22 Mag or 17 HMR?

[Woodman in MO]

So I am thinking about picking up something a little more powerful then a 22 to plink with and I usually shot at 100 yards max, and I want to be able to spend a couple of hours shooting.

So I see some decently priced rifles in 22 Mag and 17 HMR, which one shuld I get for the type of shooting I plan on doing.

[okie shooter]

For the money 22 mag will be cheaper and easier to find for ammo, but you I am guessing you are not going to be shooting hundreds and thousands of rounds per setting like you with a 22rf. Just depends on how bad you want the additional velocity and supposed accuracy of the .17HMR vs 22mag. There are going to be plenty more rifles and pistols for the 22 mag out there.

[cimmaronkid]

I have to vote for the 22 mag as well just because of the cost factor. I just can't see paying premium for the .17 calibur. And as Okie said, there are a lot more guns out there for the .22 mag.

[SteelCore]

you'll love it. the bullet looks like those 5.7mm rounds for the FN PS-90 or the FN FiveseveN. Ultra fast, flat firing trajectory, awesome varminter round.

If you're plinking, stick with 22 long rifle.

I've seen breech loafing pistols and some derringers that shoot .17 HMR

[jonboy20]

Go with the 22 to plink and the 17hmr to hunt. I love my wifes remington in 17hmr.

[Geilt]

I'd have to agree with general consensus to go with 17hmr for small varmint and .22 magnum for plinking out to 100y. The .22mag is cheaper which can really add up quick if you're spending a lot of time behind the trigger.

[8675309]

I use my 10/22 for a plinker. If you are going to step up from there, you can't beat a .17hmr. I friggen love mine. At 100 yards I had a little shoot out with another guy (he was using his .22 mag). I could shoot a .357 casing and all the .410 shells that I could find. Then, I shot out the staples on his target. :D

It's not that much more expensive to shoot than the .22 mag. It sure is a lot more fun to shoot, and it's nice and flat. I can pop a 3 inch circle in the middle still at 200 yards. And I suck.

[amd65]

If you really want an intermediate varmint round, look at the 22 Hornet. You can reload it down to LR levels, or up it to true varmint levels---deer have even been taken with it. There are fairly inexpensive rifles by Charles daly and CZ, or, you can go all out and get the Ruger 77/22 with a heavy barrel.
Otherwise, I would stick with the 22mag.

[brandyspaw]

I used to look down on the 17 HMR until I finally got a chance to work with one
for a while. I was so impressed by the flat shooting and the accuracy that I
bought a CZ-452 in 17 HMR. I do feel the 17 has limited usefullness but it is a
great cartridge for certain purposes. Concerning cost-if the cost is factor then stay with 22 RF as there isn't that much of a cost savings between the 17 HMR and the 22 MRF.

[cimmaronkid]

Hornet has always interested me, but after trying 3 different guns and not being able to get any to shoot to what I feel is top accuracy, I gave up! I did all the tricks as to free floating, bedding, torque screws, etc. but could not get them to shoot accurately enough. Other people have had this problem as well with the Hornet. However, I still want one of the "Raging Hornet" revolvers from Taurus. Looks like fun.

[97th Signalman]

I have a Winchester 9417 in .17HMR and it's a real shooter even in its carbine configuaration. However, at ten bucks a box it is an expexnsive plinker. For plinking duties I use my 10/22 delux with Walnut Stock. I have not owned a .22 WMR but I almost bought one instead of my 9417. They were both on the shelf a couple years ago when I bought the .17. What I really wish that I had done was to also buy a 9422. There were about $350 in a delux model with a case-hardened receiver.

[jfowl31]

If you will be shooting at 100 max, and just want something "a little" better than 22lr... why not look at 17 mach 2?

I had a 10-22 that I suped up and put a magnum research 17 mach 2 barrel on, and after the trigger job and all the accurizing, I shot 1/2" to 3/4" groups with it consistently. I killed plenty of possums, coons, skunks, squirrels, and even one coyote with it!

Id definitely go with a 17 calibur either way... either hmr or mach 2. If you already have a 10-22, you can just buy a 17 mach 2 barrel for it, and it all works perfectly with a simple barrel swap. If youre going to be buying a completely new rifle... maybe 17 hmr... cost of ammo really isnt an issue between 22 WMR, 17 HMR, and 17 mach 2. 17 mach 2 is the cheapest, but its about 5 bucks per 50 while the other 2 are about $10... You really can't go wrong with any of them, but my personal preference is the 22lr for plinking out to 100, and then the 17's after that.