Praire dog shoot out 10-22 LR Vrs 17HMR

[Special T]

Well i got invited to go shooting prairie dog shooting near Burns OR. I've kind been wanting to buy a rim fire lately... the only 22LR is the over under i have. I was looking at the cheaper than dirt and they have A 18.5 in barrel with a tap-co stock on it for $235.. I have a scope with the quick detach rings SO i don't really need a scope... There are guys that are going with  3 AR's 2 17HMR and a pile of 22's My wife likes shooting a 22 and i like how cheep they are to shoot... I would like a 17, but not really sure what else I'd use it for... Magpies maybe? I'm just thinking how much more shooting i might do with the wife and kid with the 22LR 4-5c ea verses 20-25c ea.   Any thoughts?

[birdwacker]

I have a savage .17hmr and it's more accurate than I can shoot. There's one in the classifieds for 300.00

[MtnMuley]

Definately the 17HMR imo.  More devistation and effective at longer ranges.

[FC]

22 is great for shooting on the cheap! Depending on what you want for accuracy and what distances you like to shoot at I would get a bolt gun. I picked up a Savage MkII heavy barrel last year and I can tell you it's an amazingly accurate rifle, shooting it at less than 100 yards is boring, 150+ is fun as long as you are shooting at small targets. I keep thinking about getting myself a 17hmr but just haven't gotten around to it, every time I start looking I end up shooting that 22 and end up forgetting about the 17hmr.

[dscubame]

Definately the 17HMR imo.  More devistation and effective at longer ranges.

I have to agree but everyone should have a ruger 10-22 in their collection.  It just ain't right if you don't.  So for that very simple reason it has to be the 10-22.  Simple but true.

[chrisb]

Voting 10-22
Great guns and ammo is cheap and plentiful. I'm all for maximum fun for the least amount of coin.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I have to agree but everyone should have a ruger 10-22 in their collection.  It just ain't right if you don't.  So for that very simple reason it has to be the 10-22.  Simple but true.

Getting them with the 22rimfire will be more challenge. AND A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER!

On a side note, this is a good read.  http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

A buddy of mine was shooting his H&R M-12 in 22LR, (Basically a Winchester model 52 with 27" bull barrel), at 200meters on Sunday. 6" groups with no wind flags set out.  I wouln't expect a stock carbine 10-22 to do that but you should be good inside 100yds on Praire Dogs if you practice follow up shots. Just leave the larger dogs to the guys with the 17's and 223's. You'll have plenty of fun with head shots on bigger dogs inside 75yds.

-Steve

[CAMPMEAT]

I've got a 17, Ruger 10-22 and a 22 mag. Trust me, buy a 22 mag rifle. It will out shoot the 17 by far, hands down, alot better than a 22lr. The 17 is kind of expensive to shoot, not by much though. I've shot coyotes and bobcats with my 22 mag and the 17. 22 dead, 17 ran away.

[huntandjeep]

10/22 there cheap to shoot. Hell buy a couple and convert one to .17hm2 thats what i did.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I've shot coyotes and bobcats with my 22 mag and the 17. 22 dead, 17 ran away.

And that's pretty much what this says:  http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

Basically limit the weight of your target/prey to the correct distance/cartridge.

A 10-22 MAG (22WMR), with a Volquartsen trigger/hammer/spring kit and a bull barrel from just about any one of the makers would be sweet.

I was just contemplating the other day to ream my H&R M-12 to 22mag. It's a single shot, but would be more deadly than a 17.

-Steve

[thinkingman]

I've shot coyotes and bobcats with my 22 mag and the 17. 22 dead, 17 ran away.

And that's pretty much what this says:  http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

Basically limit the weight of your target/prey to the correct distance/cartridge.

A 10-22 MAG (22WMR), with a Volquartsen trigger/hammer/spring kit and a bull barrel from just about any one of the makers would be sweet.

I was just contemplating the other day to ream my H&R M-12 to 22mag. It's a single shot, but would be more deadly than a 17.

-Steve

Nice idea but that would cost as much as an AR15.....10/22mags are priced like they're gold.
10/22 Target or one with an aftermarket barrel and trigger for cheap, accurate fun.
And buy a mag loader.

[Wanttohuntmore]

10/22, fun to shoot rapidly at the rats!  I have a 17 hmr as well, very accurate, and twice the range of the 22lr, but 5 times more expensive to shoot.  If I was going to Burns, I'd bring a 223 and a 22, and a 17hmr if I wanted a 3rd rifle.

[MikeWalking]

Voting 10-22
Great guns and ammo is cheap and plentiful. I'm all for maximum fun for the least amount of coin.

[Craig]

Shooting praire dogs with the 17 is fun. If there is wind it's a pain in the ass. I took my AR out one time but that got expensive pretty fast with all the misses.

[Jamieb]

The summer before last I bought a 22mag and 17hmr. One trip shooting sage rats and I sold the HMR. The 22 mag is a keeper.
I also always take a 10-22 for walking/shooting in the taller grass.

[duckaholic]

i will never shoot anything but targets with a .17 agin, i took mine out once for some rock chucks and it took several rounds to put them down even within 50-75 yrds, all it was doing was ricochet off the heads or blow up on impact with no penetration making a flesh wound, i would save the money and buy a 22 mag i love mine and it is very accurate.

i found this one for $125 out the door at a pawn shop

[JackOfAllTrades]

I've shot coyotes and bobcats with my 22 mag and the 17. 22 dead, 17 ran away.

And that's pretty much what this says:  http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_17HMR_22WMR.htm

Basically limit the weight of your target/prey to the correct distance/cartridge.

A 10-22 MAG (22WMR), with a Volquartsen trigger/hammer/spring kit and a bull barrel from just about any one of the makers would be sweet.

I was just contemplating the other day to ream my H&R M-12 to 22mag. It's a single shot, but would be more deadly than a 17.

-Steve

Nice idea but that would cost as much as an AR15.....10/22mags are priced like they're gold.
10/22 Target or one with an aftermarket barrel and trigger for cheap, accurate fun.
And buy a mag loader.

Oh true, 10-22mags are over piced.  I was just sayin that one would be sweet to have. There are other 22wmr options. and I think a much better choice than a 17.

-Steve

[Special T]

Jack Thanks for the link, i have read that before tho. It is very informative... I'm leaning twards the 10-22 becasue like many of you have said, its an affordable shooting staple that should be in everyones safe..

[Wazukie]

I spent 3 years in the high dessert of Nevada and hunted a lot of jack Rabbits with my 17HMR and never had a problem with killing them out to 150 yrds.  On that note,  A .22mag would be nice 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Jack Thanks for the link, i have read that before tho. It is very informative... I'm leaning twards the 10-22 becasue like many of you have said, its an affordable shooting staple that should be in everyones safe.

If you've got time, hit the pawn shops for an older one and don't buy a new plastic 10-22.

If you run across a Marlin model 60 for cheap, grab it. Very accurate micro groove barrel.  Not a lot you can do with the trigger on them though. (there are some hints to helping the mod 60 trigger -on line though)

-Steve

[luvtohnt]

 
Those micro grove barrels are awesome. 10/22's are ok but my brother in law has the 77/22 and that is a sweet gun. If I were to get a semi-outo .22 it would be a dedicated upper for my AR.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=32508/Product/AR_15_M16_AR_22_UPPER_RECEIVER_ASSEMBLY

Brandon

[GoldTip]

I've got a Marlin Model 60 in 22mag( I think it's a model 60 anyway), Have an H&R 17hmr with the bull barrel and I have a 10-22.  For prairie dogs, I've had no problem thumping them out to 150-175yards with the HMR, when paying attn to the wind.  Have whacked a few Yote's with the 22mag as well.  They are all fun to shoot.  The 17hmr and 22mag are just about equal when pricing for shooting.  Plinking the 10-22 wins hands down, poking holes in barley pop cans or shooting every day gophers, you just can't beat a 10-22.  

[JackOfAllTrades]

 

I was at the range last Sunday shooting a buddie's heavy Savage 223 at 200m. (small groups  )  There was a guy testing some loads across his chronograph.  6BRx.  40gn'rs at 3790fps.  I didn't talk to him. Looked over his shoulder at his load book and I could for sure read the chrono. Might have been 30grn'rs.  But still..  Certainly Praire Dog medicine from long range.

-Steve

[BLR 243]

Special T I have a Ruger 7717 with 4-14 Leupold kills gophers out to 225 yds no problem, and a Kimber 22 mag. with 4-14 Redfield slams gophers out to 175 if you would like to borrow one for your gopher hunt let me know. I go to Montana in the spring to shoot gophers and these are the 2 that I use.

[Special T]

WOW BLR 243 that is a really great offer! you are too  ! I have made it a general rule not to borrow guns from people... I had a gun borrowed from me and not retuned in the condition it should have been.         I don't wana chance being "that guy". There are going to be other guns for me to shoot so this is just a what should i buy question...  And i just found out my cousin bought an R15 today.!  So that will be 2 R15 a colt AR all with the nikon BDC.. 2 17HMRs and a series of different 22lrs... I might even have to bring the 22 pistol with me.  i'm getting jazzed! 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Readin this.. I sure wish I was goin!

-Steve

[Swag]

It is once again that time a year when the chucks & squirrels are beginning to show them self's....  I do enjoy taking these critters at distance with the center fires 223,204,22-250.  If I had to choose in rimfire I would most definitely go with the 22 mag, the 10/22 we can all agree is one of the best 22 ever produced & it is by far the most affordable to shoot.  I actually use both 10/22mag & a 10/22 long rifle.  I can honestly tell you that when it comes to a true 10/22 mag you have be ready to commit as much if not more money to a 10/22 mag as buying a AR....  this is my 10/22mag with a volquartson carbon fiber barrel,  3x9 millett scope, volquartson pretty much everything in side the gun & it is a tack driver....  But believe me I paid for it!