17 HMR vs 22 WMR
I am looking to purchase a new pistol and rifle for cheep plinking at the range and possibly small game hunting/varmint. I have been looking at the newer 17 HMR and 22 WMR. I would be interested in a heavy barrel autoloading rifle and autoloading pistol. Does anyone have any comments on either of the rounds (pros and cons)? What about recommendations for Manufacturer of firearms and availibility?
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These are not cheap plinking calibers. $5.00-$9.00 a box for ammo. Id go .22LR with HPS much cheaper and will still do the job. Alsoyou wont have any stovepipe and jamming problems that the .22mag in semi was/is so famous for. 0 -
I understand the comment on price of ammo, however, I presently have 10 various rifles/pistols in 22 LR. I am just looking to increase power and range (i'll be it just slightly). I presently have a revolver with both 22 WMR and 22 LR cylinder. I love it but hate constantly changing the sights when I change the cyl. I also have a 22 WMR semi-auto 6" barrel by AMT (AutoMag II). It is just not comfortable to shoot unlike my other various auto-loading pistols (in other calibers). I am a big man with big hands and the AMT is just too small a frame for me. I only have the AMT cause I got it for $100. 0 -
You want a cheap, fun to shoot plinking rifle, go get a SKS. Ruger M77/.17 HMR is a very nice rifle, and the pistol can be the Ruger single action six shooter in .17 HMR.... 
"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it." Lord Chesterfield0 -
The .17 is a good lil varmint round. Flat to about 250 300 yards. I love mine and fun to shoot. Ammo cost has come way down. in price. All that I know, most have not been unhappy with the .17 once they try it.
NRA Life Endowment Member0 -
Already got 2 SKS, 1 Pre ban AK 47 , 2 AR 15, ect. Great fun to shoot but looking for more accurate and possibly hunting small game.
On another note to MFI, The times I have shot my AMT, I had no issues with jamming with approximately 500 rounds thru it. Is there a reason for the history of jamming on the 22 mag in an auto loading pistol? Just a comment and question, not being a critic of your comment!0 -
Hello,
I don't think the .22 mag or the .17 HMR, in a short barrel hand gun really gets anything close to efficient performance out of either cartridge. I am ballistically challenged but I believe the design of each of these rounds require a longer barrel for the gun powder to burn effectively. I base my comment on my observation of unburnt powder residue on my NAA .22 mag with a 1 1/8" barrel compared to my 10/22 mag that has almost no residue. Someone can probably tell you in quanitative terms, but I would guess that there is very little useful or noticable real performance between a .22 LR and a .22 mag fired out of a handgun with a 2', 4" or 6" barrel. As for the 17 HMR, isn't its advantage restricted to a flat trajectory between 100-150 yds? The 17 HMR in a handgun makes little sense to me. If you are shooting at something 20-30 yds away, how can the 17 HMR be useful? In a Marlin 17VS...thats a different story all together. Look out Prairie dogs! I suggest a S&W MODEL 48-4 (K-22 Masterpiece) in .22 MAG and a Ruger 10/22 mag.
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.0 -
I have experience with both the .17HMR and .17M2.
Since you asked about the .17HMR it is a great cartridge. For one thing, it is very accurate and both fast (2550 fps MV) and flat (0.0-inch drop at 100 yards). I suspect maximum effective range is between 150 to 200 yards. Because of the velocity, due the light 17-grain bullets there is a relatively large (again for the mass of the bullet) dump of energy on the target. For example, fired into a 1-gallon plastic jug filled with water will split the sides and blow water everywhere, but the bullet will not exit the far side of the jug. CCI or Hornady has also come out now with 20-grain hunting bullets because of all the complaints about meat damage on small game. The 40 grain 22 Mag will produce slightly more energy than the .17 HMR. I have purchased boxes of cartrides for about $7.25.
Your choice of guns is much better now than a year and a half ago. For starters Marlin, Ruger, Winchester, Kimber, Volquartsen, and Henry to mention a few are making bolt, lever, and semi-auto rifle. Ruger, Kimber, and Taurus, plus more are making pistols. Or you can build your own very easily with all the aftermarket parts now available.
Match barrels are available in .17HMR for a variety of rifles like the Ruger 10/22 Mag, 96/22, and 77/22. If you already have a 10/22 you can set up a nice rig with aftermarket parts. I made the below rifle with a Jarvis factory contour .17 HMR match barrel, drop-in trigger kit, extra-power extractor, and 3-9x42 scope. It really gets the looks sometimes because people sometimes think it a .22.
Many people on this forum will give .17 HMR firearms and the cartridge a bad rap because it is new. However, they is really a good combination and most people who have them really love them because of their outstanding performance. The Kimber guns have been stupenduously accurate. In some reports I have read in the magazines they cannot compile statistics for the Kimbers by shooting groups on targets at 50 yards because there is only one hole for all the bullets! Thus no standard deviation. The Kimbers will also cost close $1000.00. A couple of my shooting partners have Marlins with bull barrels and they are great shooters. Generally, if you can see it you can hit it with one of these.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
the other day I shot a fairly large possum with my CZ 452 in 17HMR , range was right at 95 yards broad side shot , 1 shot rolled him in his tracks , I have never dropped a possum like that with a 22lr or even a 22 mag go with the 17 they are just plain fun 0 -
I RECENTLY WON A SAVAGE 17HHR, AND I LOVE IT. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE RIFLES I OWN. 0 -
The 17HMR is devastating from a short barreled handgun like the Taurus Ultralight on anything within 50yds. It outperforms the 22WMRF in a 941 Taurus with a 3" barrel as far as shredding the target and noise.
The 22WMRF WAS temperamental in early autoloaders, but by the time Grendel & AMT came along; they had sorted out most of the extraction problems and almost all of the feeding failures.
As far as a cheap plinking cartridge goes, paying $8-10 a box for either caliber isn't unexpected.
There are those on this board who will sneer at either cartridge, but it's been a while since I've missed anything I aimed at with either one, in any of 7 guns (no Marlin, either).
I carry the aforementioned Ultralight instead of the 941 now due to its' effectiveness, low noise, price and concealability.
Extraction, however, is still a problem with some Taurii; the cases seem to stick at the necked-down portion after firing: something I remedied on mine with a Dremel and some JB Bore Paste.
What's good about either caliber is that you can get a 10-22Magnum, buy a 17HMR barrel for it, and make use of both.
"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID0
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