drop from head shots. All the others have been runners. The bullets are part of the picture. A lot of the 17's really blow up and the 22 mag bullets hold together much better.

[KFhunter]

yes I agree there, .17hmr is for small stuff.

sorry I edited, sounded like a braggart when I re-read it.

[carpsniperg2]

If I was just hunting rats or p dogs. I would probably grab the 17hmr, even though the ammo is a little more the trajectory is better then the 22mag with a higher velocity. For those longer shots a guy may get.

When it comes to knock down the bullets play a lot. I have put well over 2k rounds threw 22 mags. I have never run the 30 grain bullets. I am always running 36 or 40 grain bullets.

That is where the knock down shows better in the 22 mag.

17 HMR, 20 grain XTP = ME 250 ft. lbs., 187 ft. lbs. at 50 yards, 137 ft. lbs. at 100 yards

22 WMR, 40 grain JHP = ME 324 ft. lbs., 230 ft. lbs. at 50 yards, 162 ft. lbs. at 100 yards

They both have the place for sure.

[KFhunter]

what I'd like to see is overall accuracy comparisons from 22mag to 17hmr given the same gun configuration.


If you were shooting copper penny's at 25, 50 or 100 yards would you pick up the 17hmr or 22mag?

[jrebel]

I love my .17 hmr and am looking to buy a .22 mag this year......case and point, why not own both!!!

[Biggerhammer]

I tried the .17 HMR, while accurate and fun. I found myself back to just using my .22 Mag, so I sold the .17 to a friend. For his youngest son to shoot.

[KFhunter]

I love my .17 hmr and am looking to buy a .22 mag this year......case and point, why not own both!!!

Ya they're crazy fun.


I have the 17HMR savage with thumbhole and my bro has a CZ in 22mag.   I love em both!

mine's hell on squirrels,  but I'd use that long barrel CZ on a coyote!

but I'd use my 17HMR on a bobcat with 20gr jhp

[carpsniperg2]

what I'd like to see is overall accuracy comparisons from 22mag to 17hmr given the same gun configuration.


If you were shooting copper penny's at 25, 50 or 100 yards would you pick up the 17hmr or 22mag?

That would indeed be a good one. Yet we all know that some rifles off the same line can shoot better then others. I have a couple 22 mag's now. Most quality 17hmr's will outshoot the American that I have. My 77/22 on the other hand will put most of them in the dirt. One of the most accurate rimfire rifles I have ever shot or owned.

[Biggerhammer]

what I'd like to see is overall accuracy comparisons from 22mag to 17hmr given the same gun configuration.


If you were shooting copper penny's at 25, 50 or 100 yards would you pick up the 17hmr or 22mag?

I don't know! But the two .17's I had were darn accurate both Marlins. They would zip a fairly clean hole through a quarter.

[Wazukie]

This one will kill clays at 300 yards all day long   fun to shoot for sure, NEF 17 HMR  But ya, I think they both have their place and not one better than the other.

[KFhunter]

as long is there isn't a cross wind huh wazukie   

[Wazukie]

As long as there isn't "to much" cross wind 

[actionshooter]

It totally depends on what you want it for.

 I think for squirrels the .17HMR hands down for blowing the little buggers up and for distance, I kill way more ground squirrels at 150+ with my 17 than with the mag, just for the simple fact that the gun shoots flatter.

If I were going to go with a close range yote rifle it would be the .22mag.

 I also think the .17 has a tendency to be more accurate, at least in my rifles.

 I hunt (shoot) squirrels in Oregon every year and have a field where we have shot up to 1500 rounds a day-------each!

[mountainman]

17 hmr..Awesome squirrel gun on those Enterprise pests. 22 mag great for closer shots. Have killed several coyotes out to 200 yrds with the 17, none went more then 50 yards with lung shots

[Heredoggydoggy]

As long as there isn't "to much" cross wind 

I don't buy the cross wind argument.  I was shooting one of my 17 HMRs in a strong crosswind at a playing card 100 yards away one day.  (3 of Clubs card).  I took two shots, and couldn't see any holes in the card with my spotting scope, and thought I was missing the card entirely.  Until I walked up to the target and saw two holes in the center of the card, in the club, 1/2" apart.  The 17 HMR is just a 22 magnum necked down to .17 caliber. Like the difference between the 30-06 and 25-06.  Both are good at what they do... 

[BLR 243]

I shoot both for gophers in Montana. The 22mag slams the gophers the 17 explodes em. My daughter shot 2 one afternoon @ 225 yards (17) you here the telltail thwap sound and then the do the dead squirrel dance. The 17 is a Ruger 77/17 4-14 Leupold, the 22 mag is a Kimber 4-12 redfield.

[C-Money]

I really like the pin point accuracy the .17hmr delivers. I can routinely lay 3 shots touching at 100 yards, and if i get a group that a dime wont cover, I am having a bad day. I shoot the Hornaday 17gr ammo, and it seems to be the best in my rifle, though they all work just fine. I ended up nailing a coyote with mine, he was dead on his feet after the first shot, but I put another in him to get it over with. Prairie dogs? Lights out! Like said above, they blow up!!

[runningboard]

I tried the .17 HMR, while accurate and fun. I found myself back to just using my .22 Mag, so I sold the .17 to a friend. For his youngest son to shoot.

similar story, same ending

[jackmaster]

i have no clue about ballistics and stuff, i have tried to read up on that stuff but it puts me to sleep standing up, so here is a question? what do you want to shoot with it? if its for anything bigger than a ground squirrel why not go with a 222 or a 223  atleast that way you know you have enough gun to do the job, it isnt horribly expensive to buy shells for it and its so much more versital 

[kodiak 907]

I just bought the CZ 455 Lux in .22 WMR.  This thing is a shooter, it's my first CZ and I am sold.

[Gringo31]

I have a 22 mag and not a 17.  I've considered getting one and at one point in my life was wanting to trade it. 

My observations.

The 17's I've shot have all been much more accurate past 75 yards than my mag.  This is attractive to me.

The coyotes I've seen shot with a 17 make me question if a 17 is the right gun for the job, yes, shot placement is critical.

I've probably shot only 15-20 coyotes with my 22 mag, half of those past 100 yards with the long side being 140-150.  I've NEVER had a coyote take a step when shot with the 22 mag.  Behind the shoulder or even somewhat poorly placed seems to plant em everytime.   

[Heredoggydoggy]

If you are looking for a 17 I'd be looking at the 17 Hornet.  If you reload, you can shoot it almost as cheaply as a rimfire.  I have a 17 Fireball, and I can reload the brass and shoot it almost as cheaply as my 17 HMRs.  And if you don't reload, you can always sell the brass to someone who does, and have money to buy more... 

[TeacherMan]

.22mag!!!!!!!! I love my .17 but my .22mag is always consistant! the .17 either kills stuff instantly or it runs forever.

[Kittman]

Seems to me the .22 Mag is more versatile, it can be had in a convertible cylinder revolver such as a Ruger single six.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Seems to me the .22 Mag is more versatile, it can be had in a convertible cylinder revolver such as a Ruger single six.

The 22 Mag is a great cartridge, but I personally would never buy a convertible revolver with the 2 cylinders because once I got it set up for one cartridge, I would NEVER use the other one. 

[KFhunter]

If you're talking handguns the 22mag is a no brainer.   I wouldn't even consider a 17hmr in a revolver.

[Heredoggydoggy]

If you're talking handguns the 22mag is a no brainer.   I wouldn't even consider a 17hmr in a revolver.

17 HMR revolvers were made for a while--maybe still are, but they weren't hot sellers...  I have 2 17 HMR rifles, but have no desire to own a 17 HMR handgun.

[KFhunter]

ya - I'd love a little 22mag revolver

[jrebel]

ya - I'd love a little 22mag revolver

The Ruger LCR 22 mag is pretty sweet.  

If I were to buy a .17 hmr revolver, I would want one with a 8" or longer barrel.  I would put a small scope on it and make it a grouse decapitator. 

[Heredoggydoggy]

ya - I'd love a little 22mag revolver

The Ruger LCR 22 mag is pretty sweet.  

If I were to buy a .17 hmr revolver, I would want one with a 8" or longer barrel.  I would put a small scope on it and make it a grouse decapitator.

I think Ruger was the one who made the 17 HMR revolver I saw, And it was a Single-Six type Stainless Steel revolver.  Don't remember if it was a 6" or 8" barrel, but was pretty close to what you describe. 

[jrebel]

This pistol makes me drool......Wish I had the funds to buy a toy like this.

[Heredoggydoggy]

This pistol makes me drool......Wish I had the funds to buy a toy like this.

Nice, but you can do just as well for a lot less money! 

[actionshooter]

I have a 22 mag and not a 17.  I've considered getting one and at one point in my life was wanting to trade it. 

My observations.

The 17's I've shot have all been much more accurate past 75 yards than my mag.  This is attractive to me.

The coyotes I've seen shot with a 17 make me question if a 17 is the right gun for the job, yes, shot placement is critical.

I do have a .17 that totally SMOKES the yotes everytime but its not a rimfire its going 4100fps.   

[beninchelan]

I don't feel comfortable using either one for yotes, but we are shooting big dogs in on flat land ranches,  lots of wind,  those are pop guns out their,  bare min is a .223 but I prefer a. 22-250.   I prefer the 22 mag we shoot rock chucks behind the farm 10-75yd most the time 22 mag seems to hit a bit harder and does a little better in wind. We shoot em pretty close. I have used .357 revolvers before, had a .17 hmr Rifle blow up on me, haven't shot one since..

It's like the Chevy ford thing some like one some the other, their both accurate and fairly cheep, bolth are not meant for long shooting,or high winds,  under 100 yds bolth will knock chucks off their feet, shoot bolth and pick  the one u like best.

[duckmen1]

Shot a raccoon with the 22 mag. Dead right there.
Shot a coyote with the 17 hmr. Dead right there
Shot a coyote with a .22 long rifle revolver. Dead right there
Shot a coyote with 300 wsm. Dead right there
Shot another coyote with a 300 wsm. Dead right there
Shot two yotes with 270. Dead right there
Shot another coon with shotgun. Dead right there
Shot another coyote with a muzzleloader. Dead right there
Shot a bobcat with a 270. Dead right there

All my small game has been dead right there. No tracking required.

I do love the 17 hmr. Would love to get the 17 wsm.

[hunter399]

Have both but use the 22 mag way more,i use the fmj for grouse or something i want a small ,and the speer tnt from cci when i want a big hole.

[Biggerhammer]

I have a 22 mag and not a 17.  I've considered getting one and at one point in my life was wanting to trade it. 

My observations.

The 17's I've shot have all been much more accurate past 75 yards than my mag.  This is attractive to me.

The coyotes I've seen shot with a 17 make me question if a 17 is the right gun for the job, yes, shot placement is critical.

I do have a .17 that totally SMOKES the yotes everytime but its not a rimfire its going 4100fps.