22LR OR 17HMR

[BIGINNER]

I HAVE A SAVGE STEVENS MOD. 62 22LR,  AND I'M THINKING ABOUT GIVING IT AWAY TO MY BROTHER-IN-LAW,  AND GETTING MYSELF A .17HMR.  IS A BETTER CALIBER ACCURACY WISE, AND DISTANCE WISE? 

[AWS]

If your going to shoot paper, plink or hunt edible small game, I'd stick with the 22lr.  If you want to stretch it out shooting sage rats, rock chucks or crows I'd opt for the 17 HMR, if your intentions are to include bobcat and coyotes I'd go 22 Mag.  Decisions Decisions, aren't we lucky these are the things we have to decide on.

AWS

[GoldTip]

If your going to shoot paper, plink or hunt edible small game, I'd stick with the 22lr.  If you want to stretch it out shooting sage rats, rock chucks or crows I'd opt for the 17 HMR, if your intentions are to include bobcat and coyotes I'd go 22 Mag.  Decisions Decisions, aren't we lucky these are the things we have to decide on.

AWS

I agree with what AWS said, thats why I have all three, just couldn't choose just one!

[Bob33]

The 22 is cheaper to shoot.  The 17 is likely to be more accurate past 50 yards.  The 17 has a much flatter trajectory.

[Rick]

The 22 is cheaper to shoot.  The 17 is likely to be more accurate past 50 yards.  The 17 has a much flatter trajectory.

I'll agree with the .17 having a flatter trajectory,but not so sure on the more accurate part. The problem I've encountered with my .17 is that the bullets are so light the wind has a big effect on accuracy. 

The .22 being cheaper to shoot is also spot on. Walmart had 500 rounds of .22LR for $19,the .17 was $13-14 per 50

You can shoot almost 7x as much with a .22 as you can with a .17

[Wazukie]

I'll tak emy 17HMR over both the 22lr or mag.  I can blow-up soda bottles at 200yrds all day long.  And as for taking and killing anything from squirels to yotes, it'll do it just fine as long as you can shoot it.  I bought mine when I lived in central Nevada. Jack Rabbit heaven 

just my 

[BrandonWatts]

i like the 22mag heavier bullet then the 17hmr and just as deadly. it wont have the wind drift the 17hmr will. i loved my 22lr but sold it and bought a 17hmr but then sold it because of how far off you would be in the lightest wind at 150 yds. now i am getting a 22mag. just my 

[Jamieb]

A couple of years ago I was shooting sage rats with a couple of freinds, one had a 17HMR and the other a 22Mag. for walking shooting, when we wouldnt set up the benchs and use CF.22's. Shorty after that trip I bought one of each and shot them a couple of times at paper. Both were accurat enough, the 17 was flatter shooting but drifted in the wind more then the .22 mag. I only needed one of them and the decideing factor turned out to be muzzel noise.
The crack of the 17 was noticably louder and sharper then the 22 mag. Both rifles had a 24" barrel. Even with the 22 mag I wear hearing protection most of the time. Its those fast, get out of the truck and shoot the digger alongside the ranchroad that I dont get the ear muffs on. I sold the 17 to someone on this site that planned on shooting sagerats or prairie dogs over in Montana, I seem to remember that they were happy with it.

[Intruder]

22LR is way cheaper.  Accuracy shouldn't vary.  17 is faster but weight and BC will mean wind effects it more.  Personally, I wouldn't give up a 22 to get a 17.  Between the 2 I'd rather have a 22.  Probably should just keep your 22 and buy a 17... then you don't have to worry.

[Craig]

The .17HMR is a fun little gun. Especially on prairie dogs. I also have a 22 but have not taken it out of the safe since I bought my 17.

[MtnMuley]

As far as accuracy goes, no.   As far as distance goes, yes.  As said above, the .22lr is much cheaper to plink with if that's waht you're planning on doing.  For hunting purposes, the .17hmr or 22mag is superior on shots past 50 yds.  I prefer the .17hmr of the three, because at over 2500fps with a v-max bullet, it sure is fun to watch varmints explode.

[Straight Shooter]

Both.  With the .17, you'll complain that it cost too much to shoot... or too much wind drift.  With the .22, you'll complain that it doesn't have enough down-range pop.  Save yourself the aggrevation and get both... or, get a .22 mag.   

[zach1234]

What about the .22 win mag I have one and love it.

[KimberRich]

I think there is another thread debating the .22 mag vs. .17 hmr..  Between .22lr and .17 hmr I would say it is all up to what you are going to do with it.  If you want to target shoot and plink go with the .22 because of the ammo cost but if you want to shoot a little farther, flatter, then go with the .17hmr.   

[shaneman153D]

I personally would go with the .17 HMR, because you cannot get within 100yds of an animal where I live.  I think if I were you, I would compare 22Mag vs HMR rather than the 22LR, totally different animals.

Check out this article:  http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

Notice that the 22Mag loses energy pretty quick beyond 100yds.

Don't shoot coyotes with either unless you're pretty sure you can get a head shot.

 

ETA:  If you do get the HMR, don't believe the videos on youtube and the hype.  A .170" bullet at 2500fps will not make a prairie dog or rock chuck explode.  Even a 7mm won't.

The crap I hear about HMRs, I had a guy tell me it was so fast you couldn't shoot it in the rain because it would blow up upon impacting a rain drop.