.22 V .17 HMR

Duck's hoop · 09-03-2009 6:51pm #1

Alright people. I need a rifle for rabbit stew. I know it's getting late for this but I'm thinking ahead. I've access to a .22 though not licensed on it so don't use it. Licensed on a 6.5 swedish but as you can appreciate it's a little heavy for my needs. Don't shoot too many deers neither. Any of you guys got both HMR and .22 LR be able to recommend one or the other? I'd also use it for plinking sessions come summer though not too gone on the ricochet thing of the .22 as it's stony round my way. Any feedback appreciated, thanks.

CZ. · 09-03-2009 6:57pm

i traded up my 22 for a 17 a few weeks ago deadly little gun but unless your going to take head shots stick with the 22 because you will bust them but you have a lot more range with the 17 thats why i changed

Duck's hoop · 09-03-2009 7:30pm

Cheers CZ. I imagine you went down the cz route?! I'll be taking headshots if I can help it. What sort of extra range we talking about? I'd be using a lamp a lot and to me, at night, around here, 80 yards seems like a good shot.

CZ. · 09-03-2009 7:44pm

80 to 100 yards should be good at night i use the lamp 2. evening shoting 180 yards it will still take the head of a rabbit the 17 didn get a lot of use yet but it will look at cz american lovely gun dont regret changing only down fall is it blows of a bit with wind

riflehunter77 · 09-03-2009 8:02pm

Theres pros and cons of both, iv had both and currently still have the 17 hmr. The .22 is great for anyone getting into the sport and for developing there skills wont go into that as you are already in the game. A .22 is alot cheaper to run, i was paying around 5 euro about 2 years ago for a box of 50 rounds some lads will be along to say what they are paying at the moment. Wide variety of rounds with the .22 and alot more choice with bullet weights. A big plus for the .22 is the use of sub sonics rounds. The .22 is a great rifle plenty out on the market to choose from and wont coast arm and leg. You can also enter competions if you wont to go down that way.

Right the 17 Hmr great little round have been using mine for over a year or two now. A very flat trajectory out to about a 140 or so yards. Great for vermin at long ranges. Only two variety of bullet weight at the moment 17 and 20 grain. They run at about 14 euro a box of 50. Small rate of ricochet i have not had any but have heard the odd tale. As CZ has said you can have meat damage with the 17hmr, I would not be two worried about this i find you tend to really only get some damage if you hit bone or are two near. Its seem to be a bit of a myth nearly all the rabbits I shoot go into the freezer or straight to the pot the next day. If i get a chance over the next week or so and if the weather holds up i might post some pictures of what the 17 hmr does on a rabbit entry and exit wounds after it has been skined. One other factor with the .17 is sound a moderator is highly recommend to cut down on the crack fom the round the bullet travels at an average of 2400 feet a second.Last thing wind can be a factor on the small round at distance.

Both great rounds and would recommnd both to any one if I had choice I would have both

. Will be staying with the 17 hmr at the moment I cant fault it. It groups sub one inch at 100 yards with a five round group.

Duck's hoop · 09-03-2009 8:11pm

Thanks for that lads. As I say I have .22 available to me and could get licensed on it so the obvious choice is to get HMR I suppose. Knocks foxy too I believe. I like the idea of point and shoot at 140 yds! One factor was holding me up was the expense but 14 for 50 not that bad. Maybe cheaper 'up north'.

CZ. · 09-03-2009 8:19pm

if your not shoting targets it will cost alot to run its wort it do i wouldn use it on fox some people do but its a tiney little round i dont think it would be good for the job i am going to buy a .223 for that but while your taking about that see what the rest of the lads say as i have never used it on foxs

Callow Man · 10-03-2009 8:00am

I would give the .17 the thumbs up, bought it as my first rifle so cant comment on the .22. As for shooting foxes with one given it's accuracy and if you have a good caller and can place a good shot you should be able to kill a fox out to 100yards I personally would not stand in front of a .17 bullet at 140yards and expect to live to tell the tale(not suggesting you try this as it's for dramatic purposes only). For rabbits its perfect, head shot from 50 to 100yrs and even a body shot over the 100 mark wont damage the meat too much as it leaves quite a small hole. I shot one last year at 120 yards and could'nt even find the wound but he may have being old and died of shock. From a cost perspective if you are shooting rabbits you will hit nearly every time so no rounds will be wasted and definately get one with a mod. Safe and happy hunting.

Duck's hoop · 10-03-2009 5:25pm

Thanks for the input CM, looks like the .17 is gettin the edge. A spanking new Anschutz me thinks. May as well push the boat out.

E mc kiernan · 11-03-2009 5:46pm

Alright, I bought a hmr about 6 wks ago, its my first rifle but still very pleased with it, I'm no clint eastwood but I've had good shots at rabbit out to 100 yards!It might help ya

philog · 15-03-2009 3:16pm

12.50 for a box of cci hmr in griffin hawe in athy....i have both guns .22 and .17hmr both cz american ..shot lots of fox with the .17 no problem ...great little round ....unbelievable accurate....you should have no problem taking hundreds of rabbits with a .22....my advice is to buy both in cz ...cheaper than one anschutz..

CZ. · 15-03-2009 3:57pm

how far out would you shot foxs with it

vermin hunter · 15-03-2009 10:35pm

lads im going to by a cz .17hmr in the next week or so whats the diference if any with the cz amerian and the cz varmint and i think i read about a cz american varmint. how much should i pay for the cz american heavey barrel.